Future of North American Pentecostalism

Abstract

Abstract This essay proposes first to chart the future of the pentecostal-charismatic movement in North America in terms of demographers’ projection of the movement’s numerical growth and other factors. Demographic growth is related to the continual arrival, in the near future, of pentecostal-charismatic Christians, other Christians, and potential converts to North America by way of diasporas mostly associated with the Global South. Second, within North America, these diasporas will continue to form transnational pentecostal-charismatic denominations with their international headquarters located in a country of the Global South. Related to these diasporas will be the further development of multiracial denominations led by American and Canadian citizens in North America. Third, the presence of transnational and multiracial denominations could prompt a reconfiguration of the movement, reshaping the religious infrastructure, racial politics, and post-secular engagement of the pentecostal-charismatic movement in North America. These demographic shifts offer the movement an opportunity to re-engage racial politics away from White supremacy with a critical use of the Racial Reconciliation Manifesto of the 1990s. Such a re-engagement could offer a sector within the pentecostal-charismatic movement a way to exit its alliance with the Christian Right, to participate with pentecostal-charismatic Christians of color in reconstituting the movement on the basis of the gospel rather than race, and to partner with secularists in generating post-secular sensibilities animated by post-racist practices that cultivate amicable civic relationships.