Charles H. Kraft, professor of anthropology and intercultural communication at Fuller Theological Seminary, in Pasadena, California speaks out for participatory church.  In in his book, Christianity With Power:  Your Worldview and Your Experience of the Supernatural, although he says that he is not a charismatic, Professor Kraft said this:

“Where did our present practice of centering our church meetings on a lecture (called a sermon) come from? It was imported from the surrounding society, especially from the schools. The Reformers–Luther, Calvin, and others–were academics. They were trained by listening to lectures. So, they made their lectures/sermons the focal point of the church meetings they led.” –Charles H. Kraft

“In the churches I have attended over the years, we never had to deal with problems such as everyone speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:23) or everyone prophesying (verse 24) or people getting disorderly as they bring hymns, teaching, revelation, messages in tongues, or interpretations (verse 26) — because everything was controlled from up front.”  –Charles H. Kraft

“We have learned to control church meetings as we would secular meetings, rather than inviting the Holy Spirit to come and do whatever He would like to do.”  –Charles H. Kraft

In Nashville, Tennessee there is a church that is not led from the front.  Instead ordinary people show and tell what God has done as they are prompted by the Holy Spirit.  The results are always amazing.  Come and see for yourself:  225 Berry St., 37207 on Sunday mornings at 10:45 am. — The Salvation Army Berry Street.