Robert Brian Robson: The Temple, The Spirit and The People of The Presence of God: Examining Critical Options For A Pentecostal Ecclesiology (Thesis, 2012)

The Temple, the Spirit and the People of the Presence of
God: Examining Critical Options for a Pentecostal

Ecclesiology
by
Robert Brian Robson
A thesis submitted to Wycliffe College and the Theology Department of the Toronto
School of Theology in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology
awarded by the University of St. Michaels College
Copyright by Robert Brian Robson 2012

The Temple, the Spirit and the People of Gods Presence:
Examining Critical Options for a Pentecostal Ecclesiology
Robert Brian Robson
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology
University of St. Michaels College
2012
Abstract
Ecclesiology remains recognized as an underdeveloped area within the burgeoning field
of Pentecostal theology, even as more voices are addressing it. This thesis explores the more
significant proposals toward Pentecostal ecclesiology offered by various scholars, and then offers
a constructive proposal: the church as the People of the manifest Presence of the Tri-une God. In
this thesis, I propose to construct a distinct but ecumenically-friendly Pentecostal ecclesiology
based upon the theological concept of the church as the People of Gods Presence. The church is
constituted by the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit among people whom the Spirit gathers,
empowers and sends out in mission to the world. This ecclesiology builds specifically upon the
description of a third-stream of Christian tradition first offered by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin in
1952. It is this very concept of the recognizable presence of the Holy Spirit with power as
the defining constitution of the church which should inform a uniquely Pentecostal ecclesiology.
The distinctive manner in which Pentecostals would understand this constitutive presence of the
Spirit in the Church is at the heart of this project, so that it may be a unifying concept for the
movement, and one that has potential for mutual edification in ecumenical dialogue.
Such an understanding of the pneumatological basis for the church is represented well by
the biblical image of the church as Temple of the Holy Spirit. An ecclesiology of the church as
Temple is an effective way for Pentecostals to understand the marks of the church, its nature and
its mission, order and ministries. This proposal is then briefly compared with other major church
traditions, and is finally offered as a way in which Pentecostalism can both share and learn with
and from these traditions toward greater confluence and cross-pollination, so that the Pentecostal
church, as flawed as it may be, can contribute to the greater health of the whole church as the
People of Gods Presence which powerfully loves the world God desires to save.
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Rev. Dr. David Reed for directing this project,
but also for being much more than a Director. He has been a mentor and listening ear while we
have journeyed through difficult times over the years in which this project spanned. He was also
the one who encouraged me, a long time ago now, to take the topic of my Masters thesis (The
Spirit-driven Church: Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology) and develop it further at the Doctoral
level.
My thanks also to the communities of Wycliffe College and TST, teachers, committee
members and staff, for their grace and input into this journey at all its various points. The
opportunity to study in such a rich, diverse and challenging environment has been one that I will
cherish. I would also be remiss if I did not express gratitude to the congregation of St. Pauls-on-
the-Hill Pickering, who launched me into this program some years ago with support and
encouragement of various kinds, both tangible and intangible.
Finally, my deepest thanks must go to my family: my wife Heather, my daughters Abigail
and Brianna, and my father Robert, all of whom have journeyed with me and sacrificed to see
this through to completion. Blessed is the man whose family puts up with such a life. May God
reward you all for your endurance.

Table of Contents
Abbreviations viii
Chapter 1: Pentecostal Ecclesiology as a Third-Stream 1

1. Introduction 1
2. Thesis Statement 3
3. Context 6
4. Research Question 9
5. Broader Setting 9
6. Procedure 10
7. Why? 13
8. Third-Article Ecclesiology 15
9. The Third Stream (or fourth) 17
10. Temple of the Spirit 22
11. What Kind of Church? 23
Chapter 2: Historical Groundings for a Pentecostal Ecclesiology 39

1. The Original Vision of the Pentecostal Revival 38
2. Restorationism: Back to Pentecost 40
2.1 Restorationism Defined 40
2.2 Character of Pentecostal Primitivism 48
2.2.1 Charismatic Gifts 48
2.2.2 Glossolalia 53
2.2.3 Apostolic Experience 57
2.2.4 Signs & Wonders 59
2.2.5 Divine Healing 62
2.2.6 Aversion to Formalism 65
2.2.7 Direct Leadership of the Holy Spirit 72
3. Latter-Rain Eschatology 75
3.1 Definition 75
3.2 Imminency of the Second Coming 85
3.3 Power for Mission 86
4. Full-Gospel Rubric 91
5. Social Equality 94
6. Church as Holy 99
7. Conclusion 101
Chapter 3: Constructing a Contemporary Pentecostal Ecclesiology 104

1. Seth Cook Rees The Ideal Pentecostal Church 105
2. Survey of contemporary writers on Pentecostal Ecclesiology 108
2.1 Miroslav Volf: Free Church Ecclesiology 108
2.2 Simon Chan: Mother Church 113
2.3 Amos Yong 120
vi
2.4 Frank Macchia: Toward a Spirit-Baptized Ecclesiology 128
2.5 Veli-Matti Krkkinen: Church as Koinonia 138
2.6 Shane Clifton: Concrete Ecclesiology 157
2.7 Wolfgang Vondey: Breadand Wine at Play 166
2.8 Steven Land: Eschatological Missionary Fellowship 184
2.9 Peter Althouse: Missionary Communion Ecclesiology 191
2.10 Clark Pinnock: The Church in the Power of the Spirit 196
3. Conclusion 205
Chapter 4: The Church as the People of Gods Presence 208

1. Image of the Temple 208
2. The Presence of God in the Biblical Narrative 211
2.1 Old Testament 211
2.2 Incarnation 212
2.3 Pentecost 214
3. New Idea of Temple: One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic House of God 216
4. Elements of an Ecclesiology of Presence: Church as Temple 238
4.1 The God of Church 238
4.2 The Church and the Kingdom 246
4.3 The Church and the World 252
5. An Ecclesiology of Presence 259
5.1 Charismata and Order/Structure 269
5.2 Presence and Koinonia 274
5.3 Presence and Corporate Ethics 287
5.4 Presence and Scripture 291
5.5 Presence and Sacraments 296
5.6 Presence and Social Concern 314
5.7 Presence and Identity 317
5.8 Presence and Suffering 319
6. Summary 321
Chapter 5: Conclusion 324

1. Presence & Ecumenism 324
1.1 Official Dialogues 326
1.2 Back to Newbigin 329
2. Presence and the Future of Pentecostal Identity 331
2.1 Dealing with the Warts 331
2.2 Cross-Pollination and Confluence 334
3. Conclusion: Aiming for a Church that Powerfully Loves 337
Bibliography 343
vii
Abbreviations
AJPS Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies
AF Apostolic Faith Newsletter (Azusa Mission, California)
AoG Assemblies of God
BEM Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, Faith and Order Paper No. 111.
BHS Yves Congar, I Believe in the Holy Spirit, trans. David Smith, 3
vols. (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2005)
CD Church Dogmatics, Karl Barth
CoG Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
CPS Jrgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A

Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology. Trans. Margaret Kohl.
(Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1977)
CS Chicago Studies
CT Christianity Today
DPCM Stanley M. Burgess, Gary B. McGee and Patrick H. Alexander

(eds.), Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988)
EPTA European Pentecostal Theological Association Bulletin
ERT Evangelical Review of Theology
HTR Harvard Theological Review
JPT Journal of Pentecostal Theology
JPTSup Journal of Pentecostal Theology, Supplemental Series
LG Lumen Gentium: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, trans. St.

Charles Borromeo, 1964
NIDCPM Stanley M. Burgess, Eduard M. Van der Maas (eds.),

The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic
Movements (revised and expanded edition) (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2002)
viii
NPC The Nature and Purpose of the Church: A stage on the way to a
common statement, Faith and Order Paper No. 181, November 1998.
PAOC Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
PNEUMA Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies
SPS Society for Pentecostal Studies
WCC World Council of Churches
ix
1
Chapter 1
Pentecostal Ecclesiology as a Third-Stream
1 Introduction
As the global Pentecostal Movement enters its second century, there are two observable
patterns occurring: one is that Pentecostalism continues to be one of the faster growing religious
1
movements in recent history . Indeed, in his work on ecclesiology Roger Haight claims that
Pentecostalism is therefore fast becoming the dominant expression of Christianity and one of
2
the most extraordinary religious phenomena in the world at any time. The other pattern is that
this growth is taking place in the two-thirds world, while the revival has crested in North
3
Americathe continent of its birthplace. In addition, as Pentecostalism has attracted the
attention of other churches, academics and researchers, the movement is now perhaps under
greater scrutiny.
The urgent need for Pentecostals to continue to construct and articulate their own
ecclesiology is a vital part of their maturation process, in a diverse and fragmenting movement
that faces the various challenges of evolving identitiesboth internally and toward those who
1
For statistics, consult David B. Barrett, The Worldwide Holy Spirit Renewal, ch. 15, and A Chronology of
Renewal in the Holy Spirit, Appendix of Vinson Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal
and Charismatic Renewal (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) 381-450; and David B. Barrett, Global
Statistics, Part II of Stanley Burgess, and Eduard Van der Maas, eds., The New International Dictionary of
Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 283-302, as well as Barrett, Kurian &
Johnson, eds., World Christian Encyclopedia (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001). See also Allan Anderson,
Introduction to Pentecostalism: global charismatic Christianity (Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press,
2004), 1, 10-14; Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2002), 8; and Walter J. Hollenweger, Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), 1.
2
Roger Haight, SJ, Christian Community in History, Volume 2: Comparative Ecclesiology (New York: Continuum
Books, 2005), 452-453.
3
See Jenkins, The Next Christendom , esp. Chapter 1: The Christian Revolution.
2
study or wish to engage it in dialogue or cooperation. On the one hand, Pentecostalism as a
continued world-wide Christian phenomenon must have its own theology of the church to
effectively deal with all the issues of rising significance on the global Christian and spiritual
scene. On the other hand, if the revival desires to avoid the fate of other past revival movements,
perhaps more formal articulation of an ecclesiology will be of benefit. This is particularly urgent
given the theological divergence which exists even among Pentecostal scholars. Until very
recently, however, this articulation around a theology of the church has been snail-like in its
occurrence. Ecclesiology remains recognized as an underdeveloped area within the burgeoning
field of Pentecostal theology, even as more voices are addressing it. This thesis is an attempt to
explore the more significant proposals toward pentecostal ecclesiology which have been offered,
and then offer a constructive proposal of my own: that of the church as the People of the
manifest Presence of the Tri-une God.
It should be noted that for the purposes of this theological exploration, the subject,
broadly-speaking, will be identified as the Classical Pentecostal movement, or those churches
that identify themselves as having their direct heritage from the pentecostal revival that began in
the early 1900s.
The aim of this thesis, then, is to attempt to identify a viable option of what could make
pentecostal ecclesiology distinctively pentecostal. Of equal importance, however, is to also
explore constructively what shape or form a Spirit-filled doctrine of the church should take as
this global, revival movement enters its second century and continues to mature.
Part of this exploration will thus necessitate a close examination of the contributions of
other contemporary scholars whose work touches directly on this issue. Primary among these
will be offerings by Lesslie Newbigin, Miroslav Volf and Simon Chan. Closely behind these are
3
other proposals on Pentecostal ecclesiology(most of which are in chapter or article form) from
contemporary Pentecostal scholars such as Veli-Matti Krkkinen, Frank Macchia, Wolfgang
Vondey, Amos Yong, Peter Althouse, Shane Clifton, Steven Land and the late charismatic
Baptist Clark Pinnock. While some important threads of similarity are found in these works,
what is certainly more striking is their differences.
2 Thesis Statement
In this thesis, I propose to construct a distinct but ecumenically-friendly pentecostal
ecclesiology based upon the theological concept of the church as the People of Gods Presence.
The church is constituted by the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit among a people whom
the Spirit gathers, empowers and sends out in mission to the world. This ecclesiology builds
specifically upon the description of a third-stream of Christian tradition first offered by Bishop
Lesslie Newbigin in 1952. Newbigin, of course, was not himself Pentecostal, yet in this
particular lecture he reveals a keen ability to describe accurately a core distinctive of the
Pentecostal movement and how it may be understood in the greater Christian Tradition. After
treating both the Catholic and Protestant streams in previous lectures, Bishop Newbigin next
turned to a type of church he perceptively entitled, The Community of the Holy Spirit. His
introduction forms the heart of his description of it so he must be quoted at length:
It is necessary, however, to recognise that there is a third stream of Christian tradition which,
though of course mingling at many points with the other two, has yet a distinct character of its
ownLet me in a brief and preliminary way characterise this stream by saying that its central
element is the conviction that the Christian life is a matter of the experienced power and presence
of the Holy Spirit today; that neither orthodoxy of doctrine nor impeccability of succession can take
the place of this; that an excessive emphasis upon those immutable elements in the Gospel upon
4
which orthodox Catholicism and Protestantism have concentrated may, and in fact often does,
result in a Church which is a mere shell, having the form of a Church but not its life; that if we
would answer the question Where is the Church?, we must ask Where is the Holy Spirit
recognisably present with power?...For want of a better word I propose to refer to this type of
4
Christian faith and life as the Pentecostal.
It is this very concept of the recognizable presence of the Holy Spirit with power as
the defining constitution of the church that I wish to build upon in this thesis.
In doing so, this thesis seeks to identify a key characteristic which, firstly, can be claimed
by all in the diverse, global Pentecostal movement, and secondly can be potentially utilized as
the primary distinctive contribution this third-stream offers to a contemporary theological
understanding of the church. As Allan Anderson, a leading scholar on Pentecostalism, observes
in his description of what is similar among otherwise diverse Pentecostal congregations around
the world,
All demonstrate what Suurmond has called the Word and Spirit at play where everyone has a
contribution to make to the service, much like the creative combination of spontaneity and order in
a jazz performance. All would emphasize the immediate presence of God in the service, all would
expect some sign of miraculous intervention (often called the gifts of the Spirit), and would
5
encourage congregational participation, especially in prayer and worship .
4
Lesslie Newbigin, The Household of God: Lectures on the Nature of the Church (London: SCM Press, Ltd.,
1952), 87-88.
5
Anderson, Introduction to Pentecostalism, 9 (emphasis mine). Andersons use of the word immediate would be
questioned by some, and thus would have to be adequately qualified for the purposes of this dissertation, but can be
understood to convey the palpability and immanence of Gods presence in the Pentecostal worship experience.
5
The distinctive manner in which Pentecostals would understand this constitutive presence
of the Holy Spirit in the Church is at the heart of this project, so that it may be utilized as a
unifying concept for the movement, and a concept that has potential for mutual edification in
ecumenical dialogue.
While ecclesiology is recognized as underdeveloped in pentecostal theology, work in this
area, if it seeks to be genuinely pentecostal, should adequately consider the strong restorationist
character of Pentecostalisms rootsspecifically the belief that the Acts 2 Pentecost experience
is a divine reality (as Simon Chan refers to it) operating today, and that the NT charismatic
gifts are the primary means by which the church is made visible to the world today. Pentecostals
are those who would believe the goal for an authentic Christian community is to restore the
power, message, lifestyle and corporate practices of the original, Apostolic church. The only
way to authentically be the same kind of church narrated in the Acts of the Apostles is to have
the same kind of divine encounter with the Spirit of God that took place on the day of Pentecost.
This is obviously where the Pentecostals gain their title. This restorationist view is itself
ecclesiological, and so a contemporary attempt at pentecostal ecclesiological construction should
in some way engage the inherent understanding of the church which fuelled the early leaders of
the movement.
Since the NT apostolic church has historically been the goal or point of orientation for
Pentecostals, the ecclesiological theme of Presence proposed in this dissertation will be
facilitated by the NT image of the church as the Temple, a metaphor that has long been
associated with ecclesiology but is thus far underdeveloped within pentecostal scholarship at a
time when ecclesiology is currently a prominent issue. This image can be appropriated here to
communicate scripturally in a very useful way the idea of the church as the people among whom
6
the manifestor, as Newbigin states it, recognizablepresence of the Holy Spirit dwells and
operates in a uniquely Pentecostal way. Another common identifying feature of Pentecostalism

6
is the value placed upon the Bible as Gods authoritative revelation . Indeed, Pentecostals have
7
been referred to proudly as people of the Book. Therefore, the utilization of the Temple
image to symbolize the People of Presence is designed here to serve as a unifying motif for
articulating pentecostal ecclesiology, scriptural as it is, within a diverse movement where varying
ecclesiological options are currently found.
3 Context
The increased presence of Pentecostals in the global religious milieu has created a
growing need for dialogue with other churches. For the purpose of greater awareness and
understanding of pentecostal practices by others, to facilitate increased cooperation, and to assist
Pentecostals in reflecting on their own self-identity and, by extension, their relationship with
other groups, the development of pentecostal ecclesiology has the potential to be of no small
value. Again, this development has been painfully slow in coming, but is currently one of the
more widely-discussed issues in pentecostal theology today. For instance, on June 28-29 of 2010
a special conference was held at Bangor University in Wales on the topic: Toward a Pentecostal
Ecclesiology: Implications of the Five-fold Gospel Constructive Theological Proposals.
6
As exemplified in the Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada,
Article 5 Preamble and Article 5.1Holy Scriptures, accessed at
http://www.paoc.org/upload/files2/docs/Stmt%20of%20Essential%20and%20Fundamental%20Truths.pdf, April 18,
2010.
7
Matthew Clark & Henry Lederle, et al, eds, What is distinctive about Pentecostal Theology? (Mucklenuek,
Pretoria: University of South Africa Press, 1989), 139.
7
8
Leading pentecostal scholars from around the globe presented papers at this conference. Many
of these scholars have already read papers or written chapters or articles on this topic within the
last few years (see Primary Literature section of the Working Bibliography below). More
academic work has been done on this specific topic within the last decade than in all the previous
decades combined, yet full-length treatments of the subject are still rare to this point.
While some pentecostal scholars have looked to Volfs After Our Likeness as the
9
preferred option for the direction pentecostal ecclesiology might go (and thus requiring it to be
critically examined in this proposed project), this work was not intended specifically to fulfill
this purpose. Pentecostal scholar Wolfgang Vondeys People of Bread: Rediscovering

10
Ecclesiology is likewise also not aimed at producing a distinctly pentecostal contribution to
ecclesiology. Shane Cliftons dissertation on the Australian Assemblies of God is more of a

11
historical/sociological analysis of the story of one specific denomination . Monographs on the
12 13
subject are currently in progress by Simon Chan and Terry Cross , but are not yet published.
8
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/trs/confpentecostal.htm
9
See Peter Hocken, Church, Theology of the, in Stanley Burgess, ed., and Eduard M. Van der Maas, Assoc., ed.
The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002),
544-551 which treats Volf extensively (even as a whole sub-heading), as a programmatic model for Pentecostals.
Also, see Simon Chan, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, in Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition
(London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000), 100-101; and Amos Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh (Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), 125.
10
Wolfgang Vondey, People of Bread: Rediscovering Ecclesiology (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2008).
11
Shane Clifton, Pentecostal Churches in Transition: Analysing the developing ecclesiology of the Assemblies of
God in Australia (Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2009).
12
http://www.ttc.edu.sg/images/ttc/pdf/simon_chan_biblio_e.pdf, accessed April 18, 2010.
13
http://directory.leeuniversity.edu/MaintainDirectory.aspx?op=Bios&ID=520, accessed April 18, 2010.
8
Perhaps as significant for the purposes of this project, those rare textbooks on
14
ecclesiology that have been written by Pentecostals, specifically the works of Melvin Hodges
15
and L. Thomas Holdcroft , have failed to present this subject from a distinctly pentecostal
perspective. Hocken noted in his dictionary article that former AGUSA General Superintendent
16
Ernest E.S. Williams 3-volume Systematic Theology has no treatment of the church. These
examples serve to show the glaring lack of academic reflection in the movements history on
what distinct contribution Pentecostals can offer theologically on the topic of the church, and
why todays scholars within the movement are now beginning to address it in earnest, though
often as only part of larger projects. This past neglect, and current swell of attention to
ecclesiology by Pentecostal scholars in smaller doses thus constitutes the status quaestionis of
the topic.
One of the most pressing questions that will need to be addressed from this exercise,
then, is what might account for the widely-differing options among these pentecostal voices?
Indeed, pentecostal scholar Veli-Matti Krkkinen calls the state of pentecostal ecclesiology a
17
bewildering variety and mix of views. It should be noted from the outset that the hope of this
enterprise is not merely one of self-service to Pentecostalism itself, but ultimately to contribute
to the movements ability to engage in further, constructive dialogue with other church traditions
in a mutually edifying way.
14
Melvin L. Hodges, A Theology of the Church and Its Mission: A Pentecostal Perspective (Springfield, MO:
Gospel Publishing House, 1977).
15
L. Thomas Holdcroft, Ecclesiology: Christs Treasure on Earth (Clayburn, BC: CeePiCC, 1992).
16
Hocken, Church, Theology of the, 214.
17
Veli-Matti Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons: An Emerging Pentecostal Ecclesiology of
Koinonia, in PentecoStudies, vol. 6, no. 1, 2007, 1.
9
4 Research Question
Can a distinctly global, pentecostal ecclesiology be articulated, and if so, on what could
it be centered or constructed? Is it possible to suggest a distinct pentecostal understanding of the
church when there are ecclesiological proposals offered by pentecostal scholars that span across
the spectrum? Is there an ecclesiology, or ecclesiological principle, that can capture the essence
of Pentecostalism and still accommodate the amazing variety of governances and cultural
expressions found within the movement (in other words, its character of diversity)? In so doing,
what methodology(ies) could be used to construct a pentecostal ecclesiology that could be broad
in scope and application? And, to what end have existing suggestions been effective or helpful
towards this theological task?
5 Broader Setting
The unique history as well as the diversity of the global pentecostal movement, its
character as a movement of praxis over intellectual theologizing, its past self-association with
Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism in North America, the varying theological influences of its
current scholars, the widely-differing forms of governance and polity existing among pentecostal
denominations, and the formal dialogues held with other church traditions have all contributed to
the existence of varying proposals as to which direction pentecostal ecclesiology should go. As
mentioned, this ecclesiological proposal also must take into account that, at a time when the
attention of pentecostal scholars toward ecclesiology is more acute than it has ever been, this
surprisingly wide variety of proposals is being offered. Additionally, this proposal comes at a
10
time when pentecostals in North America are experiencing what is invariably being termed an
18
identity crisis, which is brought on in part by the contextual and theological challenges to
traditional pentecostal distinctives (i.e., Spirit-baptism & glossolalia as initial evidence). In
particular, the blurring of distinctions between Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement in
older traditions, the Third Wave, and the so called new churches (i.e. Seeker-sensitive,
19
Purpose-Driven, and Emergent) or what is now being termed generic evangelicalism are
necessitating a timely impetus for fresh theological probing into pentecostal beliefs and identity.
6 Procedure
This first chapter introduces the thesis and the setting which calls for its need. I will
argue that Pentecostalism should not be considered merely a sub-set of evangelicalism, as earlier
pentecostal writers on the church assumed (i.e. L. Thomas Holdcroft & Melvin Hodges), nor
merely an assumed form of Free Church (contra John Howard Yoder, as expressed in
20 21
Durnbaugh and Rasmussen ), even though many pentecostal pioneers came out of this
background. These ecclesiological categorizations simply do not sufficiently account for the
widely-varying forms of polity found within the Movement.
18
This is such that the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) has currently implemented a Theological Study
Commission to explore issues affecting Pentecostal identity. Representative of these concerns is the paper by Dr.
Van Johnson, abruptly holding the document name of PentIdentity DefnEsc-Johnson-03-10[1]., particularly page
1.
19
For instance, see Sam Reimer, A Generic Evangelicalism? Comparing Evangelical Subcultures in Canada and
the United States, Ch 12 of David Lyon & Margaret Van Die, eds. Rethinking Church, State and Modernity:
Canada between Europe and America (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000), 228-245.
20
Donald F. Durnbaugh, The Believers Church (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1968).
21
Arne Rasmussen, The Church as Polis: From Political Theology to Theological Politics as Exemplified by
Jurgen Moltmann and Stanley Hauerwas (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1995), 19.
11
Chapter Two will examine the history of Pentecostalism as a Restorationist movement
that sought to return back to the apostolic church of Acts (and the NT), particularly with the
apostolic practices of speaking in tongues, the charismatic gifts, divine healing, and Spirit-
empowered evangelization and missions. This primitivist or restorationist impulse will signal
the ecclesiological roots of the earliest period of the movement, which is still valued in at least
one high office of pentecostal leadership today. As George Wood, General Superintendent of
Assemblies of God U.S.A. recently wrote:
Pentecostalism, at its roots, is basically a restorationist movement. We believe that we can cut
through twenty centuries of church tradition and get back to the original church. It doesnt mean
that we do everything like the original church, but were trying to have the same doctrine and
experience of the Early Church Thats what Pentecostalism, in its purist form, tries to do. It tries
to erase the smudges on the church for the last twenty centuries and get back to what the early
22
Christians believed and practiced. That is our goalto get back to biblical, original Christianity.
Through this historical sounding, I will be able to compare the thesis of Church as People
of Presence with the traditional Pentecostal identity as a restoration of the Upper-room
experience and the charismatic gifts.
Chapter Three will examine the contemporary, pentecostal scholarly landscape as
described above with regards to proposals and contributions. This survey will be limited to the
work of ten scholars, preceded by a unique proto-pentecostal ecclesiology offered by the
Quaker/Holiness writer Seth Rees. The scholars are Miroslav Volf, Simon Chan, Amos Yong,
22
George O. Wood. Living in the Spirit (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2009), 37.
12
Frank Macchia, Veli-Matti Krkkinen, Shane Clifton, Wolfgang Vondey, Peter Althouse,
Steven Land and Clark Pinnock.
In Chapter Four, a theology of the church as the People of Gods Presence will be
examined biblically and theologically. Biblically, the manner in which the presence of God
operates within creation and Gods people will be briefly surveyed. Theologically, a
constructive proposal stemming from the image of the church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit
will be developed. Out of this proposal, I will explore the influence of this theology of the
Presence of God upon the order, structure, functions, marks, and ministries of the church from a
pentecostal perspective.
Chapter Five will, by way of conclusion, look at the ecumenical potential of this
constructive proposal, using the major report of the Reformed/Pentecostal dialogue: Word and
Spirit, Church and World as a reference point. The outcome reported in this and the Roman
Catholic/Pentecostal dialogue documents are telling for how pentecostals situate themselves
theologically in relation to two other streams of the Church at a time when the movement is seen
23
to be passing from adolescence into adulthood . In the area of ecumenism and in terms of self-
identity, this concluding chapter will briefly draw out the implications from this study of a
distinct pentecostal theology of the church.
23
Cf. Cheryl Bridges Johns, "The Adolescence of Pentecostalism: In Search of a Legitimate Sectarian Identity,"
Pneuma 17, no. 1 (Spring 1995): 3-17.
13
7 Why?
The primary question this work seeks to address is, is there such a thing as a Pentecostal
Ecclesiology? This question is equal parts valid, interesting and pressing. The paucity of work
on ecclesiology by pentecostals has been noted at several points. Zachary Tackett, for instance,
recently stated Ecclesiology has not been a priority for Pentecostals. Ecclesiology has been
24
either ignored or only minimally recognized. Or, as pentecostal scholar Peter Althouse also
recently observed, As a rule, Pentecostals have been slow in their reflection and development of
a Pentecostal ecclesiology, instead focusing on the pragmatics of church life and ministry at the
25
local level. While this has dramatically changed over the last decade, precious few full-length
treatments of the subject yet exist.
Several factors converge in marking the question of pentecostal ecclesiology as necessary
to address. In terms of polity, it is well-noted that Pentecostal churches & denominations
employ greatly varying governance models, ranging all the way from semi-Episcopalian to an
26
extremely Congregational form of government as Canadian author Gordon Atter puts it. Or,
as South Africans Matthew Clark and Henry Lederle similarly observe in reverse, Pentecostal
church structures run the gamut from ultra-congregationalist to groups that are so centralized as
27
to be positively Episcopal in their functioning. Historically, the movement came from
24
Zachary M. Tackett, Evidence(s) of Spirit-Baptism in the Life of the Church: William Piper and Chicagos
Stone Church as a Case Study, paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies,
Minneapolis, MN, March 2010.
25
Peter Althouse, Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology: Participation in the Missional Life of the Triune God,
paper delivered at the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Eugene, OR, 2009.
26
Gordon F. Atter, The Third Force (Caledonia, ON: ACTS Books, 1970), 8.
27
Matthew S. Clarke & Henry I. Lederle, et al, eds. What is distinctive about Pentecostal Theology?, 66.
14
sectarian origins, to the formation of its own churches and colleges, to identification with
evangelicalism, to the institutionalism and identity-crisis currently being experienced in North
America. In terms of global presence, Pentecostalism continues to grow rapidly around the
28
world, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Of particular curiosity is the question posed by Paul D. Lee in his own dissertation on the
pentecostal/Catholic dialogue:
What is meant by calling Pentecostalism a movement and not a denomination? If it is a

movement, is it useful or valid to talk about ecclesiology at all? What would ecclesiology mean to
a Pentecostal? If the Pentecostal movement is a cluster of denominations of various origins and
theologies, who or which denomination(s), then, can officially represent the movement? These are
crucial questions which call for clarification. 29
Crucial, yes, and all the more so as the movement continues to grow around the world, yet
falter on the continent in which it began; crucial also as pentecostal scholarship continues to
blossom rapidly, and both formal dialogue and informal association with other ecclesiologies
occurs. Pentecostal scholar Steven Land had already articulated the need to answer the
questions Lee raises beforehand, stating the following:
A fourth set of issues clusters around the doctrine of the church. Pentecostals have been clear
enough in their rejection of institutionalism but have failed to produce a viable ecclesiology which
could allow for ongoing change and debate without schisms. A polity for the development of
consensus has yet to be constructedSome way must be found to talk and study with the
28
This is statistically attested to in Barrett, Kurian, & Johnson, eds. World Christian Encyclopedia, 4-9, and cited in
several other sources.
29
Paul D. Lee, Pneumatological Ecclesiology in the Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue: A Catholic Reading of
the Third Quinquennium (1985-1989). Dissertatio Ad Laurem in Facultate S. Theologiae Apud Pontificiam
Universitatem S. Thomae in Urbe, Rome, 1994. 12.
15
Independent and Oneness groups; this is vital for Pentecostal self-understanding as well as the
reunifying of the movement. Can Pentecostals, among themselves and in dialog with other
churches, discover another model for ecumenical discussion, development and mission?30
This chapter will thus introduce the theological context and issues surrounding the
lack of a pentecostal ecclesiology, as well as identify the framework for addressing Lands
question about another model for ecclesiology that is viably pentecostal, and helpful for
what he calls ecumenical discussion, development, and mission.
8 Third-Article Ecclesiology
One of the most significant contributions a distinctly pentecostal ecclesiology can
offer is to articulate the role and activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church in perhaps a more
full-orbed way than is often done. Indeed, a pneumatological ecclesiology is something that
has garnered a great deal more attention among theologians among various stripes since
Vatican II, but is still a work in development. Well after Vatican II, the former Archbishop of
Canterbury Michael Ramsay observed:
There is room for an ecclesiology which gives the Spirit a greater place than much of the
familiar ecclesiology in the West has done. In the West a Christological understanding of the
Church has prevailed, and it has been possible to concentrate upon the concept of the Body of
Christ in such a way as to suggest a rather static and institutionalized doctrine. But while indeed
the Churchs sacramental and apostolic order witnesses to the historical givenness of gospel and
Church, there is need to remember the continuing lively action of the Spirit whereby alone the
believers are Christs body. The many charismata shared among the Churchs members are not
30
Steven J Land, Pentecostal Spirituality (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1992), 221.
16
personal qualities or possessions so much as constant actions of the Spirit in which the liveliness of
God touches human lives. In every epoch the Spirit is invading ruach as well as indwelling
pneuma.31
A pentecostal ecclesiology is one that has the potential to communicate the lively action of
the Spirit within the Body of Christ in a fully-orthodox manner that has been still lacking.
Consider as well the similar observation by Roman Catholic charismatic Peter Hocken:
theologians and scholars have not done justice to the ecclesiological implications of Pentecost.
For different reasons, the pentecostals and the charismatics (whether mainline or restorationist)
have not elaborated a theology of the church that captures the distinctive thrust of this outpouring
of the Spirit and that manifests the scope of its challenge to received ecclesiologies. The
pentecostals have not done so-in part because their forte has been action, not reflective theology, in
part, perhaps, through a Protestant fear that focus on the church diminishes the focus on Christ.32
This dissertation, then, is aimed toward contributing a step towards elaborating such an
ecclesiology that will capture the distinctive thrust of the Spirits outpouring in such a
manner that manifests the scope of its challenge to received ecclesiologies.
Furthermore, charismatic Baptist theologian Clark Pinnock has also addressed the
need for a pentecostal ecclesiology, stating:
(on the one hand) evangelicals neglect it [ecclesiology] mightily doing little justice to it, while (on
the other hand) pentecostals live out a model of church that has the promise of transforming
31
Michael Ramsey, Holy Spirit (London: SPCK, 1977), pp. 127-8. Archbishop Ramsey goes on to discuss the
pentecostal distinctive of glossolalia as legitimate, but briefly questions exegetical and theological foundations for
its pentecostal articulation as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
32
Peter Hocken, Church, Theology of the in The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic
Movements, revised and expanded (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 550.
17
Christianity but without doing the theology of church. We both need to work on our doctrine of
church: the evangelicals because the doctrine of the church has become insipid and the pentecostals
because they have not offered much by way of theological understanding.33
Pinnock observes that evangelicals are in need of more pentecostal theology on the church so
that they might be transformed as a result. The relationship between evangelicalism and
Pentecostalism is one impacting issue that will be explored below as it pertains to the historical
development, or lack thereof, of a distinctly pentecostal understanding of the church.
9 The Third Stream (or fourth)

Pentecostalism has historically been identified as the Third Force within Christendom,
34
following Catholicism and Protestantism . As we have noted, Bishop Newbigin used a similar
scheme in The Household of God, calling it a third stream of Christian tradition which, though
35
of course mingling at many points with the other two, has yet a distinct character of its own.
Let me return to the logic of his lecture as he builds the case for this distinction.
Newbigin uses the first part of his lecture to draw attention to the abundant biblical
evidence, not only in Acts (though mostly here) but also throughout the writings of Paul, in 1
33
Clark Pinnock, Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit: The Promise of Pentecostal Ecclesiology, keynote
address given at the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Virginia Beach, March 11th, 2005.
34
Cf. Gordon F. Atter, The Third Force, 3rd ed. (Caledonia, ON: Acts Books, 1970). Note: It is unclear where
Eastern Orthodoxy fits into this particular scheme! For this reason, Steven Land instead helpfully suggests
Pentecostalism may be regarded as a fourth force (as opposed to the usual third force designation) in
Christianity, 20.
35
Newbigin, Household of God, 87-88.
18
John, Matthew and including a reference from Hebrews to show how the experience of the Spirit
was central to the NT self-understanding of their corporate identity. Indeed, for Newbigin, the
New Testament writersregard the gift of the Holy Spirit as an event which can be
unmistakably recognised, and they treat it as the determinative and decisive thing by which the
36
Church is constituted. He goes on to emphasize the decisive place given in the New
37
Testament doctrine of the Church to this experienced reality of the Holy Spirits presence.
Then he adds, what I have called the Pentecostal Christian has the New Testament on his side
when he demands first of all of any body of so-called Christians, Do you have the Holy Spirit?
For without that all your creedal orthodoxy and all your historic succession avails you
38
nothing.
Newbigin felt that the reception of this teaching was essential to the Christian identity
when he further writes, It is surely necessary to insist that only by the fullest acknowledgement
39
of this truth do we truly acknowledge the lordship of Christ in His Church. His presentation
for the scriptural validity of this third stream leaves no middle ground by way of response.
This challenge issued to the older traditions could not have been more forthright had it come
from a Pentecostal herself.
The second part of his lecture clarifies the purpose for this challenge. As one primarily
concerned with the success of the ecumenical movement, he perceived the inclusion of this third
36
Newbigin, Household of God, 91.
37
38
39
19
stream as an ecclesiology in its own right at the ecumenical table to be utterly necessary. He
states, It will be clear from what I have said that I believe that the Catholic-Protestant debate
which has characterized the ecumenical movement needs to be criticized and supplemented from
40
what I have called the Pentecostal angle, that in fact the debate has to become three-cornered.
For him, the true catholicityor what he termed wholenessof the Christian church
absolutely required this third element to be present.
Another reason for his championing the third-stream was the concern he bore for the
mission or the witness of the church as well. So he reminds his listeners:
When the risen Lord bestowed the apostolic commission upon the Church and empowered it
to continue His mission, the very heart of His act lay in the bestowal of the Holy SpiritIt is as
anointed with His Spirit that they are bearers of His commission, and in no other wayIndeed, as
we have seen, the Holy Spirit is Himself the primary and essential witness, and it is only His
41
presence in the disciples which makes it possible for them truly to witness to Him.
The place of witness or mission in Newbigins own ecclesiology becomes clearer in the
third part of his lecture when he discusses at length the doctrine of election. At the risk of
oversimplification, the church is elected to be sent. The doctrine of election has an intrinsic
42
missionary character, and therefore is inextricably linked to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
In the fourth and final part of his lecture, Newbigin tempers his pentecostal thrust with
warnings against such nasty by-products of the movement as enthusiasm, sectarianism, and
40
41
42
20
blatant self-righteousness. He reminds his listeners of the true marks or fruit of the Spirits
genuine presence: unity, true fellowship, and love. Finally, he renews his call to both the
Catholic & Protestant participants in the ecumenical dialogue, and to Pentecostals who are
43
largely outside of it to be willing to come together for their mutual benefit.
Throughout the lecture, Newbigin repeatedly draws attention to two theological matters
which must be reckoned with. One is the cooperation with which the Holy Spirit works with the
Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Father to build His true church. This is exemplified by
such statements as, Gods gift of the Holy Spirit is inseparably linked by the double bond of
word and sacrament to His work of redemption in Christ finished once for all in the time of
44
Pontius Pilate. It is crucial that such a trinitarian framework under girds the ecclesiology of
The Community of the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, he stresses the pentecostal reality of the tangible manifestation of the Spirits
presence in human lives as an ecclesiological principle in its own right. This is Newbigins most
original contribution to ecclesiological construction. The Bishop expresses it in the following
manner:
the Church lives neither by her faithfulness to her message nor by her abiding in one fellowship
with the apostles; she lives by the living power of the Spirit of GodTherefore it is only by the
living power of the same Holy Spirit that we can either abide in His fellowship or bear witness to
His grace. All that is done without Him is mere counterfeit, an empty shell, having the form of a
Church but not its life. We must face the fact that this can happen, that a body may have all the
outward form of a Church, and preach the true doctrine of the Church, and yet be dead; and on the
other hand, that the living Spirit can and does give His own life to bodies which lack in some
43
44
21
manner and measure the fullness of the Churchs true order and teaching. And when He does so,
when we are confronted with manifest tokens of the Spirits presence, we must, as the apostles did,
45
accept the fact.
Many contemporary ecclesiologies have some understanding of the Spirits presence in the
Church, even as that which itself constitutes the church. However, what Newbigin means by the
Spirits presence is not something formalized primarily through epiclesis, or represented solely
by the act of preaching. He is instead referring to the pentecostal reality of infilling power
from on high. He is indeed speaking of a concrete experience that is visibly recognized and
neither produced nor controlled by human or structured means. This theology of Spirit-presence
as the living power which is the determinative and decisive thing by which the Church is
constituted truly represents a unique, third-stream ecclesiology which can form the core
principle from which a distinctly pentecostal doctrine of the church is constructed. What I am
putting forward here is simply that Newbigin captures the essence of what constitutes the church
from a Pentecostal understanding in a manner that no one else quite has. This present work will
take up the challenge issued by Fr. Hocken to use Newbigins third-stream typology as the
foundation or baseline for evaluating options for a truly pentecostal ecclesiology, and will further
seek to exploit his theology of Spirit-presence as the main principal or model for a truly
pentecostal ecclesiology. Therefore, this fundamentally entails understanding Pentecostalism
ecclesiologically as a distinct kind of church on its own. As Clark and Lederle affirm, It is
45
Newbigin, Household of God , 96.
22
necessary thus for us to consider Pentecost apart from either of the two great religious streams of
46
the Christian West, and to compare its norms to the other two.
10 Temple of the Spirit

Ecclesiologies are often articulated around the images or metaphors given to describe the
church in the NT. The People of God and the Body of Christ images have been the most
prevalent, particularly in both Catholic and Reformed circles. A biblical image that is perhaps
most conducive to conveying the pentecostal understanding of the church would be the image of
the Temple. The Temple, as one recalls from the OT narrative, represents the place of Gods
dwelling, or His Presence among His chosen people. St. Paul then transfers this image (before
the destruction of Jerusalems second Temple in 70 AD) on to the church, communicating that
now the ecclesia is manifestly where the Presence of God, located in the person of the Holy
Spirit, operates in a manner that is nothing less than a constituting or defining reality for the
identity of this community. So Paul Minear, in his classic Images of the Church in the New
Testament, observes,
Perhaps because of long associations between the temple and the Spirit, the New Testament
pictured the temple as a dwelling place of the Spirit. Where Gods spirit is, there is the temple. It
may also have been this nuance which enabled Paul to speak of the body of each believer as a
temple (1 Cor. 6:19) without excluding the idea that every congregation is also a temple (ch. 3:16-
17) and without excluding the vision of the whole church as a temple (Eph. 2:21). The
applicability of the image to all three areas derives from the presence of the Holy Spirit. 47
46
Clark & Lederle, What is distinctive about Pentecostal Theology?, 63.
47
Paul Minear, Images of the Church in the New Testament (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1960),
97.
23
Thus, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, I will propose, while not eclipsing the other biblical
metaphors, stands as an appropriate option for imaging the church from a distinctly pentecostal
perspective, and can greatly assist in depicting a theology of Presence that captures the heart of
ecclesiology for Pentecostalism, in all its diversity. Just as corpus Christi has informed and
relayed Catholic ecclesiology, the Temple can be shown to do the same for Pentecostals in a
manner that has yet to be utilized.
11 What Kind of Church?

