山道期刊

編者的話

黃福光

　　如上期一樣，本期探討的也是全球教會普遍面對的現象：「去堂會化」（dechurching）。儘管各個作者從不同的專業角度切入，對「去堂會化」的定義也略有不同，但所有專題文章對這個現象卻有一個共同的觀點：這是反思、變革及調整的契機，而非僅僅是個難題。

　　首篇專文是陳耀明的〈神聖集體的侵蝕：舊約視角下對教會背離社群認同的重估〉。作者綜覽全球基督教主要區域的現況，數據指出「去堂會化」的趨勢將持續演變，導致年輕信徒減少，聚會出席率下滑，以及傳統實體社群結構被削弱。深入剖析可發現，「去堂會化」的現象涉及許多複雜因素，包括身分認同危機、生活方式選擇、價值觀轉變、替代品湧現、互信程度下降等問題。教會面臨的挑戰不僅限於內部的結構及信徒的靈性成長，也關乎如何適應外部社會的變遷及動盪，須提出多元的解決方案。作者運用舊約裏的「聖約」及「社群」概念，為這場有關「去堂會化」的持續討論，提供新的視角。

　　筆者拙作〈社會認同、五經與「去堂會化 / 離堂」：一場對話〉聚焦於「社會認同」與美國「去堂會化」的現象，通過社會認同的視角，解讀五經中的三個「起源」，指出經文中社會認同所帶來的正反兩面影響。專文指出，雖然相當數量的基督徒並不認為參與地方教會是基督徒身分的一部分，然而個人歸屬群體本是神起初創世時的設計。再者，基督徒是門徒，而非僅是消費者。因此，參與地方教會的生活及事奉，是作為信徒的基本要求。

　　梁俊豪的〈保羅群體與「去堂會化」的想像〉指出，線上技術使信徒得以突破傳統教會的時空限制，於是許多人開始質疑「聚合」、「同步」、「牧者主導」的教會模式是否必要。作者援引社會學家韋伯「魅力的常規化」理論，剖析保羅的個人魅力權威如何逐漸演變成制度化的架構。現今「去堂會化」的群體則反過來要逆轉制度化的進程，好恢復教會的活力、靈活性、信徒緊密的關係，以及信仰的真實性。作者認為，「去堂會化」並非呼籲現今的教會走向「無政府狀態」，而是邀請大家重新想像基督徒群體可以怎樣突破制度化、官僚化架構的限制。

　　鄧紹光的〈教會群體是甚麼？以「去教會化」為切入點的神學反思〉從神學視角審視教會群體的概念，回應當代「去堂會化」、「去宗派教會化」及「無教會主義」等新興趨勢。文章把「去教會化」分成三種形態：（1）「去堂會化」：擺脫地方堂會的束縛；（2）「去宗派教會化」：挑戰宗派的界線；（3）「無教會主義」：強調個人的信仰，脫離制度的枷鎖。作者援引潘霍華、巴特、韋伯斯特等神學家的觀點，從神學角度剖析這些議題。這些神學家強調教會乃神設立的群體，植根於三一神「創造—墮落—拯救」的工作。作者主張，儘管存在「去教會化」的呼聲，教會──透過宣講和施行聖禮──依然是神施行恩典的重要器皿。

　　第五篇專文是梁國全的〈離堂情況對香港教會的挑戰〉。作者指出近年興起一些信仰群體的新形態，大致可歸納為四類：擴堂、植群、牧養離堂信徒、營商宣教。離堂者日益增多，這不僅促使教會重新審視其本質和使命，還帶來新的契機，例如有信徒成為「斜槓牧者」，專門服侍離堂者。作者強調「離堂」者與「留堂」者不一定對立；香港教會作為基督的身體，應當追求合一，彼此協作，互相補足，並按需要調整牧養方式和領導模式。

　　最後一篇專文〈在離開潮中，甚麼讓年輕人仍然選擇留在教會？〉，作者藍志揚不是從負面的角度探究為何青年離堂，轉而從正面的角度探討他們持續地留在同一堂會的原因。該研究採用「解釋現象學分析」（Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis），對七位年齡介乎19至25歲、在本地華人教會聚會超過五年的年輕信徒進行半結構化訪談，從中歸納出六大核心主題：（1）群體歸屬與支持；（2）靈命與價值觀的建立；（3）事奉投入與恩賜發揮；（4）牧養關係與屬靈榜樣；（5）個人成長的機會；以及（6）與神建立親密的關係。作者根據該研究的結果，以基督教教育的四大取向（信仰教導、信仰群體、靈命建立、社會轉化）為框架，提出實踐建議。

