RUSSIAN WAR IN UKRAINE AS A CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES UKRAINIAN CHARISMATICISM (FOCUS ON THE “NEW GENERATION” CHURCH)

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformations of Ukrainian charismaticism caused by the pre-war and war periods of Ukraine’s existence. The object of the analysis is the New Generation Church, and the subject is its institutionalization, theological, and functional changes. The author substantiates the need to supplement the transformation processes with the author’s periodization of the development of the charismatic movement in Ukraine (A. Tyshchenko), which included 3 stages: the revivalist, missionary and institutionalization periods. The author proposes to supplement the periodization with a stage called the militaristic one. Its starting point is marked by the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine – February 24, 2022. The stage is observed in real time and has the following characteristics: 1) recording the passage of the New Generation Church through a bifurcation point, after which it will necessarily undergo institutional changes and will need to develop a strategy for its further existence; 2) consolidation and institutionalization of the chaplaincy-volunteer form of social and evangelistic activity. It is determined that the time period of the observed “military” stage of development/transformation of the New Generation Church is open, so it is difficult to predict with certainty the full range of changes and their post-war consequences for the Church.