One of the issues in locating Pentecostalism ecclesiologically has been the associations
developed between Pentecostal denominations and churches with other Christian movements,
such as fundamentalism, evangelicalism, or, more recently, the methodologies of the new
churches. Whereas Newbigin situated it as a Third-Stream alongside, yet distinct from,
Catholicism and Protestantism, others even within the movement have oriented it quite
differently. For a long time, for instance, Pentecostalism was presented theologically as a sub-
set within Evangelicalism. This point is significant here in that it is demonstrated most starkly in
books authored by classical pentecostals on the subject of the church. A perfect example would
be A Theology of the Church and Its Mission: A Pentecostal Perspective by Assemblies of God
clergy Melvin L. Hodges, and published in 1977. As the full title indicates, this book, which
Veli-Matti Krkkinen calls a classic, and the only substantial contribution by a Pentecostal
24
48
on ecclesiology , purports to be a treatment of the doctrine of the church from a classical
Pentecostal viewpoint. Yet, there is very little in the way of a uniquely Pentecostal perspective
offered in its pages.
Hodges outlines the basics to be emphasized in relationship to a Pentecostal theology of
missions: The Authority of the Scriptures, The Centrality of Christ, The Dynamics of the Holy
Spirit, the Lostness of Mankind Apart From Saving Grace, and the Instrumentality of the
49
Church. As he immediately comments, however, These are fundamentals that we hold in
50
common with other evangelicals. Indeed, other than possibly the Dynamic of the Holy Spirit,
this list could just as easily come from Donald Bloesch, or Billy Graham. What is instantly
recognized from the first paragraphs of this Pentecostal perspective, and confirmed throughout
the book, is that it assumes Pentecostalism is merely synonymous with evangelicalism and/or
fundamentalism. Indeed, the Pentecostal distinctives are given surprisingly little treatment in the
book, and are not treated as that which forms the Churchs essence . This is reflective of a key
historical development within Pentecostalism, at least on the continent in which it was born:
after being rejected by mainline churches, and in reaction to liberalism, Pentecostals aligned
themselves with the Fundamentalists in an attempt to prove their Christian, orthodox identity.
It is from this influence, then, that Hodges writes.
Let me quickly add, however, that what is constructive in Hodges is his emphasis on the
Mission of the Church as central to Pentecostalism. He states, the principal task of the Church
48
Veli-Matti Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2002), 73.
49
Melvin Hodges, A Theology of the Church and Its Mission: A Pentecostal Perspective (Springfield, Missouri:
Gospel Publishing House, 1977), 9.
50
Hodges, A Theology of the Church, 9.
25
is to extend the dominion of Christ in the hearts of men everywhere by effecting their joyful
51
acknowledgement of Him as their Saviour and Lord. Elsewhere, he concludes, Our
responsibility is to persuade men to turn from darkness to light and from empty forms of religion
52
to the vital power of Gods salvation. Hodges fleshes out this mission by helpfully
distinguishing between true evangelism and proselytism. He also treats the subject of the
priority of evangelism over mere social concern in a balanced manner. It is also on the subject of
mission that Hodges does teach the significance of the Spirits empowerment for the Church.
Like a majestic anthem, he passionately proclaims:
We dare to believe that the Holy Spirit in His church is mightier than all the forces of the
world combined. As long as the Church is in the world we can expect the Holy Spirit to guide and
empower it. The task Jesus gave the Church to preach the gospel to every creature and to all
nations is still with us and must be carried out. But this task must be fulfilled in the power of the
Holy Spirit, for it is the Holy Spirit who imparts life; it is the Holy Spirit who provides the
motivation the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. It is the Holy Spirit that calls men both to
accept Christ and afterwards to serve Him. This same Holy Spirit imparts gifts and ministries and
the power with which to perform the tasks. He gives wisdom and vision for the work of God far
53
beyond the capacities of the human intellect.
While other, far more sophisticated ecclesiologies, even pneumatologically-oriented
ones, can get lost on the structures and forms of the church at the expense of emphasizing the
churchs mission to herald the gospel, Hodges certainly provides a missional ecclesiology that is
not only useful to evangelicals, but crucial to theological reflection toward an ecclesiology for
51
52
53
26
one of Christianitys greater missionary movements over the last one hundred years. Indeed, he
boldly asserts, The Pentecostal missionary movement is prospering for the very reason that it is
54 55
Pentecostal. For Hodges, the Holy Spirit who is the life of the Church propels it in the
task of being a global witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ by enduing the church with
power in the same manner He promised in Acts 1:5.
This emphasis on the necessity of Pentecost for the contemporary churchs mission is a
valuable contribution by Hodges toward a Pentecostal theology of the church, and one I wish to
continue to glean from more at a later point. However, it is not substantial enough in the context
of the books entirety to distinguish it sufficiently from broader evangelicalism. In reality, this
does not even appear to have been Hodges primary aim, despite what the books title might
indicate.
L. Thomas Holdcrofts Ecclesiology: Christs Treasure on Earth (1992) is another
example of a textbook on the subject written by a classical Pentecostal which bears absolutely no
marks of a distinctly pentecostal view of the church. Holdcroft taught for many years at a PAOC
bible college in western Canada, and this work served as his notes for his course on the subject.
Within its more than 130 pages, there is not even a single mention of Pentecostalism, spiritual
gifts, or glossolalia. Somehow, for Holdcroft, Pentecostalism and its distinctives apparently had
no relevance whatsoever when teaching on the doctrine of the church. It can be speculated that
the explanation for this is that Holdcroft operated out of a similar view to Hodgesonly more
54
55
27
sothat pentecostals were subsumed under Protestant evangelicalism, and therefore did not
offer anything distinct to ecclesiology as a category of dogmatics or systematics.
Russell Spittlers booklet, The Church, published by the Assemblies of God (AoG)
Gospel Publishing House and written for Christian education purposes, also does not present a
distinctly pentecostal view of ecclesiology, other than presenting divine healing and the baptism
56
of the Holy Spirit as parts of the message of the Church to human beings . While this is
certainly a Full Gospel approach, it takes up less than five full pages out of the 125 total written.
57
In the historical survey section, he does devote two pages to Pentecostalism ; and among his six
58
points on it, one does state that Pentecostalism is not the same as Fundamentalism.
However, given the generic nature of this work as a whole, Spittlers approach would appear to
yet again be evidence of an inherent ecclesiological understanding of Pentecostalism as an add-
on, however important, to Protestant evangelicalism.
A similar verdict could be reached with Pentecostal Myer Pearlmans classic doctrinal
textbook, Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible (1937), also published by the AoG Gospel
Publishing House. Pearlmans chapter on the Church, covering some twenty pages, also has
only one paragraph treating charismatic gifts, in the historical context of Corinthian worship.
The rest is a fairly generic systematic treatment of ecclesiology, with none of the Pentecostal
distinctives brought into view, other than a historical emphasis on the NT church as the ideal.
Once more, the underlying assumption appears to be that the Pentecostal distinctives have little
56
Russell Spittler, The Church (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1977), 38-42.
57
Spittler, The Church, 122-123.
58
Spittler, The Church, 123, italics his.
28
bearing on the doctrine of the church, which is influenced far more by Protestant evangelicalism,
flavored with primitivism.
This trend is also found in another systematic theology textbook, Foundations in
Pentecostal Theology, authored by Foursquare Church teachers Guy Duffield and Nathaniel Van
59
Cleave and published by the Foursquare Bible College in Los Angeles (1983). Not unlike
Pearlman, the lengthy chapter on ecclesiology barely mentions Pentecostalism or its distinctives.
It focuses on the NT church through standard, systematic treatments on the terms, officers,
ministries, ordinances, and biblical metaphors. There is a passing call for Spirit-directed
60
organization to help the Church carry out her mission , as well as the brief statement that, In
61
much pentecostal preaching, the spirit of prophecy is manifest. But the foundational
definition of the Church as the Divinely-constituted body through which the Gospel is preached
62
and believers are nurtured is hardly characteristic of a third-stream ecclesiology. Instead, it
appears to be yet another example of an adopted self-understanding that Pentecostals simply
imbibe a Protestant, evangelical understanding of the church.
Thankfully, this characterization has been challenged by none other than Walter
Hollenweger, who is an icon in pentecostal studies. He applauds those scholars within the
movement who are, as I am here, attempting to avoid this trap:
59
Foursquare Church is the common name for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, another
classical pentecostal denomination in North America, founded by notable Pentecostal leader Aimee Semple
MacPherson.
60
Guy P. Duffield & Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, Foundations of Pentecostal Theology (Los Angeles: L.I.F.E. Bible
College, 1983), 439.
61
Duffield & Van Cleave, Foundations, 426.
62
Duffield & Van Cleave, Foundations, 419.
29
There is a critical awakening among pentecostal scholars, who fight the notion that
Pentecostalism is Evangelicalism plus something; Evangelicalism plus fire, or dedication,
missionary success, speaking in tongues or gifts of healingPentecostalism is a denomination sui
generis, and not just another variation of Protestantism or Evangelicalism. Its roots in the oral
traditions of African American slaves or the oral mestizo tradition of Latin America, in the Catholic
tradition of Wesley, in the Evangelical tradition of the North American Holiness movement (with
its far-reaching political, social and ecumenical programmes), in the critical tradition of both the
Holiness movement and critical western theology, and in the ecumenical tradition-all this qualifies
Pentecostalism as a movement which is not just a sub-division of Evangelicalism, even if the
official statements of Pentecostalism mostly use out-dated concepts of the turn of the century and
sometimes give the impression of a form of Evangelicalism. 63
Another characterization of Pentecostalism ecclesiologically has been to perceive it as

64
one of the groups within the Free Church or Believers Church tradition. This is demonstrated,
for instance, when Arne Rasmusson writes in The Church as Polis, In the widest sense church
groups like Baptists, Brethren, Mennonites, Methodists, Quakers, Pentecostals, Pietists, and
65
others could be mentioned as being part of the Believers Church tradition. Many years
earlier, Donald Durnbaugh also stated in his classic The Believers Church, The case has been
made that the best expression of the Believers Church in recent times is found in
66
Pentecostalism.
63
Walter Hollenweger, Rethinking Spirit Baptism: The Natural and the Supernatural, in Allan H. Anderson and
Walter J. Hollenweger, eds. Pentecostals after a Century: Global Perspectives on a Movement in Transition
(Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press: 1999), 166-167.
64
In the two examples I will cite where this is explicitly the case, one (Arne Rasmusson) uses both these terms
synonymously, whereas the other (Donald Durnbaugh) argues firmly and at length that Believers Church is a far
more appropriate term than Free Church. Volf, however, uses the term Free Church in his After Our Likeness. I
will opt not to engage this semantical debate but will, like Rasmusson, use both terms interchangeably.
65
Rasmusson, Church as Polis, 19.
66
Durnbaugh, Believers Church, 174.
30
What is interesting is that both these points of reference are made in connection with the
work of John Howard Yoder, at two different time periods. In both cases, Pentecostalism as a
Believers Church is being compared ecclesiologically with Anabaptism, or the Radical
Reformation. This was the observation of Yoder. Durnbaugh states it more explicitly:
John Howard Yoder, Mennonite theologian, puts the movement within the context of the
Radical Reformation. Pentecostalism is in our century the closest parallel to what Anabaptism was
in the sixteenth; expanding so vigorously that it bursts the bonds of its own thinking about church
order, living from the multiple gifts of the spirit in the total church while holding leaders in great
respect, unembarrassed by the language of the laymen and the aesthetic tastes of the poor, mobile,
zealously single-minded. Flaws can easily be noted in the movement, he admits, but meanwhile,
they are out being the Church.67
The connection between Pentecostalism and the Radical Reformation is also noted by
Clark and Lederle, through another writer and apparently apart from Yoder. They put it in the
following manner:
It may be argued that Pentecostalism finds its historical roots (as far as European Church history
is concerned) in the radical reformation. This would be so because the radical reformers pursued
the same aim as the Pentecostals have a return to the Spirit and power of the original Christian
community of the Lukan account in Acts as opposed to mere reformation of structures, manners
and doctrines. In this sense Pentecost is as revolutionary as the radical reformation (Turner
1985:18).68
67
68
Clark & Lederle, et al, Pentecostal Theology, 64.
31
Like the South African Pentecostal scholars, both Rasmusson and Durnbaugh would
seem to take this comparison seriously, although Durnbaugh goes on to voice a counterpoint to
it:
Arguing against their inclusion into the present discussion is the fact that the Pentecostalists
have issued in large part from denominations already portrayed, specifically the Methodists and the
Baptists. In doctrinal position and church polity they parallel the Baptists. The large number of
separate movements encompassed by Pentecostalism, and their presence in many countries, while
attesting their validity, make difficult a succinct description. Of their importance, few informed
69
observers would dispute.
Either way, the characterization is clear enough. Ecclesiologically, the movement is best
understood as a sub-set of the Believers Church category. Indeed, even where Clark and
Lederle attempt to articulate a distinctly Pentecostal model of the Church, they curiously end up
concluding, Where this model is upheld, the question where is the church? may be answered
70
where there are believers. Note how these Pentecostals answer this question differently than
does Newbigin, who, as quoted earlier, said from a pentecostal perspective, if we would answer
the question Where is the Church? we must ask Where is the Holy Spirit recognizably present
with power?
69
Durnbaugh, Believers Church, 174-175.
70
Clark & Lederle, et al, Pentecostal Theology, 67.
32
Durnbaugh, however, despite characterizing it as a Believers Church, is much more
sophisticated in the precise location of Pentecostalism within this category, as best seen in his
71
ingenious diagram shown below.
This complex illustration manages to identify several key ecclesiological characteristics of
various churches, including Pentecostal. What is most relevant for our purposes here is that
Pentecostalism is placed on the Believers Church side of the triangle as opposed to Classical
Protestantism or Catholicism. It is also classed as more individualistic than institutional, and
more mystical than Word or Tradition based. Finally, the movement is deemed to be a sect-type
71
33
rather than a church-type. This multi-dimensional appraisal of where the movement fits into a
specific, sophisticated ecclesiological rubric warrants further evaluation.
Also crucial to note, relating to this last point about the sect-type, is that Durnbaugh
draws partially upon Newbigins third-stream typology to formulate his own categories here.
After a lengthy section building a definition for the Believers Church, he concludes, It will be
seen that Dun-Newbigins third categorythe fellowship of the Spirithas affinities with the
sect type as defined by Troeltsch. By fusing these two categories, one comes close to an
72
adequate description of the Believers Churches. It is under such a rubric, then, that
Durnbaugh places Pentecostalism in this sect-type category of Believers Church.
Durnbaugh also later acknowledges Newbigins characterization of Pentecostalism as a
third-stream ecclesiology through the voice of another authority who helped to popularize it:
The case has been made that the best expression of the Believers Church in recent times is
found in Pentecostalism. In 1958 Henry P. Van Dusen, the highly respected president of Union
Theological Seminary, sounded this note in an article in a mass circulation periodical. The
Pentecostalist movement, he insisted, was a third force standing on an equal basis with
Protestantism and Roman Catholicism and more vigorous than either. It was a third, mighty arm
of Christendom upon which middle-class Christianity could no longer gaze down their noses. In
an interview he put it more forcefully: I have come to feel that the Pentecostal movement with its
emphasis upon the Holy Spirit, is more than just another revival.It is a revolution comparable in
importance with the establishment of the original Apostolic Church and with the Protestant
Reformation.73
72
73
Ibid., 173-174. The article to which Durnbaugh refers was published in Life magazine, June 9, 1958. The
interview quote is taken from John L. Sherill, They Speak with Other Tongues (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1964), 27.
34
It will be observed, however, that even in this important acknowledgement of a third-
arm classification, Durnbaugh himself still ultimately categorizes the movement as an
expression of the Believers Church. While this unquestionably has validity, the question here
is whether or not it is the best manner in which Pentecostals may articulate their own
ecclesiological self-understanding. Can the movement be, as Newbigin and Van Dusen
suggested, a third-force on an equal basis with Protestantism and Roman Catholicism and yet
simultaneously still be understood as one of many groups under the Believers Church banner?
Is Durnbaugh correct that, in doctrine and polity, Pentecostalism merely parallels the Baptists?
As I shall explore in greater depth later, this last question has become particularly
pertinent because of the response to Miroslav Volfs significant work, After Our Likeness: The
Church as the Image of the Trinity, by scholars concerned with pentecostal ecclesiology.
Because of Volfs Pentecostal background (he is the son of a Pentecostal minister and held
membership in the Pentecostal denomination, the Evangelical Church of Croatia, when this book
74
was penned) , this work has received no little attention by both Pentecostal scholars and
charismatic scholars of Pentecostalism. In After Our Likeness, Volf builds the case for a Free
Church ecclesiology by way of a communion methodology, in conversation with the Orthodox
John Zizioulas (Being as Communion), Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope
Benedict XVI), and the first Baptist, John Smyth. The stature of this work is such that it has
been regarded as a leading model or option upon which Pentecostals may construct their
ecclesiology. For instance, in the aforementioned article on the Theology of the Church in the
more recent New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements,
74
Peter Althouse, Spirit of the Last Days: Pentecostal Eschatology in Conversation with Jrgen Moltmann,
(London: T & T Clark International, 2003), 71.
35
charismatic Catholic scholar Peter Hocken includes a whole section on Volfs Free Church
ecclesiology (no other singular work commands a whole section). In it, he explains throughout
the significance of this book for Pentecostals:
It is included here under the pentecostal, rather than the charismatic, heading for several
reasons: Volf comes from a pentecostal background; it is the first major work on ecclesiology to
take seriously the Holy Spirits-empowerment of every believer; and it does not arise from a
charismatic-renewal contextVolfs pentecostal roots show most clearly in his conviction that the
church is structured by the Holy Spirit, and particularly through the charismataAnother strand in
Volfs ecclesiology that takes the pentecostal witness seriously is his eschatological
frameworkVolf provides a theology of the church filled with the Holy Spirit that is pentecostal
without being sectarian75
The fact that a monograph on Free Church ecclesiology, based upon the original Baptist
ecclesiologist, is being regarded as a major resource for Pentecostals certainly lends significant
weight to Durnbaughs claim, and makes the question of whether or not this is where
Pentecostalism should understand its ecclesiological identity all the more pressing.
By way of concluding this specific discussion, these past suggestions that Pentecostalism
is a sub-set of Evangelicalism (Hodges, Spittler, Holdcroft, Duffield and Van Cleave), or that it
is merely an expression of Free Church - albeit one to be reckoned with (Rasmusson,
Durnbaugh, and advocates of Volf), or even a more contemporary manifestation of the Radical
Reformation (Yoder), all reflect in some sense historical realities of the Pentecostal movement in
the twentieth century and therefore all touch on characteristics of a pentecostal understanding
of the church that must be wrestled with. It is certainly accurate that Pentecostalism shares
75
Hocken, Church, Theology of, in NIDPCM, 548.
36
substantial affinity each with evangelicalism, Believers Church ecclesiology, andI would
concureven aspects of Anabaptism, and that the movement has been influenced in a large
manner by each of these sources. In that sense Pentecostal ecclesiology is surely multi-
dimensional. For my Masters thesis, for instance, I took a different approach and identified ten
necessary elements in constructing a Pentecostal ecclesiology, some of which were unavoidably

76
borrowed from or also found outside the movement. Recognizing these various influences
brings to mind the following landmark description of the movement articulated by Steven Land:
Pentecostalism flows in paradoxical continuity and discontinuity with other streams of

Christianity. Insofar as it retains similarity to the first ten years of the movement, it is more
Arminian than Calvinist in its approach to issues of human agency and perseverance. It is more
Calvinist than Lutheran in its appreciation of the so-called third use of the Law to guide Christian
growth and conduct. It is more Eastern than Western in its understanding of spirituality as
perfection and participation in the divine life (theosis). In this regard it has much to learn from
persons like Gregory of Nyssa, Macarius the Egyptian and St Symeon, the New Theologian. It is
both ascetic and mystical. These treasures could naturally and fruitfully be mined as the line of
Wesleyan continuity is traced backwards and forwards. Pentecostalism is more Catholic than
Protestant in emphasizing sanctification-transformation more than forensic justification, but more
Protestant than Catholic in the conviction that the Word is the authority over the church and
tradition for matters of faith, practice, government and discipline. In its origins Pentecostalism was
more Anabaptist than the magisterial Reformation in its concern for peace and a covenanted
believers church where discipleship and discipline are essential features of congregational life.
Pentecostalism has a more Holiness-evangelical hermeneutic than the fundamentalist-evangelical
tradition in terms of its actual use of Scripture and understanding of the role of reason. Finally, it is
more liberation-transformationist than scholastic-fundamentalist in its way of doing theology as a
discerning reflection upon living realityPentecostalism, therefore, exists in continuity but
differentiating discontinuity with other Christian spiritualities. 77
76
R. Brian Robson, The Spirit-driven Church: Towards a Pentecostal Ecclesiology, M.T.S. Thesis, Wycliffe
College, Spring 2000, particularly 15ff.
77
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 29-30.
37
In a manner that intersects at one point with Yoder, yet also partially challenges the
understanding of Durnbaugh, Land similarly, but more effectively and accurately, shows the
plurality of dimensions that Pentecostalism shares with several other Christian movements.
However, does this reality of affinities, confluences and continuities with other churches (or sect-
types) then rule out the possibility that the movement cannot or does not offer a distinct theology
of the church on its own? The thesis being put forward in the midst of this particular theological
milieu is that it still can. From a uniquely Pentecostal perspective, the Church is the People of
Gods manifest Presence, the Temple where the Holy Spirit dwells in a particular way to witness
to the world of Gods transforming power.
Further, not only does Pentecostalism as a legitimate third or fourth-stream outside of
Protestantism, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodox represent a distinct, germane ecclesiology of
its own, but this ecclesiology must be recognized and articulated for and by the movement for
the sake of its own health moving forward in its second century, as several pentecostal scholars
have been recently realizing. These past characterizations, while identifying historical realities,
also contribute somewhat to the current identity crisis that the movement is experiencing on
the continent where it originated. As stated earlier, this provides part of the need for a model that
may help contribute toward a truly Pentecostal ecclesiology. The revitalization of North
American Pentecostalism, along with the maturation of the rapidly-expanding Third-world
Pentecostalism, presents the double-need for such a model.
In order to accomplish this, it is necessary first to examine the historical-theological roots
of the Pentecostal revival at the beginning of the last century. Steven Land has posited that the
spiritual heart of the revival can be found within the first ten years of its existence, and that a
38
78
necessary re-visioning of its theology must take these first ten years as the foundation .
Douglas Jacobsen, a historian of Pentecostalism, similarly observes that pentecostal theology
became less inventive and interesting after the first-generation, or the first twenty or so years of
79
the revival. The next chapter will identify the crucial historical soundings and groundings for a
uniquely Pentecostal understanding of the church.
78
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality.
79
Douglas Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit: Theologies of the Early Pentecostal Movement (Bloomington, IN:
Indiana University Press, 2003), xiii.
39
Chapter 2
Historical Groundings for a Pentecostal Ecclesiology
Constructing a Pentecostal ecclesiology requires identifying those elements of
Pentecostalism that set it apart as a distinct, concrete church with its own history. This chapter
will therefore attempt to identify and describe those elements that turned a Revival movement
amongst adherents of already existing churches into a new expression of church over the last
century.
1 The Original Vision of the Pentecostal Revival

Pentecostal theologian Frank Macchia introduces well the connection between
understanding the roots of the Revival and the task of working toward a Pentecostal
ecclesiology:
Pentecostals were convinced from the beginning that they were involved in a latter rain of the
Spirit that included a proliferation of miraculous gifts needed to restore the church to apostolic
power. This pneumatological point of departure for understanding the nature of the church in the
modern world cried out for theological reflection. The fact is, however, that ecclesiology is one of
the most neglected doctrines in pentecostalism, which is illustrated by the absence of a chapter on
the church in E.S. Williamss three-volume Systematic Theology. Even the formation of
pentecostal denominations was done for practical rather than theological reasons, namely, the need
for ministerial credentials to protect against rogue itinerant preachers, the need for accreditation of
missionaries, and some central organization for the distribution of missionary funds. 80
80
Frank Macchia, Pentecostal Theology, NIDPCM, 1137.
40
In other words, the operating theology of Pentecostals at their inception contained a kind
of implicit or latent ecclesiology that was, unfortunately, never fully developed. The reasons for
this are numerous and have been identified at various points. The task here, however, is to
retrieve the historical groundings of the movement that can be re-visioned and utilized to help
produce a model for a pentecostal ecclesiology that is viable for the now global movement in the
twenty-first century. To that end, the following key elements of the original pentecostal vision
will be identified and explored: restorationism (primitivism), latter-rain eschatology, the Full
Gospel theological rubric, social equality, holiness, and Wesleyan influences.
2 Restorationism: Back to Pentecost

2.1 Restorationism Defined
Restorationism is the vision of returning or restoring the church to the original practices,
experience, empowerment, character and missionary zeal as the apostolic communities. By
original practices, we are referring primarily to the restoration of the charismata (supernatural
gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and divine
healing), signs and wonders, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a marked event separate from
water baptism. There are a variety of pentecostal groups that also focused on the restoration of
other NT practices or instructions, such as the apostolic baptismal formula (in Jesus name only,
cf. Acts 8:16), or snake-handling and drinking poison (cf. Mark 16:18), but these will not be
included here.
Restorationism was also more than a recovery of certain aspects of the apostolic church,
but a specific approach to church history and a reaction to the ecclesiological context of the time
41
(end of the nineteenth, beginning of the twentieth centuries). The primitivist perspective of early
Pentecostals is well depicted by one of the foremost historians of the movement, Grant Wacker,
when he writes:
Briefly stated, they were certain that their movement repristinated apostolic
Christianity. At the same time, they were equally certain that it owed nothing to the long
history of the Christian church between the second and twentieth centuriesLike most
sectarians, they considered their origins miraculous. As William Seymour put it, the
source is from the skies.As late as 1949 Donald Gee, arguably the most astute and
worldly-wise figure Pentecostalism ever produced, wrote that the movement did not owe
its origin to any outstanding personality or religious leader, but was a spontaneous revival
appearing almost simultaneously in various parts of the world. 81
Elsewhere, Wacker confirms that pentecostals displayed little interest in the general
history of the Church, and virtually no interest in the period stretching from the Day of Pentecost
82
to the Reformation. Steven Ware, a scholar of restorationism, observes that early
pentecostals viewed their movement as having no relation at all to any church bodies or
movements which preceded them other than the apostolic church of the first century. As
Lawrence contended, the Pentecostal movement has no such history; it leaps the intervening
83
years crying, Back to Pentecost. Ware goes on to uncover the inaccuracy and naivet of
this mentality as denying the roots of pentecostalism in the Holiness movement, specifically; but
81
Grant Wacker, Playing for Keeps: The Primitivist Impulse in Early Pentecostalism, in Richard T. Hughes, ed.,
The American Quest for the Primitive Church (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1988), 199-200.
82
Grant Wacker, The Functions of Faith in Primitive Pentecostalism, in HTR 77:3-4 (1984), 364.
83
Steven Ware, Restorationism in the Holiness Movement, Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries, in
Wesleyan Theological Journal 34/1 (Spring 1999), 200-219. Lawrence refers to B.F. Lawrence, an Assemblies of
God elder who penned the phrase Back to Pentecost in his book, The Apostolic Faith Restored (St. Louis: The
Gospel Publishing House, 1916), 11-12.
42
the historiographical mentality of the movement as hearkening Back to Pentecost was most
certainly a fundamental, defining characteristic of the Revival at its inception. Melvin Dieter
confirms the distinction between the Holiness and Pentecostal movements on this point when he
states, The holiness movement generally had seen itself as a movement growing out of the
development of the historical church; the Pentecostal movement came to regard itself as a de
84
novo act of God.
The perspective of church history inherent within this particular restorationist cry of
Back to Pentecost is also articulated elsewhere by Ware,
The basic belief behind restorationism is that something went very wrong very early in the
history of the Christian church, so that the simple and biblical teaching and practice of the apostles
was gradually corruptedIn restorationist thought, the result of these corruptions is that the Roman
Catholic Church of the Middle Ages was only a shadow of its former spiritual self, while it had
grown materially rich and politically powerful. The other side of the equation is the belief that the
restoration of the church to NT standards began with the Protestant Reformation of the 16 th century
and proceeded in successive waves up to the present, in preparation for the return of Christ to
85
earth.
This historiographical approach places Pentecostals in a category characterized by Samuel Hill in
his article on A Typology of American Restitutionism as that family of churches which view
86
history as deviation or impertinence. He goes on to suggest, they see the history of the
84
Melvin Dieter, Primitivism in the American Holiness Tradition in Wesleyan Theological Journal, 30/1 (Spring
1995).
85
Steven Ware, Restorationism in Classical Pentecostalism, NIDPCM, 1019.
86
Samuel S. Hill Jr., A Typology of American Restitutionism: From Frontier Revivalism and Mormonism to the
Jesus Movement, in Journal of the American Academy o f Religion, Vo. 44, No. 1 (Mar., 1976), 75.
43
church as one large perversion, or almost a non-entity, which the emergence of their group has
87
overcome. Hill sees Pentecostals sharing this view in common with the Church of Jesus
88
Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Churches of Christ, and more extreme Fundamentalists.
Hills view does not appear, however, to take into account the Pentecostal understanding
of restoration as a rather lengthy process, of which their Revival was actually the climax. In
particular, it was thought by the early Pentecostals that Luther had recovered the fundamental
Gospel doctrine of justification by faith, Wesley had recovered the biblical teaching of
sanctification, and now the Pentecostal Revival had restored the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the
church. Douglas Jacobsen, historian of early Pentecostalism, quotes the following from The
Apostolic Faith, the newsletter of the Azusa Street Revival:
All along the ages men have been preaching a partial Gospel. A part of the Gospel remained
when the world went into the dark ages. God has from time to time raised up men to bring back the
truth to the church. He raised up Luther to bring back to the world the doctrine of justification by
faith. He raised up another reformer in John Wesley to establish Bible holiness in the church.
Then he raised up Dr. Cullis who brought back to the world the wonderful doctrine of divine
healing. Now He is bringing back the Pentecostal Baptism to the church. 89
This was the basic historical-theological understanding of those involved in the spread of
the Revival. For them, the movement had a very specific purpose and place in the grand scheme
87
Hill Jr., American Restitutionism, 75.
88
Hill Jr., American Restitutionism, 75.
89
The Pentecostal Baptism Restored, AF 1, no. 2 (October 1906): 1; quoted in Douglas Jacobsen, Thinking in the
Spirit: Theologies of the Early Pentecostal Movement (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2003), 64.
44
of salvation-history; one that had implicit, unarticulated ecclesiological constructs. Gordon
Atter, a Canadian Pentecostal leader, explained it this way:
The early Church had a continual battle with error, as recorded in every reliable Church
history book. Salvation by works, Arianism, Sabellianism, Gnosticism, and a hundred other errors
sought to destroy faith in God. Its adherence to truth became only a form due to the popularity of
the Church after it became a state religion. Its doctrines became strangely intermingled with
paganism. Finally a form of Christianity with all the trimmings and traditions of Judaism and
paganism developed. This was a church which had begun to surrender to a number of subtle errors
which brought about the Dark Ages.
Beginning with the Reformation, step by step God has restored to the Christian Church all the
vital doctrines of Apostolic times. It has remained for the Holiness and Pentecostal Revivals to set
those doctrines into a true relationship with each other and with a life of personal and vital holiness.
In the baptism of the Holy Ghost the Church is again being set on fire, and is going forth to do
exploits for God in a greater way than at any time since the days of the Apostles. 90
It is clear that this particular scheme of salvation-history was capitulatory, in that the
progress made since the Protestant Reformation and culminating in the Pentecostal revival was
in fact a return to the beginnings of the Church herself. It could almost be likened to a historical
boomerang. What was new with this Revival was not new at all, but as old as Christianity itself.
Pentecostalism was a true revival, not only of fervour and zeal for the Gospel, but of church
being done in true apostolic fashion. Pentecostal pioneer F.F. Bosworth, according to Jacobsen,
said that the pentecostal movement was not about anything new; instead it was about bringing
90
Atter, The Third Force, 120.
45
the church back to her ancient moorings. The pentecostal movement was a restoration
91
movement pure and simple. Or, as the Dominican scholar John Orme Mills describes it,
No, what was arresting about those first twentieth-century Pentecostals was their conviction (a
conviction tongue-speaking and the other gifts they believed they had been given irrefutably
confirmed, in their opinion) that the new pouring-out of Gods Holy Spirit on them had empowered
them to share fully the life of the church of the apostles, the church of Pentecost. And so alive
was their vision of the New Testament church this meant that they experienced a fresh, urgent
sense of expectation which they could identify with that known by the first generation of
92
Christians.
The name given to the movement indicates as clearly as anything the inherent
understanding of the significance of what God was perceived to be doing with this Revival. As
Jacobsen observes, this was promoted by none other than the leader of the Azusa Street Revival,
William Seymour: Seymour himself described the goal of the revival to be the full restoration
of the church so that it would, once again, look just like the one [Christ] started when He left the
93
earth and organized it on the day of Pentecost. Donald Gee, perhaps the most prominent
Pentecostal theologian of a later generation, claimed that the movement represented a longing to
94
recover the pure fountain of the Apostolic Church.
91
Quoted in Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 310.
92
John Orme Mills, Simon Tugwell, Peter Hocken, George Every, New Heaven? New Earth? An Encounter with
Pentecostalism (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1976), 72.
93
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 64.
94
Quoted in Grant Wacker, The Functions of Faith in Primitive Pentecostalism, p. 364. The quote is from Donald
Gee, The Ministry Gifts of Christ (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1930), 13.
46
Of note here, primitivism was hardly pioneered by Pentecostals. It was inherited from
the movements Wesleyan-Holiness roots; though it did evolve to another, more distinctive form.
95
Donald Dayton traces it back to the early Wesley himself. Vinson Synan notes its prominence
and proto-pentecostal character in the ministry of British Presbyterian Edward Irving in the
96
1830s. There were, of course, several other prominent primitivist groups in the United States
during the late seventeenth century, such as Daniel Warner and the Evening Light Saints.
Primitivism has also been shown be a long-standing theme of the Methodist and Holiness
97
movements out of which Pentecostalism arose. Pentecostals, however, were unique from all of
these forerunners in their peculiar appropriation of primitivism as necessitating the same
supernatural acts of the Holy Spirit as the apostles experienced.
It is interesting, however, that the aforementioned Mills posits that even this crucial
feature of early Pentecostalismits eschatologywas subservient to its pounding restorationist
heartbeat:
One of the leading pioneers of Pentecostalism near the beginning of the century, A.J.
Tomlinson, was sure that, just as in the early church the full blaze of light beamed forth from the
Pentecostal chamber and shined forth with radiant glory in the early morning of the Gospel day, so
(the true church has at last been rediscovered) the evening light, the true light, is now shining, and
the sheep are hearing His voice and are coming from every place where they have been scattered
during the cloudy and dark day.
95
Donald W. Dayton, Theological Roots of Pentecostalism (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1987), 40-42.
96
Vinson Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal, 1901-2001
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 22-25.
97
Cf. Dieter, Primitivism in the American Holiness Tradition, in Wesleyan Theological Journal. Accessed at
http://www.lcoggt.org/Articles/primitivism_in_the_american.html.
47
The evening light, the latter rain phrases like these express the great hopes of many a
Pentecostal of Tomlinsons timeAmong many of the Pentecostals in the Third World apocalyptic
expectation is more lively still. In the slums of Santiago a kingdom beyond this world is preached
which will break through in the imminent future and its existence is guaranteed as from this
moment by the conviction that ones sins are pardoned and is often confirmed or made visible by a
physical sign, healing. But here, already, in this mention of conviction of forgiveness and an
awareness of the living power of God prompted by some visible sign reminiscent of the New
Testament, is a hint of one of the most important things that distinguishes Pentecostalism from the
adventist sects (from the Jehovahs Witnesses, for example): namely that is was not apocalyptic
expectation which brought about the birth of twentieth-century Pentecostalism and which has
sustained it; rather, the expectation grew out of the Pentecostals identification with themselves
with what they understood to be the apostolic church. 98
The understanding of the Pentecostal Revival, and the signs which accompanied it, to be the
latter rain of the Spirit upon the earth was more than a point of eschatological orientation, it
was also (a priori?) a point of historical orientationa schema that provided a biblical logic for
the restoration of apostolic practices and experiences, and of specific supernatural activities of
the Holy Spirit narrated in the NT church. So while this latter-rain eschatology must still be
treated as a separate characteristic, it was not at all divorced from the pervasive theology of
primitivism/restorationism that marked early Pentecostal self-understanding.
While some pentecostal leaders are currently trying to grapple with the restorationist cry
99
of Back to Pentecost in view of the Revival now having a century of history of its own , the
restorationist/primitivist characteristic of early Pentecostalism still remains extant among some
98
Mills, New Heaven? New Earth?, 101-102.
99
At a meeting for the PAOC Theological Study Commission on March 26th, 2010, General Superintendent David
Wells asked if the denomination wanted to go back 100 years [to the beginnings of the modern Pentecostal revival]
or 2000 years [to the apostolic church].
48
key leadership. Recall, for example, the recent statements from AoG USA General
Superintendant George Woods quoted in the previous chapter about Pentecostalisms telos to
erase the smudges on the church for the last twenty centuries and get back to what the early
Christians believed and practiced. That is our goalto get back to biblical, original
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Christianity. Thus, any attempt at constructing a contemporary pentecostal ecclesiology
must still contend with the restorationist flavour of the movement.
2.2 Character of Pentecostal Primitivism