　　除了專題文章外，本期還收錄了一篇討論文章〈追甚麼本？溯哪個源？論「追本溯源」運動與基督新教神學思潮──約翰・韋伯斯特的觀點〉。作者周震聲探討那對天主教和新教的神學方法論皆影響深遠的「追本溯源」運動。文章透過韋伯斯特的視角，剖析此運動的獨特之處。作者剖析韋伯斯特的見解，從中指出在這場「追本溯源」運動，天主教和新教採用的神學資源及對聖經的看法，存在顯著分歧。韋伯斯特主張，人要追尋基督宗教共同的本源（ad fontes），就必須先對上帝觀有正確理解。此外，此文還釐清了「追本溯源」（ressourcement）、「重索」（retrieval）與「復興」（renaissance）之間的微妙差異，為日後的神學論述奠定概念基礎。

　　一如既往，本期還有多篇書評，涉及近年出版的學術研究，涵蓋聖靈論、教會論、聖經書卷、近代神學家等等。期望今期的文章給香港及海外的華人教會帶來亮光，更全面了解現今的教會狀況，共同應對這重大的挑戰和契機。

The Erosion of the Sacred Community: An Old Testament Reassessment of the Church’s Shift to Dechurching

CHAN Yew Ming

　　“Dechurching” is a social trend in which people gradually distance themselves from institutional churches and their communal activities. Many Christians who used to attend church regularly have stopped participating but still hold onto their faith. Churches worldwide are facing these changes and need to address the social issues they raise. Data shows this trend continues and evolves, resulting in fewer young believers, declining attendance, and weakening of traditional in-person community structures. In reality, missing church or other activities is just the surface of deeper issues. A closer look shows that “Dechurching” involves multiple factors, including identity issues, lifestyle choices, shifting values, emerging alternatives, and a decline in mutual trust. So, the church’s challenges go beyond internal structure and spiritual growth; they also involve adapting to external social changes and instability and offering diverse solutions.

Social Identity, the Pentateuch, and Dechurching: A Dialogue

WONG Fook Kong

　　In the past few years, many believers have left their churches. It has gotten to the point where it becomes an existential threat to local churches. This paper attempts to engage Social Identity Theory, the Pentateuch, and Jim Davis and Michael Graham’s The Great Dechurching in a dialogue to explore the phenomenon. Reading the Pentateuch through the lens of social identity shows that both the positive (e.g., self-identity) and negative aspects (e.g., in-group/out-group competition and conflict) of social identity are operational in the texts. The negative aspects become more and more prominent as we progress along the timeline of the narratives. At the same time, the requirements of being God’s people also became heavier and heavier. Regardless of whether they were able or unable to keep the requirements, God continued to look after and find ways to save his people.

　　Similar dynamics are happening in today’s society. In-group/out-group competitions and conflicts are on the rise. Unfortunately, churches are not spared either and these are some important factors driving the dechurching phenomenon. At the same time, there is also an identity problem. A significant number of Christians do not embrace participation in a local church as part of their identity as Christians. Some prefer to wander from church to church, while others prefer to join online rather than in person. This article argues that belonging to a community has been God’s design from the beginning. Moreover, Christians are disciples and not merely consumers. Therefore, participating in the life and ministries of a local church is part of the requirements of being a believer. This also pre-empts perpetual spiritual wandering or online participation as a way of Christian life.

The Pauline Communities and the Imagination of “the De-Institutionalized Church”

LEUNG Chun Ho Bernard

　　This paper explores the contemporary phenomenon of “de-institutionalization of the church,” an emerging movement in response to the post-COVID 19 transformation of Christian communal life in Hong Kong. As online technologies have increasingly enabled believers to transcend the spatial and temporal constraints of traditional congregations, many begin to question the necessity of centralized, synchronous, and pastorally controlled church models. Instead, new forms of Christian practice—characterized by dispersion, autonomy, and decentralized participation—are gaining traction. The study distinguishes “de-institutionalization” from mere “dechurching,” arguing that the former is not a deliberate rejection of church institutions but a natural response to their declining adaptability and authority. Drawing parallels with such movements as the “emerging church” and “liquid church” among evangelicals in Western society, the paper highlights shared emphases on relational networks, participatory structures, and decentralized spiritual leadership.

　　To provide theoretical grounding, the discussion applies Max Weber’s concept of the “routinization of charisma” and the contemporary political-scientific framework of “decentralization” to analyze Pauline churches in the first century. Weber’s theory elucidates the transformation from charismatic to traditional or legal authority within early Christian communities, particularly showing how Paul’s personal charisma gradually gave way to institutional structures. In contrast, “de-institutionalized” groups today seek to reverse this process by reclaiming vitality, flexibility, personal relationship, and authenticity. The study further investigates the degree of decentralization in Paul’s congregations, with special attention to the Corinthian Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:17-34) and its socio-economic organization. By comparing Pauline communities to Graeco-Roman voluntary associations, the paper identifies egalitarian and participatory patterns (“flat hierarchy”) that reflect both political and fiscal decentralization. These features may stimulate the imagination toward models of shared leadership and financial sustainability within the “de-institutionalized” groups.

