An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

congregation (URC and COGIC) understand and practise the operation of the Holy Spiritin different ways, they both view it as the final authority that guides their leaders.The animated style of worship that involves singing, shouting, dancing, crying andlaughter in the belief that this is under the authority of the Holy Spirit is the norm inPentecostal churches like COGIC. It would be difficult for URC ministers who did nothave similar beliefs to lead a church with a Pentecostal style of worship. Although URCnow accept the visitation of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and celebrate Pentecost,their worship style under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is usually more sedate, althoughthere are some URC congregations who adopt a charismatic style of worship.Richardson and Bowden (1999) explain charismatic phenomena as the grace dimension ofthe Christian church as distinguished from the institutional and hierarchical dimensions.This indicates a holistic approach to the church; where a grace orientated church is part ofthe hierarchical and the institutional church. The Pauline letters appears to confirm thisconcept in Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians. For many believers there is more overtevidence of charismatic leadership in the black majority churches and more evidence ofinstitutional hierarchy in the URC and white majority churches. Although the Pentecostalchurches are more spontaneous in their style of worship, this does not mean that they aremore grace-orientated in their belief and leadership style than the URC. Charismatic anddivine leadership is sometimes confused with animation and spontaneity according toBeckford (2000: 174-7).Hill (1973) argues that no leader can be labelled charismatic unless he is credited with thepossession of such powers by his followers, yet charisma is not necessarily concerned with157