Roger T. Forster
Encyclopedia
Roger Thomas Forster is the leader of Ichthus Christian Fellowship
, a neocharismatic Evangelical
Christian Church
that forms part of the British New Church Movement. In 1965 he married Faith Forster (1941- ) and has three children.
, Michael Harper, Michael Green
and David Sheppard
. By the standards of his later evangelical beliefs, he considered his Methodist upbringing to be both liberal and without a clear presentation of the Christian gospel
. When he heard an explanation of it by an Anglican bishop
(Hugh Gough) at the Christian Union, he decided, "to follow Christ." Whilst fellowshipping with the Plymouth Brethren
and a variety of denominations, he reported an experience of being baptised in the Spirit
which he described as "sine curves of love going through the room." Sider observes that the foundations of later values began to take shape at this point: a commitment to combine evangelical ministry with social action, together with recognition and service to all true people of God, irrespective of church affiliation.
led him to the work of University missions. He had several experiences of seeing small groups set up after an evangelistic campaign; this showed him it was possible to gather converts into the nucleus of a new church. Later he became involved in urban
mission
. He was associated with the work of Honor Oak Fellowship
under the leadership of Theodore Austin-Sparks
. Sparks' teaching on organic church life and the work of the cross in the believer made a great impression on Forster.
in his front room with 14 people, including Roger and Sue Mitchell. Ichthus began with "elements of Brethren ecclesiology, an acceptance of second blessing theology, a willingness to engage in spiritual warfare, [and] a recognition that the church was big and varied rather than narrow and sectarian." Rather than planting a church to simply give place to the gifts of the Spirit, Ichthus was committed to practical service, on-the-job training, evangelism, overseas mission and service to all, aiming at love for each other as the final evidence of authentic Christianity.
led by Roger Forster, Pioneer led by Gerald Coates
and Youth with a Mission led by Lynn Green - together with worship leader Graham Kendrick
- led to March for Jesus
, a movement which over the next three years spread across the UK, Europe and North America, and finally across the world. Hundreds of smaller marches emerged in its wake. The songs that form Graham Kendrick
's Shine Jesus Shine - the best-selling UK praise and worship album of its era - were written during a time when he was worship leader at Ichthus
.
Theologian and author Greg Boyd
dedicated his 2007 book The Jesus Legend to Forster, stating that "for fifty years Roger has tirelessly and selflessly served the Kingdom with intellectual brilliance and Christ-like sacrifice."
October 2008, appointed Alliance Council Chair at the Evangelical Alliance
.
with V. Paul Marston
with Graham Kendrick, Gerald Coates and Lynn Green
with Faith Forster
Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
, a neocharismatic Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
that forms part of the British New Church Movement. In 1965 he married Faith Forster (1941- ) and has three children.
Cambridge
Forster studied Mathematics and Theology at Cambridge University from 1951-1954. He was a contemporary of David WatsonDavid Watson (evangelist)
David C. K. Watson was an English Anglican priest, evangelist and author.-Biography:Watson was educated at Wellington College school and St. John's College, Cambridge where he converted to Christianity. He became involved with the ministry of E. J. H. Nash by the invitation of David Sheppard,...
, Michael Harper, Michael Green
Michael Green (theologian)
Edward Michael Bankes Green is a British theologian, Anglican priest, Christian apologist and author of more than 50 Christian books.- Early life, education and ministry :...
and David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
. By the standards of his later evangelical beliefs, he considered his Methodist upbringing to be both liberal and without a clear presentation of the Christian gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. When he heard an explanation of it by an Anglican bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
(Hugh Gough) at the Christian Union, he decided, "to follow Christ." Whilst fellowshipping with the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
and a variety of denominations, he reported an experience of being baptised in the Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is a term describing baptism in or with the Spirit of God...
which he described as "sine curves of love going through the room." Sider observes that the foundations of later values began to take shape at this point: a commitment to combine evangelical ministry with social action, together with recognition and service to all true people of God, irrespective of church affiliation.
RAF
After graduating, he became an officer in the RAF from 1954-1956. His radical mindset became evident immediately, as even in the RAF he put into practice the "organic church" ideas of G H Lang. He met with others at a pub, a club or a home, circled some chairs and expected everyone to contribute, as he felt the Bible recommended. This successful work led to invitations to preach at churches in the surrounding area; his itinerant evangelistic work began at this point.Itinerant evangelist
From 1956-1969 his commitment to evangelismEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
led him to the work of University missions. He had several experiences of seeing small groups set up after an evangelistic campaign; this showed him it was possible to gather converts into the nucleus of a new church. Later he became involved in urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
. He was associated with the work of Honor Oak Fellowship
Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre
The Honor Oak Christian Fellowship & Conference Centre, generally known as the Christian Fellowship Centre or Honor Oak, was a Christian conference and training facility located on Honor Oak Road in south-east London. The centre was the ministry base for its founder, the British evangelist and...
under the leadership of Theodore Austin-Sparks
Theodore Austin-Sparks
Theodore Austin-Sparks , usually known as "Mr. Sparks" or just "TAS", was a British Christian evangelist and author.Born in London in 1888, Mr. Austin-Sparks was sent as a boy to live in Scotland with his father's relatives. It was there that he became a Christian at the age of 17 while listening...