Let us now identify more specifically the key elements or characteristics of the original,
apostolic church that the Pentecostal revival sought to restore, to discern the shape and character
of their latent vision of the church. These include, in no particular order, charismatic gifts,
glossolalia, apostolic experience, signs and wonders or miracles, divine healing, the riddance
of formal institution, liturgy and creed, and the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit. This list is
not exhaustive and will be supplemented when addressing other historic elements of the Revival,
but these are here recognized as a core list of NT practices and values which Pentecostals
intentionally sought to restore to what they perceived was their rightful place in the church.
2.2.1 Charismatic Gifts

While Pentecostalism is often known for its emphasis on the event known as the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit, this was hardly the only aspect of their restorationism. In fact, Atter states
100
Wood, Living in the Spirit, 37.
49
that, At first the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the speaking in other tongues
as the initial evidence was not clearly emphasized by many. Hence people thought of it merely
101
as another blessing, or as only a manifestation of one of the gifts of the Spirit. To emphasize
this point, it will not be the first item treated here. Instead, early Pentecostals understood their
revival to be about much more than this one event. The key Pentecostal figure William Durham,
for instance, while a proponent of Spirit-baptism, did not make this his main theological
emphasis. Instead, He was convinced that God was restoring all the miraculous gifts of the
102
Spirit that were mentioned in the New Testament. This is echoed by Vinson Synans
description of the emphases of early Pentecostalism, where he includes the claim, all the gifts of
103
the Spirit would be experienced in the normal life of the church.
The word all is crucial here. The various gifts of the Spirit narrated in Acts, and more
specifically listed in the Pauline epistles, were all meant to be practiced by the last-days church.
Jacobsen affirms that Virtually all pentecostals believed that God sprinkled various gifts of the
Spirit among the people of God to be used in concert for the overall benefit of the church and the
104
effective presentation of the gospel. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying
sign of glossolalia, while certainly a defining emphasis of the Revival, were part of a larger
restorationist vision in which the entire experience of the apostolic churches was in view. As
William Faupel, a significant historian of the movement, explains regarding the theological
vision of those who experienced the Revival at the beginning of the twentieth century: The
101
Atter, The Third Force, 121.
102
103
Synan, Century of the Holy Spirit, 18.
104
50
Bible was searched for evidence which would link this second event to the initial Pentecostal
outpouring in the Acts of the Apostles and yet distinguish it from other sovereign moves of God
within the history of the church. Restoration of the gifts of the Spirit, especially the gift of
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tongues, appeared high on the list of potential possibilities for many adherents.
The historical/eschatological significance of this particular Revival, in the minds of those
caught up in it, was that God was now finally restoring the rest of the NT supernatural operations
of the Holy Spirit in the church to complete the revitalization of true biblical Christianity that had
been gradually taking place since the Protestant Reformation. The irony here is that such
restorationist thinking, specifically regarding the charismatic gifts, was actually not part of the
general Protestant theological tenor. In fact, as Donald Dayton points out in his Theological
Roots of Pentecostalism, In making this claim, Pentecostals reveal a restorationist motif that
flies in the face of the tendency of classical Protestantism to argue that the charismata and
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supernatural gifts of the Spirit ceased with the close of the apostolic era. The charismatic
gifts were therefore a crucial part of this restoration in that they were powerful signs that God
was indeed doing this. While the Pentecostals were proclaiming that the continuing trajectory of
the Reformation of the church was now including the re-emergence of spiritual gifts, they were
actually employing a hermeneutic of scripture that was starkly different from the typical
Reformed approach of the time.
Even though early Pentecostals did not write about these charismata as much as other
facets of the Spirits work, or give them the same singular focus or attention it received in the
105
D. William Faupel, The Everlasting Gospel: The Significance of Eschatology in the Development of Pentecostal
Thought, JPTSup 10 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996), 308.
17. Dayton, Theological Roots, 25.
51
later Charismatic movement, there is no question that it was an inherent part of their
understanding of what was occurring during this latter-rain move of the Spirit. Very
prominent among those aspects of the apostolic church being restored by God through the
Pentecostal revival were the charismatic gifts.
The restoration of these gifts is part of what set the pentecostal Revival apart from its
predecessor, the Holiness movement. The emphasis of the forerunning Holiness movement was
in equating baptism in the Spirit with sanctification. The main work of the Holy Spirit was in
cleansing individuals from sin and making them pure and holyas the name of the movement
indicates. Events such as tongues, prophecy, divine healing and miracles were not yet expected
or taught to be part of normal church experience. These were now finally being re-introduced
through Pentecostalism, and this was part of what made this Revival so historically-
eschatologically significant.
Of course, since the Pentecostal Revival re-introduced an implicit ecclesiology of the
church as the Body of Christ which is edified by the Spirit operating through the charismatic
gifts, several other sourcesincluding the Charismatic Renewal movement, Vatican II, major
ecclesiologists, and ecumenical studieshave all affirmed in one way or another a similar
107
understanding of the church as authentically Pauline and still relevant today . What was a
107
For examples from the Charismatic movement, see Michael Green, I Believe in the Holy Spirit (London:
Hodder & Stoughton, 1985); Michael Ramsay, Holy Spirit (London, SPCK, 1977); and Clark Pinnock, Flame of
Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit (Downers Grove: IVP, 1996), esp. Ch 4.; for Vatican II, see Lumen Gentium,
Chapter II: People of God, #12; among major ecclesiologists espousing the place of charismatic gifts in the Church,
see Hans Kng, The Church, (Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1976) Part C, Section II, #3 (pp. 236-250); Jrgen
Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993), Part VI, 1.(iv) (pp. 294-
300); Yves Congar, I Believe in the Holy Spirit (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2005), Vol. II, Part
Three, B.2 (pp. 173-188); and Miroslav Volf, After Our Likeness, VI, 1.2 (pp. 228-233); for ecumenical works that
affirm gifts of the Spirit, see Arnold Bittlinger, ed. The Church is Charismatic: The World Council of Churches and
the Charismatic Renewal (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1981); and NPC, 14, 28, 41.
52
century ago a distinctively pentecostal/primitivist view of the church has now become a
significant ecumenical consensus point.
The key to accepting and expecting the restoration of these gifts for Pentecostals lies, I
propose, in an ecclesiology that understands the church as the People of Gods Presence. When
the divine presence operates among the worshipping community, they experience divine gifting,
or charismata. This was the implicit understanding of the early Pentecostals. Jacobsen reports
the following about one of the pioneers of the Azusa revival, F.F. Bosworth: Bosworth believed
that the manifestation of the Spirit the new appearance of one or another spiritual gift as a
result of ones baptism in the Spirit was the natural outcome of Gods newly intensified
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presence in the persons life. What Bosworth believed about the individual Spirit-filled
Christian was also implied for the Spirit-filled congregation. Echoing this, Jacobsen elsewhere
reports that another early Pentecostal theologian, George Floyd Taylor, taught that, The gifts
were new, supernatural infusions of power that reflected the extraordinary presence of the Spirit
109
in the believers life. The re-appearance of the spiritual gifts from the apostolic era, then, was
understood to be a direct result of the manifest (or newly intensified or extraordinary)
Presence of the Spirit in the church.
108
109
53
2.2.2 Glossolalia
Without a doubt, the best-known distinctive of the Pentecostal Revival was the re-
emergence of the apostolic practice of glossolalia, or speaking in tonguesthe divinely-
bestowed ability to speak a previously unlearned language. The speaker is cognitively unaware
of the meaning of what they are saying, hence the sign that this is a gift of the Holy Spirit, a
divine gift. This phenomenon was one of the outcomes experienced by those followers of Jesus
in the Upper Room when they were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts
2:4).
The earliest Pentecostals believed that speaking in tongues was the telltale sign that one
had received a third blessing (after salvation and sanctification), a baptism in the Holy Spirit
distinct from water baptism. Additionally, however, Acts 2:5-12 also narrates that there were
visitors from several other nations that all heard these uneducated Galileans speaking in their
respective native tongues, and were amazed by this fact. Based on this text many Pentecostal
leaders, such as Charles Parham (whom some contend is the true father or founder of
Pentecostalism) further believed that these tongues were a foreign language divinely bestowed
on someone to allow them to preach the gospel to the natives of that language. These tongues
are technically known as xenolalia, the ability to speak an existing language without having ever
learned itthe same way those Galileans in Acts 2 could suddenly speak the languages of the
Parthians, Medes and Elamites after being filled with the Holy Spirit in the upper room.
The gift of tongues, understood in this way, was highly functional in that it allowed for
ordinary, unlearned Spirit-filled saints to travel as missionaries to lands across the sea without
having to spend the funds, energy and time learning a new language in the conventional manner.
This was necessary because time was short. As those who already held an apocalyptic
54
eschatology, Pentecostals (along with their holiness and fundamentalist siblings) were convinced
the end was very near. As with the latter-rain matrix (see below), the renewal of tongues was as
eschatological as it was primitivistic, and as pragmatic as either. Grant Wacker explains:
Specifically: the Lord was coming soon, the heathen were perishing for want of
the gospel, thus the Holy Spirit had given missionary tongues to the church as a speedy
and practical means for meeting that need. Missionary tongues would hasten world
evangelization by enabling partisans to bypass years of arduous language study. Given
the urgency of the situation and the difficulty and inaccessibility of traditional means of
language acquisition, it seems virtually inevitable that pentecostals would have found
110
such a resource in their cultural tool kit.
Jacobsen summarily adds, For the people wandering in and out of the Azusa revival, then,
speaking in tongues was understood to be both the necessary biblical marker that one had
received the baptism with the Holy Ghost and an empowering gift of God that readied one to
111
take part in evangelism to the rest of the world.
It soon became clear, however, that the supernatural gift of tongues did not function in
the expected manner for those who ventured into foreign missions. Humiliated missionaries
faced the reality that they could not preach or converse with natives in their tongue after all.
This led to a forced change in the pentecostal theology of glossolalia. Although Parham
110
Grant Wacker, Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press, 2001), 48. Missionary tongues is the term Wacker has come up with in place of the technical word
xenolalia.
111
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 74-75.
55
112
maintained his stance on xenolalia until his death in 1928 , and there did continue to be
113
numerous verified accounts of xenolalic miracles in public services across North America ,
most others came over time to necessarily refine their understanding of the significance and
place of the gift of tongues for the believer and, by extension, for the church. The same
pragmatism that conditioned their initial view of glossolalia also fostered the evolution of it; or
as Wacker puts it, But if pragmatic considerations nurtured the birth of missionary tongues, they
114
also dictated its demise.
If glossolalia was not always or primarily xenolalia, then at least it must still be the
authenticating sign of the Holy Spirits infilling. This eventually became doctrine among most
major pentecostal groups that formed as a result of the Revival. Tongues came to function as the
initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yet, though tongues were viewed as a sign,
they nevertheless remained also a divine gift. And this gift was especially precious because it
became the distinctive marker of Pentecostals within the Christian milieu. As Wacker articulates
it, From the outset tongues, more than any other belief or practice, defined pentecostals
religious identity, both in their own minds and in the minds of outsiders. Tongues was the
115
Shekinah glory in their midst. This last statement is crucial for our purposes here.
Glossolalia demonstrated immanent, divine Presence in a uniquely tangible way; a defining way.
The reality of the practice of tongues meant that God was now present in a manner and scale not
112
Cf. Wacker, Heaven Below, 287, n70.
113
For examples, see especially Atter, The Third Force, 293-294; and Sherrill, They Speak with Other Tongues, 12-
15; 98-100.
114
Wacker, Heaven Below, 48.
115
Wacker., Heaven Below, 42.
56
experienced since the time of the apostles. And this empirically signaled that Gods Presence
was manifesting itself in the world through a truly special means. Consequently, tongues
reinforced the pentecostal restorationist-eschatological matrix as nothing else quite could, even
though other divine signs were also present.
In so doing, tongues continued also to fuel the missional character of pentecostal
assemblies, even after xenolalia failed to be a sustainable theological tenet. For if speaking in
tongues did not normatively mean the ability to communicate the Gospel to foreigners on an
ongoing basis, it did continue to serve as evidence of divine empowerment; and this
empowerment was still for the purposes of proclaiming the Gospel (in accordance with Acts
1:5) regardless of specific linguistic issues. Moreover, this divine empowerment was being
made available primarily to marginalized people, just as in the bible narrative (Acts 2:17-18, cf.
Joel 2:28). More on that later. The point of all this is that tongues came to symbolize more than
any other pentecostal practice a new spiritual/theological reality for the participants. God was
now filling ordinary (or less than ordinary) people with His Spirit in a dynamic, measurable way,
and in so doing was inviting them into His Mission, allowing them to participate in the great and
final resurgence of the Gospel around the world. They were now tangibly shown to be the
People of Gods Presence precisely because they spoke with other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them. As Hollenweger puts it, speaking in tongues can become a piece of art which, like a
116
cathedral, proclaims: God is here.
116
Hollenweger, Rethinking Spirit Baptism: The Natural and the Supernatural, in Allan J. Anderson and Walter
J. Hollenweger, eds. Pentecostals After a Century: Global Perspectives on a Movement in Transition. JPTSup 15
(Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999), 171 (italics his).
57
Frank Macchia has called glossolalia a manifestation of the theophanic presence of God
117
through His Spirit. While the early pentecostals did not use that term, it can certainly be
argued that it is a useful one for capturing their understanding of how, as Wacker puts it, tongues
represented the Shekinah glory of God in their midst. The theological notion of the spiritual gift
of tongues as a theophanic manifestation of Gods immanent presence is one we will return to in
the next chapter. Within this understanding of the significance of tongues as a manifestation of
Gods Presence is an ecclesiology that sees the telos of the corporate worshipping body to hear
and/or experience the edifying presence of the Spirit in this manner.
2.2.3 Apostolic Experience

The re-emergence of both charismata and glossolalia signaled the reality that
contemporary Christians could, and should, have the same experience of the divine as the
apostles did. The narrative of Acts was understood hermeneutically to serve not merely as a
historical record, but more significantly as a template for normative Christian living in the here
and now. Following the trajectory of the antecedent Wesleyan and Holiness movements with
their evangelical piety, early Pentecostals understood the Christian faith to be a matter of
experience instead of mere assent to Reformed doctrine. Pentecostal theologian Steven Land has
shown that this particular approach to spirituality is a triangular equation involving an equal
interplay between orthodoxy (right belief), orthopathy (right experience) and orthopraxy (right
117
Macchia, Sighs Too Deep for Words: Toward a Theology of Glossolalia, JPT 1 (1992), 47-73.
58
118
behaviour). In agreement with other pietist groups, Pentecostals affirmed that orthodoxy
alone is not sufficient. Nor is salvation actualized by confession only. Just as sanctification
(understood initially in Wesleyan terms until the Finished Work controversy began in 1910)
takes place through crisis experiences, so does empowerment for mission. This is what
Pentecostals now added. When these occur, religious affections naturally follow. Apostolic
Christianity is meant to be an experienced reality today, and this was what God was bringing
about through the Revival. Jacobsen summarizes it well when he notes, Whether experience
preceded theology (as was the case with Lewi Pethrus) or theology preceded experience (as was
the case with Parhams students at Bethel Bible College), the basic point is the same: Theology
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and experience deeply influenced each other within the pentecostal movement.
The identification of Pentecostalism with authentic apostolic spirituality is nowhere more
evident than in the name of the Azusa Street Mission during the revival of 1906-1909: Apostolic
Faith. Apostolic Faith here again refers to a proleptical, primitivist-eschatological vision
(latter rain) of seeing the experience, spirituality, mission and Spirit-empowerment of the
apostles restored to the life of the church. Apostolic truth must lead to apostolic faith. The
Azusa revival propagated a distinct understanding of apostolicity framed around experience
rather than authority, office or succession. This is important to note in its own right given the
118
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality: A Passion for the Kingdom (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993), esp.. 41,
44. Cited also by Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 6.
119
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit , 5. Lewi Pethrus was a Baptist pastor who became a pioneer of Pentecostalism
in Scandinavia after surprisingly receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit on a ferry boat; for many years he pastored
the largest pentecostal church in the world. Pethrus was compelled to change his theology following his experience.
Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas is where the first instance of glossolalia in the twentieth century occurred
when Agnes Ozman began speaking in tongues on January 1st, 1901. This took place after the principal, Charles
Parham, assigned the students to study the scriptures to determine what the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is.
The answer they arrived at was speaking in tongues. Thus, in this latter case, Jacobsen is referring to an instance
where a spiritual experience was directly conditioned by biblical exegesis.
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current wrestling among twenty-first century pentecostals over what apostolicity should mean
now. Any attempt at constructing a distinctly pentecostal ecclesiology at this juncture in the
history of the movement must also wrestle with this issue, but can only start to do so once this
initial perspective is acknowledged and understood.
2.2.4 Signs and Wonders

Similarly, early Pentecostals held the conviction that those who receive apostolic
experience can produce apostolic deeds. Specifically, miracles can be wrought by those who
move in the same power of the Holy Spirit as the first apostles did. Just as signs and wonders
performed by the apostles were a natural consequence of their Pentecostal infilling of the Spirit
(Acts 2:43), so should this be expected now. Gary B. McGee explains:
As a radically innovative movement of the Holy Spirit, Pentecostalism remained

loyal to the historic truths of the faith, but turned the cessationist hourglass upside down
by showing that miracles had not ended with the last of the apostles. Pentecostals pressed
to recapture the apostolic dimension of the early church, especially with their emphasis
on tongues and prayer for the sickPentecostal periodicals would eventually carry
thousands of accounts of conversions, healings, deliverances from chemical addictions,
and exorcisms. Believers would also tell of being guided by visions and dreams as
predicted by the Old Testament prophet Joel (2:28). 120
Elsewhere, David Barrett defines the major characteristic of Pentecostalism as a rediscovery
of, and a new experience of, the supernatural with a powerful and energizing ministry of the
120
Gary B. McGee, To the Regions Beyond: The Global Expansion of Pentecostalism, Chapter Four in Vinson
Synan, ed., Century of the Holy Spirit, 71.
60
Holy Spirit in the realm of the miraculous that most other Christians have considered to be
121
highly unusual. Pentecostals believed that miracles of a biblical proportion could happen
today as a further sign that God was pouring out his Spirit as never before to prepare the world
for the return of Christ. As Barretts research confirms, this was attested to by those in the
Revival at numerous points. The faith of the early Pentecostals to expect signs and wonders to
occur was apparently rewarded time and again. Writing in 1962, Gordon Atter reported:
Not only have there been supernatural healings, but on numerous occasions
miracles equal to anything recorded in the New Testament have occurred in this Revival.
Missing organs have been placed in the body; hail storms have been stopped; drought has
been broken; even the dead have been raised, in answer to believing prayer. These, and
other miracles have become a part of the Pentecostal Revival, and have happened on
many occasions during the last sixty years in the Pentecostal Movement
Again and again there have been miraculous answers to prayer. Sinners have
been saved, money provided, circumstances altered, dreams, visions and supernatural
visitations experienced, comparable to anything in the New Testament.
Yes, this has been a miracle-working Revival. The history of the Pentecostal
Movement is the history of sixty years of MIRACLES. This is Gods answer to
modernism. 122
It is thus evident that the expectation of God performing miracles in the present age is a
fundamental characteristic of Pentecostalism, one that has profound ramifications for explicating
an ecclesiology for the movement. As Atter states, the original pentecostal worldview was in
certain key respects an anti-modern one; which is to say that Pentecostals were conditioned by a
121
David Barrett, The Worldwide Holy Spirit Renewal, Chapter Fifteen in Synan, ed., Century of the Holy Spirit,
395.
122
Atter, The Third Force, 295 (caps his).
61
pre-critical, often-literal approach to scripture rather than by Enlightenment historical-critical
methodologies. The movement was, in fact, a reaction to Enlightenment thought when it came to
the Bible, miracles, the supernatural, cosmology, etc. Their bold, primitive faith in a miracle-
working God was a kind of rebellion against the liberalism of modernity. The clash of the
pentecostal worldview with modern, Western thought is such that Duke Divinity School
Professor Grant Wackerwho grew up Pentecostaldescribes its legacy upon him personally in
the following manner: ... I remain unsure where their view ends and mine begins. I have long
imagined, in other words, that God must have missed class the day they covered the
Enlightenment. Clearly the Almighty did not get the word that He was not supposed to
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transform persons lives in miraculous ways day after day. In pentecostal theology, the
power of God depicted in scripture was real and undiminished, and now demonstrating itself to
remind the modern world of this fact.
The logic of such a belief comes back to their perception of Gods Presence with them
and indwelling them. Jacobsen contrasts early Pentecostals with the dispensational
Fundamentalists they would later align themselves with, stating that a key difference was that,
pentecostals wanted to affirm the present-day miracle-working presence of God in the

124
world. Miracles could be expected because of the latter-rain Presence of the Holy Spirit
moving across the earth. The character of the Spirits Presence was identical to apostolic times,
and thus the promise of Jesus that even greater feats than His would be done (John 14:12) was
taken seriously by those who had personally experienced the power of the Spirits infilling
presence in their lives. As with the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, the presence or operation of
123
Wacker, Heaven Below, preface, p. x.
124
62
signs and wonders is what signifies the Spirits operation in the Church. This adds a significant
dimension to ecclesiologies centered on Word or Sacrament. The Church is not merely where
the Word is rightly preached or the sacraments rightly administered; it is where the Spirit is
present with power to perform miracles as a tangible sign of the inbreaking Kingdom of God in
the here and nowa foretaste of what is to come.
2.2.5 Divine Healing

One particular category of miracle which was famously emphasized by Pentecostals is
divine, physical healing. This was another cherished spiritual gift that God was restoring to the
church in the Last Days. Though physical healing as a result of direct divine intervention
through prayer has a long tradition within Christianity, especially among Catholic mystics and
125
saints , the prominence given to it in the Pentecostal Revival was unmistakably unique. Martin
Marty quotes Frederick Dale Bruner on this point: Bruner says there is an emphasis on healing
in many Pentecostal circles which makes it almost a second Pentecostal distinctive, and anyone
126
familiar with the literature is likely to agree with him. Nowhere is this more evident than in
their appropriation of the so-called foursquare gospel: Jesus as Saviour, Healer, Baptizer and
Coming King. Fundamental to pentecostal theology was that Christ provided healing through his
atoning death on the cross. A full explanation is provided by Wacker:
125
See Francis MacNutt, Healing (Altamonte Springs, FLA: Creation House, 1988); and especially Ronald Kydd,
Healing Through the Centuries (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998).
126
Martin Marty, Pentecostalism in American Piety and Practice, in Vinson Synan, ed. Aspects of Pentecostal-
Charismatic Origins (Plainfield, NJ: Logos International, 1975), 218.
63
pentecostals abiding conviction [was] that prevailing prayer-sometimes called the

prayer of faith-would automatically bring healing to the body. Holy Ghost people
inherited from their radical evangelical parents an elaborate theology of healing, based on
the covenantal promises in Exodus 15:26, the Great Commission in Mark 16:17-18, the
gifts of healing in 1 Corinthians 12:9, the healing ministry of the churchs elders in James
5:14, and, above all, the promise of healing in Christs atonement on the cross. The last
stemmed from the radical evangelical reading of Isaiah 53:5: He was wounded for our
transgressionsand with his stripes we are healed. But where most Christians and a
majority of radical evangelicals had considered prayer for healing a petition for Gods
favor, pentecostals effectively considered it a causal agent in itself. God had promised to
respond positively to all genuine prayers, therefore He would. 127
Physical healing was therefore part and parcel of the Pentecostal gospel; it was
intrinsically connected both to the salvific work of Christ, and to the charismatic operation of the
Spirit in the church. As such, it was an integral part of the apostolic faith, and something every
believer had a right to seek for in prayer. It was depicted as normative for the Christian life in an
unprecedented manner. Wacker reports that, A writer for the Azusa Apostolic Faith put the
matter plainly: the full Gospel gives power to heal our bodies, andpower to raise us from the
128
dead. Indeed, healing is listed as one of the fundamental beliefs of the movement in the
first issue of the Apostolic Faith newsletter, and is repeated twice: Seeking Healing - He must
129
believe that God is able to heal.
127
128
Wacker, Heaven Below , 62. The quote is from AF, February-March 1907, 6.
129
AF, Los Angeles, Volume 1, No. 1, September 1906, p. 2. Accessed October 18, 2010 at
http://ifphc.org/DigitalPublications/USA/Independent/Apostolic%20Faith%20(Azusa%20Street)/Unregistered/1906/
FPHC/1906_09.pdf.
64
Faith in this theological conviction was rewarded in a vast multitude of instances. Wacker
summarizes his own research of the primary sources in the following report:
First-generation healing testimonies tallied in the thousands. They detailed every conceivable
form of restoration, ranging from runny noses dried up to dead bodies raised to life-and everything
in between. Most were cast in the symbol-rich vocabulary of the New Testament (threes, sevens,
and twelves predominated), but a surprising number resembled the straightforward prose of a
medical report.130
Again, this was yet another prominent dimension in the restorationist-apocalyptic matrix
in which Pentecostals were operating. Since physical healing was an integral part of the
apostolic ministry (the first narrated act of the Apostles following the Pentecost account is the
miraculous healing of the crippled beggar in Acts 3:1-10), and also simultaneously a foretaste of
the fast-approaching, eschatological renewal of creation, it was therefore another crucial sign of
the latter-rain outpouring of Gods presence upon the earth, and consequently a fixture on the
pentecostal landscape. Donald Dayton explains that divine healing was vital to Pentecostal faith
because this phenomenon becomes not only a gift of God to his people in suffering, but also a
sign of the Spirits presence to the believer and a form of witness to the unbeliever in the work of
131
evangelism. Because, as this thesis asserts, the Spirits presence is what forms the core of
Pentecostal theology, healing as a sign of this Presence logically became a significant aspect of
pentecostal expectations. Wacker succinctly concludes, From first to last, divine healing
132
remained central to the movements self-understanding. The 2010 conference in Wales on
130
131
Dayton, Theological Roots, 26.
132
Wacker, Heaven Below, 65-66.
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Pentecostal Ecclesiology therefore had one session on the Church as a Healing Community.
Healing belongs at the core of the Churchs mission and life, in Pentecostal thought and therefore
in Pentecostal ecclesiology.
2.2.6 Aversion to Formalism

Another defining characteristic of early pentecostal primitivism was the movements
aversion to the orders and rituals of the older, dead churches. Any practice that exuded
formalism was rejected. The new excitement brought about by the baptism in the Holy Spirit
seemed inevitably to clash with previous ecclesiastical methods and structures. Pentecostals
resounded Luthers cry of sola scriptura and opposed the authority of any formal creeds. As a
Holy Ghost revivalist movement, previous man-made liturgies were forsaken. And because of
their reliance on the direct leading of the Spirit, any institutionalizing was frowned upon.
Wacker notes that pentecostals were certain they had recaptured the essential features of the
Apostolic Church and, more importantly, that they had eluded the men made creeds and
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traditions of the intervening years. As Macchias quote at the beginning of the chapter
indicates, pentecostals formed their denominations over pragmatic concerns (i.e. to be a proper
sending agency for missionaries, to ordain clergy for the purpose of discounted train fares, etc.)
rather than on convictions pertaining to particular structures and orders.
It is important to note that, as those who were marginalized and in most cases no longer
welcome in their previous churches, Pentecostals formed their own congregations more out of
default and necessity, and therefore undoubtedly reciprocated the rejection they themselves
133
Wacker, The Functions of Faith in Primitive Pentecostalism, 364.
66
experienced. Thus, the pentecostal aversion to previous formal church practices, while certainly
fuelled by revival enthusiasm, was also a response to the established churches rejecting their
charismatic ways.
Yet the inherent ecclesiology behind this separatist attitude was, as Newbigin identified,
one that understood the essence of the church as being animated by the moving of the Spirit upon
persons, rather than on specific church practices. Indeed, this outpouring of the Spirit was
perceived to rescue people from these ineffective, traditional ecclesiastical ways and move the
faithful in a very different direction. From the perspective of these renewed outcasts, spirituality
was given vitality through a dramatic infilling of the Spirit, not through rituals and orders. One
notable historian of the movement, Robert Mapes Anderson, expresses it this way:
The Protestant denominations, in the opinion of the Pentecostals, had turned away from
true Christianity and adopted churchianity. Formalism, liturgy, and organization had destroyed
true spiritual religion in the churches. They were cold and dead, having a form of godliness
but denying the power thereof. Worship was devoid of personal testimony periods, amens,
hallelujas, and all evidence of the Spirits presence. The organized church, said Bartleman,
has largely proven a tremendous framework of form and ceremony built up against God. 134
Anderson later continues to contrast the ways of Pentecostals with mainline churches:
It is hardly surprising, given the esteem in which they held the mainline denominations, that
the Pentecostals assiduously spurned the tenor of their worship. Services were held in brush arbors,
private homes, tents, the open air, or rented halls (an upper room if possible) in preference to
134
Robert Mapes Anderson, Vision of the Disinherited: The Making of American Pentecostalism (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1979), 212. Notice the use of the phrase Spirits presence. Bartleman refers to Frank
Bartleman, who was a pioneering Pentecostal minister involved at the start of the Azusa Street Revival, and whose
biographical writing has been an important eyewitness source.
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church buildings. Organs, altars, sometimes even pulpits, trained choirs, robes and clerical collars
were out, pianos, guitars, tambourines, saxophones, trumpets, extemporaneous singing, praying,
and preaching were in. Children were neither baptized at birth nor confirmed in adolescence, but
dedicated to the Lord at birth and baptized only after undergoing the new birth experience.
Baptism was always by immersion and took place in a lake or river, but seldom in a baptistry.135
Pentecostals therefore favoured spontaneity over planning, novelty over tradition, congregational
participation over liturgical order, and neutral ground over church facilities. All this was a
reflection of their pneumatological orientation toward aspects of worship, the state of their
relations to the established churches, and the earlier-described view of history from which they
operated. The confluence of these factors fostered a wholesale resentment towards all
expressions of formalism in worship.
It must be briefly emphasized here that although this attitude purposely strained relations
with other Christian bodies, it paradoxically existed alongside a unique spirit of inclusion and,
some have suggested, ecumenism which was initially present during the early part of the Azusa
Revival. Pentecostalism began as an (unplanned) ingathering of those belonging to other
churches who were open to the teaching of tongues as a sign of a new inbreaking of the Kingdom
of God, and were seeking to experience the Presence of God in a tangible way. As such, anyone
was welcome to join. William Seymour, the pastor of the Azusa Street Mission and (some
contend) a founder of the Pentecostal Movement, wrote in the first issues of the Apostolic Faith
newsletter, We are not fighting against people or churches, but we are seeking to replace dead
135
Robert Mapes Anderson, Vision of the Disinherited , 213. The title of Andersons dissertation speaks volumes
in itself about early Pentecostal self-understanding.
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136
forms and dogmas with a living, practical Christianity. It was the perception of the early
pentecostals that the creeds, liturgy and practices of the established churches were the problem,
preventing them from experiencing the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit in their worship
services.
One of the leading theological voices of this pentecostal aversion to formalism was
Richard Green Spurling, Jr. (1857-1935), one of the founders of the Church of God (Cleveland,
TN) denomination. The author of one of the earliest pentecostal pieces concerning ecclesiology,
137
The Lost Link , Spurling protested against a particular strain of Baptist thought known as
138
Landmarkism. Like other restorationists, he was critical of established Christianity and
139
held to the idea of the Constantinian fall of the church, which he claimed occurred about
140
the year 325 A.D. Subsequently, he vehemently rejected the authority of the Creeds, which
136
Quoted in Jean-Jacques Suurmond, Word & Spirit at Play: Towards a Charismatic Theology (Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans, 1994), p. 2. Also quoted in Cecil M. Robeck, The Azusa Street Mission and Revival: the
birth of the global Pentecostal movement (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 9 (Robecks quote adds the
words and wild fanaticisms after dogmas); also found at
http://talkingpentecostalism.blogspot.com/2009/01/dawning-of-pentecostalism-five-factors.html.
137
The Lost Link can be accessed at
http://faculty.leeu.edu/~drc/Resources/LostLinkfiles/TheLostLink.htm#Table of Contents. A handwritten
manuscript is dated May 4, 1897, but it was not printed until 1920, cf. Jacobsen, 371, n.72. Dale Coulter, however,
believes the manuscript and the published version of The Lost Link, while containing some repeated content,
should not be considered the same document ( 64, n. 17). In that case, we only know it was written sometime
between 1897 and 1920. That leaves open the question of whether this document precedes or follows the outbreak of
the Pentecostal revival; but its publication in 1920 by the Church of God demonstrates that it is perfectly congenial
with pentecostal attitudes.
138
Dale M. Coulter, The Development of Ecclesiology in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN): A Forgotten
Contribution? in PNEUMA, 29 (2007), 62.
139
Coulter, Development of Ecclesiology, 64.
140
Richard G. Spurling, Jr., The Lost Link, Chapter One, final sentence. Accessed October 16, 2010 at
http://faculty.leeu.edu/~drc/Resources/LostLinkfiles/TheLostLink.htm#Table of Contents.
69
141
he perceived as the wellspring of division and Christian-on-Christian persecution.
Alternatively, he proposed that the church should be governed by only one law, the law of
Christ, which is love. As Dale Coulter explains,
Spurling asserted that Christs commandment or law to love one another must ultimately
define the church as the people of God. Christians do not create this fellowship. Rather, it pre-
exists in the Spirit and is first given because the Spirit inscribes the law of Christ on the heart. Any
other basis of fellowship must be rejectedFor Spurling, if one is to develop an ecclesiology
centered on the notion of koinonia, then creedal statements cannot authoritatively define the
boundaries of that koinonia because they represent human attempts to formulate more precise
doctrinal definitions.142
The concept of koinonia thus formed the center of Spurlings constructive proposal: The
church is the creation of Christ, who through the Spirit has inscribed his own law on the hearts of
143
his children. This law is the great command of Christ to love God and love your neighbour
as yourself. As Spurling stated, I have said many times that love is the law on which Christ
144
built the church. Accordingly, his definition of the church was simply, The Church is a
145
people ruled by Jesus and His laws. This governing law of Christ is only made effective by
the work of the Spirit, consequently the church must be understood pneumatologically. Thus, as
Coulter explains, While Christs law institutes the church, giving it a visible structure, the Spirit
141
142
143
144
Spurling, The Lost Link, Chapter One, beginning of tenth paragraph. Accessed October 16, 2010 from
145
Spurling, Address on the Church, General Assembly of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN), 196, as quoted in
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constitutes the church by causing Christs rule to be established in persons and enabling them to
146
grow in that rule. Ironically, this summary of Spurlings ecclesiology is an echo of what the
leading Orthodox theologian John Zizioulas also maintains regarding the churchs essence as
determined by her specific relations both to Christ and to the Spirit: Christ in-stitutes and the
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Spirit con-stitutes. That a poster-boy for Restorationism would have his ecclesiology
articulated in the same terms as an Eastern Orthodox theologian reveals several theological
paradoxes that cannot be unpacked here.
Nevertheless, Spurlings ecclesiology still epitomized restorationism in its rejection of
creedal, confessional, and clerical authority. This is most evident when he proclaims, I am glad
that we as a church have no other leader but Gods Spirit, no other law but that which Jesus gave;
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no other rule of faith but the New Testament. How does this church function? How do the
law of love and the constituting element of Spirit-led koinonia operate organizationally? Here is
where the chief tension is found in Spurling. Coulter provides a comprehensive explanation:
Spurlings view of the church as government led to an unresolved tension in his ecclesiology.
On the one hand, he eschewed creeds as binding the conscience and, instead, argued that the Spirit
brought liberty and equality. Hence the church must remain grounded upon Christs law of love,
which is why the New Testament is its only rule of faith and practice. Spurling believed that the
New Testament authoritatively articulated the nature of the law of love. It is also why individual
believers must be given the freedom of conscience to practice Christianity. One the other hand, he
believed that the conscience should be Christianized and asserted that individuals could be
excommunicated for known violations of Gods Word or commands [The Lost Link].
146
147
Cf. John Zizioulas, Being as Communion (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2002), 140.
148
Spurling, The Lost Link, Chapter One, end of eighth paragraph. Accessed October 16, 2010 from
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Moreover, in an implicit reference to the Jerusalem Council, he endorsed following the decrees of
the Apostles.149
As far as endeavouring to restore or imitate the apostolic church, this tension is not irresolvable
in that it can be argued that it is precisely the same balance that the NT church attempted to
achieve. That the Jerusalem church in Acts found itself following the direct leading of the Spirit
while devoting themselves to the Apostles teaching and authority would have likely been a cue
for Spurling to attempt to do the same without being contradictory. It is possibly for that precise
reason that Spurling clearly desired to live in the tension between an anti-creedalism that
promoted liberty and equality and a visible community that could define the boundaries of
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interpretation through its decrees. Spurling, in fact, addressed this tension directly when he
wrote:
Some think Christians ought not to be united in any bond of fellowship while others are not
satisfied with the law and government of Christ and the Holy Spirit but must have a great many
more laws and governments. So between the two extremes there is a wise and reasonable middle
ground of truth which unprejudiced and honest Spirit led Christians can surely find in the words
and acts of the Savior and His followers under the leadership of the Holy Ghost.151
This statement captures as well as any (and better than most) the logic of the early pentecostal
rejection of the ways of the established churches, and the corresponding primitivist hope and
149
150
151
Spurling, The Lost Link, Supplement, paragraph 5. Accessed October 16, 2010 from
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belief that the apostolic church, with particular regard to its apparent modus operandi, could be
restored again in modern times. As Jacobsen states, The slow return of the church to the rule of
love was a sign of Gods promise ultimately to restore the church to its original character and
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standing before the end of the age, and Spurling welcomed that restoration with open arms.
While his belief that creeds and clericalism were the primary killers of love and koinonia in the
church may cause many to bristle, Spurlings child-like desire to see Christs law of love be the
ruling standard among the Spirit-formed People of God is, as we have seen in its apparent
affinity even with an important aspect of the ecclesiology of Zizioulas, perhaps more useful to
Pentecostals and non-pentecostals alike than many other more-heralded ecclesiological
principles. His emphasis on liberty and equality could also be said to be ahead of his time, but
did find friendly association with the Azusa phenomenon, as I will explain below.
2.2.7 Direct Leadership of the Holy Spirit

