FAQ's on Terminology in DISCOVER CHURCH
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GLOSSARY FOR PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES
IS "ONENESS" PENTECOSTALISM" IN TOOWOOMBA? No, at least not yet.
WHAT IS "ONENESS" PENTECOSTALISM? Here is a quote from a person who disagrees with this belief (as do I and almost every Pentecostal in this city.) IT'S FROM A DISCUSSION IN AN EGROUP. I QUOTE- "Acumen says "I will quote a Oneness favorite passage with the hope of clearing some things up. Mark 16:16 says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The common Oneness Pentecostal stance is that baptism is clearly mentioned with belief as a requirement for salvation, and that unbelief brings about condemnation." " However, most Christians do not believe that water baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation. Note: some evangelical churches here believe this.
WHAT'S AN "ALTER
CALL"?
An alter call is where you and others walk out the front and stand in a line
and wait for the Pastor to lay his hands on your head in prayer. You wait a
few minutes and return to your seat.
WHAT IS ARMAEUS?
It's a cross church course of study and self analysis typically conducted over
a weekend in a camp situation costing about $80. Someone needs to invite you
to do the course. They bring you there and pick you up again.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN LEADERS NETWORK? It's a Minister's fraternal. A collection of mostly Charismatic or evangelical full time paid or stipended Pastors who meet weekly on Friday mornings for a prayer meeting. Senior Pastor Ian Shelton from Toowoomba City Church informally manages it.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN SOMEONE IS CALLED PASTOR? Most Pastors receive a stipend or wage. Almost all churches 50 persons plus have a paid Pastor. However, some Pastors under this "Senior Pastor" do not receive a wage and are in effect "Lay Pastors" (this is an old term rarely used). This is a recent trend. Most are men and they are often called to do the preaching. They usually do not hold an undergraduate Bible college degree but usually have some training.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF SOMEONE SAYS A PERSON IS "FULL GOSPEL"? The term "full gospel" generally means the person or the ministry has speaking in tongues as part of their "full" Christian experience. For example a Pastor during church described me as being from a "full gospel" church. He inferred the church and myself were Charismatic. It's largely an antiquated term.
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GLOSSARY FOR EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
WHAT ARE CALVANISTS? They believe in "once saved always saved" doctrine. Which comes from the scripture "My sheep know my voice and I will never let them go." However, if you do not know whether your a Calvanist, you probably are the opposite, an Armeniast." The Westminster Confession booklet is classic Calvanism. As is the very popular Bible commentator Mathew Henry.
WHO ARE CALVANIST CHURCHES? Typically they are Presbyterian churches. Churches of Christ and Charismatic churches are opposite which means they are "Armeniasts" which believe you can lose your salvation.
WHAT ARE EXTREME CALVANISTS? An extreme Calvanist will say that "a person is PREDESTINED to be saved or lost." A Calvanist will only say "Once saved always saved" which an elder said all Bretheren churches believe in.
WHAT IS ADULT "SUNDAY SCHOOL"? Yes. It's an antiquated term. Conservative evangelical denominations often have and mean Sunday Schools are for ADULTS and it's a closer small group study of scripture. Many unorthodox or reformed or independent type churches do this and this idea tends to be more from the USA than Australia. Most churches call these groups more aptly "bible studies."
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GLOSSARY FOR TRADITIONAL CHURCHES
WHAT DOES ECUMENICAL MEAN? When different denominations hold a combined church activity they call it "ecumenical." Which means any church can come.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN
A CHURCH IS AN "ORTHODOX" CHURCH?
"Orthodox" means "holding approved, conventional, generally accepted
opinions." Another word more commonly used today is the word "mainstream"
which is a similar meaning.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A CHURCH IS AN "UNORTHODOX" CHURCH? This isn't in reference to being more liberal but the opposite. A church with the word "Reformed" in it or the word "unorthodox" often means the church has separated from mainstream denominationalism and gone down a narrower path of conservatism.
WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC "SCHOENSTATT FAMILY GROUPS"? It's an International Movement started in 1914 and aims to minister to the broad spiritual and educational needs of a family. (Sacred Heart has it.)
WHAT IS A RECTOR? This term is used in older denominations only now. It means someone is the parson or clergyman or pastor or priest of a parish which is a piece of territory having it's own church and clergyman. Typically 20% of the congregation tithe. A tithe is one tenth of the weekly income of people in the congregation to support the church and clergy.
WHAT IS AN ARCHDEACON
IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH?
It's the church dignitary who is next below Bishop.
WHAT ARE THE BASICS I
NEED TO KNOW WHEN I VISIT A CATHOLIC OR ANGLICAN CHURCH?
THIS IS A VERY COMMON ALWAYS REPEATING DIALOGUE BETWEEN PASTOR AND PARSIHIONERS-
PASTOR: THE LORD BE WITH
YOU.
RESPONSE: And also with you.
PASTOR: LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS.
RESPONSE: We lift them to the Lord.
PASTOR: LET US GIVE THANKS
TO THE LORD OUR GOD.
RESONSE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
WHAT'S A VIGIL SERVICE? A church service held on Saturday night.