Pentecostal Dialogue Research Articles

Pentecostal Lyrical Theology in Dialogue with Lutherans on Water Baptism

Lutheran–Pentecostal dialogue has devoted significant attention to water baptism. Much of this reflection, however, has been encumbered by a lack of developed scholarly attention given to baptism among Pentecostals. Pentecostal language of ordinance and symbolism has even led Lutherans to critique Pentecostal baptismal theology as anthropocentric and anaemic. To correct this misunderstanding, I study a Pentecostal baptismal hymn – Brooke and Scott Ligertwood’s “Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise)” – as an alternative entry point into Pentecostal baptismal theology. The analysis demonstrates that the testimonial dimension of baptism presumes a recognition of divine work in the rite. The baptizand encounters Christ and is brought into a deeper participation in his death and resurrection. This understanding of Pentecostal baptismal theology advances dialogue with Lutherans by clarifying Pentecostal rhetoric and revealing more insightful questions into the tensions between the two traditions.

Fifty Years of Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue, 1972–2022

Abstract This article offers a sweeping view of the first fifty years of the International Roman Catholic–Pentecostal Dialogue, from the perspective of an historian who has participated in this ongoing discussion for the past thirty-seven years. While the first two rounds of dialogue were especially difficult because of the political disputes between the then Assemblies of God General Superintendent, Thomas F. Zimmerman, and David du Plessis, the former General Secretary of the Pentecostal World Conference, the Dialogue has survived and produced six major studies so far, with a seventh round that has resumed after COVID-19 in July 2022. Today, this ecumenical dialogue is the oldest and most widely accepted in the world that features Pentecostals. The article explains some of the difficulties participants have faced, challenges they have overcome, and it explains how the dialogue has opened doors for further communication between Catholics and Pentecostals. It concludes with the recognition that the dialogue has contributed to problem solving and has helped to open the path towards the establishment of the Christian Unity Commission of the Pentecostal World Fellowship.

Called to God’s Mission

Abstract The following reflection will look at the document that resulted the International Reformed—Pentecostal Dialogue. It will highlight the context in which mission is relevant to both ecclesial traditions. In the end attention will be drawn to the language in which this text was written and what that tells us about developing ecumenical relations between Reformed and Pentecostal churches.

Observations on Pentecostal Participation in Formal Ecumenical Dialogue

AbstractAs analysis of the implications of global Pentecostalism for ecumenism continues, we can learn much by examining the formal ecumenical dialogues in which Pentecostals have participated. Among these dialogues, both between Pentecostals and other Christian traditions and between Oneness and trinitarian Pentecostals, the Catholic–Pentecostal dialogue is especially instructive. As Pentecostals continue to dialogue, they should employ the methodology of lex orandi, lex credendi, reflect on the requirements and responsibilities of their dialogue participation, and return to previous topics in their dialogues that may be ripe for reconsideration.

Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drum: Classical Pentecostals in Ecumenical Dialogue

The theological themes and ecumenical methods which dominate current ecumenical discourse reflect the preferences of the traditions long active in the movement. This poses a serious challenge to the growing participation of the Pentecostal and Evangelical sections of Christianity in ecumenical dialogues. Their integration demands not only that they learn to step into this history, but also that their spiritual and theological particularities carry weight in the further development of ecumenical theology. Four decades of International Roman Catholic–Classical Pentecostal Dialogue demonstrate how courageous choices regarding themes, dialogue method and theological method can mature and bear fruit. It teaches new partners in the ecumenical dance not to simply copy the rhythms and moves of their dialogue partners, but to dance to the beat of their own drums.

Response to Reviews of Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church

This essay is a response to my Pentecostal dialogue partners around their review of my Prophetic Jesus Prophetic Church. The piece is structured around the book’s general framework, our points of basic agreement, and points where we disagree.

Local Dialogue as a Means to Ecumenical Reception? The International and Dutch Pentecostal-Catholic Dialogues in Close-up

Abstract The International Roman Catholic-Classical Pentecostal Dialogue, established in 1972, encourages the initiation of local Pentecostal-Catholic dialogues. Such dialogues are deemed important to get feedback from the grassroots and to promote reception of the irccpd’s ecumenical achievements. The Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue in the Netherlands (1999-2009) is arguably to date the prime example of such a local spin-off and its history evidences strong ties with the international dialogue. The desired feedback to the international level was virtually absent, but the usefulness of the irccpd’s Final Reports for the local context was acknowledged and the Dutch dialogue was considered locally fruitful. The local context is however constantly changing and in order to deal with the issues deemed most important by both dialogue partners, a reconfiguration of the Dutch dialogue involving a third partner has been prepared since 2009. As the dialogue is no ‘official’ spin-off of the irccpd, chances are high that the ties with the international dialogue will soon be severed.

