<div>
<p>This dissertation examines the
transnational networks of Gospel of the Kingdom megachurch (the Indonesian
Mennonite Synod) with Pentecostal/Charismatic institutions in the United
States. It begins by asking what can American Studies as a discipline learn
about the United States from examining a story of an Indonesian megachurch, far
away from U.S. geographical borders? The dissertation specifically asks: 1) How
is the growth of Gospel megachurch closely related to its partnerships with
Pentecostal/Charismatic (P/c) institutions in the United States? (2) How does
Gospel church apply teachings and values from their American partners?</p>
<p>Through archival work,
fieldwork, and interviews, this dissertation finds that, first, Gospel church
under the leadership of Pastor Petrus Agung, partners with the JKI (Jemaat
Kristen Indonesia) or Indonesian Christian Congregation synod, located in both
Orange County, California and Central Java, Indonesia under the leadership of
Pastor Sutanto Adi. The transnational Indonesian/American synod highlighted the
contribution of Indonesian immigrants. Second, Pastor Petrus Agung, the leader
of Gospel church, partners with other non-immigrant Pentecostal/Charismatic
leaders such as John Avanzini, Morris Cerullo, Harold Gingerich, and Bill
Wilson. In their direst needs to get out of debt, Gospel church found an
affirmation in teaching on “Biblical economy” with emphases on financial
independence, concerns for the marginalized poor, and giving as key to church
growth. Gospel church had consistently applied the teachings from transnational
partnerships in the contexts of local struggles against poverty and religious
marginalization in Indonesia. Third, from 2005 until 2016, as the teaching was
confirmed by continuous growth in finances and numbers of congregations, Gospel
church sought collaborations with five other P/c institutions in Indonesia to
form a <i>Bahtera</i> (translation: Ark) movement.
Gospel church and <i>Bahtera</i> predicted
their institutions and Indonesia would be the center of the world’s economy and
spiritual movement. Bahtera sought to bring the movement abroad to many
different countries, especially through the worship dance performances. </p>
<p>My work contributes a
transnational understanding of American cultural histories, particularly the
diversity and networks of Pentecostal/Charismatic and Mennonite movements. It
is a conversation with the field of Asian American Studies to fill the gap of
literature on Indonesian immigration and the lives of Indonesian immigrants in
particular, and Southeast Asian immigrants in the United States in general.
This research will be of interests for scholars particularly in Sociocultural
Anthropology and Sociology that continue to examine the issue of “structure and
agency” especially in religious spaces. Lastly, In
portraying Gospel church’s story and struggles as part of “archives of
America,” this dissertation joined scholarship in American Studies, Asian
American Studies, and Anthropology that challenged the one-directional
narrative of American influences. Gospel church is one example of a community
that lives “against America.” In both their periods of struggles and high
prosperity, Gospel church did gaze at America for inspiration and affirmation,
to eventually prophesy for an agentive ability of an Indonesian
Pentecostal/Charismatic, Mennonite institution to play a central role in the
prosperity of the world and thus hint at the fight against America’s hegemonic
power and influence. Analyzing Gospel church’s transnational partnerships with
Christian institutions in the United States, therefore, is moving to the center
a narrative from of an “empire striking back.”</p>
</div>
<br>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/8048222 |
| Date | 14 May 2019 |
| Creators | Pamela K Sari (6640136) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Politics_of_the_Most_High_Transnational_Networks_between_Gospel_of_the_Kingdom_Megachurch_Indonesian_Mennonite_Synod_in_Central_Java_Indonesia_and_Pentecostal_Charismatic_Institutions_in_the_United_States/8048222 |
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