Convergence

This is a description of a movement to bring together Charismatic, Evangelical/Reformed and Liturgical/Sacramental.

"Described as the Convergence Movement, or "Convergence of the Streams," this emerging movement appears to many, both observers and participants, to be another contemporary evidence of God's continuing activity in history to renew, replenish and unify His people in one heart and purpose in Christ. Arising out of a common desire and hunger to experience the fullness of Christian worship and spirituality, the Convergence Movement (also referred to in the remainder of this article as "CM") seeks to blend or merge the essential elements in the Christian faith represented historically in three major streams of thought and practice: the Charismatic, Evangelical/Reformed and Liturgical/Sacramental. An increasing number of local congregations and leaders from many backgrounds are finding "treasures old and new" in the spiritual heritage of the church universal.

The following table, developed by the leadership of Hosanna Church of the King located in the Kansas City metropolitan area, illustrates the essential elements and ingredients being drawn upon by the majority of those participating in the movement at this point:

Paradigm of Ministry

Liturgical/ Sacramental	Evangelical	Charismatic
Theology	Biblical Foundation	Five-fold Ministry and Government
Orthodoxy	Personal Conversion	Power of the Spirit
Universality	Evangelism & Mission	Spiritual Gifts
Liturgical Worship	Pulpit-Centered Worship	Charismatic Worship
Social Action	Personal Holiness	Kingdom
Incarnational understanding of the Church (based on theology, history, and sacramental elements of thought)	Biblical and Reformational understanding of the Church (pragmatic and rational)	Spiritual, Organic, and functional understanding of the Church (dynamic and informal)

The blending or converging of these traditions is seen by those involved as the work of God the Holy Spirit imparting a spiritual operation of grace best captured in the vision of Psalm 46:5,6: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the Holy Place where the Most High dwells." Thus, the "city of God" is seen as the Church, the river as the action and flow of God's Presence through His Church and the many "streams" as expressions of the one river's life that have developed or broken off from the main river through history, all of which are necessary to enrich and make glad the city with the fullness of God's life, power, purpose and Presence. These tributaries now seem to be making their way back toward the main stream."