Aglow International

Aglow began in 1967 with four women who expressed a desire to meet together as Christians without denominational boundaries.[7] The four women were wives of members of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International. The women wanted a similar women's devotional association, "one where 'those coming into the charismatic renewal could meet to pray, fellowship, and listen to the testimonies of other Christian women.' In a few months the women had formed the Full Gospel Women's Fellowship which spread rapidly."[8] The first general meeting in Seattle drew more than 100 women to the Meany Hotel close to the University of Washington campus. It did not take long for women who attended that first meeting to invite their neighbors and friends to regular meetings in other communities surrounding Seattle. Word spread, and new groups began springing up around Washington.

By 1972, more than 60 local groups held monthly meetings around the U.S.,[7] and the Full Gospel Women's Fellowship was incorporated as the Women's Aglow Fellowship International.[9] Within the next year, groups began in Canada, New Zealand, and The Netherlands, making Aglow an international "network of caring women."

In 1981, Aglow's President, Jane Hansen, began to speak and write about the restoration of women according to the significance of their created role as outlined in the Bible. This grew into Aglow's teaching on the importance of male/female reconciliation in the Church.[10] In 1991 and 1995, Aglow began focusing on ministering to Muslims.[11] Aglow tries to bring awareness about Islam to Christians and also sponsors an Arabic Language television show that is geared specifically for Muslim women.[5] Women's Aglow Fellowship changed its name to Aglow International in 1995. This change was instituted to encompass the growing global nature of the organization.

In 2001, Aglow decided to stand with and support the nation of Israel and the Jewish people in the following areas:[12]  

• To expose anti-Semitism and false doctrines which seek to destroy the Jewish people such as Replacement Theology or Supersessionism, calling for repentance in the Church at large;
• To love, support, honor, and esteem the Jewish people as the root from which Christianity has grown (Romans 11:18)[13]

Aglow marked its 40th year in 2007. More than 200,000 Aglow members celebrated worldwide, and many attended commemorative events including an international conference September 20–23 in the organization's founding city, Seattle, and a tour of Israel - the group's seventh such journey to the Holy Land since 2000.[11]

Aglow International has a hierarchical leadership structure. Within the United States, local Aglow groups are called Lighthouses.[14] Outside the US, these groups are called Candlelight groups.[15] The local groups are composed of women who come together for Bible Study, teachings, and also to perform community outreach tasks and events. Meetings can take place in any location from homes to community halls to prisons.[7] Lighthouses and Candlelight groups are under the leadership of local women who have undergone the requisite leadership training. These leaders are in turn under the authority of Area Teams. Area Teams give oversight to multiple groups in a particular region or area. National Directors or Presidents oversee all the Area Teams in a nation. All the leaders in these offices are indigenous women who have also undergone leadership training. In keeping with its charismatic roots, Aglow requires all its leaders to show evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit by being able to speak in tongues.[5]

In addition, each region in the world has a Prayer Coordinator who oversees and coordinates the prayer ministry under the oversight of the Prayer Director. The entire structure of Aglow is under the leadership of the International Board of Directors, of which Jane Hansen is the President. This International Board is composed of 11 women of different nationalities who are Aglow national leaders within their own countries as well. Each Aglow group also has at least one male advisor – usually a person of some prominence within an evangelical church. "This structure, together with leadership seminars for specific regions as well as national and worldwide conferences, comprises an international support network and helps to ensure that each local group reflects Aglow's essential identity."[5]

All of the persons in these positions of leadership give their time voluntarily. The only exception is the paid staff of thirty two at the Aglow Worldwide Headquarters in Edmonds, Washington. This staff is responsible for the financial well-being of the organization, the implementation of its goals and purposes, the organization of national conferences and events, and all promotional and advertising materials.

An individual becomes a member of Aglow by entering into what is known as a "covenant partnership".[16] This partnership involves the commitment of regular prayer for the organization as well as financial support in free-will donations. However, people are free to attend Aglow meetings without becoming a covenant partner. Aglow International receives most of its funding from covenant partner donations, individual donations, conference fees, and grants from foundations. A current financial report can be found in the ECFA's web site.[17]

There exist 920 Aglow International entities that are classified by the IRS as churches.[30] They are not required to file annual reports (form 990) with the IRS which are otherwise available for public view. Moreover, by an act of Congress, they are virtually audit-proof. That all of these should qualify as churches is somewhat questionable.

MinistryWatch.org, an independent organization that acts as a "watchdog" for Christian ministries points out the following issues that some people have with Aglow International:[31]

• "Aglow's emphasis on speaking in tongues, particularly in requiring this of its leaders, seems to be out of line with the teachings of Scripture, which do not make tongues-speaking a criterion for leadership.
• Aglow's focus on gender reconciliation within the Church seems to involve accepting women's ordination to pastoral ministry, a recent innovation which many Christians believe is unbiblical.
• Some people might think that Aglow's teaching on relationships… is heavy on pop psychology and light on Christian doctrine.
• Some Christians have criticized what they perceive as Aglow's ecumenism, particularly the organization's openness to Roman Catholics.
• Some people are wary of Aglow's claims to be an apostolic and prophetic ministry, especially as this entails ongoing special revelation from God."

The Journey of a Woman, Jane Hansen, Regal Books, 1998. Fashioned for Intimacy, Jane Hansen with Marie Powers, Regal Books, 1997. God's Daughters: Evangelical Women and the Power of Submission, R. Marie Griffith, University of California Press, 1997.

• Sudbury Aglow, The Sudbury, Suffolk branch of Aglow International
• Colchester Aglow, Essex branch of Aglow International
• Lowestoft Aglow, Suffolk branch of Aglow International
• St Ives Aglow, The St Ives, Cambridge branch of Aglow International