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Aside from the "unusual" behaviors demonstrated by the people that night, a more "interesting" factor is that the "move of the Holy Spirit" still has not stopped. This phenomenon eventually became known as the "Toronto Blessing." Tens of thousands of people are flying to Toronto in order to participate in this movement. Following their exposure, many people often become evangelistic, zealous, and then spread the same activities to their respective places. As a result the "Toronto Blessing" has spread to evangelical congregations around the world.
"The Toronto Blessing" is a movement that began in 1994 at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church. Since that night, on any given evening, if one entered a service at the church, one may encounter some "strange" activities which include people barking like dogs, roaring like lions, laughing hysterically, or acting as if they were drunk. The "Toronto Blessing" is a movement that finds its roots in the Charismatic Movement which, in turn, emerges from Pentecostalism. Margaret Poloma, a sociologist at the University of Akron, states: "the outpouring of the Holy Spirit witnessed in North America since the beginning of the century can be characterized as a social movement struggling against the forces of institutionalization. The free move associated with 'the blessing' shows that the group tries to avoid institutionalization and traditional mechanisms which 'quench' the Holy Spirit, but they cannot avoid some of these mechanism needed to keep order."
"The Toronto Blessing" is a movement that balances order with spontaneity, structure with freedom, and stability with change. (Poloma, 2) It works to revitalize the "free move of the spirit" associated with the Charismatic Movement but tries to maintain necessary structure in order to continue the movement.
The "strange," "free move" associated with the "Toronto Blessing" has stirred controversy within the Christian faith. The opponents, including many people who also are in the Pentecostal faith, argue that the activities taking place at the nightly services are demonic, strange and should not occur in the church. However, many Pentecostals argue that the "Toronto Blessing" is a genuine manifestation of God's Holy Spirit, in which people are receiving healing, joy, peace, and faith. How can one determine the validity of the "interesting" manifestations? Is it a move of God for people to walk around a church and cluck like chickens or suddenly fall to the floor (better know as "slain in the spirit" by Pentecostals)? Many people feel that the actions are not from God. A major proponent of this argument Jon Wimber, the founder of the Association of Vineyard Churches, states that "the churches must focus on the main and plain things in scripture (Beverely, 66). As a result of his leeriness to fully support or not support the movement, he and his leaders have forced the Toronto church out of the association.
Despite the controversy surrounding the "Toronto Blessing," the leaders of the movement and the thousands that have visited the church still believe that the group is biblically based and that the manifestations come from the Holy Spirit. There are numerous reports of healing, joy, peace, and visions from God (Faith & Order, 1). Some people leave and feel that their lives have changed while others feel that nothing special happened at all. However, the thousands of people from across the world who have both visited or been affected by the "Toronto Blessing" stemming from the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church continue to increase and "the free move" continues to balance the charismatic aspects of the movement while maintaining structure.
The Toronto Blessing Discovery Page
This page created by Dale Crow and offers the most comprehensive set to links, both pro and con to the
Toronto Blessing phenomenon. Crow as explored the Toronto Blessing for a good many years and offers
his own summary reflections. In addition, there area links to the Toronto Blessing Chat Room and to
a "revival humor" page.
http://Godnet.org/tb.htm
Vinyard/Blessing: Pro and Con
This small page presents a set of links to sites that are on both sides of the Toronto
Blessing controversy. No substantive comment is offered by the presenter of these links.
http://users.aol.com/psalm11110/index.html
Revival Around the World
This page includes links to various sites that have been influenced by the Toronto Blessing.
It includes links to mailing lists, media reports, ministries, and churches. Some of the
churches included are in the United States while other churches listed represent The
United Kingdom.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ahein/revival.html
Richard Riss's Homepage
This link is the homepage of Richard Riss, a highly respected church historian, who
specializes in revivals. His homepage provides information about the "reawakening of
Christian faith," which has occurred in recent years through movements such as the
Toronto Blessing.
http:www.grmi.org/renewal/Richard_Riss/
"By Their Fruits...A Sociological Assement of the 'Toronto Blessing'"
This keen assessment of the Toronto Blessing was written by Margaret M. Poloma,
a sociologist who has researched the phenomenon on-site and is writing a book on the
subject. This article is on the home page of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship.
If you cannot access the page with the URL linked above, try this
archive address and then click on Paloma's paper.
http://www.tacf.org/revivalnews.mmpfruit.html
http://www.tacf.org/revivalnews/archives/index.html Archive File
The Toronto Blessing is of God!!
This page by Greg Makemah from Perth, Australia is filled with distractions but contains a lot of interesting information. It is particularly helpful in locating the Toronto Blessing in the broader context of movements that are now beging characterized as "the fire," or "revival." Also of interest is a critique of Hank Hanegraaff, Christian Research Institute, who has been very critical of the Toronto Blessing and subsequent developments.
http://www.nettrek.com.au/~gregga/blessing.html
We have recently disconnected more than half of the links relating to the Toronto Blessing because they are dead. Some of these sites may have moved to a new location. We have temporarily listed them below in the hope that readers may have knowledge of where these sites have been relocated. If you know where any of these sites have moved, or have knowledge of other Toronto Blessing sites not listed here, we would appreciate hearing from you. Please write to Jeffrey Hadden 11/30/98.
The Contenders
This page includes opinions from people within the Christian faith who are opposed to the Toronto Blessing. It provides various opinions, which strongly criticize the activities of the movement. Many of the opinions even pose that the movement may be demonic.
Old URL = http:webcom.net/~bhph95/Toronto Leaders Speak for Themselves
This link includes the quotations from interviews with several leaders in the Toronto Blessing. It provides an opportunity for the leaders to express their views about the movement and it also provides readers with the opportunity to hear directly from those leading the movement. Statements on this page come from leaders such as: John Arnott (Pastor of the Toronto church), Marc Dupont (Associate Pastor of the Toronto church), and Wes Campbell (Pastor of the New Life Vineyard Fellowship of Kelowna)
Old URL = http:www.webcom.net/~bhph95/12.htmOn the Toronto Phenomenon
This page includes information about the movement ranging from first hand accounts to a theological examination of the roots, teachings, and manifestations of the movement by Rev. Stephen Sizer. Some of the topics include "Holy Laughter," "Being Slain in the Spirit," and the Second Pentecost. This page is a product of Christian Resource, which serves as a ministry of scriptural studies.
Old URL = http://www.demon.co.uk/cross/toronto/Tor_idx.htmlRenewal & Revival Books
This page lists a variety of books written in relation to the Toronto Blessing. Authors include John Arnott, Guy Chevreau, who are major leaders in the movement. Topic listed on this page range from prayer to evangelism.
Old URL = http://www.tacf.org/bookstore/renewalrevivalbooks.htmlAn Evening with Rodney Howard-Browne
This link provides an interview with the founder of the Toronto Blessing--Rodney Howard-Browne. Elliot Miller, who is the editor-in-chief of the Christian Research Journal, conducted the interview. The interview received its copyright from the Christian Research Institute, a countercult group that opposes the practices of the Toronto Blessing. The CRI web site is under reconstruction and the Rodney Howard-Browne interview may be accessible through their archives. Old URL = http://webcom.net/~bhph95/crj0192a.htm
Created by Katrina Wilson
Soc 257, New Religious Movements
University of Virginia
Spring Term, 1997
Last modified: 11/29/01