First Virtual Global Pentecostal Studies Conference: “Mapping Global Pentecostal Issues”

When: Saturday, 31st October 2020, from 12:00-20:00.

What: The European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent) will be having its first Virtual Conference, hosted by The Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at the University of Birmingham. The theme is “Mapping Global Pentecostal Issues.”  

Keynote Speakers

J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu (Trinity Theological Seminary Ghana). “The Lord is the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:17): An African Critique of Global Pentecostal Theologies.”

Corneliu Constantineanu (Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad). “The Spirit Engaging and Transforming Life: Tenets of Romanian Pentecostalism.”

Daniel Chiquete (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey). “¿Lugares del espíritu? El pentecostalismo y sus representaciones espaciales en América Latina” (in Spanish).

Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (Fuller Theological Seminary). “Identities of Global Pentecostalism(s) in the Pluralistic and Secular World: Theological Tasks and Challenges.”

More Information: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/ptr/departments/theologyandreligion/events/2020/glopent-world.aspx

Introduction to the latest issue of AJPS, 22:2, from Dave Johnson.

In this issue of the Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies we are pursuing a more general theme called Theological Issues in Asia. While a multitude of issues could be chosen, our intent here is to allow the various authors to define the issues for the contexts in which they serve. The Journal is downloadable for free at www.aptspress.org.

Jacqueline Grey, an Old Testament scholar who served as an Australian missionary in a Muslim majority nation for three years, opens this edition by discussing the concept of the Missio Dei (Mission of God), limiting her treatment to Isaiah 6:1-9:6.

Prudencio Coz, a Filipino pastor, opens his article by posing the question, “What is the difference between Monday morning and Sunday?’ He then deals with the issue of vocation and its reciprocal economic and spiritual implications.

Korean scholar Sang Yun Lee, drawing from his book, A Theology of Hope: Contextual Perspectives in Korean Pentecostalism (Baguio City, Philippines: APTS Press, 2018), takes a serious look at Yonggi Cho’s well-known Three Fold Blessing theology. Originally formulated and taught in the context of the devastation of post-war Korea, Lee contends that Cho’s message needs to be recontextualized to address the ecclesiastical and sociological challenges of the 21st century.

Myanmar pastor Stephen Shwe concludes this edition with a two-part article dealing with the tension between zeal and knowledge, especially when it comes to theological education or ministerial training.

The entire Journal team joins me in wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In Christ,

Dave Johnson, DMiss
Managing Editor

Thank you for your patience as we work through how to overcome this difficulty. Meanwhile, you may still read all individual articles and reviews from all of our past issues in the Archive (organized into the categories listed below): over 1,100 articles and counting.

• Biblical Studies
• Church History
• Spirit
• Ministry
• Living the Faith
• In Depth

Mike Dies and Raul Mock at an editorial meeting on February 6, 2015.

Update for Saturday, February 28: Some features of the site were temporarily unavailable earlier today while we worked through some maintenance options. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, please leave a comment below or Contact the editor.

Please join the PneumaReview.com editors in offering thanks to God for the successful transformation of the journal from print to digital. One year ago, none of us dreamed that we would be inviting readers to engage with such an amazing online platform. It is our pleasure to offer these great resources and to join you in conversation.

We would certainly appreciate your prayers as we continue to roll-out features on the website, add every article from every back issue, and continue to publish new issues of the journal.

You can find the eight most recent issues on these pages:

• Fall 2013: PneumaReview.com/fall-2013
• Summer 2013: PneumaReview.com/summer-2013
• Spring 2013: PneumaReview.com/spring-2013
• Winter 2013: PneumaReview.com/winter-2013
• Fall 2012: PneumaReview.com/fall-2012
• Summer 2012: PneumaReview.com/summer-2012
• Spring 2012: PneumaReview.com/spring-2012
• Winter 2012: PneumaReview.com/winter-2012

Steven M. Studebaker, ed., Defining Issues in Pentecostalism: Classical and Emergent, McMaster Theological Studies Series 1 (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2008), 207 pages, ISBN 9781556358432.

Studebaker brings together a number of significant points of discussion from a forum on Pentecostal theology held at McMaster Divinity College in 2007. The impressive list of participants includes among others Clark Pinnock, Frank Macchia, Amos Yong, and Roger Stronstad, all well-known contributors in the discussion of Pentecostal topics. This collection describes itself as an introduction to classical doctrines of Pentecostalism and significant contemporary debates. The list of topics is divided into issues concerning theological and biblical studies, the former including Spirit baptism (Macchia), theology of the religions (Yong), theology of grace (Studebaker), and divine attributes (Gabriel), the latter addressing the charismatic theology of Luke (Stronstad), Pauline Theology of the Spirit (Westfall), and a discussion of the Spirit and suffering (Mittelstadt). An epilogue by Clark Pinnock and a study guide on Pentecostal resources complete the volume.

In many ways, this collection is a trailblazer for the rapid development of Pentecostal theology. Comprehensive studies on Pentecostal thought and praxis have been introduced to the market only in the last three decades, and only the last few years have shown a concerted effort among Pentecostals and the wider ecumenical community to come to terms with the issues that define Pentecostalism. In that sense, Studebaker does not aim at a comprehensive collection in this volume but rather at a concise approach to the issues that have influenced the formation of Classical Pentecostalism and that continue to shape the Pentecostal movement in its global dimensions.

This tension between the established North American origins of the Pentecostal movement and the diversity of global manifestations of Pentecostalism worldwide gives life to this collection of essays. The label “introduction” is applicable to this collection insofar as many of the essays initiate a conversation that the authors have engaged already on a much broader level in their academic publications. Macchia’s essay, for example, opens up to a wider discussion in his book, Baptized in the Spirit, Yong has addressed the question of a theology of religions in a number of his monographs, and Stronstad’s essay is a revisiting of his original thesis on the charismatic theology of Luke’s Gospel. Those who have not yet read these texts or have been hesitant to approach the more academic discussion will find in this volume a welcome initiation to some of the central themes.

Steven M. Studebaker is Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at McMaster Divinity College.

On the other hand, it is also the essays of emerging young scholars that breathe life into the collection. Studebaker’s own contribution to a Pentecostal theology of grace is an excellent example of the new Pentecostal scholarship that has begun to emerge in recent years. His essay not only speaks of personal experience but engages the Pentecostal self-understanding in an informed dialogue with other theological traditions. Studebaker’s own theological training at a Catholic institution (Marquette University) reflects the maturing of Pentecostal scholars who are willing and able to engage theological issues with an informed, ecumenical perspective that does not shy away from the historical and philosophical contexts that have shaped the debate. At the same time, many of the authors are frank in their criticism of their own Pentecostal tradition and urge Pentecostals on to develop a more comprehensive and engaging theology that overcomes internal Pentecostal debates. The essays in this volume are far from short-sighted. And it is perhaps the far-sighted vision of the authors that presents a weak point in the collection.