Science and the spirit: a Pentecostal engagement with the sciences

Outline: What might be described as a Pentecostal worldview has become a powerful cultural phenomenon, but it is often at odds with modernity and globalization. This book confronts questions of spirituality in the face of contemporary science. The essays in this volume illustrate how Pentecostalism can usefully engage with technology and scientific discovery and consider what might be distinctive about a Pentecostal dialogue with the sciences. The authors conclude that Pentecostals, with their unique perspectives on spirituality, can contribute new insights for a productive interaction between theology and science. Contributors are Steve Badger, Donald F. Calbreath, Dennis W. Cheek, Margaret M. Poloma, Craig Scandrette-Leatherman, James K. A. Smith, Mike Tenneson, Wolfgang Vondey, Frederick L. Ware, Telford Work, and Amos Yong.

The Movement Toward Mysticism in Gustavo Gutiérrez’s Thought: Is This an Open Door to Pentecostal Dialogue?

AbstractOver the last few years a distinct shift has occurred within the thought of liberation theology’s most famous proponent, Gustavo Gutiérrez. Specifically, Gutiérrez has ventured into mysticism. With this movement a fascinating question can be posed: Does the incorporation of mysticism open up a door for dialogue with Latin America’s other popular theology, Pentecostalism? Conversely, should Pentecostalism reflexively understand itself historically and theologically as a liberating movement of the poor? Placed together, an emphasis on praxis seems to reveal, at minimum, a common starting point. The methodology of the paper incorporates a detailed historical analysis of Gutiérrez’s position on mysticism and moves to the conclusion that the shift in emphasis opens the door, albeit a small crack, to one of the most exciting opportunities to occur within the history of Christianity: the marriage of Pentecostal spirituality with liberating social action.

“On Becoming a Christian”

This paper reviews the fifth round of discussions in the International Roman Catholic – Pentecostal Dialogue by closely following and analyzing the final report “On Becoming a Christian: Insights from Scripture and the Patristic Writings”. Beginning with an introduction about the dialogue as a whole and some remarks regarding the selection of the subject for the fifth round, the analysis focuses on the five main sections on the report. After laying out the difficulties and differences as well as the agreements and similarities that were discovered in the fifth round, the hope is expressed that the International Roman Catholic – Pentecostal Dialogue has laid a strong foundation on which another generation of ecumenists will be able to build.

Oneness-Trinitarian Pentecostal Final Report, 2002-2007

AbstractThis Final Report of the Oneness-Trinitarian Pentecostal dialogue and the six-year study that led up to it were commissioned by the Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS), an international society of scholars established in 1970 to provide a venue for research related to Pentecostal and Charismatic studies. This Report deals with the five issues discussed during the five years of study (the sixth year was devoted to the Final Report): The Historic Division between Oneness and Trinitarian Pentecostals, Baptism, Christology and the Godhead, Salvation, and Holiness.

Evangelization, Proselytism, and Common Witness: Roman Catholic—Pentecostal Dialogue on Mission, 1990–1997

Evangelization, Proselytism, and Common Witness: Roman Catholic—Pentecostal Dialogue on Mission, 1990–1997

“ECUMENISM IN WONDERLAND”: ROMAN CATHOLIC - PENTECOSTAL DIALOGUE ON MISSION AND PROSELYTISM

International Review of MissionVolume 89, Issue 355 p. 556-567 “ECUMENISM IN WONDERLAND”: ROMAN CATHOLIC - PENTECOSTAL DIALOGUE ON MISSION AND PROSELYTISM Veli-Matti Kårkkåinen, Veli-Matti Kårkkåinen Dr Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is a former Pentecostal missionary and now assistant professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA. He also holds a teaching post in ecumenics at the University of Helsinki, Finland.Search for more papers by this author Veli-Matti Kårkkåinen, Veli-Matti Kårkkåinen Dr Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is a former Pentecostal missionary and now assistant professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA. He also holds a teaching post in ecumenics at the University of Helsinki, Finland.Search for more papers by this author First published: 25 March 2009 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6631.2000.tb00244.xCitations: 1 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume89, Issue355October 2000Pages 556-567 RelatedInformation

BOOK REVIEWS

International Review of MissionVolume 89, Issue 355 p. 609-616 BOOK REVIEWS First published: 25 March 2009 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6631.2000.tb00253.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Book reviewed in this article: The Common Task: a Theology of Christian Mission by M. Thomas Thangaraj Dictionary of Third World Theologies, ed. by Virginia Fabella, M.M., and R.S. Sugirtharajah The Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion Made to Travel, ed. by Murray W. Dempster, Byron D. Klaus, Douglas Peterson The New Latin American Mission History, ed. by Erick Langer and Robert Jackson Repkrès pour la mission chrètienne. Cinq siècles de tradition missionnaire. Perspectives æuméniques. Ed. by Klauspeter Blaser Ad ultimum terrae. Evangelization, Proselytism and Common Witness in the Roman Catholic Pentecostal Dialogue (1990–1997), by Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen Volume89, Issue355October 2000Pages 609-616 RelatedInformation

A Response to my Pentecostal Dialogue Partners

A Response to my Pentecostal Dialogue Partners