We have just seen in Spurling evidence of the pentecostal attitude towards traditional
forms of church governance namely that they were apostate substitutes for the intended,
immanent reign of the Spirit within the visible church. Coupled with their aversion to formalism
in worship was an initial pentecostal rejection of traditional forms of church governance.
Though they did not go so far as to imitate the Quakers in terms of lack of someone in charge
(there was always a leader, and often they had autocratic-type authority), the communicated
notion was that the Pentecostal Revival was restoring the guiding, authoritative activity of the
152
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Holy Spirit in place of humanly structured leadership. This was articulated most clearly by
Spurlings declaration cited above that his church had no other leader but Gods Spirit.
The Azusa Street Revival meetings demonstrated the belief in the direct leadership of the
Holy Spirit over services, and this is what famously characterized the meetings there. Historian
Robert Owens describes this phenomenon in the following manner:
These antistructuralist tendencies also surfaced in the worship patterns established by the
Azusa Street Mission. Following their belief that the Holy Spirit would guide all believers and not
just leaders, everyone was free to speak, even during the services, erasing the lines between clergy
and congregationFurther, their belief that the Holy Spirit should be free to direct the services
however He wished led to singing and testimonies, preaching, and teaching to be mixed
haphazardly throughout the meeting, thus erasing the boundaries between ecclesiastical liturgy and
what some claimed was spiritual anarchy.153
At a typical meeting, it is recorded that one elder began the service with the following
statement:
We have no planned program, nor are we afraid of anarchy or crooked spirits. God the Holy
Spirit is able to control and protect His work. If any strange manifestations come, trust the Holy
Spirit, keep in prayer, and you will see the word of wisdom go forth, a rebuke, an exhortation that
will close the door on the enemy and show the victory won. God can use any member of the body,
and He often gives the more abundant honor to the weaker members.154
153
Owens, The Azusa Street Revival: The Pentecostal Movement Begins in America, Chapter Three in Vinson
Synan, ed. Century of the Holy Spirit, 55.
154
Stanley M. Horton, A Typical Day at Azusa Street, Heritage (Springfield, Mo.: Assemblies of God, Fall,
1982); quoted in Owens, Azusa Street Revival, 57.
74
Tradition also has it that during the Azusa Revival, Pastor Seymour was often kneeling
humbly in prayer behind the makeshift pulpit of crates (or shoe boxes) while the Holy Ghost
took charge of the meetings, as there were no prearranged subjects or sermons; everything was
155
left to the spontaneous move of God. This way of conducting services manifested a clear,
though informal, ecclesiology that was a distinct theological trait of the early Pentecostal
movement.
In sum, these were the primary practices that the early Pentecostals sought to restore to
the Church: charismata, glossolalia, apostolic experience, miracles, divine healing, lack of
formal liturgy and creeds, and the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit. It was these elements that,
for them, characterized the NT church, and it is these things that they passionately believed
should be imitated now during the Latter-rain outpouring of the Spirit. This theology, then,
represents a most particular kind of primitivism, which Melvin Dieter classifies as radical
156
experientialism. It is precisely this radical experiential primitivism that characterized the
original Pentecostal vision of the church. Consequently, any attempt at constructing a distinctly
Pentecostal ecclesiology currently, though necessarily accounting for the inevitable evolutionary
process of a revival movement after a centurys time, must still in some way give consideration
to these very touchstones of historic, classical Pentecostalism and the unique brand of
restorationism that they collectively comprise.
155
Owens, Azusa Street Revival, 60.
156
Dieter, Primitivism, 12-13.
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3 Latter Rain Eschatology

Another defining element of the original pentecostal historical-eschatological vision and
self-understanding was the appropriation of the Latter-Rain motif. It would be difficult to
overstate the extent to which this was a pivotal, distinct aspect of Pentecostal theology and
identity; it did nothing less than shape their entire worldview in a unique manner. Latter-rain
eschatology also provided the historical logic for the radical experiential primitivism described
above. Thus, this next section will, by way of definition, briefly articulate the significance of
this motif as it was utilized by the early Pentecostals, and then subsequently identify two major
theological facets of this eschatology: the imminence of the Second Coming, and empowerment
for last-days mission.
3.1 Definition
When Charles F. Parham published his authoritative account of what took place on New
Years Day, 1901 at his Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas (the day Agnes Ozman, a
student there, began speaking in tongues), he titled it, The Latter Rain: The Story of the Origin
157
of the Original Apostolic Faith or Pentecostal Movements. The Revival sparked by the
events of that day subsequently went by the three alternating names found in this title:
Pentecostal Movement, Apostolic Faith Movement, and Latter-Rain Movement. A brief
explanation of this third moniker is provided in the introduction of a famous sermon on the topic
by early Pentecostal theologian David Wesley Myland, delivered in 1909 in Chicago:
157
Title of Ch. 7 of The Life of Charles Parham, Founder of The Apostolic Faith Movement (Joplin, Mo: Tri-State
Printing, 1930), as referenced in Dayton, Theological Roots, 23; and Synan, ed., Century of the Holy Spirit, 45.
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The present, and, we may say, mightier movement and manifestation of the Holy
Spirit has been called, quite generally, "The Latter Rain," doubtless from the fact that it is at least
the spiritual aspect of the outworking of God's great Latter Rain Covenant. If it is remembered that
the climate of Palestine consisted of two seasons, the wet and the dry, and that the wet season was
made up of the early and the latter rain, it will help you to understand this Covenant and the present
workings of God's Spirit. For just as the literal early and latter rain was poured out upon Palestine,
so upon the church of the First Century was poured out the spiritual early rain, and upon us today is
being poured out the spiritual latter rain.158
In explaining the hermeneutic employed to make this association between the physical rains of
Palestine and the historical activity of the Holy Spirit, Myland stated:
Let us go back and look at this Covenant a moment that you may get some real spiritual bread
out of it, for though it is a matter of history as to literal Israel, it is also typical as to God's spiritual
people, and it is also prophetical and therefore dispensational under the great plan of God for the
ages. It is along these three lines, historical or literal as it .applies to God's ancient people and land,
typical and spiritual as it applies to God's people, the church, and prophetical as to its
dispensational aspect in the unfolding of God's plan in the ages, and bringing in the eternal
kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.159
Myland explicitly made both a typological and prophetic association between Gods covenantal
promiserecorded in Deuteronomy 11:10-21to provide Israel with seasonal rains for their
harvests in the Promised Land, and the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the twentieth
158
David Wesley Myland, The Latter Rain Covenant: An Exposition of Deuteronomy 11:10-21, sermon text
published in The Latter Rain Evangel (Chicago: Stone Church, June 1909), 15. Accessed online through the Flower
Pentecostal Heritage Center at http://ifphc.org/pdf/LatterRainEvangel/1908-
1909/LRE%201909/1909_06.pdf#Page15. This sermon series was later published in book format as The Latter Rain
Covenant and Pentecostal Power (Chicago: Evangel Publishing House, 1910). Faupel calls these sermons by
Myland the classic exposition for the Latter Rain covenant motif, 34; echoed by Dayton, 27.
159
Myland, Latter Rain,17.
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century. This outpouring had been unprecedented since the Day of Pentecost. Thus, as Myland
demonstrated, the Pentecostals spiritualized this particular covenantal promise of God in
scripture to allude also to the early rain of the Spirit upon the Upper Room in Acts 2, and to the
latter rain they were now experiencing in the early 1900s. As Jacobsen affirms:
Myland also thought Scripture could validly be read through typical (i.e. typological) and
prophetical lenses and, interpreted in that way, he believed the latter rain mentioned in the
Deuteronomic text was a reference to the pentecostal revival that had finally dawned on the
church in his own lifetime. The pentecostal revival was the true beginning of Gods promised
days of heaven upon earth.160
Other scripture passages were also similarly interpreted to support this association, most notably
Joel 2:23 (which occurs just before vv. 28-32, which St. Peter says is fulfilled by the events in
the Upper Room in his Pentecost sermon) and James 5:7, which speaks of both the Lords
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coming again, and the early and latter rains in the same verse. Wacker asserts that The
foundation of the theory was the word of the prophet Joel: It shall come to pass afterwards that I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Pentecostals assumed the prophets proclamation was
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proleptic, simultaneously describing both the Day of Pentecost and the Last Days of history.
We see immediately, then, that this latter-rain eschatological motif as appropriated by
the original Pentecostals, and voiced by Myland, was by nature covenantal, prophetic,
160
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 111. days of heaven upon the earth refers to the subtitle of Mylands series.
161
Faupel documents all the scripture passages that reference the early and latter rains: Job 29:29, Prov. 16:15, Jer.
3:3; 5:24, Hos.6:3, Joel 2:23, Zech. 10:1, and James 5:7, 31n33. Significantly, there are seven other biblical writers
besides Deuteronomy that refer to latter rain.
162
Wacker, The Functions of Faith in Primitive Pentecostalism, 365.
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dispensational, and proleptic. It is these very qualities that shaped their particular eschatology,
and their identity as the historical and prophetic fulfillment of Gods last-days agenda. As
Jacobsen explains, Like most early pentecostals, Myland believed that he was living at the end
of the age and that Jesus would soon return to earth. He believed that he was living in the final
cloudburst of Holy Ghost power, and he wanted everyone to get totally soaked by the latter
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rain which was falling so copiously from heaven. He later elaborates further on the
eschatological significance of the latter rain:
Mylands spiritual interpretation of this phenomenon (and many other pentecostals shared
this view) was that the early rain was a symbol of the Spirits first falling on the church on the
day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts. The latter rain was then understood as a
reference to the end-time revival of pentecostal faith and experience that would take place just
before Christs return.164
As demonstrated in the previous section, Myland and other Pentecostals also intrinsically
connected this latter rain motif to their radical experiential primitivism, or rather logically
deduced this primitivism from their latter-rain understanding of salvation-history. Jacobsen
notes further that Myland argued that the second Pentecost which was taking place during the
early twentieth century was restorative, having been sent by God to bring unity and perfection to
the church, and indeed to bring the entire world back [to] perfection and perpetuity before the
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coming of our Lord. One of the purposes of the latter rain was to restore the land to its
earlier fruitfulness before the harvest was collected (cf. Matt. 9:37-38).
163
164
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit , 125.
165
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit. 124.
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The dispensational aspect of this eschatology was an inherited one. As Wacker points
out, The origins of the latter rain concept lay in dispensational premillennialism, one of the
166
most powerful popular intellectual traditions of the late nineteenth century.
Dispensationalism, broadly speaking, is a view of history whose basic assumption is that God
167
deals with the human race in successive dispensations, or epochs of time. It was popularized
through the teachings of the Plymouth Brethren leader John Nelson Darby, and the Scofield
Reference Bible. Premillennialism is an eschatological system that believes the Second Coming
of Jesus Christ will occur shortly before He commences a literal one thousand year reign on
earth. Wacker goes on to explain that Pentecostals assumed the basic framework of the already
existent dispensational premillennialism, but modified it. One of those modifications (he
identifies three) was the belief that Christ would not return for his bride until all the world had
heard the full gospel message of salvation, healing, baptism (evidenced by tongues), and the
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Lords return. This is what gave the Revival its perceived special purpose and mission in
salvation-history, one that fostered the very radical experiential primitivism they so passionately
espoused.
What needs to be acknowledged in attending to this very aspect of historical pentecostal
theology is a specific ecclesiological ramification that resulted for some. As I wrote elsewhere
about this aspect of their latter-rain eschatology, some Pentecostals held to a radical distinction
between Christs Body and His Bride:
166
167
French L. Arrington, Dispensationalism, NIDPCM, 585.
168
Arrington, Dispensationalism, 253.
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Because this "restoration" was only taking place among a small fraction of Christendom,
some prominent Pentecostals interpreted this move of the Spirit as preparing a remnant of true
believers from among a largely apostatized Church. The aforementioned Charles Parham, for
instance, a key figure in earliest Pentecostalism, wrote the following: Adam's rib was a rib
taken out of his side; the second Adam Christ's Bride will be a small company. One Hundred
and Fourty-four [sic] Thousand, taken out of His Body (the Church)The Bride is a distinct
company from the Church. Christ does not marry his own Body as many teachers would have
you believe.169
In such an interpretation, the truly Spirit-filled make up the Bride who will be caught up to
meet Christ in the air, while the rest of the established (unfaithful) church must go through the
tribulation.170 This apocalyptic self-understanding of the early Pentecostals unfortunately led
some to a theology that saw the Church as an infidel and themselves as the "true" bride of
Christ.171
Apart from partially explaining why early Pentecostals did not bother to articulate a
formal ecclesiology, the remnant theology held by Parham appropriated the Latter-Rain
heilsgeschichte in a specific mutation that depicted the Pentecostal identity as at best a sectarian
movement, or at worst an anti-church movement that understood the Bride of Christ to actually
constitute those who have been rescued out of the visible or institutional (and, in this view,
wholly apostate) church. Parham was not the only one with such a remnant theology. Faupel
points to Frank Ewart, another early pentecostal writer, as a voice for the movements tendency
toward a remnant theology:
169
Charles Parham, "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness," in The Sermons of Charles F. Parham (New York:
Garland Publishing, Inc., 1985), 86.
170
Parham, "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness," 86-89.
171
R. Brian Robson, The Spirit-Driven Church: Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology (M.T.S. Thesis, Wycliffe
College, 2000), 13.
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Yet, while the church was hopelessly corrupt, the Pentecostals maintained that God had a
faithful remnant both within and without the visible church. Frank Ewart noted: From this
period on through the Middle and Dark ages, the Early Rain diminished from a mighty and
universal downpour into periodic effusions, which persisted right up to the beginning of the
twentieth century.172
However, as popular as it seemed, this view was certainly not representative of the movement
173
as a whole , nor did it last very long as the formation of their own denominations attests to.
But it certainly did exist and therefore does demonstrate one theological trajectory that came out
of the particular dispensational worldview that undergirded the early Pentecostal gestalt. If the
whole church could not be restored, then God would choose a remnant to call out of it to be the
Bride for His Son.
Another noteworthy pentecostal modification of the dispensationalist scheme pointed out
by Wacker is a dramatic reconception of the period running from the Day of Pentecost to the
174
present. While other dispensationalists referred to this epoch as the Great Parenthesis,
because it represented an interruption of the divine plan for history, Pentecostals, in contrast,
called that same period the Age of the Holy Spirit. They reasoned that it represented not an
interruption but a fulfillment of the divine plan for history, particularly in its beginning and
172
Faupel, Everlasting Gospel, 36-37. Faupel cites no fewer than seven Pentecostal writers besides Parham who
articulated a remnant view of church history. Jacobsen also examines how Myland, in The Latter Rain Covenant,
made a distinction between two groups of Christians: There is the ekklesia, those called out, and also the eklektoi,
those called the second time, called out from the called ones, 118-119.
173
Dayton notes in passing that pentecostal pioneer Mary Woodworth-Etter ascribed the bride to the church, thus
not outside of it or within it, Theological Roots, 28. Similarly, a Latter Rain diagram from Sister Aimee Semple
McPherson in 1919 graphically refers to the peak of the Dispensation of the Holy Ghost as the Perfect Church
restored. Accessed from http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mcpherson-dispensation-of-
holy-ghost-vision.jpg.
174
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175
ending periods. This distinctive historical perspective is what set the table for their Latter-
Rain covenant interpretation. It is also what facilitated their view, articulated earlier, that the
restoration of the apostolic church was a gradual process which began with Luther nearly 400
years prior to the revival.
Besides Mylands classic sermons on the subject, another early Pentecostal writer, the
aforementioned George Floyd Taylor, also epitomized the modified dispensational scheme
Wacker refers to, which heightened the place of the Latter-Rain covenant for the revival. As
Jacobsen explains, Taylor believed that,
At crucial points in history, God had called out small vanguards of believers to become the
carriers of the next revelation of spiritual truth. This was part of Gods grand plan of slowly
bringing fallen humanity back into the full light of truth. The work had been long. Taylor told
his readers never to forget that the Spirit has always been in the world[leading] the world by
successive stages, through patriarch, law-giver, priest, judge, and prophet up to Christ. In the
post-biblical era, this pattern of incremental advance continued as Luther rediscovered the
doctrine of justification by faith, Wesley recovered the experience of entire sanctification, and
host of nineteenth-century figures reclaimed the doctrine of divine healingTaylor believed that
that pattern was in the process of repeating itself as God was turning on [even] more light
through the pentecostal movement. 176
Writing in 1907, Taylor, who also held to a similar opinion as Parham about the meaning of the
177
Bride as a remnant, thus held that the Pentecostal Revival was now the culmination or climax
175
Wacker, Heaven Below , 254.
176
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 101-102.
177
Cf. Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 103, 105.
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of the latter-rain move of the Holy Spirit that had been building for some time. As Wacker
comments,
Since the Lord had designed Palestine to serve as a miniature world in itself, its
meteorological pattern would be spiritually replicated in the church at large. Taylor allowed
that the latter rain had been foreshadowed in the Protestant Reformation, and the holiness
revivals of the 1890s qualified as preliminary showers. But the current movement marked the
beginning of the full deluge. 178
Taylor thus provides the representative voice for the modified pentecostal Dispensationalism
identified by Wacker.
179
This modification, which Wacker states is by far [the] most important, was actually
crucial for Pentecostals in that it also served to theologically accommodate their place for the
miraculous in this particular (unprecedented) outpouring of the Spirit. In short, the supernatural
manifestations of the Spirit experienced by Pentecostals, such as speaking in tongues, were the
tell-tale signal that the Latter Rain had now come. Wacker explains:
The proof, the hard proof, that the current revival betokened the long-predicted latter rain lay
elsewhere. To begin with, close students of the Bible knew that miracles marked the beginning
and the end of dispensationsMore important, the kind of miracles that marked the beginning of
a dispensation always marked its end. Miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost had swept the
apostolic church, and they were sweeping Holy Spirit-filled churches today. What else could it
mean? So when J. W. Welch, an early chairman of the Assemblies of God, witnessed the
glorious manifestations of divine power in the current revival, he knew that the last days had
178
Wacker, Heaven Below, 254. The quotations from Taylor come from The Spirit and the Bride, 1907.
179
Wacker, Heaven Below , 254.
84
come. Such events proved that Gods time-piece [had] reached the dispensational hour in
which the Lord would pour out His Spirit in Latter Rain significance.180
This significant point is eloquently echoed by Donald Dayton, when he writes:
But beyond indicating the special task to be performed in the last days by the rise of
Pentecostalism, the Latter Rain doctrine also explained why the gifts and miracles should
reappear after such a long drought. Mrs. Woodworth-Etter explained: God says before Jesus
comes, these same signs and wonders shall come to pass; the sick shall be healed, devils cast
out, people shall speak with tongues just before he comes. These signs and wonders not
only tie the eschatological themes into the whole complex of the four-square gospel, but the
Latter Rain framework makes the great apologetic problem of Pentecostalism into a major
apologetic asset. The long drought from post-apostolic times to the present is seen to be a part of
Gods dispensational plan for the ages. What seemed to make the movement most illegitimate
its discontinuity with classical forms of Christianity has become its greatest legitimation. 181
The Latter Rain Dispensationalism appropriated by the Pentecostal Revival was its most
potent weapon against cessationism, initially. And it was a weapon they needed in those days. It
would be many decades before the Charismatic Movement also eventually served to legitimate
pentecostal pneumatology concerning manifestations of the Spirit. By that time, Latter-Rain
Dispensationalism was already beginning to be hardly more than a memory in most cases. In
fact, when a newer Latter-Rain Movement rose up in North Battleford, Saskatchewan in the
180
Wacker, Heaven Below. 255. The quotations from J.W. Welch are cited from the introduction to Lawrence,
Apostolic Faith Restored.
181
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fall of 1947, claiming that it was the real latter-rain outpouring of the Spiritthe previous
182
revival had not beenit was rejected by the established Pentecostals of that time.
Initially, however, the Latter-Rain doctrine of early Pentecostalism served not only to
legitimate their expectation of the supernatural works of God and their view of the baptism of the
Holy Spirit marked by glossolalia, but also, as has already been noted, to serve the Revival with
a very specific mandate and purpose in salvation-history. As Faupel states it, The motif was
183
used to disclose the Pentecostal movement as standing at the apex of history. This mandate
was theologically intertwined with the historical-eschatological matrix the Latter-Rain thinking
provided, and was comprised of two further defining characteristics or doctrines that need to be
highlighted here: the imminence of Christs return, and empowerment for mission.
3.2 Imminency of the Second Coming

Intrinsic to Latter-Rain Dispensationalism, as is already apparent, was the unwavering,
passionate conviction that these were the last days before the premillennial return of Christ.
Both the aforementioned Taylor and Myland emphasized this in their respective expositions of
the Latter Rain prophetic covenant. Returning to the earlier statement about Taylors conviction
that God was turning on more light through the Pentecostal movement, he believed further that
The new focus of revelation was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of Pentecost
and the conflict was immense, so much so that Taylor thought that this had to be the last and
182
Cf Atter, The Third Force, 141-144.
183
Faupel, Everlasting Gospel, 34.
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184
final contest for truth. For him, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, visibly evidenced by speaking
in tongues, was an eschatological experience that ushered the recipient into the end-times
company of bridal saints. Consequently, this bridal company of pentecostal believers would
be raptured out of the world as the end of the age approached and would be miraculously brought
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up to heaven to be with Christ. The purpose of the Latter Rain, according to Taylor, was to
fill those who were willing to accept and seek the experience of the full gospel with the
baptism of the Holy Ghost, so that they could join the Bride of Christ in the imminent rapture of
the saints. Consequently, the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Ghost was to be the marker of
those who were part of the remnant that God would rapture.
The eschatology of Myland has been characterized as more cautious than other
Pentecostals, but he also firmly believed that the pentecostal revival itself was one of the surest
186
signs that Christs return was near. Like Taylor, he also pointed to apparent climate change
in Palestine as another spiritual sign which confirmed that God was sending the latter rain, which
was then understood as a reference to the end-time revival of pentecostal faith and experience
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that would take place just before Christs return. Myland also agreed with Taylor that The
experience of pentecostal fullness was preparation for participation in the first-rapture bridal
company of saints, and it was the only way to be included. That was the spiritual goal toward
188
which Myland sought to encourage all Christians with his eschatological exhortations. Both
184
185
186
187
188
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of these early Pentecostal theologians thus held to an imminent eschatology that understood the
arrival of Pentecostalism (as the Latter Rain) as a sign that the return of Christ was very near.
Of course Pentecostalism was certainly not the only movement in church history to hold
to such an imminent, apocalyptic eschatology, and it bears repeating that key elements of this
premillennial, dispensational apocalypticism were directly inherited from the preceding Holiness
movement. What is significant for our purposes here is the particular manner in which the
original Pentecostals understood their experience of the Holy Spirit to hold specific covenantal
and eschatological significance in their unique reading of salvation-history. They were the
People of Gods Presence, restoring the church to its apostolic glory in the last days before
Christs return. This was the meaning of the Latter-Rain motif. In their unique appropriation of
latter-rain covenant theology, Pentecostals did utilize a potent way to think proleptically. It
enabled them to effectively look forward while simultaneously looking back. And they
presented a full-blown model for doing so long before theologian Jrgen Moltmann came along
189
to emphasize such a messianic ecclesiology. While the latter-rain motif perhaps no longer
defines Pentecostals anywhere close to the extent it did at the inception of the Revival, this
proleptic understanding of the Spirits Presence is valuable in their ongoing construction of a
theology of the church that lives between the now and the not yet.
189
Cf. Jrgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology
(Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1977).
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3.3 Power for Mission

The emphasis on imminency built into Pentecostal latter-rain eschatology also served to
fuel their fundamental missional character by supplying the urgency of the incredibly important
task to which they had been commissioned: to participate in the last great harvest of souls before
Christs soon returning. This was, after all, why the Latter Rain of the Spirit was now falling.
Spirit-baptism was not just a sign that one now belonged to the congregation of the faithful for
whom Christ was returning. Its purpose was far greater than that. The Spirit was now being
poured out in the last days to empower the saints to evangelize, to proclaim the Good News of
salvation through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, to reach souls with the Gospel before time
was up. This was the understanding of the meaning of Spirit-baptism from the very beginning,
stemming from the study of Acts conducted by the students of Parhams bible school in Topeka,
Kansas. Wacker notes that, for them, speaking in tongues always accompanied Holy Ghost
baptism, first as an audible sign of the Holy Ghosts presence, second as a tool for
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evangelism. This theology is also evident in the way William Seymour often exhorted those
recipients of Spirit-baptism at Azusa Street by way of a benediction at the end of a service:
Now try to get people saved!
Myland also liked to refer to the pentecostal experience as fullness of blessing and
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power for service. The term power for service became a rampant one for Pentecostals
when speaking of the purpose of Spirit-baptism. In his Latter Rain Covenant sermons, Myland
emphasized that, the purpose of Pentecost is to make you a witness. You cannot help it.God
wants us as witnesses and pours upon us the subpoena of the court of heaven, immerses us in the
190
Wacker, Heaven Below, 5. Note the wording describing the first purpose.
191
Quoted by Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 117.
89
192
Holy Ghost Jacobsen affirms that for Myland, Enthusiasm for missions, combined with
the Spirit-empowered ability to do it, was another very important sign of pentecostal faith and
193
experience. On this important emphasis Myland was again representative of the Revivals
pervading theology.
So too, again, was Taylor. However, Taylor went further in understanding Spirit-baptism
as empowerment for mission in relation to our present concern with envisioning the church as
the People of Gods Presence. As Jacobsen explains, He argued that the activity of the Spirit
needed to be manifested through a physical human body because God in the person of the Spirit,
unlike God the Father and God the Son, did not naturally possess a body. The Spirit had to use
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the bodies of willing Christians to establish its own mediated physical presence in the world.
While Taylors notion of the need for each member of the Trinity to possess their own body is
certainly questionable at best, the idea of the Spirits Presence as being embodied through the
Spirit-baptized People of God who are then witnesses to His loving, redemptive activity in the
world is a crucial piece in the ongoing construction of pentecostal ecclesiology. Although
Taylor was extreme in that (like Parham) he stubbornly continued to hold to tongues as
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xenolalia , he did also exude the broader Pentecostal stress on Spirit-baptism as a missionary
196
sign; a baptism that endues recipients with power for mission (Acts 1:5). Intrinsic to their
192
Quoted by Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit, 130.
193
194
195
Jacobsen, Thinking in the Spirit , 97, found in Taylors The Spirit and the Bride.
196
90
utilization of the Latter-Rain motif was the pentecostal belief that the purpose of Spirit-baptism
was empowerment to witness to the Gospel in an unprecedented manner in the Last Days.
Latter-Rain eschatology was crucial to early Pentecostal self-understanding in that it
supplied the specific purpose and place for the revival within salvation-history; it facilitated the
logic of their belief system and legitimated their unique, apostolic experience of the Spirits
Presence. As Faupel puts it, The Latter Rain motif provided the broad framework in which the
Pentecostal world-view could be constructed. With salvation history as Pentecostalisms
theological center, the motif directed adherents focus toward the role that the Pentecostal
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movement would play in the culmination of that history. Their unique appropriation of the
latter-rain covenant was a key part of the pentecostal genius in that it allowed them to be
particularly effective in simultaneously look forward while looking back; to be highly
eschatological while being highly primitivistic at the same time; to be progressive and creative in
evangelism and missions without being modern or humanistic.
To repeat, this motif no longer operates on nearly the same scale, though its influence
does remain. Leonard Lovett, an African-American Pentecostal scholar, declared as late as
1975: Belief in the Latter Rain theory presupposes a faith stance. I share and embrace such a
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stance unashamedly. Whether or not the Latter-Rain remains viable for them, in their
ongoing wrestling, theological construction, and development Pentecostals will need to find a
way to have a historical-eschatological matrix that allows them to look ahead while looking back
in a similarly effective manner to what they once did.
197
Faupel, Everlasting Gospel, 35-36.
198
Leonard Lovett, Black Origins of the Pentecostal Movement, in Vinson Synan, ed. Aspects of Pentecostal-
Charismatic Origins (Plainfield, NJ: Logos International, 1975), 127.
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4 Full-Gospel Rubric
Another defining element of early Pentecostal theology was the Full-Gospel rubric they
used to organize and declare their core beliefs in a Christological manner. Chief among the
reasons why this rubric was significant is that it anchored a Holy Ghost revival movement to the
person and work of Jesus Christ; thus allowing a highly pneumatological movement to
simultaneously remain highly christocentric. I will identify the implications of this for
ecclesiology below.
The Full-Gospel rubric followed either a four or five-fold articulation. In its later, more
common four-fold form it proclaimed Jesus as Saviour, Healer, Baptizer and Coming King. The
earlier five-fold version added Sanctifier to this list, which had actually been formulated by
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preceding Holiness groups . Vinson Synan notes that Parham, Seymour and the Apostolic
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Faith Mission, and the first Pentecostal denominations held to the five-fold gospel version.
It is the five-fold version that Steven Land uses to define Pentecostalisms identity in his
dissertation, Pentecostal Spirituality. He notes that each of the five-fold works of Christ denotes
a creedal statement for Pentecostals: Justification by faith (Saviour), Sanctification by faith as a
definite work of grace (Sanctifier), Healing of the body as provided for all in the atonement
(Healer), the pre-millennial return of Christ (Coming King), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit
199
I.e. A. B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, is known to have taught a four-fold
gospel of Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King in the late nineteenth-century, cf. Dayton, 22.
Pentecostals thus added Baptizer to Simpsons four-fold gospel, in reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
200
Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit, 99.
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201
evidenced by speaking in tongues (Baptizer). On the other hand, Aimee Semple McPherson
named the denomination she founded in 1927, the International Church of the Foursquare
Gospel, in reference to the four-fold version she championed so effectively. Across the Atlantic,
George Jeffreys founded the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance denomination in Great Britain in
1915, so-named for precisely the same reason. When comparing the two versions, Dayton
asserts, Though the five-fold pattern was historically prior and thus has certain claims for our
attention, the four-fold pattern expresses more clearly and cleanly the logic of Pentecostal
202
theology. Dayton is referring to a four-fold Pentecostal rubric of Christ as Savior, Healer,
Baptizer and Coming King; thus replacing Simpsons Sanctifier with Baptizer in the Holy
Spirit.
Either way, this Full-Gospel rubric contained the seeds for an inherent ecclesiology that
Pentecostals could claim for their own. Indeed, a conference of current Pentecostal scholars on
ecclesiology, which took place in Wales at the end of June 2010, used this rubric as their theme,
as papers were organized around each part of the rubric (which, in this case, was the five-fold
version). The conference was promoted in the following manner:
This international conference on Pentecostal Ecclesiology, a topic that has of yet received
little attention, will focus on the ecclesiological implications of the five-fold gospel seeking to
envision the church as Redeemed Community, Holy Community, Empowered Community,
Healing Community, and Eschatological Community. Each of these presentations will focus
upon the connection with the relevant element of the five-fold gospel (Jesus Is Savior, Sanctifier,
Spirit Baptizer, Healer, and Coming King) and incorporate the way in which each of these
elements is signified by a sacramental Sign (from a Pentecostal perspective): Water Baptism,
201
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, esp. 18.
202
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Footwashing, Glossolalia, Anointing with Oil, Eschatological Banquet - Eucharist,

respectively. 203
One of the conference organizers, John Christopher Thomas, had much earlier suggested
204
that a Pentecostal ecclesiology be centered on the Full-Gospel rubric. The significant
ecclesiological ramification for the Full-Gospel, as articulated by the Wales Conference outline,
is how it functions as the anticipated experiential rubric for the Churchit clearly dictates what
is expected to all those who are part of the corporate gathering of saints. The Church is thus
(however loosely) ordered around the actualization of each of the four or five central Christ-
events in a persons salvific experience. An individuals journey to wholeness or spiritual
formation is effectively mapped-out according to this rubric, and thus the Church is, in effect,
defined as the primary context, the community, where these events take place. This being the
case, as the Wales Conference suggested, using the five-fold Full Gospel rubric the Church is a
Redeemed (Saved) Community, a Holy (Sanctified) Community, an Empowered (Spirit-

