Vondey - Beyond Pentecostalism : the crisis of global Christianity and the renewal of the theological agenda

James K. A. Smith and Amos Yong, Editors

PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will provide a forum for exhibiting the next generation of Pentecostal scholarship. Having exploded across the globe in the twentieth century, Pentecostalism now enters its second century. For the past fifty years, Pentecostal and charismatic theologians (and scholars in other disciplines) have been working "internally," as it were, to articulate a distinctly Pentecostal theology and vision. The next generation of Pentecostal scholarship is poised to move beyond a merely internal conversation to an outwardlooking agenda, in a twofold sense: first, Pentecostal scholars are increasingly gaining the attention of those outside Pentecostal/ charismatic circles as Pentecostal voices in mainstream discussions; second, Pentecostal scholars are moving beyond simply reflecting on their own tradition and instead are engaging in theological and cultural analysis of a variety of issues from a Pentecostal perspective. In short, Pentecostal scholars are poised with a new boldness:

Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was careful to learn the methods of the academy and then "apply" those to the Pentecostal tradition, the next generation is beginning to interrogate the reigning methodologies and paradigms of inquiry from the perspective of a unique Pentecostal worldview.

Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was faithful in applying the tools of their respective trades to the work of illuminating the phenomena of modern Pentecostalism, the charismatic movements, and (now) the global renewal movements, the second generation is expanding its focus to bring a Pentecostal perspective to bear on important questions and issues that are concerns not only for Pentecostals and charismatics but also for the whole church.

Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal/ charismatic scholars was engaged in transforming the anti-intellectualism of the tradition, the second generation is engaged in contributing to and even impacting the conversations of the wider theological academy.

PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will bring together both high-profile scholars and newly emerging scholars to address issues at the intersection of Pentecostal ism, the global church, the theological academy, and even broader cultural concerns. Authors in PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will be writing to and addressing not only their own movements but also those outside of Pentecostal/ charismatic circles, offering a manifesto for a uniquely Pentecostal perspective on various themes. These will be "manifestos" in the sense that they will be bold statements of a distinctly Pentecostal interjection into contemporary discussions and debates, undergirded by rigorous scholarship.

Under this general rubric of bold, programmatic "manifestos," the series will include both shorter, crisply argued volumes that articulate a bold vision within a field as well as longer scholarly monographs, more fully developed and meticulously documented, with the same goal of engaging wider conversations. Such PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS are offered as intrepid contributions with the hope of serving the global church and advancing wider conversations.

PUBLISHED

Frank D. Macchia, Justified in the Spirit: Creation, Redemption, and the Triune God (2010)

James K. A. Smith, Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy (2010)

Wolfgang Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism: The Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the Theological Agenda (2010)

The Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the Theological Agenda

Wolfgang Vondey

WILLIAM B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN / CAMBRIDGE, U.K.

Society for Pentecostal Studies

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The research and writing of Beyond Pentecostalism involved a large number of individuals, friends, colleagues, scholars, and institutions. Any omission in these acknowledgments is regrettable and entirely my responsibility, but perhaps unavoidable. Instrumental in giving me a solid foundation in Pentecostal faith and praxis as well as in theological research were the faculty and staff at the Church of God Theological Seminary, now called the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, in Cleveland, Tennessee. I am thankful for the spiritual formation and academic rigor of my teachers, who in one way or another have left their mark on this project. Also deserving special attention is the faculty at the theology department of Marquette University for directing my thoughts from my preoccupation with internal Pentecostal debates to broader theological concerns that address the theological academy at large. The Society for Pentecostal Studies has been a remarkable place to join together the variety of these ecumenical voices in and beyond the Pentecostal community that form the seedbed for this project. I am indebted to the many opportunities the members of the Society have given me to interact with and learn from the talented proposals and discussions at the annual meetings.

The completion of research and access to the resources of international and archival material were made possible through a generous contribution of the Lilly Theological Research Grants program, 2009-2010. This grant allowed me to process the rich array of documents on Pentecostalism made available by, among others, the Asian Pentecostal Society, Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden, David J. du Plessis Archive, European Pentecostal Charismatic Research Association, European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism, Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, Hal Bernard Dixon Pentecostal Research Center, Holy Spirit Research Center at Oral Roberts University, International Pentecostal Holiness Church Archives, Pentecostal Charismatic Theological Inquiry International, United Pentecostal Church Historical Center, and the Regent University Library.

The Ph.D. program in Renewal Studies at the School of Divinity of Regent University has been formative in crafting my ideas in the context of a global theological agenda. Students and faculty have repeatedly engaged the ideas of this project during the early phase of its completion. I am also thankful for the critical feedback on parts or all of the manuscript and its ideas from many colleagues and friends, particularly Dale Coulter, Ralph Del Colle, Andrew Grosso, Skip Jenkins, Frank Macchia, Kevin Spawn, Amos Yong, and my wife, Michelle Vondey. My graduate assistant, Bradford McCall, diligently read the manuscript and offered numerous editorial and constructive comments. I am particularly indebted to James K. A. Smith and Amos Yong for their encouragement in crafting the proposal and structure of this book, and for the opportunity to include a volume with the title Beyond Pentecostalism in a series entitled Pentecostal Manifestos. Finally, my appreciation goes to William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for the opportunity to present the project to a larger audience.