　　In sum, “de-institutionalization” is not a call for “anarchy” in the established church today but an invitation to reimagine Christian community beyond bureaucratic and hierarchical limits. Insights from the organizational structures of early Pauline communities and Graeco-Roman voluntary associations offer valuable analogies for revitalizing Christian life today.

What is the Church Community? A Theological Reflection from the Perspective of “De-Churching”

Andres S. TANG

　　This article examines the concept of church community through a theological lens in the light of the emerging trends of “de-congregationalization,” “de-denominationalization,” and “non-churchism” within Chinese churches, particularly in Hong Kong. These movements, reflecting dissatisfaction with traditional church structures, vary in meaning and lack comprehensive empirical support. Rather than offering statistical analysis, the author uses these phenomena as a springboard to rethink the theological essence of the church community.

　　The discussion categorizes “de-churching” into three forms: (1) “de-congregationalization,” rejecting the constraints of local congregations; (2) “de-denominationalization,” challenging denominational boundaries; and (3) “non-churchism,” advocating personal faith without institutional ties. These trends are linked to the rise of “multi-community Christians” who move freely between churches, signaling a desire to liberate faith from rigid ecclesial structures. The author examines these critiques theologically, drawing on theologians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, and John Webster, who emphasize the church as a divinely instituted community rooted in the Trinity’s work of creation, fall, and redemption. This perspective rejects the notion of purely individualistic faith and affirms the church as an essential mediator for knowing God.

　　The article also considers whether believers can freely navigate different denominational traditions, arguing that while traditions are diverse and evolving, they are indispensable for interpreting Scripture and engaging with God’s revelation. Finally, it examines whether entire congregations can collectively make decisions, citing Baptist and Quaker models of believer-led governance under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, while cautioning against unstructured democracy that risks undermining divine order.

　　In conclusion, the author contends that despite calls for “de-churching,” the church—whether local, denominational, or universal—remains a vital instrument of God’s grace through preaching and sacraments. This reflection seeks to correct malpractices and reaffirms the church’s indispensable role in sustaining Christian life, balancing critique with theological renewal.

The Phenomenon of “De-Churching” and Its Challenges to Hong Kong Churches

LEUNG Kwok Chuen, Nelson

　　Based on the 2024 Hong Kong Church Survey and the author’s personal observations, this article examines the phenomenon of Christian dropout and dechurching in Hong Kong against the backdrop of youth attrition, the emigration-driven diaspora, the shift to online worship, and the impact of social movements. In recent years, new forms of faith communities have emerged. These developments can be categorized into four types: church expansion, church planting, pastoral ministries for dechurched Christians, and business as mission. The growing number of dechurched individuals not only challenges the church to re-examine its essence and mission but also presents new opportunities, such as the emergence of “slash pastors” who serve the dechurched. Exploring new church forms fosters discussions on church transformation and revival among congregations. The dechurched and the in-churched are not necessarily in opposition; as the body of Christ, Hong Kong churches should pursue collaboration, address one another’s weaknesses, and adjust pastoral approaches and leadership as needed. Ultimately, churches should prioritize cultivating mature disciples and building healthy communities to fulfill the Great Commandment and God’s calling.

Why Do Young People Choose to Stay in the Church amidst the Exodus?

LAM Chi Yeung

　　This study examines the phenomenon of youth leaving Hong Kong Chinese churches in the post-pandemic era. Rather than investigating the reasons behind their departure, this research explores why some young people choose to stay. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study conducted semi-structured interviews with seven young believers aged 19 to 25, all with over five years of church involvement in various local Chinese churches. Through qualitative analysis of 251 minutes of recorded interviews, six high-level themes emerged: (1) group belonging and support, (2) spiritual life and value construction, (3) service involvement and gift utilization, (4) pastoral relationships and spiritual role models, (5) personal growth opportunities, and (6) intimate relationship with God. Drawing on these findings, the author offers practical recommendations for church leaders, aligned with four Christian education approaches: faith teaching, faith community, spiritual development, and social transformation. This research aims to offer insights for pastors and church leaders to develop strategic ministry planning that addresses youth retention, and helps churches become more supportive of nurturing youth engagement.

Is There a Protestant Ressourcement? The Perspective of John Webster on Ressourcement Movement and Protestant Theology

CHOW Chun Sing Frankie

　　The ressourcement movement, which emerged in the mid-twentieth century and profoundly shaped the Second Vatican Council, sought a “return to the sources” that influenced both Catholic and Protestant theological methodologies. This paper examines the distinct approaches to theological method and the concept of tradition in Catholicism and Protestantism through the lens of John B. Webster. By analyzing Webster’s framework, this study argues that the theological sources and views of the Bible in that movement diverge significantly. Webster posits that a shared ad fontes of Christianity should be grounded in a proper understanding of the doctrine of God. Additionally, the paper delineates the nuanced distinctions between ressourcement, retrieval, and renaissance, providing a conceptual topography for further theological discourse.