205
baptized) Community, a Healing Community and an Eschatological Community.
Another ecclesiological implication of the Full-Gospel rubric was, as stated earlier, the
way it grounded the actions of the Holy Spirit in the work of Christ Jesus. This could be
understood to be a creative and unique way of expressing the theology of Irenaeus, that the Word
and Spirit represent the two hands of God. Jean-Jacques Suurmond has demonstrated how
203
Taken from unnamed document announcing the Conference. The papers from this Conference are scheduled to
be published sometime after the completion of this dissertation.
204
John Christopher Thomas, 1998 Presidential Address: Pentecostal Theology in the Twenty-First Century,
PNEUMA, Vol 20, No. 1 (Spring 1998), 17-19.
205
Unnamed Conference Document.
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pentecostal worship reflects the Word and Spirit at Play. This occurs, in part, because of the
prominence and manner in which both the Word and Spirit are active in the convictions and
devotion of pentecostal worshippers. The theological foundation for this play between Logos
and Pneuma was the full-gospel rubric. Inherently, the Church is thus understood to be where
Word and Spirit co-operate to bring the dynamic, immanent Presence of God to the lowly in
miraculous, life-transforming ways. The Spirit, as Jesus promised his disciples, acts as the
dynamic agent to continue the work of Christ following the ascension.
The Full Gospel Christological rubric functioned as a primary theological identifier for
early Pentecostals; it summarized their core beliefs, and provided the template for what the
church proclaims and what is expected to take place within the corporate gathering. Thus, any
attempt at distinctly Pentecostal ecclesiological reflection must take this rubric into account, as
the Wales Conference demonstrates.
5 Social Equality
A further ecclesiological root of earliest Pentecostalism was a unique and radical
emphasis and praxis of social equality. At its inception, this was a Revival that was radically
egalitarian for its time period. Though it sadly did not last, the Azusa Pentecostals managed to
briefly preach and advance towards Joels inclusive vision of a church where male and female,
young and old, slaves and free could partake of the same Spirits outpouring on level ground
(Acts 2:17,18, cf. Joel 2:28,29).
The Azusa Street revival was famously a place where black and white (along with much
smaller numbers of Hispanic and Asian) male and female seekers of the Holy Spirit worshipped,
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prayed, testified, hugged and spoke in unknown tongues together, as equals. This caused
eyewitness Frank Bartleman to exclaim, The color line was washed away in the Blood.
Historian Mark Noll states the following about the revival: One of its most prominent features
was the full participation of women in public activities. In an America that still took racial
barriers for granted, Azusa Street was also remarkable for the striking way in which blacks and
206
whites joined to participate in its nightly meetings. In fact, these racial and gender mixtures
were apparently too much for Charles Parham when he came there to visit his former student,
Seymour. He ended up denouncing the revival sparked by his own teachings, principally on
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these grounds. The fact that he did so demonstrates just how unusualeven shockingthis
level of social equality was. It was, after all, a revival led by a black, half-blind son of a slave,
who was partially assisted by a group of women, both black and white.
Upon identifying Azusa as a beacon of social equality, it is also necessary, however, to
qualify the limits of this without dismissing the notable advances that were made at that time.
While Seymour notoriously allowed women full participation and the colour line was washed
away, he did also eventually impose limitations on the leadership offices held by both women
208
and whites in the Mission for both theological and practical reasons. Nonetheless, in its
historical context, Azusa was certainly a unique social community.
206
Mark A. Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 1992), 386. Significantly, Noll entitles this sub-section: Pentecostalism: A New Departure.
207
Cf. Wacker, Heaven Below, 232. It should be noted that though Parham directed his criticism at the egalitarian
ethos of Azusa, another motivation for his denouncement was the failure of his attempt to take over leadership of the
revival.
208
Cf. Edith Blumhofer, Restoring the Faith: The Assemblies of God, Pentecostalism, and American Culture
(Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois Press, 1993), 172. Seymour narrowed the sphere of womens leadership in
1908, and by 1915 would allow only Blacks to serve on his Board.
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One of the catalysts for this radical egalitarianism was, of course, the pentecostal
theology of charismatic giftedness drawn directly from their own Acts 2 experience. Joels
vision had literally been fulfilled for them. Christ Jesus showed no preferences in whom He
baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit showed no preferences in whom He gifted with
charismata. This latter-rain outpouring of the Spirit was truly upon ALL flesh. Wacker also
makes this point:
It should be stressed that women, blacks, and children assumed a visible role in public
worship, not because pentecostals suddenly came to believe that Galatians 3:28 (In Christ there
is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female) formed the core of the Gospel, nor because they
suddenly grew politically progressive. Rather these otherwise disenfranchised groups spoke
freely and commanded respect in these settings because saints assumed that the Holy Spirit
spoke through them. It ill-behooved anyone to interfere with the Lords chosen vessels. 209
The experience of Spirit-baptism and the operation of charismatic gifts (i.e. healing, miracles,
prophecy, and interpretation of tongues) among different kinds of people was a powerful,
supernatural leveler among social classes.
As part of this leveling, there was also a profound empowering. Most of the original
Pentecostals came from marginalized groups: those who were poor or from the lower-classes,
African-Americans who were children of former slaves, those from rural areas, those with little
formal education, immigrants, etc. On their own, they had little that provided them with the
ability to transcend their socially disadvantaged state. That is, until they experienced Pentecost.
Suddenly, they were now participants in the climax of salvation-history. They had received the
209
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empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that supplied them with a new voice to be witnesses to
the atoning work of Christ (cf. Acts 1:8), a grandiose purpose, a vision that allowed them to
transcend and not merely cope with their lowly circumstances. Now they could perform
miracles, speak in or interpret tongues, preach under the anointing, prophecy, receive and/or
dispense healing through prayer. Most surely, they were now Gods own chosen, the Bride of
Christ, the company of the elect. They were operating on the same plane the Apostles once had.
They were the People of Gods Presence. This empowerment contributed to the social leveling
that initially took place among the participants of the revival.
The indiscriminate charismatic giftedness among these marginalized people therefore
enabled a new and unique manifestation of Luthers vision of the priesthood of all believers.
Because only the Holy Spirit was thought or declared to be in charge, there was no explicit
hierarchy, and quite obviously the operative model of worship and ministry was radically
participatory. In a service, anyone could testify, and were encouraged to do so. Anyone could
lead in intercession. As they had all been baptized into one body the same Spirit, they were all
enabled to contribute to the edification of the rest of the Body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13, 14). To repeat
an earlier point, early Pentecostals held to a form of restorationism that, although articulated in
the form of the Latter-Rain, understood the trajectory of the Revival as the culmination of what
had begun with Luther and the Protestant Reformation. As such, the Lutheran vision of the
priesthood of all believers was certainly conducive to the new-found Pentecostal interpretation of
the Prophet Joels and Apostle Pauls vision of all flesh receiving the same Spirit.
Further to their Pauline theology of the Body, another factor in the original egalitarian
ethos was a new and powerful outpouring of love as the fruit of Gods Presence. Myland
articulated this well. Jacobsen provides the following quotes:

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Myland said: Pentecost is not simply for me, not merely to satisfy my feeling, but to get
floods on the dry ground; to make me a medium, a transmitter. Being even more blunt, he
wrote: God sent this latter rain to gather up all the poor and outcast, and make us love
everybody, feeble ones, base ones, those that have been cast out of human society; no one wants
them, all the outcasts of India and China; these are what God sent the latter rain people to pick
up. That kind of love for others was a sure sign that the Spirit of God was powerfully present in
any particular Christian believer.210
Here is a point that is difficult to overemphasize: the Presence of God experienced by the
original Pentecostals was at times signified by a new vision of love for the unloved. The practice
of this love then organically led to greater social equality, albeit temporarily. This love replaced
prior prejudice in dramatic ways. Wacker recounts one case where a white Methodist minister
named Jonathan Perkins, who had previously criticized Pentecostals for failing to keep blacks in
their place, received the baptism of the Spirit at a predominantly black revival in Wichita in
1923. I had to wade through a whole camp meeting of them when I got the Baptism. Perkins
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wrote. God surely broke me over the wheel of my prejudice. Originally, the Baptism of the
Spirit was not just about power alone, but power to love others with the love God had shed
abroad in their hearts. Hence Seymours famous quote: The Pentecostal power, when you sum
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it all up, is just more of Gods love. If it does not bring me love, it is simply a counterfeit.
The unfortunate reality is, of course, that the radical social equality that marked the
beginning of the revival did not last. The movement did divide along racial lines as soon as
210
211
212
William Seymour, accessed from http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/William-J.-Seymour-Quotes/.
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denominations were formed about a decade after the Revival began, and the prominence in
ministry that women enjoyed at first also declined noticeably (though there were famous
exceptions such as Aimee Semple McPherson). Historian Edith Blumhofer notes that a gradual
process of institutional, emotional, and spiritual segregation effectively restricted growing
numbers of women, and adds that in the history of the Assemblies of God (the largest U.S.
Pentecostal denomination), since the thirties, no women evangelists have had national appeal in
the denomination, and most of the handful of prominent female pastors who once exerted
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influence have died. The equation of Spirit-baptism with love eventually was eclipsed by
greater emphasis on power. But historians of the Revival will point out that this work of the
Spirit was originally a radically egalitarian one, and this characterized the original pentecostal
vision of the church as unique in this regard. It is imperative that any construction of distinctly
pentecostal ecclesiology makes a concerted effort to recover this original vision.
6 Church as Holy
The traditional marks of the church were not attached to Pentecostal theology in an
explicit manner until fairly recently. However, as a product of the nineteenth century Holiness
Movement, Pentecostals did inherit and imbibe an innate understanding of the holiness of the
Church. As we have seen, this understanding was not monolithic and led to significant
diversions concerning areas such as the meaning of the Church as Bride. Across these
diversions, however, was an inherent view concerning holiness as constitutive of the true
213
Edith Blumhofer, Restoring the Faith: The Assemblies of God, Pentecostalism, and American Culture (Urbana,
Ill: University of Illinois Press, 1993), 175,177.
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church, when placed under the umbrella of personal sanctification. Walter Hollenweger,
foremost scholar of Pentecostalism, affirms that this was the understanding of holiness operative
in earlier Pentecostal ecclesiologies, in which clear lines of demarcation were drawn based on
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criteria of personal and social holiness. Holiness as a mark of the Church was determined
by the lack of sin in its members; who had received or were seeking a Wesleyan second
blessing.
Within this Wesleyan/Holiness mentality, however, were the seeds of another crucial
aspect of perceiving the Churchs Holiness, which stems directly from the incipient pentecostal
ecclesiology of the Church as the People of Gods Presence. As those who inherited and
embraced only the more radical three-works Holiness theology of the blessings of Conversion,
Entire Sanctification and Spirit Baptism, Pentecostals experienced the indwelling presence of the
Holy Spirit in markedly supernatural fashion. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit signified that the
empowering presence of God now resided within these believers in an even greater dimension.
They were now filled with the Spirit of Holiness in a manner rarely seen since the 120 in the
Upper Room. Consequently, what makes the Church Holy from this Spirit-baptized perspective
is that the Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit in a literal, tangible manner. The dynamic,
immanent Presence of the Holy Spirit among the Spirit-baptized congregation is what constitutes
the Church as Holy. This is what Newbigin perceived nearly half a century later. Although this
thought was not expressed among the first theologians of the Revival (they were not yet
concerned with a Pentecostal re-visioning of the traditional marks of the Church as they were
214
Walter J. Hollenweger, Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide (Peabody: Hendrickson
Publishers, 1997), 264.
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trying to restore the Apostolic Church), their pneumatology certainly steered them in this
direction.
7 Conclusion
I have attempted to identify key elements of the original pentecostal vision of the
Christian life, and the Church, for the purposes of understanding the ecclesiological roots of their
gestalt, so that I can proceed to take those elements from this gestalt which should still rightfully
belong in a distinctly pentecostal ecclesiology for the twenty-first century. In particular, I have
singled out specific practices they sought to restore to the church in their primitivist efforts, and
examined their Latter-Rain eschatology, the Full-Gospel rubric, their initial efforts at
egalitarianism, and their Wesleyan-holiness influences which revealed their rudimentary
ecclesiology. Through all of this, the theme of presence has been recognized as foundational to
pentecostal spirituality and practice. Robert Anderson succinctly captures this historical
grounding for pentecostal ecclesiological thinking:
The Pentecostals sought to recreate a primitive New Testament community of saints,

emphasizing individual religious experience, spontaneity, and the free life of the Spirit. For them
the only genuine religion was the religion of the heart in which one felt the immediate presence
of God and lived a life under the direct guidance of the Spirit.215
215
Robert Anderson, Vision of the Disinherited, 156.
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216
While Pentecostals also greatly valued doctrinal truth , for them Gods sovereign latter-rain
led to a profound experience of this presence of Gods Spirit. It is thus apparent that the
pentecostal approach to a theology of the church should be based upon this principle of the
immanent presence of God in the Person of the Spirit, so cherished by the movement.
I began this chapter with a quote from Frank Macchia identifying the need to develop the
implicit ecclesiology within the Latter-Rain theology of the earliest Pentecostals. I conclude this
chapter with another quote from Macchia that serves as a bridge to this present task:
Throughout their history from sect to church pentecostals harbored the vision of themselves
as essentially a movement gifted by the Holy Spirit in the latter days to help prepare the world for
the coming of the kingdom of God. Such a vision needs to be applied critically to their sometimes
hierarchical and patriarchal institutional development as established church denominations. Is such
an ecclesiastical development consistent with the early pentecostal vision of the church as an end-
time missionary fellowship, structured and ordered by the liberating and empowering grace of
God? At the same time, can this early vision be sustained and revised in the service of prophetic
criticism toward society and the churches, including pentecostal institutional structures and
priorities? Can pentecostals start again to be the blessing to the church and the world they hoped to
be at the beginning?217
While Macchias application of the typologies of sect-church to pentecostal history
would be contested by Troeltch and Durnbaugh (as seen in Chapter One), he nonetheless asks
important questions for the movement going forward. Do the ecclesiastical structures of
216
See, for example, Francis Schaeffer, The New Super-Spirituality(1972), Book Three of The Complete Works of
Francis Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview, Volume Three, A Christian View of Spirituality (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway
Books, 1982), 389-391. Schaeffer here contrasts new pentecostals, who only value experience with old or
Classical Pentecostals who valued doctrinal content.
217
Macchia, Pentecostal Theology, NIDPCM, 1138.
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pentecostal denominations facilitate the prevalence of the early pentecostal vision? Or is
something else occurring? In order for this early vision to be, as Steven Land has called for, re-
visioned effectively, Pentecostals will need to continue to critically develop their ecclesiology.
In doing so, they will need to retrieve something in the ethos of early Pentecostalism that will
allow them to continue their mission with the vibrancy they have enjoyed in the past. Faupel
states at the conclusion of The Everlasting Gospel, for Pentecostalism to remain a vital force
into the twenty-first century, it must look to its origins as a source for theological and spiritual
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renewal. That has been the attempt of this chapter.
While it is neither compulsory nor prudent to try to recapture all of the defining
characteristics of earliest pentecostalism at this point in the evolution of the movementsome
things must and should inevitably changeit is still fruitful and responsible to identify and
understand those fundamental elements of the early pentecostal ethos that rightfully belong in the
ongoing construction of a distinct pentecostal theology. In order to do so, it may be necessary to
some extent to drink the water where you came from. Specifically, this present task is aimed
toward providing a vision of the church that may help it, as Macchia says, once again be the
blessing the early Pentecostals strove for.
218
Faupel, Everlasting Gospel, 309.
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Chapter 3
Constructing a Contemporary Pentecostal Ecclesiology
In Chapter One, I reviewed the broader status questionis of work on Pentecostal
ecclesiology, with a focus on past works. In doing so, I endeavoured to demonstrate that a
distinctly Pentecostal understanding of the Church should not glibly follow the most common
past understandings of where to situate Pentecostalism ecclesiologically, either merely as a sub-
set of evangelicalism or just another expression of Free Church. This is most often demonstrated
in Pentecostal textbooks on systematic theology or even on ecclesiology. Rather, the one
programmatic characterization of the movement that is most accurate and helpful in terms of
what it says about the Churchs essence and visibility is that of Lesslie Newbigins Household of
God. The other set of characterizations to be reckoned with stem from the diagram taken from
Donald Durnbaughs The Believers Church.
Chapter Two set out to identify and explain the crucial aspects of implicit ecclesiological
beliefs generally held by most Pentecostals at the earliest phase of the Revival. It is widely
acknowledged by historians of the movement that Pentecostalism began as a restorationist, latter-
rain, apostolic faith movement consisting of believers coming out of various other churches who,
in light of their baptism in the Holy Spirit, held to a unique theological worldview that caused
them to proleptically look back to the apostolic church even as they simultaneously looked
forward to the imminent, glorious return of Jesus Christ: Savior, Healer, (Sanctifier), Baptizer in
the Spirit and Coming King.

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Given that Pentecostals later formed denominations which adopted a curious array of
polities and governing systems, and given further that, correlatively, a curious array of
ecclesiologies have been offered or adopted by pentecostal scholars (and scholars of
Pentecostalism), it then remains to attempt to identify a central, unifying ecclesiological principal
that distinguishes pentecostal ecclesiology within the Christian spectrum. The rest of this work,
then, is an attempt to unpack the thesis of the Church as the People of Gods Presence. The
theological notion of the Presence of God made palpable through the charismatic work of the
Holy Spirit among Gods People is posited here as the foundation for constructing a pentecostal
ecclesiology for the twenty-first century, which is appropriately faithful to the original identity of
the movement, found within all authentic expressions of Pentecostalism globally, and yet
conducive and useful to being shared ecumenically with the other great church traditions of
Christianity. This notion is represented by the biblical image of the Church as Temple.
Before embarking on unpacking this thesis, however, it is necessary to survey more
closely the most recent contributions to constructing pentecostal ecclesiology offered by several
scholars within or for the movement. What are other contemporaries saying about this topic that
we must be aware of before adding to the conversation? Initially, though, I wish to draw brief
attention to perhaps the original proto-pentecostal ecclesiology offered in modern times.
1 Seth Cook Rees The Ideal Pentecostal Church

An American Quaker who became a Nazarene pastor and later formed the Pilgrim
Holiness Church, Seth Rees (1854 -1933) penned the short work, The Ideal Pentecostal Church
(1897). Although not a classical Pentecostal himself, Rees managed to capture the restorationist
vision discussed in the previous chapter shortly before the Revival began. Since it is a blueprint
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for the very topic of this thesis, it is worth identifying those points which Rees saw as
fundamental for an ideal Pentecostal church.
As the title would indicate, Rees imbibed the same apostolic, restorationist vision of the
church as the Pentecostal Movement in that he took his ecclesiological blueprint directly from
Acts 2. He most certainly believed that the same baptism of fire experienced by the 120 in the
Upper Room was meant to be experienced in his day as well. Moreover, this baptismthis
divine, life-transforming encounter with the Holy Spiritwas meant to form the churchs
identity and be its life-source. Following in the developing trajectory of Jonathan Edwards and
Charles Finney, Rees believed the church was literally dead without the fire of the Holy Spirit
present within it. This is because Rees firmly believed the Spirit, as the Third Member of the
Trinity, is the presence and power of God Himself made manifest in human lives that
collectively form the church.
Rees identified the marks of an ideal Pentecostal church, one that has the same fire of
the Spirit as the Apostolic church did, as: a church composed of regenerated souls, a church
made clean by entire sanctification through the Spirits baptism of fire, a church where the power
(dynamis) of the Spirit is plainly operable, a church that proclaims or witnesses to the Gospel, an
egalitarian community, one that gives liberally to the poor, one that is demonstrative in its
worship, one that has the magnetic fire of the Spirit attracting people of all kinds, one that
convicts people of their sin, and one that effectively disciples their converts. Through all of
these, the pervading theme is of a revival church in which the fire and power of the Spirit are
bearing real fruit instead of reliance upon human methodologies. The contrast between the two
is made throughout. Perhaps most representative of the thesis of Reess essay are the following
words:
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Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." There can be no
success without power. Power is the very condition of success. It is the all-important need of
the people of God, for by its presence failure is placed beyond the range of possibility The
strength of the church does not consist of brains, or numbers, or culture, or rhetoric, or schools.
It does not reside in dignities, titles, scepters, thrones, stocks or bonds. The strength of the ideal
Pentecostal Church is the Holy Ghost himself. He and no other is the power of this great army
of the Lord. He is not a mere influence; he is not the breath of God, he is not an emanation from
Deity ; he is not the abstract power of God. He is God himself, the third Person in the trinity. He
comes into the church by coming into the individual members, and thus by his omnipotent
energy he purifies, electrifies and endues her with power. 219
We have here therefore, just at the outset of the beginning of modern Pentecostalism, a
theology of the Church as the Fire-baptized saints who follow the direct leadership of the
empowering person of the Holy Spirit. Another aspect of the significance of this proto-
pentecostal ecclesiology is its striking similarity to Newbigins characterization just over 50
years later. Though Rees never became a classical Pentecostal after the movement began, he did
describe beforehand the essence of what makes the church Pentecostal in a way they themselves,
along with at least one notable observer in Newbigin, would informally echo once it became
their own experience. With this proto-pentecostal ecclesiology in mind, I now turn to
contributions on the subject made by current scholars who are, or who greatly influence,
contemporary Pentecostals.
219
Seth Rees, The Ideal Pentecostal Church. 1897. Obtained at
http://www.raptureready.com/resource/rees/rees.html. This quote comes from Chapter Four: A Powerful Church.
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2 Survey of Contemporary Writers on Pentecostal

Ecclesiology
2.1 Miroslav Volf: Free Church Ecclesiology
In his book, After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity, Volfthe son of
a Croatian, Pentecostal pastor and a one-time ordained Pentecostal minister himselfbrings the
Free Church ecclesiology of the first Baptist John Smyth into dialogue with the ecclesiologies
of the Catholic Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), and the Orthodox John Zizioulas.
His expressed purpose in doing so is, to demonstrate in a much more modest fashion that a Free
Church ecclesiology can be dogmatically legitimate, can be commensurate with contemporary
societies, and, for that reason and under certain conditions, can prove to be superior to other
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ecclesiologies.
This major ecclesiological proposal may be boldly summarized as envisioning the church
as a polycentric, participative community imaging the perichoretic, symmetrical nature of the
trinitarian persons of the Godhead. In contrast with Ratzinger and Zizioulas, the constitutive
presence of Christ through the Spirit in the Church is mediated not by office or by connection to
a greater institution, nor merely through sacraments (though these belong to the esse of the
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church ), but rather by the faith and obedience of the whole congregation. Indeed, it is the
public confession of faith in Christ through the pluriform speaking of the word that is the
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central constitutive mark of the church.
220
Miroslav Volf, After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998), 22.
221
Volf, After Our Likeness, 152. Volf goes on to explain, There is no church without sacraments; but there are
no sacraments without the confession of faith and without faith itself. (154)
222
Volf, After Our Likeness, 150 (emphasis his).
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At the same time, Volf is also striving to counter the tendencies toward individualism in
Protestant ecclesiology and to suggest a viable understanding of the church in which both person
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and community are given their proper due. Thus, from his reading of Matthew 18:20, he also
presents the church as the instrument of faith. The church is the mother in that the
transmission of faith occurs through interpersonal ecclesial interaction; so that it is from the
church that one receives the content of faith, and it is in the church that one learns how faith is to
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be understood and lived. However, the motherhood of the church is not executed through the
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priestly office, but rather the universal priesthood of believers.
What is also significant for our purposes here is how Volf formulates the structure of this
congregational ecclesiology through the charismata. For the Free-Church Volf, as for the
Catholic Hans Kng, the church is inherently charismatic. The charismata are linked to Christs
constitutive presence in the church by the Spirit, and to the churchs confession of Christ as
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Savior and Lord. As the One whose presence constitutes the church, the Holy Spirit orders
the church by way of His sovereign bestowal of His gifts on whomever He chooses. Further, it is
through the exercising of the charismata that the church lives out this polycentric-participative
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model. It is the truly Charismatic Church that allows everyone a place of ministry (through
the differentiation of persons reflected through the pluriform gifts), while simultaneously being
223
Volf, After Our Likeness, 2.
224
Volf, After Our Likeness, 162-163.
225
226
Volf, After Our Likeness, 228-229; cf. Hans Kng, The Church (Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1976),
esp. 236-250.
227
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unified through the One Spirit who reigns and operates in such a way as to edify the whole body
rather than exalt individuals.
In addition to the pneumatological (Trinitarian) orientation of Volfs Free Church
proposal, it is also highly eschatological. The church participates or lives presently in
communion with the triune God through its confessed faith in Jesus Christ in anticipation of the
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eschatological gathering of the entire people of God in His new creation. Of special note
here is Volfs defining statement: Wherever the Spirit of Christ, which as the eschatological
gift anticipates Gods new creation in history (see Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14), is present
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in its ecclesially constitutive activity, there is the church. While he does not reference Hans
Kng here, by calling the Spirit the eschatological gift, Volf refers to His presence in the
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Church in precisely the same manner. As with Kng, Volfs eschatological framework
connects well with this parallel impulse embedded in authentic Pentecostalism.
Other prominent, theological features of Volfs Free Church proposal stem directly from
his understanding of the Trinity. His perichoretical, symmetrical, trinitarian theology
(inherited from Moltmann), so fundamental to his vision of church, communion and personhood,
would require thorough examination on its own to determine more completely the scope and
limits of its usefulness in ecclesiological construction. This is especially true of his

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Correspondences and Limits of Analogy.
228
229
Volf, After Our Likeness, 129 (emphasis his).
230
231
111
Perhaps what is most controversial about Volfs articulation of the relationship between
Trinity and Church surrounds the person of Christ. Specifically, his claim that the Pauline
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Body of Christ image for the church is only a metaphor would be cause for heated debate.
Correspondingly, his rejection of the notion of Christus totus, caput et membra also does the
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same as will become evident later below. Because Pentecostals generally have not reflected
much on this relationship (at least before After Our Image was published), these provocative
points by Volf can give them needed food for thought.
Another crucial area for reflection, particularly for Pentecostals (and especially in light of
their identification with Evangelicalism, cf. Hodges), is Volfs presentation of the Ecclesial
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Character of Salvation. It has been generally observed that the pentecostal distinctive of
Spirit-baptism, at least in the West, has fallen prey to individualism. In practice, church is there
to serve ones personal relationship with Christ, and to provide a place where they can be filled
with power from on high. The dual challenge directed to soteriology and ecclesiology by Volfs
assertions both that, Salvation and the church cannot be separated, and that The church is not
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a means, but an end in itself, it is a necessary mode of the life of faith is one that pentecostals
must seriously consider if they are to have enduring effectiveness in the North American context
specifically.
232
233
234
Volf, After Our Likeness, 172ff.
235
112
Another striking feature of Volfs ecclesiology is not what it contains, but what is
glaringly absent: the mission of the church. Though at the outset of his own constructions he
defends the focus on the churchs ecclesiality as that which supports and shapes the entire life
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and mission of the church, and then repeats the same for his final chapter on catholicity , the
churchs mission is simply not treated. This may be explained by his attention to the churchs
relationship to the Trinity rather than to the world, but it neglects the correspondence that should
be evident (as it is in the NT): that the church images the Trinity not merely in its interior life and
organization, but also by its proclamation and service to the world God wishes to redeem.
As I noted in Chapter One, this seminal work on ecclesiology from a son of the
Pentecostal movement has attracted significant attention from a number of those scholars
concerned with the direction pentecostal ecclesiology might go. For this reason, it is included
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here . While it has played a large role in causing Pentecostals to think about their own
ecclesiology in relation to Volfs, it is certainly not without its challenges, both on its own merit
and as a possible anchoring point for Pentecostals. To repeat what was said in Chapter One,
adopting Volfs position could easily lead to the perpetuation of identifying Pentecostalism as
merely a charismatic sub-group within Evangelicalism. As impressive as Volfs work is, and as
helpful as it may be at certain points, I would submit that his is not the most favourable option
for the movement going forward.
236
237
Roger Haight calls After Our Likeness a fully developed ecclesiology written in the pentecostal tradition
Comparative Ecclesiology, 463, n44. Amos Yong more accurately appraises that Although Miroslav Volfs
doctrine of the church is less distinctly pentecostal, his pentecostal upbringing and ongoing affiliation with
pentecostalism have informed his deeply pneumatological ecclesiology. The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh, 125.
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2.2 Simon Chan: Mother Church

At the other radical end of the spectrum of possible templates for pentecostal
ecclesiology is the proposal by the Asian pentecostal scholar Simon Chan. He seeks to address
the concern regarding the churchs practices by calling Pentecostals to the process of
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traditioning. Convinced as he is that, The Pentecostal reality cannot be effectively
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traditioned without grounding it in ecclesiology, he ventures to provide his own response to
the question of whether this corporate understanding of the Christian life is better served by a
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hierarchical or a free church type of ecclesiology. In contrast to Miroslav Volf, Chan does
not see the ability of the Free Church model to effectively facilitate the play of Spirit and
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Word that is crucial for structuring Pentecostal spirituality. His assessment is summarized
by the following: The Free Church tradition has justly drawn attention to abuses whenever the
church attempts to domesticate the Spirit and Word. Yet, for its part it has never quite succeeded
in taming its centrifugal voluntarism, due largely to its failure to ground Word and Spirit in
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ecclesiology.
Chan then immediately responds to the proposal offered by Volf in After Our Likeness.
He comments, Even though Volfs approach has succeeded to some extent in reconceptualizing
the church as an organic unity, it is not without its problems as far as traditioning is
238
Simon Chan, Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition (London: Sheffield Academic Press,
2000).
239
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 96.
240
241
242
114
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concerned. These problems, according to Chan, include: first is his rejection of the
hierarchical understanding of the Trinity in favour of the social, egalitarian structure of the
Trinity; second is the transference of the role of officers to the whole body of believers as a
charismatic community, producing a fluid conception of ministry unlikely to preserve the
order of the church; and Third, Volfs rejection of the Christus totus concept can only result in
a loosening of the relationship between Christ and church, and hence in a loose conjunction of
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Christ, Scripture and Tradition.
By way of an alternative, Chan then begins to spell out his own vision of a Pentecostal
Ecclesiology through identifying three important characteristics. The first of these is titled A
Dynamic Catholic Community, and concerns the ongoing and dynamic action of the Spirit in the
church. This dimension of the Spirits activity is recognized at the eucharistic celebration, and in
the realization of the transcending wholeness which defines the catholicity of the (local)
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church. The second is the church as A Healing Community, where the Spirit that creates
the eucharistic community transcending all social cultural and historical boundaries also implies
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that this community is characterized chiefly by its work of reconciliation and healing. Two
facets of this work are expressed in praying for the sick as a regular part of the Pentecostal
churchs liturgical life, and in being sent out in the power of the Spirit to offer healing and
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reconciliation to the world as the churchs mission. The third characteristic is A Truth-
243
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 101n.11.
244
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 101n.11.
245
246
247
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 105-106.
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Traditioning Community, in which the Spirit who constitutes the church dynamically also
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makes the church the place where truth exists dynamically. Chan explains this in the
following manner:
This means that connection between Christ the Truth, the Head of the church, and the tradition
of the church is far more profound than is usually acknowledged in Protestantism. Christ who is
the truth is not just an individual, historical person, but is also truth in relation to the church as his
Body. The church is therefore an extension of Christ the truth [here he footnotes Zizioulas]. The
on-going traditioning in the church of Christ the truth is made possible by the action of the
SpiritChrist as the truth in the church is realized in the eucharist where he is sacramentally
present. Christ the truth is made present in the church by the action of the Spirit in the preaching of
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the Word and in the sacrament.
It is plain from the presentation of these characteristics that Chan (influenced by
Zizioulas, it would seem) is calling Pentecostals to adopt a sacramental (eucharistic), liturgical
ecclesiology governed by a more hierarchical structure. Given that the vast majority of classical
Pentecostals have been markedly Protestant evangelicals (as Hodges book clearly
demonstrates), this is a radical proposal to say the least.
What is interesting is that Chans hierarchical model, like Volfs Free Church model, is
grounded in the recognition of the eschatological Spirit. The Spirit of the last days is present
in the church as a foretaste, orienting the church towards its future in God. As in Volf, this same
eschatological Spirit is also the Spirit in history. Chan states, The Spirit who drives us forward
to a hope beyond history also drives us back into history, challenging us to take our historical
248
249
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 106-107.
116
250
existence with utmost seriousness. The church lives in the tension between now and not
yet through the Spirit who is active in both.
Also important for Chan in this eschatological-pneumatological foundation for his
ecclesiology is his insistence that the Spirit is present in the church in a way that he is not
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present in the world. He rails against the concept of Creator Spiritus as one that would
potentially undermine the ecclesiality of the Spirit if wrongly appropriated. It would seem that
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driving this concern are the problems this concept has produced in the Asian context.
Two other matters which Chan addresses in his chapter on Pentecostal Ecclesiology are
the churchs mission to the world, and the relation of corporate worship to everyday life. On the
issue of mission, following Newbigin and Hauerwas, and in tension with liberation theology
(and, one would guess, the religious right in the U.S.), Chan posits that an ecclesiological
pneumatology will seek to engage the world in a different way other than by attempting to
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manipulate its power structures. Instead, the church can only commend the gospel to the
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world by its own consistent character and proclamation.
On the topic of worship, Chan draws on the former Pentecostal, now Dutch-Reformed
theologian Jean-Jacques Suurmonds work on worship as play. For Chan, there is no tension
between the structure and order of liturgy, and the freedom and spontaneity of pentecostal
250
251
252
253
254
117
worship as play. Rather, they complement and hold each other well. Thus, Pentecostal worship
has all the characteristic features of play, with the potential to forge a coherent and effective
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traditioning community. Additionally, the play of pentecostal worship helps us to relate
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better to ordinary life. But this conviction then brings Chan back to his main thesis, that in
order for the Pentecostal reality to function in the larger context of the ordinary Christian life,
it surely must always be interpreted within the larger Christian spiritual tradition where the
ordinary and extraordinary, the predictable and unpredictable are woven together to form a
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coherent and rich tapestry of life with God the Father, in Christ through the Spirit. For Chan,
this necessitates the embracing of a hierarchical ecclesiology to ground their experience
sacramentally and dynamically in the historic, Christian tradition.
More recently, Chan has broadened this call for the adoption of a liturgical theology of
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the church to all Evangelicals. In his chapter on The Ontology of the Church in Liturgical
Theology, Chan expresses many of the same ecclesiological convictions found in Pentecostal
Theology. Specifically, he again defends (contra Volf) the totus Christus concept of the organic
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unity between Christ the Head and his body the church; calls for the church to be a truth-
traditioning community; emphasizes the eschatological tension of future and history (now and
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Simon Chan, Liturgical Theology: The Church as Worshipping Community (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press 2006).
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Chan, Liturgical Theology, 25.
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not yet); and defines the churchs mission broadly in terms of its calling to be itself, which is
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to be Christ for the world.
What is newly articulated in Chans ecclesiology here is his identification of the churchs
ontological status in terms of its relationship to creation. Based on a particular reading of the
canonical narrative, Chan concludes the following:
The church precedes creation in that it is what God has in view from all eternity and creation
is the means by which God fulfills his eternal purpose in time. The Church does not exist in order
to fix a broken creation; rather, creation exists to realize the church. To be sure, the churchs
coming into being does require the overcoming of sin, but that is quite different from saying that
the problem of sin is the reason for the churchs being. God made the world in order to make the
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church, not vice versa.
The implications of this priority which the church holds over creation cause Chan to
firstly defend the totus Christus, and secondly to call the church a divine-humanity, which
means it is not purely creaturely. Indeed, its existence in history is brought about by the action
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of the Holy Spirit.
This identification of the church as divine-humanity then leads directly to Chans
treatment of the three major biblical images of the church: the people of God, body of Christ,
and temple of the Spirit. For Chan, to call the church the people of God is to recognize that it
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exists in continuity with the ancient covenant people of God, the people of Israel. The
implications of this first metaphor are that it underscores the priority of the church for God over
creation, that it recognizes the church as a pilgrim church or a church on the way, and that the
church is distinguished by its marks or core practices.
The church as the body of Christ, however, is (contra Volf) more than a metaphor, but
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is rather an ontological reality. The church is a divine-reality because it is indeed Christs
body between the ascension and the parousia; it is the totus Christus caput et membra. This
has consequences for how we view both communion (Eucharist), and tradition, both of which
Chan champions for Evangelicals as passionately as he has done for Pentecostals.
Lastly, the church as the temple of the Spirit in a most decisive way completes the other
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two images as people of God and body of Christ in that it expresses the work of the Holy
Spirit who brings these identities into effect. Chan essentially spends the rest of the chapter
discussing the extent to which the Spirit acts in and through the Church to effect Gods purposes
for itthrough tradition, sacraments (i.e. through anamnesis and epiclesis), and mission as well
as by being the eschatological foretaste or pledge (arrabon), and the Spirit of Truth.
These latest additions to Chans articulation of a liturgical ecclesiology for evangelicals
only further enrich and expand on what he has initially proposed for Pentecostals. His
conviction for the place of this model among those who have generally recoiled from it has
seemingly only intensified. Pentecostals and Evangelicals must appropriate more of the
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Chan, Liturgical Theology, 31-32.
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Catholic/Orthodox heritage if they are to remain effective in furthering the Christian tradition,
and (more importantly) in being the church for the world.
As attractive as this model may sound to the more theologically sophisticated among
Chans target audiences (and it most certainly has attractive traits, in the opinion of this author),
there would seem to remain a trenchant skepticism as to its plausibility in western culture, in
particular. This either signals that it misses the boat, or that the boat itself is more off course and
in more urgent need of these sails than most within these camps are able to recognize.
2.3 Amos Yong