. Sparks' teaching on organic church life and the work of the cross in the believer made a great impression on Forster.
Ichthus
In September 1974 Forster began Ichthus Christian FellowshipIchthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
in his front room with 14 people, including Roger and Sue Mitchell. Ichthus began with "elements of Brethren ecclesiology, an acceptance of second blessing theology, a willingness to engage in spiritual warfare, [and] a recognition that the church was big and varied rather than narrow and sectarian." Rather than planting a church to simply give place to the gifts of the Spirit, Ichthus was committed to practical service, on-the-job training, evangelism, overseas mission and service to all, aiming at love for each other as the final evidence of authentic Christianity.
March for Jesus
In 1987 the relationship of IchthusIchthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
led by Roger Forster, Pioneer led by Gerald Coates
Gerald Coates
Gerald Coates is the founder of Pioneer, a Christian community established to "develop new churches across the UK and engage in mission globally." The Pioneer network is a neocharismatic group of evangelical churches. It is part of the British New Church Movement and can also be described as...
and Youth with a Mission led by Lynn Green - together with worship leader Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick is a prolific British Christian singer-songwriter and worship leader. He is the son of a Baptist pastor. He now lives in Croydon and is a former member of Ichthus Christian Fellowship...
- led to March for Jesus
March for Jesus
March for Jesus is an annual interdenominational event in which Christians march through towns and cities.March for Jesus began as City March in London in 1987. It emerged out of the friendship of three church groups: Pioneer, led by Gerald Coates; Ichthus led by Roger Forster; and Youth with a...
, a movement which over the next three years spread across the UK, Europe and North America, and finally across the world. Hundreds of smaller marches emerged in its wake. The songs that form Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick is a prolific British Christian singer-songwriter and worship leader. He is the son of a Baptist pastor. He now lives in Croydon and is a former member of Ichthus Christian Fellowship...
's Shine Jesus Shine - the best-selling UK praise and worship album of its era - were written during a time when he was worship leader at Ichthus
Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
.
Reputation
According to Andrew Walker, a leading commentator on the British New Church Movement he is considered to have "one of the finest minds in the Evangelical constituency."Theologian and author Greg Boyd
Gregory A. Boyd
Gregory A. "Greg" Boyd is an evangelical pastor, Christian theologian and author. He is Senior Pastor of the Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States and is President of Christus Victor Ministries.-Biography:...
dedicated his 2007 book The Jesus Legend to Forster, stating that "for fifty years Roger has tirelessly and selflessly served the Kingdom with intellectual brilliance and Christ-like sacrifice."
Appointments
Vice-President, Tear Fund.October 2008, appointed Alliance Council Chair at the Evangelical Alliance
Evangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
.
Books
by Roger Forster- That's a good question! Reasonable answers about living faith (Tyndale House, 1974) ISBN 0842370307
- Saturday Night...Monday Morning (Inter-Varsity Press, 1980) ISBN 0851104126
- Saving Faith (Moving on) (Scripture Union Publishing, 1985) ISBN 0862012201
- Ten New Churches (Christian Research, 1986) ISBN 0947697209
- Finding the Path: The Search for Spiritual Reality (Leicester: Frameworks, 1991) ISBN 0-85111-218-8
- The Kingdom of Jesus: The Radical Challenge of the Message of Jesus (Colorado Springs: Authentic Lifestyle, 2002) ISBN 1-85078-468-5
- Prayer: Living in the breath of God (Colorado Springs: Authentic Lifestyle, 2003) ISBN 1-85078-469-8
- Trinity: Song and Dance God (Milton Keynes: Authentic Lifestyle, 2004) ISBN 1-85078-529-5
- Suffering and the Love of God: The Book of Job (London: Push Publishing, 2006) ISBN 0-9553783-0-3
with V. Paul Marston
- Yes, But...: Reasonable Questions about Living Faith (Victory P., Jan 1971) ISBN 0854760970
- God's Strategy in Human History: God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility (Godalming: Highland, 1989) ISBN 0946616558
- Reason and Faith: Do Science and Theology Really Conflict? (Crowborough: Monarch, 1989) ISBN 1854240544
- Christianity Evidence & Truth (Crowborough: Monarch, 1995) ISBN 185424311X
with Graham Kendrick, Gerald Coates and Lynn Green
- March for Jesus (Kingsway Publications, 1992) ISBN 0860659879
with Faith Forster
- Women and the Kingdom (London: Push Publishing, 2010) ISBN 978-0-9553783-3-1
Further reading
- Roger Forster, Ray Mayhew "Organising a Caring Church," Christian Brethren Review 35 (1985) 25-38.
- Anthony O'Sullivan, "Roger Forster and the Ichthus Christian Fellowship: The Development of a Charismatic Missiology" Pneuma 16 no 2 Fall 1994, 247-263.
- Anthony O'Sullivan, "Reconciliation and Renewal in Roger T. Forster: the Doctrine of Atonement in the Teaching and Practice of a Restoration Theology", Ph.D. Thesis, University of Leeds, 2001.