ORGANISING FOR GROWTH IN SINGAPOREAN CHARISMATIC CHURCHES

Abstract

This study attempts to account for the rapid growth of some Independent Charismatic Churches taking into consideration that the majority of such churches are small and slow growing. Using approaches developed in the sociological study of organisations and new religious movements, a theoretical framework of "Need Fulfilment" and "Effective Mobilisation" is proposed. This is applied to the case of three of the fastest growing Independent Charismatic Churches and compared with several unsuccessful ones varied along the dimensions of growth and size. This then controls for similar religious experiences and worldviews which have commonly been implicated in understanding the growth of Charismatic churches. Results of this study indicate the importance of both "Need Fulfilment" and "Effective Mobilisation" making special reference to features such as organisational structure, intensely pursued growth goals and charismatic leadership, in accounting for the growth of churches. However the close interaction between these two categories can be observed on careful inspection.