In his book, The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh, pentecostal scholar Amos Yong follows
a chapter on holistic soteriology with a chapter on the church. His concern is to bring Spirit,
salvation and Church together theologically, which is something Yong notes Pentecostals have
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done little of academically . The thesis which he suggests is central to pneumatological
ecclesiology is stated thus: the church is an organic, dynamic and eschatological people of God
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called after the name of Jesus and constituted in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The rest
of the chapter unpacks this definition from a pentecostal perspective.
Yong begins by exploring the question What is the church? as it has been addressed
within Pentecostalism, on the general contemporary theological scene, and then in the broader
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Yong: Standing within both the free-church and pietist traditions for the most part, pentecostals have also
tended to talk about soteriology apart from ecclesiology; if they have talked about ecclesiology at all, it is usually as
an afterthought., The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh: Pentecostalism and the Possibility of Global Theology
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), 121.
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Yong, Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh, 122.
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historical context of the Christian theological tradition. In the Pentecostal context, Yong
claims that congregationalism has been the favoured route; though various forms of presbyterian
and episcopal structures do function (most black Pentecostal churches are episcopal in
governance, though Yong does not mention this). The greater concern has been not with forms,
but with mission and evangelism. It is here where Yong refers to Melvin Hodges work. In
doing so, he makes much the same observation made above in this thesis that Hodges fails to
develop fully the ecclesiological implications of his pentecostal perspective. The result for
Yong is, while Hodgess understanding of the church is practical (motivated as it is by the
churchs missionary mandate) and realistic (emergent as it is from the actual missionary
experiences of the church), it assumes uncritically the free-church ecclesiology and inherits
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thereby all the problems that go along with it.
Next Yong turns his attention to the two major proposals offered by Simon Chan and
Miroslav Volf (whom he includes for his influence on Pentecostals), which he merely
summarizes. Upon surveying the work of these two, along with Hodges, however, Yong reaches
five conclusions about the state of pentecostal ecclesiology:
First, Pentecostalism in general does not have its own formally developed ecclesiology per se;
rather, pentecostals have in general drawn uncritically from the free-church tradition. Second,
pentecostal ecclesiology has been inevitably bound up with missiology; the nature of the church is
essentially its missionary task. Third, pentecostal ecclesiology is inherently pneumatological; the
church is founded by the Spirit, nurtured as a fellowship of and in the Spirit, and empowered by the
Spirit to spread the gospel. Fourth, future pentecostal ecclesiology can no longer be attempted
apart from the ecumenical conversation; the relationship between the Spirit and the sacraments, not
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to mention the ministry, will need to be reconsidered. Last (but not least), though this is often only
subconsciously assumed and hardly ever explicitly stated, pentecostal ecclesiology is intimately
connected with its doctrine of salvation. 270
What is mysterious about this list is the absence of the influence of eschatology, which is
a key feature in the three writers he has surveyed. One might speculate it is implied in the
identification of the soteriological influence. It is also curious that he does not include Newbigin
at this point (though he does later in the chapter).
Building on his main concern to articulate the relationship between soteriology and
ecclesiology, Yong then turns to identify four contemporary views on this relationship: The
classical view (extra ecclesia nulla salus); the Free Church view; the church as spiritual body
(mystical view); and Postliberal ecclesiology (church as alternative vision of way of life). The
reality that all four of these models have merit in them, yet none should be adopted uncritically,
further forces the question as to how to understand the church theologically in the twenty-first
century.
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Yong proposes that the way forward is the way back, to the four creedal marks of
the church, especially for pentecostal ecclesiological reflection. Thus, he treats each of these
marks (unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity) from a pentecostal and pneumatological
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perspective. With regard to unity, Yong observes that Pentecostals certainly would affirm
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Yong is here taking his cue from Yves Congar, whom he references throughout this exercise.
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the unity of the church. They would deny, however, that any one episcopate constitutes that
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unity. He then briefly discusses what he calls pentecostal sacramentality, which is an
experiential and incarnational logic that acknowledges the Spirits being made present and active
through the materiality of personal embodiment and congregational life. Examples of this type
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of the Spirits activity mentioned include tongues, healing, the shout, and the dance. What
this pentecostal sacramentality means for their understanding of the unity of the church is that it
comes about through the eschatological work of the Spirit. The Word made flesh and the Spirit
breathing and making the Word real in and through the community of saints together constitute
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the one work of the triune God. Therefore, the unity of the church is to be understood
spiritually instead of institutionally or structurally.
The holiness of the church, Yong writes, is to be understood as both an eschatological
gift, and an eschatological goal. As for a distinctive Pentecostal contribution to understanding
this mark, he suggests it would be a pneumatologically robust notion of sanctifying

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transformation. Such a notion understands the churchs holiness as referring not to the
accomplishments of its members but the authentic presence and activity of the Spirit of God
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directed toward the eschatological kingdom.
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On the churchs catholicity, Yong observes that, If Catholicism tends to err on the side
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of universality, Pentecostalism does on the side of locality. Nonetheless, The ties that bind
pentecostals together around the world are their experiences of Jesus in the power of the Spirit
so that they experience Christian unity precisely through the universality of the Spirits
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presence and activity. Through their global, missionary endeavours, Pentecostals have seen
this experience of the Spirit of Jesus accommodated, acculturated, and assimilated into local
contexts in a manner which would deeply inform their understanding of catholicity.
Finally, with regard to the apostolicity of the church, Yong draws attention to
Krkkinens proposed conciliar understanding for pentecostals and their fellow ecumenical
theologians, which draws on seven irreducible minimums for the meaning of apostolicity. Yong
is not sold on this, however. Reflecting on the original, biblical context, he notes that
Pentecostals have therefore generally understood the ongoing apostolic office or function (1
Cor. 12:28; Eph.4:11) to be the Spirit-empowered ministry of missionizing, evangelizing, church

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planting, and discipling. It is, ultimately, the role of the Spiritas it was for the original
apostlesto illuminate the Scriptures so that the church may retrieve, reappropriate, and
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reinterpret them in accordance with ecclesial experience in a Spirit-sanctioned manner.
And it is through this same Spirit that the church is apostolic not only in terms of its foundation,
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its authority, and its message but also regarding its eschatological gathering around the throne of
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God (Revelation 4-5).
Yong ends the chapter with a further constructive section on The Future of the Church:
Elements of a Pneumatological Ecclesiology, in which he discusses pentecostal Spirit
ecclesiology in relationship to other pneumatological ecclesiologies that have also emerged fairly
recently and sketches the basic features of a pneumatological theology of baptism and the liturgy
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in dialogue with recent sacramental and liturgical theology. He takes as his starting point the
incarnational ecclesiology of Johann Adam Mhler, whose goal was to mediate between a
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living, affective piety and the visible, historical, and hierarchical church. Although Mhler
began to move toward a fundamentally pneumatological ecclesiology, his concerns over
authority stopped him short of doing so. Yong notes that the recent proliferation of
pneumatological ecclesiologies across the spectrum (from Hans Kng in the Roman tradition to
John Zizioulas in the Orthodox, to Wolfhart Pannenberg and Jrgen Moltmann in the Reformed
church to James McClendon in the Baptist, to Newbigin and to contextual ecclesiologies
emerging from Africa and elsewhere) show that such a Spirit-oriented doctrine of the church can
and should be done. He reveals: My own attempt to develop a Christ-centered and Spirit-
driven theology and ecclesiology is inspired in part by Mhlers uncompleted project. The result
is what I have elsewhere called a shifting foundationalism that recognizes all truth claims as
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historically embedded without having to locate their ground on any one undeniable
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foundation.
From here he moves on to discuss baptism and liturgy specifically. He identifies key
elements of a pentecostal and pneumatological theology of water baptism: 1) that it should be
centered on the invocation of the Holy Spirit; 2) that baptism represents our reception of the gift
of the Spirit; 3) that foot washing should be linked to baptism in a sacramental way; 4) that gifts
of the Spirit should also be linked to water baptism; and 5) that Pentecostals should understand
baptism more explicitly as sacramental (instead of just an ordinance as many pentecostal
denominations articulate it). Similarly, the Lords Supper can be understood pneumatologically
in five dimensions: 1) the Supper is a physical act wherein the word of God is consumed by the
body of Christ through the working of the Spirit; 2) it is where we are made present to Christ by
the Spirits doing; 3) it represents true fellowship brought about by the Holy Spirit; 4) the
Supper is a political and prophetic act; and 5) it is also an eschatological act (remembrance).
Out of this examination of Yongs work on a pentecostal ecclesiology, the major features
of his construction can be identified. The first is his thesis that pentecostalism can contribute
something substantive toward the idea of the church not only as the people of God and the body
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of Christ but also as the charismatic fellowship of the Spirit. Here he is echoing the reading
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of Krkkinens own survey of pentecostal ecclesiologies. He is also (implicitly, it would
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appear), following the seminal conviction of Newbigin, in this regard. The church is understood
primarily in terms of the presence and action of the third Person of the Trinity.
Secondly, Yong is envisioning a pneumatologically-sacramental community. He
explains this in the following manner:
A pneumatological ecclesiology that recognizes the church as constituted by the

pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit will grant that the church itself is sacramental insofar
as it consists of structures, institutions, practices, congregations, and individuals, all
inspired by the Spirit of God for the purposes of establishing the kingdom of God. Further,
the sacraments are mediators of grace insofar as they provide ecclesial venues for the Spirit
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of God to accomplish the purposes of God among the people of God.
In dialogue with the historic, Christian tradition, Yong wants to re-appropriate water baptism and
the Lords Supper as defining events for the churchs identity in light of Spirit-baptism, or the
pentecostal reality. As such, he clearly seems to be following Chans lead here, although he
curiously makes no direct reference to doing so.
Finally, he wants an ecclesiology that has extended the reflections on pneumatological
soteriologywithin an ecclesiological framework. The result of this soteriological
ecclesiology is a pneumatological approach to the church which emphasizes the holistic
(multidimensional), transformative, dynamic, and eschatological dimensions of what it means to

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be the people being saved by God. Through this we see that Yong shares some of the key
concerns found in the other proposals by Volf, Chan and even Newbigin: he wants an
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ecclesiology that is designed to contribute to the ecumenical dialogue, he wants a more ecclesial
understanding of the nature of salvation to address the individualism of
evangelicalism/congregationalism, and he wants to do justice to the manifest and mysterious
presence of the eschatological Spirit in the church.
Like Volf (and perhaps even Chan), there is not a strong emphasis in this chapter on the
mission of the church, which has been a penultimate concern for pentecostals in the past as Yong
himself noted, and as a work like the aforementioned Hodges clearly reflects. This is partially
explained by the bigger picture of Yongs global theological enterprise, which reaches out to
other religions. Thus, to evaluate the full implications of this ecclesiology within that larger
context would be outside of my scope here.
2.4 Frank Macchia: Toward a Spirit-baptized Ecclesiology

Even more recent than Yongs work has been that of Frank Macchia, who includes a long
chapter on the church within his work on Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology.
Macchias is another attempt to do something very similar to Amos Yong, which is to present a
holistic vision of a general theology re-oriented around the pentecostal reality, which Macchia
names Spirit-baptism. Like Yong, Macchia sees the urgent place of ecclesiology within this
greater vision and therefore gives substantial attention to it. Macchias overriding concern is not
just to help Pentecostals re-envision their own identity, but also to contribute to the global,
ecumenical enterprise. Both also want to make original contributions to a pneumatological
ecclesiology. Macchia, however, is concerned more strictly with the connection between
pneumatology and ecclesiology from a Trinitarian perspective than from Yongs soteriological
perspective (whereas Volf appears to want to address both). He states his central thesis as that
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Spirit baptism gave rise to the global church and remains the very substance of the churchs life
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in the Spirit, including its charismatic life and mission.
The first part of Macchias chapter works to establish the communal nature of the Holy
Spirits work in humanity, thus the need and the place of the church. He does this by first
theologizing on the relationship between the Spirit and koinonia, and then by writing toward a
Spirit-baptized anthropology, which is inherently relational in character. In so doing, the
identity and role of the church are established:
The church participates in the liberating reign of God evident in Jesus ministry through Spirit
baptism. From a broader perspective we may say that the love and koinonia at the heart of the
kingdom both constitute the church and are embodied and proclaimed through the church to the
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world by the baptism in the Spirit.
The theologically strong relationships between Spirit-baptism, koinonia, the kingdom of God and
the church in a Trinitarian context are therefore foundational for Macchias ecclesiology. It is in
these areas of pneumatological koinonia and Spirit-baptized, relational anthropology that
Macchia repeatedly references Volfs After Our Likeness as an influence (as he does throughout
the chapter).
Continuing to address his concern for the place of the church in Gods overall
programme, Macchia goes on to tackle the pluralist challenge, which is essentially a
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Frank Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 155.
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Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 161.
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christological discussion on the uniqueness of Christ as determinative for the uniqueness of the
church. His concluding statements summarize his position here:
The Spirits unique attachment to the crucified and risen Christ as the Spirit-baptizer and
inaugurator of the kingdom of God means that the church is the church by the grace of God and
must live in a way that lifts up Christ and not itself as the one who inaugurates and perfects the
kingdom of God in the world.The Spirit-baptized church as the sign of grace in the midst of the
gracelessness in the world lives from the kingdom as its chief living witnessThe church is the
natural result of the outpouring of the Spirit and the breaking in of the kingdom of God, but the
church cannot simply be identified with the kingdom. Only Christs witness is identical without
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qualification with the kingdom of God. Only in him is the Spirit given without measure.
The distinction between church and kingdom made in the above quote serves as the topic
for the following section, Toward a Critical Dialectic. In a quest to avoid the two polar
extremes of dualism and synonymous identifications (an over-realized eschatology), Macchia
follows Barth in calling the church a witness or sign. This is unpacked by grounding it in the
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theological priority of Christ, the Spirit, and the kingdom to the church. Specifically,
Macchia prioritizes Spirit-baptism above the church in that it administers the church instead of
vice versa, it is what brought the church into being in the first place, and therefore constitutes
the church as the church, defining the very core of the churchs essence but also transcending the
church as it reaches for the new creation. The church is the dwelling place of the
Spirit/kingdom of Christ and as such is at the vanguard of the transformation of creation into
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Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 189-190 (emphasis his).
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Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit 191.
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the dwelling place of God. In grounding this identity of the church as being constituted by
Spirit-baptism, Macchia appears to be building on Newbigins ground-breaking work in such a
way as to make a truly original contribution to ecclesiology in an explicitly Pentecostal way.
Also of note here is Macchias agreement with Volfs rejection of the total Christ
concept, which is transferring the subjectivity of Christ to the church, forming a collective
subject, and his endorsement of Volfs alternative juxtaposition between Christ and the
church that precisely as such is constitutive of their unity. Like Volf, Macchia prefers to
understand the Trinity perichoretically, and this is employed in navigating the dialectic between
kingdom and church.
A final point that Macchia also makes in this regard is found when he states, An
important component of understanding the role of the Spirit as the dialectician of the church is to
view the church as both a pneumatological/eschatological reality and a fallen/historical

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reality. This is particularly significant for Pentecostals, as Macchia goes on to explain:
Pentecostals need to think about the general issues of the eschatological and historical realities
of the Churchs existence, since restorationism and primitivism make them vulnerable to an
idealistic and implicitly timeless understanding of the ideal church empowered by the SpiritA
more realistic understanding of the primitive churches in all of their tensions and limitations might
help Pentecostals view the living witness of the Church less triumphalistically. It might help them
to recognize the voice of the Spirit more profoundly within the history of the churchs witness and,
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today, among many different Christian communions.
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In other words, instead of perceiving themselves in an anti-historical manner as a leap back to an
ideal, apostolic church, Pentecostals need to see the NT church less perfectly, as well as gain a
greater appreciation for the Spirits work throughout church history and in other traditions today.
Macchia then goes on to very briefly treat the three same major biblical models, or
metaphors, used by Simon Chan in The Ontology of the Church: People of God, Body of
Christ, and Temple of the Spirit. A detailed comparison between the two cannot be
accomplished here, but a cursory observation shows that, in treating the People of God model,
Macchia articulates the relationship between the church and Israel in a different manner than
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Chan, in that the church is superior to Israel because it is Spirit-baptized. Macchia also
treats Body of Christ metaphorically (following Volf), emphasizing the implications of unity and
diversity from 1 Corinthians 12 in contrast to Chans stress on the church as divine-humanity.
The Temple of the Spirit denotes the concepts of the churchs dependence on Christ, the
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priesthood of all believers, and the churchs prophetic witness to the world.
What does Macchia say about the Spirits presence in the church? As it turns out, he
makes several references to it. Prior to addressing the Temple of the Spirit, Macchia speaks
generally of the Spirits presence in and through the church and the church as the central
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locus for the life of the Spirit; phrases that commend the Temple as an appropriate image to
depict the Church as the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. This presence is referred to in
various other ways by Macchia: divine presence, redemptive presence, redeeming
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Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 203-204.
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Cf. Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 196.
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presence, Gods own presence, and simply the presence of the Spirit. Though it is
anchored to Spirit-baptism, this presence of the Spirit in the church may be experienced in
various ways, all of which are to be theologically understood as christocentric: the Pentecostal
connection of Spirit-baptism with charismatic experience says something profound about the
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diverse and polyphonic way the Spirit makes Christ present in the church. Spirit-baptism is
also significant, at least in the book of Acts, for its role in establishing the church as a
charismatically-gifted body because it is such a significant manifestation of Gods presence:
Spirit baptism understood as a communal dynamic can help Pentecostals theologically

integrate their comcomitant emphases on Spirit baptism and the gifted church. Spirit baptism as
a relational dynamic is essential to its role in birthing the church as a diversely charismatic body.
It is interesting to note that Spirit baptism is described by Luke in relation terms, as a divine
clothing (Luke 24:49) or infilling (Acts 2:4) with the divine presenceThe Spirit embraces
us or fills us with the divine presence in order to sanctify us and empower us to be living
witnesses to Christ as the Son of God and the Spirit Baptizer. When God surrounds and fills us
with the divine presence, it is so that we can give of ourselves back to God in worship and
witnessGod pours Gods presence into us in order to receive it back along with the fullness
of our renewed spirits in flaming tongues of praise and witness (Acts 2:4).301
There is a continued emphasis on the connection between the manifest operation of the
Spirit in the church and the presence of Christ, anchored in Spirit baptism: Spirit baptism thus
incarnates the presence of Christ in a body of believers that involves many different cultures
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Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 159 (italics his).
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and faith expressions. It is thus the power of the Spirit visibly operating within the diverse
body that makes Christ present in the church, rather than just through the Word or sacraments.
Not surprisingly, Macchia also speaks of presence in the sub-section on the image of the
church as Temple of the Spirit. Here, his emphasis is again to cast Spirit baptism in a Trinitarian
framework:
The church comes into being as a Spirit-baptized people filled with the very presence of God
(Acts 2:4). Filled with the Holy Spirit, the church is a holy temple with Christ as its foundation
(1 Cor. 3:11)Spirit baptism is a symbol of dependence on Christ and ultimately the Father as
the source of life in the SpiritIn Christ, the Spirit-baptized church draws from his fullness as
his body, drinking together from the Spirit in him (1 Cor. 12:13)Gods presence poured into us
through Christ flows back from us to Christ and to the Father in praise and service.
The church is the temple for the sake of the world and for Gods glory, and not primarily for
its own sake. It is a temple that seeks to discern the presence of God within the realm of the
profane and that prays and works for the renewal of creation and the realization of its destiny in
God. The church is to be a sign of grace in an all-too graceless world. 303
Macchia moves to a far lengthier treatment of the four creedal marks of a Spirit-baptized
church. In his prologue, Macchia notes how Pentecostals have tended to highlight a
charismatic/missionary ecclesiology, and suggests that the early pentecostal fivefold gospel of
Jesus as Saviour, Sanctifier, Spirit-baptizer, Healer and Coming King can be seen as
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ecclesiological marks in themselves. He also introduces the four traditional marks as
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eschatological gifts of the Spirit bestowed by Christ, which are also goals in which we are
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constantly to be renewed and toward which we strive. Understanding the church as one,
holy, catholic, and apostolic in this eschatological sense, as operating in the tension between now
and not yet for the church, while also from his Spirit-baptized perspective, underlies Macchias
approach to this exercise as a whole. Thus, Spirit-baptism unifies the church; the holiness of
the church is secured by the presence of the Spirit, indeed Spirit-baptism is a mighty filling
with the very presence of a holy God; Spirit-baptism on all flesh has the richness and breadth
of catholicity implied within it; and Spirit-baptism makes apostolicity a missionary

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characteristic and, therefore, a characteristic of the entire church.
What is significant is how Macchia discusses forms or models of ecclesiology under the
topic of apostolicity. Specifically, he compares the hierarchical model with the congregational.
While conceding that both have at least some element of truth from the New Testament,
Macchia ultimately favours the congregational model. Interestingly, his principal sources for
doing so are Miroslav Volf and Hans Kng, whom Macchia observes have much in common
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in their view of the church. After having done so, however, he goes on to take a sympathetic
view towards the issue of the Petrine office. He writes:
As a Pentecostal, I am open to be inspired by the symbolic significance of the Petrine office as

a pointer to the possibility that the church in all its diversity and uniqueness might one day be one
around Jesus as the Spirit Baptizer and as one who commissioned disciples to further his witness. I
think more recent definitions of the Petrine office from Ut Unum Sint and beyond that highlight the
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service of love and unity have brought us all further in a constructive direction in discussing this
important issue. 308
Here, Macchia shows his ecumenical sensitivity through his genuine respect of, and openness to,
the greater Tradition of the church.
Macchia concludes his chapter on Spirit-baptized ecclesiology with an important
discussion of what he deems further marks of the church: preaching, sacraments and
charismatic gifts (fullness). With regard to spiritual gifts, Macchia (as one would expect)
emphasizes the charismatic structure of the church, the biblical teaching of how the charisms are
to ultimately bear grace and love in and through the church to the world, and how the gifts of the
Spirit are an important part of Christs presence in the church. Indeed, The Spirit is thus the
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divine presence in and through many persons. Under the heading of preaching, Macchia
stresses the dynamic relationship between the Spirit and the scriptures in the church, so that the
canonical witness through the Spirit inspires, empowers, and guides us all in our gifted praise
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and service. Macchia ends with a longer treatment of the sacraments baptism and the
Lords Supper. Like Amos Yong, he notes a special relationship between water and Spirit
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baptism. This is understood in that, Ultimately, Spirit baptism fulfills conversion and
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baptism to bring about the resurrection of the dead and the new creation. With the Lords
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309
310
311
Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit 248; cf. Yong, Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh, 157.
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137
Supper, Macchia is more similar to Simon Chan (whom he references) in that he pays special
attention to the link provided between anamnesis and epiclesis by Jesus the Spirit Baptizer. He
finishes by saying, In the light of these marks, Spirit baptism constitutes the church as the body
of Christ and remains a source of renewal not only for individual lives but for the life and
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witness of the entire church.
The chapter is concluded by the summarizing affirmation that the baptism or outpouring
of the Spirit can be the organizing principle for a Pentecostal ecclesiology that is responsive to
distinctive accents of Pentecostalism as a global movement as well as to a broader ecumenical

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discussion. Significantly, he points here to the 1976 Report of the Pentecostal-Catholic
dialogue and its mention of presence, along with the 1978 Report of the Catholic-Lutheran
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dialogue, which also referred to modes of presence. The eucharistic mode of Gods
presence, though special, is continuous with all other modes, whereby the koinonia of the Spirit
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allows us to be filled with the Spirit, so that we can give of ourselves to the Spirit in return. It
is clear from what he says elsewhere in this chapter that the sacramental mode of presence,
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which he calls intense, should be seen to co-operate with other modes of the Spirits
presence, of which Spirit baptism would be most defining for the churchs identity.
Though he may not have consciously intended to, we may understand this effort of
Macchias to be a more thorough working out of Newbigins conviction of the manifest presence
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314
Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit , 256.
315
316
317
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of the Holy Spirit among believers as that which constitutes the Community of the Holy Spirit.
As such, this is a significant and valuable source towards the ongoing development of
pentecostal ecclesiology in the ecumenical setting.
2.5 Veli-Matti Krkkinen: Church as Koinonia

Dr. Krkkinen, a professor at Fuller Seminary, is another Pentecostal scholar who has
written several articles related to ecclesiology and Pentecostalism. For our purposes here, a good
place to begin surveying his contribution is with his own look at Newbigins third-stream
description. Krkkinen aptly summarizes Newbigins chapter on The Community of the Holy
Spirit in the following manner:
For Pentecostalism, the third stream, the Christian life is a matter of the experienced power
and presence of the Holy Spirit today. Neither orthodoxy of doctrine nor impeccability of
succession can take its place. If one asks Pentecostals, Where is the church? one must ask in
fact, Where is the Holy Spirit recognizably present with power? (pp. 94-95). Pentecostals are
not content with looking primarily at the continuity nor at the preaching or sacraments if the
experience of the Spirit is missing. This is the contribution that the third stream of Christendom
brings to the impasse of the Catholic-Protestant debateOne the one hand, the narrow Protestant
emphasis may lead to a Christian life in terms of precisely formulated doctrinal statements. On
the other hand, the church may be defined as an apostolic succession. This is for Newbigin
nothing less than defining the church by purely natural standards in other words, without any
reference to the presence or absence of the Spirit (pp. 102-4).318
318
Veli-Matti Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, 156.
139
The third-stream description of Newbigins is significant for Krkkinen because of his intense
interest in the Pentecostal/Roman Catholic Dialogue. It is primarily through this Dialogue that
he sees Pentecostal theologians forming their own identity ecclesiologically. His own thoughts
on Pentecostal ecclesiology are thus clearly aimed toward ecumenical usefulness.
Krkkinens suggestion for identifying the distinctive center of a Pentecostal theology of

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the church is Koinonia, or the Church as a Charismatic Fellowship. He states that
Pentecostals have always favoured fellowship language for the church. He goes on to observe:
Decades before ecumenical theology began to hark back to biblical and patristic roots to
revive the ancient theological understanding of Christian community as koinonia, Pentecostals
lived fellowship among Spirit-filled sisters and brothers. Pentecostal spirituality and theology
have almost from the start appreciated fellowship language over institutionalized church (as
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hierarchical structure).
He continues by quoting an unpublished paper by Peter Kuzmic and Miroslav Volf, who suggest
Pentecostal soteriology and pneumatology pointunmistakably in the direction of an

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ecclesiology of the fellowship of persons. He illustrates the contrast of this model with the
other two streams (following Newbigin) by calling the traditional Protestant model a lecture
room where the focus is on the pulpit, the Catholic model a theatre setting where the
emphasis is on the drama of the Eucharist, and the Pentecostal model a fellowship where the
319
Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, 74-76.
320
Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, 74-75.
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Peter Kuzmic and Miroslav Volf, Communio Sanctorum: Toward a Theology of the Church as a Fellowship of
Persons, position paper read at the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue, Riano, Italy, May 21-26,
1985 [unpublished], emphasis in original, quoted in Krkkinen, 75.
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emphasis is on a community gathered together for mutual edification. He states the Pentecostal
position in the following manner: Without wanting to exclude the elements of preaching and
sacraments, they suggest that in the New Testament the fundamental characteristic of worship is
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mutual sharing in the fellowship.
In a collection of Krkkinens articles published together in book format under the title,
Toward a Pneumatological Theology: Pentecostal and Ecumenical Perspectives on
Ecclesiology, Soteriology, and Theology of Mission, Part Two concerns Ecclesiology.
Throughout these articles or chapters, Krkkinen affirms the suggestion of the Church as a
Charismatic Fellowship, as he addresses various ecclesiological issues more specifically. Again,
the construction or articulation of pentecostal theology is here approached in the context of
strong ecumenical concerns; and again, the Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue is prominent
in applying and addressing these concerns.
In the chapter, Free Churches, Ecumenism and Pentecostalism, Krkkinen draws upon
a statement from the first phase of the RC-Pentecostal dialogue, called Essence of
Pentecostalism. The statement begins by defining this essence as follows: It is the personal
and direct awareness and experiencing of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by which the risen
and glorified Christ is revealed and the believer is empowered to witness and worship with the
abundance of life as described in Acts and the Epistles. Krkkinen then responds by
commenting, This is a good starting point, since it shows that Pentecostals understand
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Krkkinen, Introduction to Ecclesiology, 75.
141
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themselves first and foremost on the basis of their particular brand of spirituality. We see
implicit in the opening sentence of the Essence statement an allusion to the encounter of the
direct or manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in a transformative, empowering manner as that
which defines Pentecostal experience and theology. This is something Krkkinen appears very
comfortable with.
In keeping with his ecumenical desire, Krkkinen points out that traditional
ecclesiologies have either followed Ignatius of Antioch, who anchored the church to Christs
presence, or Irenaeus, for whom what is decisive is the presence of the Spirit of God: Wherever
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the Spirit of God is, there is the church, and all grace. While the title of the book itself
clearly indicates which approach Krkkinen takes, he is quick to point out (as Irenaeus himself
did) that Christology and pneumatology must be seen as simultaneous rather than exclusive,
even while the later history of ecclesiology testifies to a continual struggle in finding a
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theologically satisfying balance between these two rules. It is this very balance that he wants
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to address even as he writes Toward a Pneumatological Ecclesiology. After appreciatively
surveying the approaches of John Zizioulas (Eastern Orthodox), Wolfhart Pannenberg
(Protestant), and Karl Rahner (Roman Catholic), Krkkinen affirms the necessary coexistence
of both the christological and pneumatological orientations of the churchs essence. He stresses
this as biblical: In the New Testament, Christology is never depicted apart from the Spirit. In
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Veli-Matti Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology: Pentecostal and Ecumenical Perspectives on
Ecclesiology, Soteriology, and Theology of Mission (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002), 58.
324
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology, 83. The quote of Irenaeus is from Adversus Haereses, 3.24.1.
325
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology, 84.
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Krkkinen, title of Chapter Six, Pneumatological Theology.
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their own distinctive ways, the Gospels present Christ as the Spirit Bearer before he is to be the
Spirit Giver. He is given the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). Christ conceives and fulfills
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his ministry in the Spirit. He goes on to declare:
A pneumatological orientation is needed to overcome the age-old dilemma between charism

and institution. The work of the Spirit lays foundation for both structure and charism. Instead
of seeing these two as opposites, we must seek a charismatic structure. The Church, as the
Body of Christ, is a charismatically structured fellowship, a charismatic fellowship. It is not
enough to argue for the necessity of charismatic structure if the pneumatological orientation to
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the foundations of ecclesiology is missing.
Thus, here Krkkinen lays the theological foundation for his own ecclesiology in conversation
with the other great traditions. In doing so, he makes a brief, concluding case for a distinctive
pentecostal contribution to pneumatological ecclesiology:
Theology of the Spirit is a lived experience. The emergence of charismatic gifts, the release
of the whole people of God into the ministry by the power of the Spirit, a manifold charismatic
testimony by word and deed, a new enthusiasm for evangelism, etc. are but examples of the new
vigor of life given by the Spirit to the whole church. Here the enthusiastic, dynamic contribution
of Pentecostalism, the Charismatic movements and a host of more recent Free Churches have to
be taken into consideration. Their vivid experience of the Spirit points to a crucial dimension of
life in the Spirit.329
327
328
329
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology, 94-95.
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What is also evident here in Krkkinens effort toward a pneumatological ecclesiology
of charismatic fellowship is that he is aiming for an ecclesiology that does not merely state what
the church is, but what the church lives and does. His is an experiential ecclesiology. Theology
and spirituality must be mutually reflective. So he stresses in a subsequent chapter on Trinitarian
theology:
The distinctive Pentecostal contribution could be the accent on baptism of the Holy Spirit
with accompanying charismatic manifestations (speaking in tongues, prophecy, word of
knowledge, etc.) which, as was stated at the beginning of the chapter, brings the doctrine of the
Trinity into the experiential level. This is more in tune with the New Testament emphasis. 330
The key chapter for our purposes here is Chapter Eight: The Church as Charismatic
Fellowship, in which Krkkinen more directly addresses his own constructive proposal, though
he makes clear Nothing like a comprehensive Pentecostal ecclesiology is attempted in the

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confines of this chapter. After confirming that ecclesiology is a much under-developed area
for Pentecostals, and that their propensity to focus on praxis rather than theological reflection has
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resulted in a variety of ecclesiological options, he once again points to the RC-Pentecostal
Dialogue as an event that has spurred more concentrated consideration of a theology of the
church on the part of the Pentecostal participants, observers and analysts.
To intentionally call the Church a Charismatic Fellowship is to obviously suggest that
there are two defining qualities of the church from a Pentecostal perspective. Thus, Krkkinen
330
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology , 108 (italics his).
331
332
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treats each of these in turn. The Charismatic Structure of the Church section specifically
addresses the aforementioned issue of charisma and institution. That charismatic comes before
structure in the word-order for Krkkinen intentionally betrays his Pentecostalism.
Comparatively, he observes, Pentecostals are seeking for balance between charisma and
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structure whereas Catholics look for balance between structure and charisma. This balance,
tricky at the best of times for any church, has been particularly challenging for the Spirit-driven
Pentecostal movement, as our description in the previous chapter should make obvious.
Krkkinen confirms that, As a young revival movement, it has had hard times in seeking to
find a balance between its passion for the free moving of the Spirit and the inevitable need for
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order and institution. As the third phase of the RC/Pentecostal Dialogue reported,
Pentecostals tend to downplay the importance of office and authority because they desire to
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have direct access to the Spirit and his workings. Furthermore, Pentecostals do not agree
among themselves concerning how Church structures and institutions should be made upFor
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Pentecostals there is no single criterion to indicate the true nature of a given church.
Structures, when they became absolutely necessary with the formation of denominations,
certainly did not reflect distinctive Pentecostal ecclesiological convictions but rather were mostly
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adopted and adapted from the familiar polities of the leaders previous church affiliations.
333
334
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology , 112.
335
336
337
For Canadian examples, see Ronald A.N. Kydd, "The Contribution of Denominationally Trained Clergymen to
the Emerging Pentecostal Movement in Canada." Pneuma 5 (Spring 1983), 17-33.

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For Pentecostals, then, structure must serve charism. Because this is the order of priority,
the specific type of structure is not as crucial, as long as it facilitates the work of the Spirit rather
than quenches it. Structure does not determine the churchs identity for Pentecostals, it merely
functions as the organizational realm in which the true essence of the Church, the charismatic
presence of the Holy Spirit, operates. This partially explains why the full spectrum of
governance models all exists under the banner of Pentecostalism.
Identifying a favourable model for Krkkinen, however, then leads him to (again,
following Volf and Kuzmic) turn to an ecclesiology of koinonia or Fellowship. One of the key
attractions of this model for him is because of its strong biblical attestation. In the NT, The
Church is a communion in the Spirit, with also a specific Christological expression (2 Cor. 1:5;
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Phil 3:10), even Trinitarian. It is from this basis that patristic communion ecclesiology is
founded, he points out. This is also the basis for the highly influential Being as Communion by
Zizioulas. Against this background is where Volf and Kuzmics pentecostal proposal fits in
logically. The Church as a Charismatic Fellowship is a pneumatologically constituted reality.
It is not an abstract ecclesiology but a living experience. Krkkinen explains, This fellowship
is something to be experienced, a shared experience, in the everyday life of the community. In
this sense the question Where is the Church? cannot be answered without reference to the
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living presence of the Spirit. Krkkinen thereafter provides the pivotal words of
Newbigins Household of God to this effect, which Volf and Kuzmic also quote in their paper.
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339
146
The picture of fellowship offered here is thus one that is inherently participatory. Indeed,
Krkkinen titles the next sub-section, Toward a Participatory Ecclesiology: Promise and
Challenge. Again following Volf and Kuzmic, he outlines first how a biblical charismatic
fellowship stresses the universal distribution of the NT gifts (cf. 1 Cor. 12). He observes how, in
this respect, Pentecostals would certainly welcome the Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM)
documents principle according to which the church lives in the power of the
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Spiritcharacterized by a variety of charisms. This manifests another example of how
Krkkinen wants a pentecostal ecclesiology that is ecumenically useful. Secondly, the Pauline
picture of interdependence and complementariness among the fellowship of charismatics, or the

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unity-in-diversity perspective in a context of love is also stressed, drawing upon both
Moltmann (Reformed) and Karl Rahner (Roman Catholic) on this same point. Thirdly, the gifts
are distributed just as the Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:17). The Spirit is the sovereign imparter and
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distributer of the gifts. We do not control nor dictate the how and when.
Krkkinen continues on by looking now to Volfs After Our Likeness. He states, Volf
is of the opinion that the real ecclesiological challenge of the Pentecostal movement for other
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churches lies in motivating them to take seriously the implications of the priesthood of all.
There is, however, no source given as to where Volf shares this opinion. Volfs continued vision
of the pluriform gifts of the Spirit in After Our Likeness is consistent, though, with his previous
340
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology, 119. It is not clear specifically where the quote from BEM is taken
from; perhaps from Ministry, I.1 and 5 as read through a different translation (?).
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342
343
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proposal of the Church as a Charismatic Fellowship. While Krkkinen points to Volfs
proposal as an extant articulation of his own vision, he recognizes that one difficulty in doing so
is in reconciling this obvious Free Church ecclesiology with Roman Catholicism, with whom
Krkkinen desires to continue to dialogue for mutual edification. At some point, he seems to
concede, one has to choose between the two. It would appear he ultimately sides with Volf.
Finally, Krkkinen observes that if one does wish to adopt Volfs model as a template
upon which to develop pentecostal ecclesiology (as others have also suggested), then this does
present a challenge to his desire for an experiential ecclesiology:
But Pentecostals are too left with challenges. Along with the (necessary) institutionalization
and (not so always necessary?) bureaucratization of the movement, one must ask: how well is the
idea of church as charismatic fellowship, where all the Spirit-empowered members are
functioning to the well-being of the community and to the mission to the world, realized in
typical Pentecostal communities? If not, then what are the possible reasons for this? Are the
reasons theological or pastoral, or both? 344
Examining Krkkinens exploration of church as Charismatic Fellowship via Volf, but
also with an eye constantly on the Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue, typifies the quandary that
Pentecostal scholars appear to be in ecclesiologically. Can the movement diversify and go both
ways: towards congregation and towards sacramental/hierarchical? Do they ultimately have to
choose a side? Or should they attempt to forge a third-stream theology of the church clearly
distinct from the other two? What is the movements true identity at the ecumenical table? In
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light of these questions, Krkkinen maintains that both charismatic and fellowship are the
two essential qualities of a truly Pentecostal church:
The Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue has both challenged and enriched Pentecostal reflection
on the church. Whatever will be the future of the emerging Pentecostal ecclesiology, one thing
must not be forgotten: the category of community/communion has been critical since the
beginning of the Pentecostal movement. In the Two-Thirds world it still is. The community
provides the adherents a safe haven against cultural, religious, and sometimes even political
oppressions and anomalies. For Pentecostals, charismatic and fellowship belong to the essence,
not just to the well being and benefit, of the faith and spirituality. 345
Late in the following chapter on Spirit, Laity, Ministry, Krkkinen returns to this
theme of the Charismatic Structure of the Church, stating The church lives through the
participation of its members, the laity and the ordained, and is constituted through them by the
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Holy Spirit. Again, he draws heavily upon Volf to express this theme, this time within the
context of the ability of this vision to effectively facilitate the priesthood of all believers to a
degree that other ecclesiologies seemingly cannot. Now he turns to After Our Likeness and
Volfs articulation of the pluriformity of the charismatic gifts. While Volfs own proposal
stands in contrast to Zizioulas and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI),
Krkkinen insists that there is an ecumenical consensus regarding this pluriformity, as

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evidenced by a revival of the ancient Orthodox principle of sobernicity , which is their
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346
347
Krkkinen, Pneumatological Theology, 132. For an example of this principle in Orthodox ecclesiology, see
Dumitru Staniloae, Theology and the Church (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1980), esp. Chapter
2.
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corresponding term for catholicity in the sense of universality, as one of the four creedal marks
of the Church. Thus, while all the churches embrace the overall idea of the charismatic
structure of the church, its implications regarding the equality of all members are not accepted by
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all.
Krkkinens concern here is clearly for the true practice of the priesthood of all
believers, and for him the Charismatic Structure of the Church is the biblical way to actualize
this. From this concern to see the full participation of the congregation in exercising the gifts of
the Spirit as a defining ecclesiological principle, he turns to Volf as a leading voice. Yet, while
he is again here obviously favouring a Free Church ecclesiology, he holds out the hope that the
older churches can utilize existing internal resources to adopt an authentic charismatic structure
within their traditions.
What seems nearly absent to this point of the chapter, then, is the question of whether or
not Pentecostalism can contribute anything towards this model. This is perhaps evident in that,
when Krkkinen goes on to quote Frank Macchia, he introduces him as a Free Church
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theologian. Furthermore, when communicating the need to see the participatory nature of the
Spirits operation in the church beyond Word and sacraments, it is Clark Pinnock whom
Krkkinen quotes to provide the most Pentecostal-sounding perspective:
As well as receiving the sacraments for the Spirit, we need to cultivate openness to the gifts
of the Spirit. The Spirit is present beyond liturgy in a wider circle. There is a flowing that
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349
150
manifests itself as power to bear witness, heal the sick, prophesy, praise God enthusiastically,
perform miracles and more.350
Krkkinen concludes by repeating the significance of Volfs proposal partly because it

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takes seriously the role of the Spirit in ecclesiology He then lists what this means for
Catholics, for Orthodox, for Protestants and for Free Churches. It is presumed that Pentecostals
are here again subsumed under the Free Church banner. We are left to postulate that
Krkkinens Charismatic Structure ecclesiology is one that is not distinctly Pentecostal, even if
it is intended to be pentecostal-friendly. That it is left to a Charismatic Baptist to bring up the
presence of the Spirit in the church in a more pentecostal-sounding way unfortunately shows the
limitations of Krkkinens contributions to Pentecostal ecclesiology, as worthy as they might
be.
This would seem to be confirmed in the next chapter on The Spirit and the Lords
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Supper, whose focus is namely, the role of the Spirit in the mediation of Christs presence.
While the Eucharist is the context here, it seems if there was ever an opportunity to communicate
a Pentecostal theology of the Spirits presence in the church, this would be it. Instead, what is
said about a Pentecostal view of the Eucharist is in the context of the Catholic-Pentecostal
dialogue, where the main point of agreement is in the Lords Supper as an avenue for healing:
Now it should be noted that Pentecostalism, as an ecclesial newcomer, clung to the ancient
belief and practice of the Christian church even though the purpose of the new movement was to
350
351
352
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free the church from rites and rituals which were believed to be not only meaningless but also
a hindrance to the understanding of the Gospel. Pentecostals, understandably, have not devoted
much energy to formulating their doctrine of the Lords Supper. This is in line with the
movements accent on spirituality rather than on doctrine, and its preference for oral rather than
discursive theologizing.
Yet, both Catholics and Pentecostals agree that the Lords Supper may indeed be an avenue
for healingPentecostals avoid speaking of sacraments in the area of healing. But for them,
too, the meaning of the death of Christ is central, to be commemorated each time the Lords
Supper is celebrated.353
What Krkkinen states here is absolutely true. But is there nothing more to say about
how the Spirit mediates Christs presence for Pentecostals? Is it possible to augment the
necessary understanding of the Spirits presence in anamnesis and paraclesis with something
along the lines of what Pinnock suggests above? That these questions are not addressed by a
pentecostal scholar, even within his ecumenical purview, perhaps again demonstrates a limited
view of the potential for Pentecostalisms distinct contribution to these ecclesiological issues.
About the same time that these chapters on ecclesiology were published, another article
of Krkkinens appeared in ERT (2001), concerning Pentecostalism and the claim for
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Apostolicity. Here, again, Krkkinen associates Pentecostals with Free Church ecclesiology,
and contrasts it with the episcopal tradition, drawing heavily once more upon Volfs After Our
Likeness. What seems missing here is the recognition of those Pentecostal churches that are
episcopal in governance. This oversight is all the more troublesome when we are reminded that
353
354
Krkkinen, Pentecostalism and the Claim for Apostolicity: An Essay in Ecumenical Ecclesiology, ERT
(2001) 25:4, 323-336.
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many (though not all) of the episcopal Pentecostal denominations are African-American. He
characterizes the Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue, for example, as a Free Church-established
church dialogue.
While his characterization of Pentecostalism as merely Free Church seems unsatisfactory,
however, his treatment of Pentecostal apostolicity is much more helpful. It will be drawn upon
below when that issue is addressed more specifically in light of the constructive proposal being
offered here. Though he communicates well the reality that Pentecostals have their own unique
understanding of apostolicity, this does not lead to a more developed identification of their
understanding of ecclesiality. His ecumenical sensitivities lead him toward more conciliar
conclusions that eclipse any focus on developing the Pentecostal identity. This is certainly not
wrongindeed it is admirablebut seems to undermine the potential Pentecostals have for
contributing their own visions to the greater theological enterprise.
Finally and more recently (2007), Krkkinen has contributed yet another journal article
on Pentecostal Ecclesiology. In this one, he returns to the same theme of Church as Charismatic
Fellowship but comes at it differently. Noting that communion ecclesiology, an approach that
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starts with the church as a fellowship that reflects the inner-trinitarian relations, is popular
among various traditions today, Krkkinen rightly asks, does it even make sense to speak of
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any kind of Pentecostal communion ecclesiology? This question is legitimized by the ad
hoc nature of Pentecostal theology, the strongly restorationist character of the movement, and
355
See Dennis Doyle, Communion Ecclesiology (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2000).
356
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons: An Emerging Pentecostal Ecclesiology of Koinonia, 2.
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357
the diverse forms of structures that operate in Pentecostal churches. He points to recent
developments, however, upon which he attempts to provide a tentative outline and discussion of
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Pentecostal ecclesiology of koinonia. Not surprisingly, the first place he turns is again to the
Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue and the Final Report from the third quinquennium (1985-1989),
Perspectives on Koinonia. Koinonia is appealing to Pentecostals for its biblical basis, and
because they prefer to see the Church as a fellowship rather than an institution. Church is a place
where Pentecostals meet with God and each other, rather than just hear the Word or witness the
drama of the Eucharist. Turning yet again to the dialogues position paper by Volf and Kuzmic,
Krkkinen emphasizes how, for Pentecostals, this fellowship or meeting together for mutual
edification in the presence of God must therefore be charismatic in its dynamic. He writes,
Consequently, worship experience with the deep desire to meet with the Lord stands at the
heart of the Pentecostal church life. Even when spiritual manifestations such as speaking in
tongues, word of wisdom, or healings are missing, there is both openness to and expectation of
those tangible signs of the presence of God in the communion of the saints.359
Here is where Krkkinen finally connects his koinonia ecclesiology with what I suggest
is the true heart of Pentecostalism: the Church as the People of Gods Presence meet to
fellowship with the expectation that this presence will be made tangible in their midst and for
their mutual edification, so that they will be empowered to participate in Gods activity in the
357
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons 2.
358
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons 3.
359
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons, 5.
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world. In an accompanying footnote to the above statement, Krkkinen says more about the
Pentecostal idea of presence:
There is obviously a connection here with the sacramental principle of traditional churches:
whereas sacramental churches consider sacraments as the preferred way of securing the divine
presence, along with the preached word, for Pentecostals the emphasis is on the gifts of the
Spirit. There have been attempts by some Pentecostal theologians to find commonalities between
Pentecostal spirituality, especially its emphasis on glossolalia, speaking in tongues, as a way of
securing the divine presence and sacraments as signs of the divine presence. While there are
some connecting points, I also think the differences are so dramatic that at the most one can only
point to some common underlying motifs behind glossolalia and, say, the Eucharist.360
While there is some comparison to be made between Pentecostal and sacramental
conceptions of the divine presence in the Church, the Pentecostal view is distinct. It is this
distinct view that provides the foundation for a uniquely Pentecostal ecclesiology, even a unique
Pentecostal communion ecclesiology. The Church as koinonia from a Pentecostal perspective
must be a Charismatic fellowship. The sharing in the trinitarian life takes place primarily and
constitutively through the receiving of charisms from the Spirit for mutual edification and as a
witness to the unbeliever (1 Cor. 14:22-25). This is the Pentecostal self-understanding as an

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eschatological, charismatic fellowship of persons.
Of course, Krkkinen points out that certain aspects of the Pentecostal notion of
koinonia have also been rightfully challenged through the Dialogue. There remains a pervasive
individualism, as well as a lack of theology of the Universal Church or visible unity thereof,
360
Krkkinen , The Church as the Fellowship of Persons, 11-12, footnote 11.
361
155
despite the ecumenical openness demonstrated by their participation in dialogues. The results of
these shortcomings are obvious:
This of course creates a major inner tension in Pentecostal ecclesiology and ecumenism; with
all the enthusiastic embrace of fellowship language, emphasis on the church as the body of
Christ, and the need for daily empowering of the Holy Spirit, the Pentecostal-Charismatic
churches life has been an experience of endless divisions and splits; furthermore, Pentecostals
and Charismatics have caused a number of divisions in relation to other churches. This is not to
put blame on one party: the opposition to and harassment of Pentecostals by older churches in
various parts of the world is too well known a fact to be ignored. Rather, this is a call to mutual
repentance and self-examination. 362
Krkkinen goes on to list and discuss potential attributes of an ecclesiology of koinonia
that Pentecostals can embrace and other churches can also benefit from. It is a dynamic concept
that can help both Pentecostal and older churches develop a full-orbed view of the divine-human
partnership which constitutes the Church. Communion ecclesiology is also a call to holiness,
which is close to the heart of the Pentecostal conviction that this mark of the Church is
represented through the sanctified lives of its members. Furthermore, and perhaps most
significantly, Being a dynamic concept, the koinonia is also a reminder to all Christian churches
about the need to be empowered by the Spirit. Pentecostals speak of this dynamic empowerment
in terms of Spirit Baptism. As a work of the Holy Spirit, there is a definite communal element to
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Spirit Baptism. Krkkinen here draws upon the Final Report of the fourth quinquennium of
the Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue, Evangelization, Proselytism, and Common Witness, which
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363
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons, 8-9.
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speaks of Spirit Baptism as the presence of the Spirit shown through charismatic gifts, which
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build up the koinonia. He goes on to suggest, Early Pentecostals were onto something when
without much theological sophistication they turned to the book of Acts for their paradigm of the
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church.
This leads to the next critical point, which is that The church as the fellowship of
persons, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is not a communion for its own sake. It is open to the
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world. In addition to the Pentecostal emphasis on mission as evangelism, this openness
inherently means that Part of the churchs life as a sent communion is to share in the sufferings
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of the world and alleviate poverty, injustice, and other social ills. This entails an investment
in the present world that was not part of the original Pentecostal vision, as eschatologically-
charged as it was. But the original Pentecostal idea of empowerment to participate in Gods
activity in the world opens the door for the social justice work that is being called for here.
Krkkinen concludes this crucial article by re-iterating,
Pentecostalism since its inception has embraced something that is at the heart of the biblical
vision of koinonia, namely, the presence of the Spirit in the church and in an individuals life as
an eschatological reality. The presence of the Spirit as the Spirit of koinonia and the eschaton
makes the churchs existence to be essentially an eschatological community. 368
364
365
366
Krkkinen, The Church as the Fellowship of Persons, 9. Here he is borrowing a phrase from Jrgen
Moltmanns The Trinity and the Kingdom.
367
368
157
This is both a potent description of the original Pentecostal vision of church we found in Chapter
Two, as well as a programmatic statement upon which a uniquely Pentecostal ecclesiology can
be constructed even now. At last, from the perspective of this thesis, Krkkinen has tapped into
the kind of description that Rees foretold and Newbigin first explicitly introduced. This is all the
more significant in that this new way of speaking for Krkkinen comes at a more recent point
than all of the contributions we have surveyed here so far.
2.6 Shane Clifton: Concrete Ecclesiology

Shane Clifton is an Australian Pentecostal scholar who wrote his doctoral dissertation on
the developing ecclesiology of the Assemblies of God of Australia (AGA). Clifton argues for a
particular methodology when addressing the topic of Pentecostal ecclesiology: a concrete

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ecclesiological method. This proposal stands in contrast to idealist ecclesiologies, which
specifically includes both the restorationist orientation of Pentecostals and communion

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ecclesiologies such as Volfs. Regarding the former, Clifton astutely observes,
The problem, in respect to ecclesiological method, is not only the failure to account for the
cultural and social distance between the Early Church and the Church of today; it is also that this
approach misunderstands the ecclesial diversity and developments that are apparent in the New
Testament writingsThis is not to say that the Scriptures are not central to the Church and
ecclesiological method. Indeed, biblical ideals, metaphors and models should remain
foundational. Yet it is to observe that the ecclesiologist needs to adopt a broader approach. 371
369
Shane Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology: A Methodological Proposal for a Diverse Movement, in Journal of
Pentecostal Theology, (2007), Vol 15 (2), 213ff.
370
Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 214-216.
371
Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 215.
158
Regarding communion ecclesiologies, Clifton asserts Trinitarian models generally fail to
differentiate adequately between divine and human persons and relationships, and this idealism
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leads to conclusions that are abstracted from church history and praxis. To illustrate this
point, Clifton points to the fact that communion ecclesiologies are used to support Catholic,
Orthodox and Free Church structures, as the works of Pope Benedict, John Zizioulas and Volf
indicate. Thus, the radically different nature of the ecclesial conclusions suggests that there are
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factors other than the doctrine of the trinity determining their ecclesiology.
As an alternative to these blueprint ecclesiologies, as theologian Nicholas Healy calls

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them, Clifton proposes a concrete ecclesiological method, which, in short, must tell the story
of a specific church. He states, Pentecostal ecclesiology will need to begin by narrowing its
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focus upon particular movements in particular locations. This method demonstrates the
fundamental convictions that theology cannot be abstracted from history and sociology, and that
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the Church in particular is both a divine and human institution. Since a concrete
ecclesiology analyzes a specific church in its historical and cultural context, sociological
typologies must be employed. Thus, Clifton surveys four sociological methods: positivism,
functionalism, voluntarism or conflictualism, and intentionalism. He proposes that
372
373
374
Cf. Nicholas Healy, Church, World & the Christian Life: Practical-Prophetic Ecclesiology (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2000), 26. Referenced in Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 216-217.
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376
159
intentionalism, which he also calls the symbolic interactionist approach, is the one most
applicable to the ecclesiological task. He then draws attention to Healys point about the need
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for ecclesiology to account for the reality of ecclesial sin . This leads to a further utilization of
sociological paradigms, in which Clifton then identifies four church anti-types articulated by
Neil Ormerod: classical conservative, neo-conservative, semi-progressive and totally
progressive. In Ormerods appraisal, Pentecostalism is representative of the neo-conservative
type, which is limited in its social dialectic but transcendent in its cultural dialectic. Pentecostal
churches fit this category because they display conservative theology and an innovative
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community life. Clifton validates this possibility, but not uncritically. He concludes his
methodological proposal by summarizing,
a concrete ecclesiology will tell the narrative of a particular churchs (or movements or
denominations) experience of the Spirit, describe the explicit and implicit ecclesial self-
understanding that informs this narrative, and analyse ecclesial transitionsThe goal is an
analysis of what has been gained and lost in the process of ecclesial changea concrete method
does make it possible to talk about Pentecostal ecclesiology to describe particular Pentecostal
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churches and movements and only thereafter to discern that which is common to all.
Clifton therefore affirms the reality and necessity of identifying a distinct Pentecostal
ecclesiology even as he proposes a different approach to the one taken here. I would agree with
Cliftons suggestion that a heuristic definition of the church is useful, however.
377
Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 229; cf. Healy, Church, World & the Christian Life, 37.
378
Clifton, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 229-231.
379
160
At the conclusion of Cliftons dissertation itself, several important points are identified as
being applicable to the wider task of Pentecostal ecclesiology. These mainly concern the state of
those tenets which (as discussed in Chapter Two) have historically been central to the
Pentecostal identity, but also concern the basic tensions that inevitably occur in most church
structures. The first of these tensions is the inevitable institutionalizing that has occurred in what
was originally a movement that served as a rebellion against, or a rejection of, traditional church
structures. Every revival or restorationist or breakaway movement in Christian history has
experienced this same historical inevitability. For Pentecostals particularly, this tension is
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between the priesthood of all believers and what Clifton calls Charismatic Leadership. This
specific tension is rooted in the Pentecostal theology of Spirit-empowerment. As Clifton
explains, Whatever else can be said about Pentecostal ecclesiology, it is apparent that the
identity and mission of the movement is framed by the experience and theology of baptism in the
Spiritthe implication of universal Spirit empowerment is that Pentecostal movements, in
contrast to top down churches, have generally preferred grassroots approaches to church
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structure and life. This is natural given how the movement began and what it sought to
accomplish. Thus, the institutionalizing of the movement, particularly in the larger
denominations, is most often seen as chaffing against the Pentecostal theology of universal
Spirit-empowerment, or the priesthood of all believers (as well as against the direct leadership of
the Spirit as described in Chapter Two). But Clifton, in concluding his analysis of the Australian
Assemblies of God, attempts to assuage a completely negative outlook of such a process:
380
Shane Clifton, Pentecostal Churches in Transition: Analysing the developing ecclesiology of the
Assemblies of God in Australia (Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2009), 208.
381
Clifton, Pentecostal Churches, 208.
161
In fact, the common assumption that institutionalisation is anti-charismatic or a necessary

evil misses the fact that institutionalisation is a vital social development that intends to establish
efficient and effective processes to achieve certain recurrent needs within communities.
Institutionalisation need not prevent the work of the Spirit, although it might. The issue is not, is
institutionalisation good or bad but, rather, what is gained and/or lost in particular instances of
institutional development? That is, do particular institutional mechanisms encourage or inhibit
the work of the Spirit in the church? 382
One of the implications of this suggestion is that Free Church governance is not
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essential to Pentecostal ecclesiology. This can be read as a welcomed response to the
presumptions of those like Krkkinen who seem to equate Pentecostalism with Free Church
ecclesiology, as well as a nod to the popular apostle-pastor leadership model in Australia. To
quickly counter-balance this, however, Clifton concludes with a needed caution to the distortions
of this more autocratic system:
any Pentecostal movement needs to find ways of balancing the vital input of leaders with the
recognition that leadership is subject to distortion. It is also to reassert the fundamental
Pentecostal idea that the church itself is not constituted by the pastor (or Pope) it is not the
pastors church but, rather, is the body of all Spirit filled believers whose head is Christ.384
Here Clifton identifies a significant ecclesiological principle for Pentecostalism even
while he affirms a theological allowance for the variances of governance systems that are found
within it. In Pentecostalism, the Church is not defined by the type of leadership, i.e. episcopal,
382
383
384
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presbyterian or even congregational, but rather by the principle that the Church is the People of
Gods Presence, and is made so by the indwelling of the Spirit who actualizes Christs Headship
over it.
After addressing a need to re-cast a definition of success for the churchs missionnot
by numbers or efficiency or ability to put on impressive services and eventsbut rather by the
degree to which the church incarnates the love of God to all people, Clifton briefly examines the
place of the local church within the Kingdom of God. The local church should not be weighed
down by unnecessary bureaucratization of a centralized system, but must also see its part in the
greater global mission in partnership, fellowship and accountability with other churches, colleges
and agencies. This is the task of balancing the tension between local autonomy with a shared
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sense of mission.
It is at this point that Clifton addresses what he calls cultural and theological values,
which in this case are the distinctives or core defining beliefs of historical Pentecostalism. The
problem he identifies is that these distinctives have either come to be ignored or remain
undeveloped because of the pragmatic orientation of Pentecostal churches. They have been
reticent to face critical reflection on their doctrines for fear that it will distract them from getting
the job done. I would add that this is most apparent in the area of ecclesiology. As he explains:
Rather than debate the nuances of theology, Pentecostals have preferred to engage in the
practical tasks of evangelism and church growth. Taken too far, however, pragmatic church
cultures fail to recognize the extent to which the practice of ministry necessarily derives from
and informs culture and theology. Indeed, the mission of the church is necessarily theological,
being grounded in the proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God set out in the
385
Clifton, Pentecostal Churches, 212-214.
163
Scriptures and developed and transmitted via church tradition. Failure to engage this tradition
gives birth to the danger of proclaiming a narrow and distorted message, a danger that is
particularly acute for movements seeking to establish churches that are relevant and
contemporary. This is not to deny the importance of contextualising the gospel, since the peril
of irrelevance is equally or more significant than that of syncretism. Yet it is to assert that
Pentecostal churches must pay attention to the theological meanings and values that constitute
ecclesial culture. 386
He continues to warn against the movement stifling its prophetic edge, both by denying
the importance of theory and theology and, further, by restricting the opportunities for input from
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diverse and sometimes contrary perspectives. Rather than causing the movement to lose its
identity, this kind of reflection can actually prevent it from doing so, for at its best, faithful
criticism is a vital element in mission, helping to ensure that the church continues to preach a
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message consistent with that of Jesus.
Specifically, Pentecostals need to reflect on the Fourfold Gospel, according to Clifton
(we can see here in choosing the fourfold over the fivefold that already Clifton is engaging in a
particular historical interpretation of the movements theology). Central to this reflection is the
importance of the experience and theology of the Spirit. Clifton makes the significant
ecclesiological statement that the baptism of the Spirit is the one thing that enables
Pentecostalism to be considered a movement, rather than a bewilderingly diverse and sectarian
group of churches, since it is this particular shared experience that has united Pentecostal
386
387
388
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389
communities. After observing a decrease in emphasis on Spirit-baptism in his analysis of the
AGA, Clifton responds:
the problem is the potential danger of losing sight of a key element of Pentecostals identity,
and a prime motivator for mission. What is necessary is for Pentecostals to ensure continuity
with their heritage and, at the same time, to find new ways of understanding baptism in the Spirit
in the ecumenically engaged context of the twenty first century global church. 390
Such a call to revision Spirit-baptism instead of discarding it obviously has significant
ramifications for ecclesiology. Clifton goes no further on this point, but affirms that as
Pentecostal ecclesiology continues to develop it must take its own history into account even as it
looks to articulate itself anew in an ecumenical context. This, in turn, affirms the attempt being
made here.
Clifton continues to identify the need for more intense reflection on the other four-fold
areas of soteriology (Savior) and eschatology (Coming King). The particular danger with
soteriology has been the influence of the prosperity gospel, while the concomitant danger for
eschatology has also been an influence on earthly prosperity that has all but entirely eclipsed the
once-fervent Pentecostal emphasis on Jesus return. Again, Clifton rightly expresses:
While we cannot hope for a return to the worldview of previous generations, unless the
movement finds new ways of understanding and preaching the return of Christ, it is in danger of
losing one of the key elements of its growth and outreach. Once again this requires theological
389
390
165
reflection, and an analysis of the implications of notions of the kingdom of God for the nature
and purpose of the church today. 391
Once more, no specific solution is offered, but the need for proposals that revision the
theological relationship between the church and the Kingdom which is both now and not yet is
emphasized here. Clifton also stresses that the reason for this is because the identity of the
392
church is framed by its mission. Pentecostalism, in the developed world particularly, is in
danger of losing its mission because it no longer emphasizes the elements of the four or fivefold
Gospel. This has left the movement susceptible to either having no ecclesiology at all, or
adopting ecclesiologies which weaken their identity to the point where their ability to contribute
to the global church the gifts God has bestowed on them is greatly hindered. If Pentecostals
believe that God did raise up the movement to accomplish His divine purposes within history,
they must, as Clifton concludes, engage in critical theological reflection on their distinctives on
the plane of ecclesiology so that they may continue to participate in what God is doing now. As
Clifton explains:
Churches of all persuasions exist to continue the ministry of Jesus and proclaim the good
news of the coming Kingdom of God. This mission should drive the culture and structures of the
church, by encouraging grass roots, local assemblies, and a shared inter ecclesial identity that
reaches for denominational and ecumenical unity (unity in diversity)Every Pentecostal church
worldwide indeed every church needs to reflect upon the ways in which their social
structures either serve or restrict and distort their mission. 393
391
392
393
Clifton, Pentecostal Churches, 220-221.
166
While Clifton utilizes a much different methodology, his work analyzing the AGA
nevertheless tangibly demonstrates the pressing need for fresh proposals for Pentecostal
ecclesiology that will have global and ecumenical applicability. These proposals must strive to
connect with the original Pentecostal identity while simultaneously engaging in a new context a
century on in the movements history. Pentecostals cannot try to be exactly what they were one
hundred years ago, but if they do not revision what they were through critical theological
reflection, Cliftons analysis confirms that they will inevitably lose their identity, and therefore
their mission, to a potentially crippling degree. This is not just a loss for them, but for the greater
church as well.
2.7 Wolfgang Vondey: Breadand Wine at Play

Another Pentecostal scholar who has written on ecclesiology in various forms is
Wolfgang Vondey. Similar to Krkkinen, Vondey is also a scholar of Roman Catholic

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theologies (his dissertation was on Heribert Mhlen) , and therefore perhaps not surprisingly
he is one to suggest a greater emphasis on the Eucharist. Having been raised Catholic
395
himself, he understands the potential for Pentecostals to develop their understanding of the
sacraments within the church. He also shares Krkkinens concern for the ecumenical potential
of pentecostal theology.
394
Published as Wolfgang Vondey, Heribert Mhlen: His Theology and Praxis: A New Profile of the Church
(Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2004).
395
Cf. http://www.wolfgangvondey.info/. Accessed May 13, 2011.
167
Vondeys primary text concerning ecclesiology is his monograph, People of Bread

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(2008). As mentioned in Chapter One, it is curious that this work on ecclesiology by a
Pentecostal is not an attempt to articulate or explore an explicitly pentecostal theology of the
church. Rather, it is meant to propose an ecumenical vision of the church through the image of
bread. Nonetheless, as such it does reflect one Pentecostal scholars attempt to image the church
in a way that would be compatible with a pentecostal worldview. For our present purposes, what
is most relevant is how Vondey utilizes the image of bread in relationship to the presence of the
Tri-une God in the church. Throughout the book the image of bread is often synonymous with or
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at least symbolically connected to Gods continuing presence in the midst of His people
(through the Son and in the Spirit), even as it is also used to image the mission, hospitality, unity,
and eschatological vision of the church as well.
Central to Vondeys ecclesial metaphor of bread and its accompanying picture of
hospitality is the idea of companionship, which is also connected to the idea of presence. Hence,
In the breaking of the bread, the Church expresses itself as a companionship of the faithful
formed by the hospitality of God, transformed through the companionship with Gods Son, and
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empowered by Gods Spirit. The Church is the assembly of those who enjoy Gods
redeeming companionship through the presence of the Son in the person of the Spirit (who is the
Paraclete), and are therefore equipped and sent to extend this divine hospitality to the world. The
Eucharist, where literal bread is broken, then powerfully serves to remind the congregation of
396
Wolfgang Vondey, People of Bread: Rediscovering Ecclesiology. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2008.
397
I.e. Vondey, People of Bread, 165,167,173,185, etc.
398
Vondey, People of Bread, 173.
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this identity as the presence of the Spirit is invoked in the anamnesis: In its sacramental
function, the task of the Church is to help all participants to recognize and encounter the
transforming and life-giving presence of Christ in the Spirit-filled companionship of the people
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of bread. So it is clear that for Vondey, the ecclesiological concepts of companionship and
hospitality, which are actualized in the act of the breaking of bread, are contingent upon an
understanding of the Spirits presence in the church.
But is this divine presence only in the sacraments? If that were the case, this would
obviously be nowhere near a third-stream ecclesiology. Vondey goes on to affirm that the
charismatic manifestations of the Spirit, what Acts 2:43 calls signs and wonders, are also a
defining means of the Spirits presence among the people of God. In discussing this passage in
Acts, he comments, Luke continues to report those charismatic expressions in the following
chapters in great detail. They are the consequences of a community that has become a witness to
the hospitality of God and the continuing presence of Christ, inviting the world into a
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companionship that is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Here the penny drops
and we see that Vondey is able to fuse both a sacramental and charismatic understanding of the
Spirits presence in the church in this ecclesiology of bread. This is confirmed by a later
statement in which Vondey defines the Eucharistic companionship as consisting of the
experience of the whole life of faith, from conversion and exorcism to the baptism with water, to
401
the anticipation of what Pentecostals have termed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The
399
400
Vondey, People of Bread, 193-194.
401
169
companionship of the Holy Spirit is made visible in both the breaking of bread and in Spirit-
baptism, and in these other defining events as well.
Thus, it would seem Vondey is skillfully able to subversively fuse a potential pentecostal
ecclesiology with a sacramental one through his rich use of the image of bread. He does this by
providing an equally rich understanding of the nature of Gods presence among His people. It is
this presence which defines the nature and purpose of the church. This is summarized by
Vondey in the following:
As such, the presence of the Holy Spirit is a constitutive element of the event of the cross not
only in the history of Christ but also in the history of the Church. The Church, as the historical
continuation of the companionship of Christ, is constituted by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
which relates the Christian community to the resurrected and the glorified Christ and makes
present throughout and beyond time Christs work of salvation. Moreover, by entering into the
companionship of the Christian community, the Holy Spirit also obtains a history in the world
and makes possible the tradition of the gospel and continuation of the messianic office of Christ.
The presence of Jesus thus continues in the history of the Church through the presence of the
Holy Spirit.402
The presence of the Holy Spirit is thus constitutive of the churchs existence, precisely
because the Spirits presence, manifested in both eucharistic and charismatic avenues, continues
the presence of Christ in His body into the world, so that the drama of salvation history may
come to its eschatological fulfillment. The church participates in this drama not only at the table
where the bread is broken, but also through experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit as on the
day of Pentecost. Both are presented as vital aspects of the companionship of the Spirit with the
402
170
church. Thus, even while affirming a more traditional view of the Eucharist in his ecclesiology,
through the People of Bread Vondey offers a creative means for pentecostals and their proleptic
eschatology to find a place within it. So a Pentecostal can then state, The Church thus emerges
as a sacramental community that upholds the bread as a sacred sign of remembering,

403
anticipating, and participating in the fulfillment of Gods promises.
Even more recently than People of Bread, which was quite obviously written with a
broad audience in mind, Vondey has boldly ventured to challenge Pentecostals specifically
toward adopting a more eucharistic ecclesiology. In an article in PNEUMA in 2010, Vondey
repeats the same concepts of companionship and hospitality in proposing that Pentecostals aim
for an ecumenical account of the church through a greater focus on the Eucharist. As he states,
I propose that for Pentecostals the notion of eucharistic hospitality provides a starting point for
a genuine Pentecostal ecclesiology that emerges both from a pneumatological praxis and in
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dialog with ecclesial traditions. He immediately qualifies this term in this context,
explaining that For Pentecostals, eucharistic hospitality refers less likely to a sacramental ritual
than to the sharing of a common meal that must be integrated in a larger context of
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companionship among the churches. This is further qualified as a radical proposal, given
406
that the Lords Supper occupies no central place in Pentecostal ecclesiology to this date.
403
404
Vondey, Pentecostal Ecclesiology and Eucharistic Hospitality: Toward a Systematic and Ecumenical Account
of the Church, in PNEUMA, 32 (2010), 43.
405
Vondey, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 42.
406
171
After demonstrating the significance of discernment at the Last Supper in patristic
theology and their exegesis of scripture, and the issue of the lack of discernment as the root of
the Corinthian problem that Paul had to correct, Vondey addresses this central concept of
spiritual discernment and the Lords Supper constructively for Pentecostals. Building upon the
foundational pneumatology of Regent colleague Amos Yong, Vondey sees the communal nature
of discernment taking place at the celebration of the eucharist, through the recognition that the
Spirits presence at the Table represents the continuing presence of Christ, which is therefore
407
also found in the other, and thereby acknowledges the other as a member of the one body.
Here it is obvious that Vondey is applying the same principles in People of Bread to the
Pentecostal context.
The exercise of spiritual discernment at the Lords Supper, then, is the co-operation of
human minds with the Spirit of God who is the foundation of truth, holiness, and unity in the
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church. Both work to bring about the unity of the church. At the same time, exercising
discernment obviously takes place away from the table of the Lord as well. Companionship,
hospitality, unity and the Spirits presence can and do manifest themselves at other times among
the faithful. Therefore, a broader view of eucharistic hospitality is in mind here, as Vondey
points out:
to emphasize that the eucharistic meal goes beyond the realm of institutional structures of
the church to include the whole life of the faithful. This understanding of the Lords Supper
would be much closer to a Pentecostal perspective of the Christian life. At the same time, there
is no need to divorce this eucharistic ecclesiology from a liturgical frameworkPentecostals
407
408
172
might agree that a companionship that continues the life and teaching of Christ cannot be limited
to the spatial or temporal realm of the meal. 409
This broader view then opens the door for a greater and perhaps less formal and therefore
more acceptable context for ecumenical companionship between Pentecostals and strangers.
Once an openness to this companionship becomes acceptable to a Pentecostal ecclesiology, a
number of implications for constructing such an ecclesiology arise: church, like the eucharistic
meal, is not a passive event that happens to those gathered in companionship, because
discernment is an exercise between the Spirit and ALL those gathered; second, like the
eucharistic meal, church is a reflection of self-giving of Christians in continuation of the self-
giving of Christ; third, like the eucharistic meal, church creates and represents a sharp contrast to
the isolation, exploitation, and suffering of the world order; fourth, like the eucharistic meal,
church is a liberation of the whole of life that cannot stop at the boundaries of faith and praxis
created by todays churches and denominations; finally, church and universal companionship
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extends also to ecological hospitality.
While these are very astute and useful observations, it is not immediately clear how
directly they coalesce with the Pentecostal ethos. Therein lies the shortcoming of the whole
article. There simply needs to be a stronger connection established between eucharistic
hospitality and Pentecostalism.
409
410
Vondey, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 52-54.
173
Most recently, Vondey has written a monograph entitled Beyond Pentecostalism: The
Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the Theological Agenda (2010). Not
surprisingly, there are chapters each on liturgy and on church. The chapter on liturgy, Beyond
Ritual, highlights both the twin pneumatological and eschatological orientations of Pentecostal
liturgy, and the defining concept of liturgy as play. What Vondey calls Pentecostal liturgy
evolved first from the worship practices of African-American slaves, for whom The presence of
Gods Spirit was perceived as a liberating occurrence of freedom, experienced temporally in the
411
prayer grounds and nurturing a vision of ultimate freedom in the future. For them, Liturgy
was not a confining structure but an open arrangement oriented along the necessities of the
412
situation and the possibilities provided by the presence of Gods Spirit. The key to
understanding this non-European way of doing liturgy is summarily described by Vondey:
The orientation toward nature, the pneumatological imagination, and the broad array of
kinesthetic responses to the spiritual awareness of Gods presence undoubtedly emerged from
African antecedents. The experience of the presence of the Holy Spirit provided a contrast to the
performance-oriented work environment of the day. The pneumatological and eschatological
setting of African American worship provided a refuge from the harsh realities of everyday life
and offered a sense of empowerment and freedom. Here, the slaves were free to engage God in
the fullness of their being and affections. 413
The evolution of this liturgy continued with the rise of Camp Meetings after the
American Civil War. There, liturgy was not performed; the whole event rather played out
411
Wolfgang Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism: The Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the
Theological Agenda (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 121.
412
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, 121.
413
174
414
as the circumstances permitted and where the Spirit of God led. The outdoor, rural setting
facilitated the informal character of the liturgy of these meetings, which were the forerunners to
the revival gatherings of early Pentecostalism.
Vondey continues to trace this evolution by stating next that the liturgical framework of
the camp meetings was kept alive in the urban environment of the Azusa Street Mission, where
415
the Pentecostal revival is recognized to have really taken off. Thus, Vondey summarizes, In
the urban environment of the early twentieth century, the mixture of African American worship
and camp meeting tradition was transformed into a new, Pentecostal liturgy, radically dissimilar
416
from the traditional Anglo-European structures. Vondey quotes Cecil Robecks
identification of the elements at the heart of this new liturgy as consisting of worship through
prayer, song, singing in the Spirit, preaching and discussion, gathering at the altar, testimony,
417
deliverance and conversion, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Having traced
the evolution of this new liturgy, Vondey summarizes its character:
the Pentecostal liturgy emerged as a destructuralizing, flexible, oral, participation-centered,

and pneumatologically oriented open arrangement of worship, prayer, and praise. Liturgy, in a
broad sense, was seen as the free response to an encounter with God rather than a structure
provided for the possibility of that encounter. 418
414
415
416
417
418
175
To further describe the unique essence of this liturgy, Vondey significantly turns to the
metaphor of play. In so doing, he is following after Jean-Jacques Suurmond and Simon Chan,
419
who have also applied this same metaphor to Pentecostal worship. From this perspective,
the purpose of the liturgy consists of the fact that it is to be understood as the play of Gods
420
children before their God. Spirit baptism and the accompanying practice of glossolalia are
singled out as a prime example of a liturgical practice that demonstrates this character of play.
Spirit baptism makes possible ecstatic displays of the presence of the Holy Spirit, while
Glossolalia accents the free, dynamic, and unpredictable move of the Spirit of God. Thus, in
this suspended structural environment, the liturgy is open to the playful invention of new
behaviour, freedom of expression, spontaneity, and enthusiasm that characterize Christian

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behaviour as play. With these assertions Vondey is tapping into the potential of
Pentecostalism to make a distinct contribution to a theology of the church. The unique
juxtaposition of the particular pneumatological and eschatological orientation of this playful
liturgy marks out a third-stream understanding of the church. Thus,
From a Pentecostal perspective, the church exists as a pilgrim in the liminal realm of the
liturgy amidst the expectation of the coming of the kingdom of God that transcends the
performative world of meaningLiturgical action, conceived as the people of play, directs the
attention away from the (no longer ritual) activity itself and opens the church to participation in
the eschatological kingdom of God.422
419
Cf. Suurmond, Word & Spirit at Play; Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 116-119.
420
421
422
176
It is clear from Vondeys description of Pentecostal liturgy that the people of play are
those who are liberated to respond to the presence of God in their midst in ways other than what
had been previously prescribed for them. One of the challenges at this point in the movements
history is therefore to revision pentecostal practices such as glossolalia from a dogmatic tenet
(such as the expected initial evidence of Spirit baptism) to a welcomed, playful liturgical
sacrament that demonstrates the interaction of the eschatological Spirit of God among the
people.
Another important feature of this play in the presence of the eschatological Spirit is how
it facilitates the continual transformation or semper reformanda (though Vondey does not use
this term) character of the church. Vondey quotes Amos Yong, Margaret Poloma and Simon
Chan in highlighting how the playful atmosphere of Pentecostal liturgy produces

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eschatological openness which continually calls for more of the presence of God. This is
what has given Pentecostalism its elasticity, or its remarkable adaptability to different contexts
around the globe. Sociologist David Martin has concluded much the same thing in his own study
424
of global Pentecostalism. As such, Pentecostalism challenges traditional views of liturgy
from a Western, rationalistic perspective. As Vondey explains:
Nonetheless, theology from a liturgical perspective has yet to identify the realm of
nonrational, kinesthetic, linguistic, and aesthetic responses to the presence of God that may
characterize Christian worship in a global context. Pentecostalism suggests that the ritual field,
sounds, and sights of theological practice are easily confined and restricted by structures that do
423
424
Cf. David Martin, Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002). i.e.
168f.
177
not respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the communityThe play of the liturgy is an
event that embraces all of life. 425
Drawing upon other Pentecostal scholars, Vondey presents a theology of the liturgy as
play in the presence of the eschatological Spirit of God. In doing so, he has utilized an effective
way of conceptualizing worship that is highly conducive to the idea of the church as the People
of Gods Presence.
The concept of play is further applied to ecclesiality in the next chapter, Beyond
Church. Traditional notions of ecclesiality and its place in ecclesiology, however, are
formidably challenged by Vondey in the first part of the chapter. In terms of methodology,
Vondey demonstrates the weaknesses of traditional comparative ecclesiology, and proposes
instead a cultural ecclesiology. This means no longer thinking of the church in structural
terms, as has been done in the ecclesiology of Christendom. This has been the root of the
problem of how to understand Pentecostalism ecclesiologically, as discussed in Chapter One.
Vondey explains:
As such, classical Pentecostalism is identified as an add-on to the landscape of North

American church history, an addition at the end of the ecclesiastical line, an outgrowth of the
Holiness movement, an example of the Evangelical and Free Church traditions, or, more
generally, the most recent expression of Protestantism and the Reformation movements. Granted
ecclesiological status, Pentecostalism has become one entity among others, a movement in the
church but not characteristic of the church. Thus integrated into the established ecclesiological
paradigm, Pentecostalism, as much as any new community in the history of the church, is
swallowed up by the competitiveness of the ecclesiological scheme and destined to be overcome
by subsequent additions that continue to add to the diversity of ecclesial existence in the late
425
178
modern world. Among the pluralism of ecclesial communities and cultures, the understanding of
what constitutes the essence of church is lost. 426
Such a problemas what drives this thesisalso drives Vondey to propose that
Pentecostalism be understood ecclesiologically as a Post-Christendom Movement (or
Movements as he will later qualify), rather than a church. This goes beyond the more
traditional church-sect designations (as in Troeltsch) from Christendom ecclesiologies. It
also more accurately expresses the eschatological self-understanding of the early Pentecostals,
with their restorationist and revival impulses. As Vondey explains,
Pentecostalism as a movement was not the fulfillment of Gods work but the work itself, not
an organization or institution but a tangible forward moving expression of the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit and the forming of the church as an eschatological community through history
and the worldMore precisely, Pentecostals understood themselves as becoming
churchPentecostalism was seen as a movement of the Spirit that swept across the church and
427
thus became the church.
Vondey reads the history of Pentecostalism as a movement that became churches in the
institutional, ecclesial sense, which became denominations because of their rapid growth and
missionary efforts. Thus, their ecclesial identity dramatically changed, and not necessarily for
the better ecclesiologically as the eschatological becoming had effectively halted.
Utilizing the term aggiornamento (bringing up to date) from the Second Vatican
Council document Gaudium et spes, Vondey then seeks to propose an ecclesiology of the Church
426
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, 150 (italics his).
427
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, 153-156 (italics his).
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as the Playground of Cultures, or a cultural ecclesiology. The consistent Pentecostal emphasis
on orthopathy, which is the location where culture is brought into dialogue with orthodoxy and
orthopraxy, also functions as a carrier of the imagination which therefore opens up the
church to the playfulness of the affections and the critical, countercultural function of the
428
liturgy. But for Vondey, the practice of the liturgy in cooperation with the essential practice
of spiritual discernment (emphasized in the previous article as well) allows the church to be
contextualized as it seeks not only to redeem some hopeful aspects of its situated culture while
rejecting other sinful ones, but also to be herself transformed by the culture. In such a proposal,
The concept of church has no priority over the notions of salvation, redemption, liberation,
transformation, and renewal. Ecclesiality is not defined in an ecclesiocentric manner but through
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what might be called a cultural ecclesiality. Concrete examples of this kind of relationship
between church and culture are found in Korea (with the Pentecostal appropriation of minjung),
India (with the Pentecostal ministry among the Dalit caste) and Latin America (with the
Pentecostal equivalents of base communities), according to Vondey. It is at this point that
Vondey concludes that It is more accurate to speak of Pentecostal ecclesiality as movements,

430
in the plural. This paradigm shift from a restorationist, revival Movement to diverse,
culturally-defined movements for pentecostalism is described by Vondey as follows:
Classical Pentecostalism upheld the idea of the indigenous church as a self-governing, self-
supporting, and self-propagating entity that proclaims an unchanging gospel to all cultures and
contexts. The global expansion of Pentecostalism has turned the focus instead to the
contextualization of ecclesiality on the grassroots level and to an experience of being church that
428
429
430
180
seeks to be relevant and meaningful in a particular context while being fundamentally shaped by
its culturePut differently, the ecclesiality of the movements is gained not by an expansion of
(classical) Pentecostal origins but by the birth of new Pentecostal communities from within
different cultural contexts and as a result of particular cultural phenomenaTheir theological
imagination finds expression through cultural agency and relational transformation that form the
very essence of their ecclesiality. To be sure, church is invested with theological meaning.
However, this meaning is cultivated, to use Eugene Haltons idea, not in the church as an
abstract and figurative religious system but in the living reality of personal, social, economic,
and political relations.431
Spiritual discernment, then, is about identifying the necessary and fruitful ways in which
church and culture can transform or contextualize each other. This is an absolutely critical point
for Vondey. He states, From a pneumatological perspective, the Holy Spirit is seen as present
not only in the church but in some way also in the environments of cultures, societies, and
religions. Spiritual discernment as an ecclesiological tool is thus located both in the church
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directed toward culture and in the culture directed toward the church. The suggestion of the
Spirits presence being found outside the church is a challenging one. While Vondey affirms
that church is invested with theological meaning, he does not specify what that meaning is. It
is not altogether clear, then, in this contextualizing relationship exactly what the identity of the
church is apart from the ecclesiality that is formed and therefore determined by the culture. This
is where the ecclesiological proposal of Simon Chan would vastly differ from Vondeys cultural
ecclesiology, even though both emphasize the playfulness of the liturgy.
431
432
181
Vondey turns to Paulo Freires notion of conscientization and briefly connects it with
the work of several other Pentecostal scholars who have expanded it, linking it to Pentecostal
liturgy. It is the process of being conscious of and acting upon reality in a transformative way,
and the informal, participative and playful nature of Pentecostal liturgy is seen to facilitate this
process effectively. He concludes, Therefore, Pentecostal liturgy is revolutionary, serving for

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the conscientization of the people of God. Although it could be spelled out more, Vondey is
here salvaging some theological identity for the church as the people of God for whom the
liturgy, and not just the culture, is the playground before God. This is where the particular work
of the Spirit, or the nature of the presence of the Spirit, needs further elaboration. Vondey does
state at this point that, From a Pentecostal perspective, pneumatology drives the church toward
the kingdom of God and already actualizes the presence of that kingdom in the world through the
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manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. This is as far as he goes, but it does provide an
ecclesiology that is not totally culturally-determined. The presence of the Spirit made manifest
through the charismatic gifts shape and move the people of Gods presence to discern how the
church and culture can transform each other, since the Spirit is also in some way present in that
culture and outside the church.
But in defining the church as movement and as the playground of cultures the accent is
clearly on moving all this away from an ecclesiocentric perspective. Drawing upon the work
of colleague Amos Yong, Vondey again emphasizes:
the church exists as a community of discernment, but it is not the exclusive realm in which
discernment takes place. Yong envisions the task not as an in-house dialogue of a restricted
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434
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community disengaged from the world but as the courageous and charismatic engagement of
Gods Word and Spirit in the public square, inviting others into the arena of discernment and
thereby building the church in the particularity of the cultural situation. Discernment is not an
ecclesiastical performance but takes place in the interplay of church and world. 435
It is at this juncture that he turns to Suurmond, who describes the church as a liberated
community in which the world is invited to play with the Word and Spirit. He sees Suurmond
as also moving away from an ecclesiocentric view of the Gospel in much the same way as he is
proposing. Interestingly, he also references Chan on the image of playthough Chans
ecclesiology is starkly different from his and Suurmonds.
Finally, Vondey concludes by curiously turning to the concept of koinonia as part of his
attempt at a linking of church, culture, and charisms in defining the nature of the church in the
world. Koinonia seems to be the bridging concept between the church as both the playground
of the Spirits charisms and the cultural playground. For Vondey, the global Pentecostal
landscape suggests that the contemporary task of ecclesiology is faced with a definition of the
church as both charismatic and cultural fellowshipAt the heart of the ecclesiological debate
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therefore stands the question of the structures of the church in a particular cultural context.
By turning briefly to koinonia, Vondey appears to be attempting to connect his cultural
ecclesiology to one that sounds much like Krkkinen, though he does not make this explicit.
At the heart of what Vondey proposes here is a novel way of defining ecclesiality based
on Post-Christendom structures that are determined by particular cultural contextualizations.
435
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, 167,
436
183
The church is really a bunch of movements that are shaped by their interplay with the Spirits
charisms and the culture in which it exists. There are therefore only Pentecostal ecclesiologies.
As Vondey stresses, Global Pentecostalism does not propose one particular (Pentecostal)
structure but suggests that ecclesiality is experienced most concretely in a diversity of liturgical
rhythms where church and culture meet in a mutual movement that shapes the ecclesial
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community in that particular context. The radical move here is that the theology of the
church is not ecclesiocentric.
There is certainly something about Pentecostalisms ability to contextualize that is
significant to its global growth and vitality, and therefore Vondey is attempting to capture that in
this proposal and make it a defining ecclesiological principal. The obvious concern is in
stressing the authoritative role of culture to shape and define the church. More must be said
about Gods direct role in doing so. This is where the Spirit and the charisms come in for
Vondey, and that is where I would suggest the real heart of Pentecostalisms contribution to
ecclesiology should be focused. While Vondeys examples of Korea, India and Latin America
may very well be accurate and therefore deserve attentive consideration, it is also equally true
that in North America the cultural influence upon the church has been in the range of
questionable to downright disastrous. One could easily make the case that cultural
contextualization, which has most often turned to accommodation, has actually been one of the
slow killers of Pentecostalism (and broader Christianity) on this continent. Thus, while much of
what Vondey suggests about the interplay of church and culture deserves respectful reflection in
light of Post-Christendom and global diversity, I would humbly suggest something more must
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distinguish and define church apart from culture, in any context. Specifically, when Vondey
mentions the people of God, this term must come to have a greater theological meaning.
Although he most certainly contributes much to the construction and understanding of
ecclesiology from a Pentecostal perspective in this and in his other writings, we are still left with
fundamental questions about the nature in which God constitutes the community of those whom
He has gathered.
2.8 Steven Land: Eschatological Missionary Fellowship

A much earlier but important contribution to pentecostal ecclesiology came in a more
implicit form in Steven Lands Pentecostal Spirituality: A Passion for the Kingdom (1992).
While the primary aim of Lands dissertation is to, as the title indicates, revision Pentecostal
Spirituality for the Twenty-First Century by examining its roots in the first years of the revival,
sprinkled throughout this work are several (often bite-sized) references to a Pentecostal
understanding of a theology of the church. Many of these references are consistent in
communicating the essence of Pentecostalism as a dwelling in the presence of the eschatological
Spirit. What characterizes Pentecostals, Land writes, is a continuous, joyous exclamation of the
inbreaking presence and soon to be consummated kingdom of God. I have observed this on five
continents over the last fifteen years. To that extent there is a remarkable continuity from Azusa
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to Seoul, to Glasgow, to Managua, to Santiago, to Durban, to Moscow. This presence and its
eschatological nature are thus seen to be defining for Lands expressions about the church, as
they are about Pentecostal theology and spirituality as a whole. Indeed, as Land states, For
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Steven Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 22-23.
185
Pentecostals, the starting point [in theological science] for such an undertaking is the Holy Spirit
who is God with us. The God who was present among Israel and in Jesus Christ is now present
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in the Holy Spirit. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that then also is the starting point for
pentecostal ecclesiology as well. This is also made plain by Land:
The presence of the Holy Spirit constituted the church. As on the day of Pentecost, the
message, structure, faith and order might all be in place; but it took the power of a new age, the
last days outpouring of the Spirit, to constitute the church a missionary fellowship which would
witness in words, power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. The church lives from the Spirit
of Christ unto the glory of the Father.
If God is the living God, the God who in Trinitarian communion is spirit, if the church is a
living organism of charisms and signs; and, if salvation is a living relationship with this God
among these people who live in last days expectancy and urgency if all this is the case, then
theology must be a discerning reflection upon this living reality, these divine-human
relationsThe community of the Spirit and Word functions as a worshipping, witnessing,
forming, reflective whole; but at the heart of all this is the liturgical life of the community. 440
There is plainly here a deep ecclesiology centered on the presence of the Spirit, who
cooperates with the Word in liturgy and charisms to empower the church to witness to the work
of the Tri-une God. This comes several years before many of the other Pentecostal scholars we
have surveyed, who all take one or more aspects of what Land presents in this work. The active
reigning presence of the Spirit is the locus through which Land constructs a theology of
spirituality, in which the church is highly placed.
439
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 32.
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Land also significantly describes this presence of the Spirit repeatedly as the transcendent
presence of God, the eschatological presence or eschatological Trinitarian presence, apocalyptic
presence, divine presence, as well as the vivid presence of the Spirit, along with other
descriptions as well. This is sufficient to see that Land understands the encountered,
empowering presence of the Spirit in measurable form as that which stands at the core of
Pentecostal theology and experience. While it is the presence of the Spirit, Land makes clear
that it is also the Spirit of Christ, affirming the core belief of original Pentecostalism that this
move of the Spirit was a move toward the Son of God: The powerful sensed presence of the
Spirit led to a clear testimony focused on Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Baptizer in the
Spirit and coming King The five-fold gospel was Christocentric because of the witness,
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power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the presence of the Spirit in the church was/is
not, as Vondey might suggest, the same presence of the Spirit in the culture; the manifest work
of the Spirit in the community of faith has a distinct Gospel which defines its worship and
mission.
And it is this Gospel that the church is called to proclaim to the world that God so loved,
in this manifest power of the gift-giving Spirit. So the eschatological Spirit of Christ propels the
church into mission as the Kingdom is being inaugurated. As Land describes:
the eschatological presence of God in, among, and through these Pentecostals resulted in a
heretofore unseen recovery of the universal call to witness in the power and demonstration of the
Spirit in order to carry out the universal mission of the church in the last days. The missionary,
charismatic nature of the church, and therefore of the Christian life, was now a central normative
issue and concern.442
441
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 120,124.
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Again, there is a high ecclesiology here that is based upon mission, eschatology, and the
constituting presence of the Spirit of Christ.
While the mission, Gospel, and constituting essence of the Church are clear, another
ecclesiological issue which draws attention from Land is the structure and apostolicity of the
church. Here again, it is the presence of the Spirit which, no matter which polity is being used,
divinely facilitates the priesthood of all believers. Land expresses it thus:
The church is not essentially a machine or organization created by humans; it is an organism.

There is a fusion of clergy and laity, male and female, fruits and gifts, but a fission of church and
world, and doctrine serves to define those limits. Without those limits there is no clear identity
and health. Pentecostals developed different polities, but eventually all whether
congregational, Presbyterian or Episcopal were qualified by the dynamic levelling of the
Pentecostal presence who turned everyone into a priest, prophet, saint and witness. Offices of
the church ministry gifts such as pastor, apostle, teacher, prophet and so forth, were to be
recognized by the body and could only be effective if the body confirmed the gift. 443
This view of apostolicity as that which must be recognized by the assembly extends to a
continued emphasis upon the communal nature of Pentecostal spirituality for Land, further
evidence of a high ecclesiology in his presentation. But because Pentecostal spirituality is very
much construed as a pilgrimage to the already inbreaking eschatological kingdom, the church is
then conceived for its role in this pilgrimage. As Land explains in a section called The
Community of the King:
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The Pentecostal passion for the kingdom of God is formed and expressed in and through a
Pentecostal community. This community exists in the pronounced eschatological tension of the
already-not yet. The strategy of the Holy Spirit in announcing and previewing the kingdom is to
form and sustain the community of the king. This strong tension explains why Pentecostals to
this day have no strongly developed ecclesiology. In some way the church as a human
organization, a polity with policies and procedures, is a great disappointment. This is a strength
and a weakness.
It is a strength because it is an ongoing critique of the tendency of the church toward an

involuted institutionalism. The church is a church on the way to the kingdom and is thus more a
movement of the Spirit than a structure wedded to the present age. It is an obvious weakness,
because it means that there are often not sufficient biblical and theological controls and
directives worked out for the churchs life outside the worship and witness settings. 444
Lands statement that the church is more of a movement of the Spirit is an obvious
forerunner to Vondeys. But while Vondey sees the movement shaped by its interplay with
culture and its contextualization within a culture, Lands notion of movement is by contrast
purely eschatologically conceived, even though both ground it pneumatologically.
In the final chapter of his work, Land writes a brief subsection which explicitly spells out
a theology of the church in light of all that he has said. For the rubric of this description, Land
uses the four classical creedal marks of the church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. These are
recast in light of the churchs charismatic nature, and from a communion ecclesiology
perspective:
The Church is a communion of diversity and unity in the Spirit. Just as God is one and three
so the church is one and many in God. The church as eschatological Trinitarian fellowship is a
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communion in God a people of God, a body of Christ and thus a communion in the Holy
Spirit. What is fellowship but participation? In this fellowship gifts and office coincide and
theology is the discerning reflection of the whole as each offers his or her gift, recognizes the
others gifts and is built up to disciple and love the neighbour.
The fruit of the Spirit is one because the Spirit is the sole source and the fruit is the character
of God. But the church is the milieu or garden for that cultivation. The fruit is cultivated by the
Spirit so that the church as a whole and each believer may be witnesses who represent something
of the divine character and care of God in the world.
The gifts are diverse, differently applied, sovereignly distributed (not discovered or
cultivated or operated at will), and different in each manifestation. But the gifts are for the
whole body which is for the kingdom. Thus the gifts simultaneously serve an inner edificatory
function and an outer evangelistic one.
The church that is caught up in the divine fellowship is one because of the same divine
presence from whom it lives; the church is holy because that presence is the holy and only
presence which sanctifies. To be set apart unto God, for believer and church, is to be set apart
for union, for that which is joined to God is holy. To treat the church anywhere as profane is to
profane the church everywhere. The holiness of the church demands unity. All who pray to and
in the same presence are one, are holy and thus should strive to show the world how they love
one another. But this church that is one in the divine presence and holy in divine union is
apostolic and catholic in its power and universal mandate, respectively. The church in the
Trinitarian eschatological presence of God moves into all the world toward the end. The
apostolic power is authority and strength to proclaim the one gospel in word and demonstration
of the Spirit.445
Significantly, this is immediately followed by another section on Mission, which
although treated separately is also intrinsically connected to the nature of the church as an
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eschatological charismatic fellowship. Again, there is much said here about the relationship of
the church to the world that both compares and contrasts with Vondey:
The mission is to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. In keeping with what
was said before, the church is to recognize the divine presence at work in creation and
providence as well as in the more immediate soteriological dimensions. This means that the
sanctification of the believer and of the church is to be the motive and analog for the
sanctification of the world, not by dissolving the church into the world but by calling the world
to repentance and to righteousness. The church, where possible, must work to make structures
more adequate to the life as righteously ordered and intended by God. Structures cannot be
sanctified in the same way as individuals, but, since the Spirit is at work in all creation,
discerning action of the church can bear witness to and participate in those activities which more
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nearly embody righteousness, dignity and love for people.
While the church is constituted by the operation of the divine presence of the Spirit, Land
also defines the churchs mission as discerning the work of this presence in the world and
participating in it, without being dissolved by the world in the process. Thus, the mission of
discerning acknowledging the activity of the Spirit outside the church foreshadow Vondeys
ecclesiology, while the mission of calling the culture to repentance and remaining distinct from
the world distinguish Lands thought from Vondey somewhat in this regard.
In an Afterword, where Land asks pressing questions for the Pentecostal movement going
forward, the doctrine of the church is also raised. These questions are about the possibility of
developing a viable ecclesiology that could allow for ongoing change and debate without
schisms, and about what structure of the church is best correlated to the shape of the Christian
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life, as it has been envisioned in his work. So, Land called for a formal ecclesiology that will
address or hold together the great tension between structure and change (or semper reformanda).
Nearly twenty years later, although a great deal more work has been done to address these issues,
it is not at all clear that this formal ecclesiology has yet come to fruition. While Land has the
makings of a rich ecclesiology with his vision of the eschatological, missionary fellowship, he
has not developed anything further in this area since. Nevertheless, the grounding of his
ecclesiology in the constitutive presence of the Holy Spirit serves as perhaps the most hopeful
foundation for the ongoing construction of an authentically Pentecostal theology of the Church.
2.9 Peter Althouse: Missional Communion Ecclesiology

Canadian Peter Althouse is another Pentecostal scholar who has addressed the
ecclesiological vacuum in Pentecostalism with a communion ecclesiology proposal that arises
out of his own work on early Pentecostal eschatology. The resulting eschatological/missional
flavour of his ecclesiology thus bears some resemblance to Lands. Althouse argues from his
research that classical Pentecostal eschatology was not originally or inherently as strictly
dispensationalist as the Fundamentalist movement that some Pentecostal denominations later
aligned themselves with. Instead, it is more accurate (as I tried to convey in Chapter Two) to
describe it as proleptic anticipation, which demands our present, active participation for the
448
kingdom, but also anticipates that the kingdom will break into the world as a sovereign act.
447
448
Peter Althouse, Left Behind Fact or Fiction: Ecumenical Dilemmas of the Fundamentalist Millenarian
Tensions within Pentecostalism, in Journal of Pentecostal Theology (2005), Vol 13.2, 202. It bears mention that
Althouse also delivered a paper on the church as an eschatological community at the Wales Conference in 2010.
192
He then explains how this shift in conceiving Pentecostal eschatology has direct
implications for Pentecostal ecclesiology. Drawing on fellow Pentecostal scholar Murray
Dempster, Althouse specifically identifies that the kerygmatic, koinonia, and diakonia
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ministries of the church hinge on this Pentecost/kingdom relationship. The kerygmatic
ministry concerns the proclamation of the kingdom, which shapes moral character and therefore
leads to social change. Koinonia is forward-looking and is enacted by the Spirits work through
both the charismata and the Eucharist, which produces a counter-community that declares the
worlds existing social structures corrupt and decayed. The church therefore bears a prophetic
450
and at times revolutionary responsibility to the kingdom. The diakonic ministry is where the
church reaches out to the world to minister social welfare to the needy and suffering. A running
theme here is that if Pentecostals conceive their eschatology in a more participative-
transformative wayi.e. not merely waiting for the Rapture and avoiding the Great Tribulation
but called to be active in the continued inbreaking of the now/not yet Kingdom of God upon
Creationthis will clearly shape their mission to involve more than evangelism but include
social action at every level of the churchs ministry.
In a more recent paper (2009), Althouse turned his attention directly to the theology of
the church and proposed a type of communion ecclesiology for Pentecostals, again with a strong
eschatological and missional thrust. His stated thesis is that Pentecostal ecclesiology must start
in the reflection of triune God, who constitutes the church as a sent and sending community. In
triune contemplation the church lives out its mission as it participates in the missional life of
449
Althouse, Left Behind, 204 (italics his)
450
Althouse, Left Behind, 204-205.
193
451
God. The starting point, however, is describing the nature of the relationship between the
church, the world, and the God who instituted both:
The church is the locale for the beginnings of the reign of Christ as the foremost sign and
instrument of Gods kingdom. The church is missional because God has ordained its people to
participate in the triune mission. Yet the church is not the focus of Gods redemptive activity per
se, the world is. The church is the place where God engages and brings people into redemptive
participation for the sake of the world. 452
This missional ecclesiology thus resonates with Vondey in that it, too, seeks to avoid being
ecclesiocentric.
After tracing the general development of missional ecclesiology in the broader Christian
theological world, Althouse ultimately turns to Lesslie Newbigin for his primary influence,
though Newbigins lecture on Pentecostalism is not included here. Specifically, Newbigins
suggestion that the church in her essence exists as a sign, instrument and foretaste of what
453
is to come, as Gods eschatological reign spreads throughout the world is a cornerstone piece
to Althouses ecclesiology. The concept of the church existing to participate in the missio Dei
(mission of God) is at the core here. Interestingly, all references in this section are to non-
Pentecostal sources.
After receiving the missional aspect of the church from outside Pentecostalism, Althouse
then turns his attention to integrating this into a pentecostal communion ecclesiology. In
451
Peter Althouse, Towards a Pentecostal Ecclesiology: Participation in the Missional Life of the Triune God, 2.
452
Althouse, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 1-2.
453
Althouse, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 5.
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particular, Althouse sees the perichoretic communion of the Trinitarian persons in their dynamic
sending out as the model for the church. Thus, The church reflects the community of God, in
which people give in service for the other as they identify with Christ, as the Spirit sanctifies and
454
makes them holy. Most significantly, this reflection is enacted by the work of the Tri-une
Persons through divine presence: The Fathers renewing of the body of Christ Jesus, in whom
we identify and participate as his body, is renewed by the presence of the Spirit who makes God
455
present in the church.
Althouse now finally turns to identify the recent work of Pentecostals (among whom he
includes Volf and his After Our Likeness, along with Macchia, Chan and Yong). He then
includes the documents produced by the major dialogues between Pentecostals and Roman
Catholics, and Pentecostals and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, noting that these are
where serious reflection on the Trinitarian and ecclesial implications of the missio dei have
456
taken place. All of these resources have produced deeper reflection for Pentecostals on the
nature and work of the Trinity, and its effect upon the nature of the church.
The same vision for the three-fold ministry of the church (kerygmatic, koinonia, and
diakonia) is extrapolated here as well in the context of this communion ecclesiology and the
missio Dei. While Pentecostals have equated the missio Dei (or simply missions where that
term is not known) with kerygmatic proclamation, Althouse argues that both koinonia and
454
455
456
195
diakonia are also very much an expression of this mission. Althouse ultimately stresses the
perichoretic trinitarian theology found in Macchia and its correlative effect on the koinonia of the
church and its mission to support this point. He then turns again to Murray Dempster to connect
diakonic ministry to trinitarian mission as he did previously, believing that tweaking
Dempsters ethical construction, in which the church is both personal and social moral agent(s)
in the world, can be reconstituted to construct a missional ecclesiology reflective of the triune
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God. Again, the church is a foretaste of the kingdom and therefore an alternative community
to the world, demonstrated through all three areas as each engages in the mission of social
justice.
Althouse concludes with a brief suggestion as to how the Pentecostal distinctive of Spirit
baptism may be integrated into an ecclesiology of participation in the missional life of the triune
458
God. He suggests that Spirit baptism is where the proleptical kingdom vision of the church
manifests itself as a gift; where the infilling presence of the Spirit who was present at creation,
raised Jesus from the dead, and is also the eschatological Spirit brings the past, present and future
of salvation history into an ecstatic moment. He explains it thus:
The kerygma, koinonia and diakonia ministries of the church reflect the Trinitarian being and
mission of God: the proclamation of the Word made flesh in Christ Jesus, who ultimately gives
himself to the world for the world; the fellowship we have inside and outside the church for the
other, founded in the perichoretic fellowship of God; and the service we give to the other
reflected in the kenotic self-giving of God in Christ Jesus by the Spirit so that the world and the
entire universe might be brought into communion with God. Spirit baptism assumes a Trinitarian
structure in that like water baptism it looks back in mimesis to the death and resurrection of the
457
458
196
incarnate Christ and simultaneously forward in anticipation to the eschatological transformation

of all creation, in which Christ is the first fruit and the Spirit the guarantee of resurrection. As
such, creation, salvation and the eschaton are integrated into Spirit baptism. 459
In these brief works, Althouse has laid a foundation for a potential Pentecostal
communion ecclesiology in which the church is a foretaste or sign of the already-inbreaking
eschatological kingdom of God through its kerygmatic proclamation, koinonia and diakonia
ministry to the world. As such, the church is also defined by its perichoretic, trinitarian mission
of bringing the qualities of the kingdom such as justice, love and peace, to creation.
Pentecostalism can find itself within such an ecclesiology through an integration of the charisms
of the Spirit, its original transformationist, proleptic eschatology with its accompanying view of
salvation history, and through its strongly Trinitarian character, wherein their emphasis on the
Holy Spirit led to a high christology. Although he does not place an emphasis on the notion of
divine presence constituting the church as much as others, the Trinitarian, eschatological and
missional character of his ecclesiology certainly provides fertile soil to develop this notion.
2.10 Clark Pinnock: The Church in the Power of the Spirit

The late Clark Pinnock was a Canadian, charismatic Baptist theologian who was invited
to be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of SPS in 2005. The topic of his keynote address
turned out to be the promise of Pentecostal ecclesiology, though this was not the theme of the
conference. He identified six themes that belong to a distinctly Pentecostal ecclesiology. The
459
Althouse, Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 20-21.
197
first was the church as Anointed Herald of Gods Kingdom. This theme sounds very much like
Althouses emphasis, though Althouse makes no reference to Pinnock. Pinnock states, The
church exists to proclaim and serve the kingdom. She is the community of the king and herself
an anticipatory sign of the kingdom. In bearing witness, she experiences the powers of the age to
460
come and, by living together in community, witnesses to the character of Gods reign. The
underpinning conviction in this, as in other similar expressions of the idea of the church as the
sign of the already inbreaking kingdom, is that the earthly ministry of Jesus and the
corresponding apostolic experiences are taken to be normative. As Pinnock explains,
The power of God that enabled Jesus to do signs and wonders is with us too. It is to our
advantage, Jesus said, that he go to the Father because only then would the Spirit come upon the
disciples and they would do even greater deeds than he did himself (Jn 14:12 16:7). What
happened was, that on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit was transferred from Jesus to the disciples
and they became successors in the charismatic ministry of the historical, Jesus on earth, in the
healing of the sick and the expulsion of demons. This is the primary element in the promise of
pentecostal ecclesiology. It is a power ecclesiology, in which believers are endued with power to
serve as anointed witnesses to the kingdom of God. Pentecostals experience God as empowering
and commissioning them for mission.461
The basis for this power ecclesiology, as Pinnock suggests, is the operating presence of
the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ who charismatically endowed the ministry of Jesus, raised Him
from the dead, then filled the apostles to carry on His ministry continues to do so with others
today. In this sense, you could perhaps suggest that the real basis for apostolic succession is the
charismatic presence of the Holy Spirit empowering believers to witness to the eschatological
460
Clark Pinnock, Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit: The Promise of Pentecostal Ecclesiology, 4-5.
461
Pinnock, Church, 4.
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Kingdom. Yet these witnesses are in community with one another and their ministry comes out
from such. Again sounding very much like Athouse, Pinnock continues his description:
The church is a messianic community which is central in Gods plan. God calls a community
to witness to the character of his reign and to serve as a medium through which God will
expresses himself to the world. Church is a community where God is moving in the here and
now with signs and wonders, a community of faith which is a new social reality and which,
because of its Spirit-empowered likeness to Christ and its renunciation of the worlds values,
reveals the nature of Gods kingdom. 462
Although the church is obviously central to Gods plan, Pinnock is also quick to establish that
because the church exists as a witness or sign of the kingdom to the world, The church must not
463
make herself central. Her task is to point to the coming kingdom.
This ecclesiology also presupposes a view of the Gospel that shapes its broad mission.
The soteriology of such a church is determined by its experience of the eschatological Spirit,
whose presence ushers in the inauguration of the Kingdom. Pinnock puts it in the following
manner:
It amounts (I think) to a new paradigm of salvation which lifts up a Jesus who ministered in
the power of the Spirit and identified with the broken and the outcast. A paradigm where church
is the presence in history of the crucified and resurrected Lord and is swept forward by the Spirit
into ever-expanding possibilities. Not only are all aspects of daily life in this paradigm situated
in the realm of the Spirit; the risen Lord himself is here in the world manifesting divine power.
462
Pinnock, Church, 5.
463
Pinnock, Church, 5.
199
The presence of the Spirit is a sign and foretaste of Gods reign which is even now breaking into
our lives and our world.464
Pinnock clearly views the manifest presence of the Spirit as the defining, constitutive element of
a distinctly Pentecostal ecclesiology, a power ecclesiology that witnesses to the Kingdom of
God through the charismatic signs of the Spirits abiding activity amidst the community of faith.
Pinnocks second theme is a Trinitarian Society. This is his term for a communion
ecclesiology, or a church that images the perichoretic fellowship within the Trinity. Again, this
second theme mirrors an emphasis in Althouses subsequent proposal, as well as an approach
handled by Chan, Krkkinen, and other Pentecostals influenced by Volf in one way or another.
Pinnock defines it as a vision of the church as an image of the triune God and of ourselves as
465
living according to this pattern [of] trinitarian and ecclesial relations. The churchs basis for
community and fellowship is found in the inner-trinitarian communion between Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. So Pinnock states,
If the very nature of God is communal and if God enters into covenant relations with
creatures and seeks partnerships with them, then the nature of the church and its mission, far
from being of secondary importance to the understanding the faith is quite central, even end for
which the world was created. A redeemed and lasting communion between God and creation, a
commonwealth of justice, reconciliation and freedom based on the grace of God. While flawed
and always in need of reform, the church is nonetheless the real beginning of Gods new and
inclusive community of liberated creatures reconciled to God and to each other and called to
Gods service in the world. 466
464
Pinnock, Church, 5-6.
465
Pinnock, Church, 6. Pinnock here cites Volf, Moltmann, and Stanley Grenz.
466
Pinnock, Church, 7.
200
That the perichoretic character of the Trinity also, as Pinnock mentions above, dictates
the churchs mission along with its nature, leads directly into his third theme: Oriented to
Mission. Although he does not use the term missio Dei, his description of the missional
orientation of the church is tantamount to this concept. Here again, he finds kinship with
Althouse in particular. Building upon the church as witness to the kingdom, the churchs
mission actually directs it away from itself and towards the world, not for the sake of triumphal
expansion, but rather in concert with the work of the Spirit. The churchs mission is
participation with Gods divine, transforming work in the world. As such, Mission is first of all
Gods mighty act and not something at the disposal of the church. It is not merely a human plan
for the expanding the church. The Spirit is sweeping us up into something very large. It is
467
concerned more about the world than it is about the church. This is perhaps not the precise
way in which the original Pentecostals articulated their missiology, but as Althouse has
demonstrated, it certainly is not incompatible. As a Latter-Rain, apostolic movement,
Pentecostalism has inherently been about cooperating with the move of the Spirit, which was
known to flow through the church and into the world.
Interestingly, it is within the theme of Mission that Pinnock anchors apostolicity. The
churchs mission of participating in the Spirits work returns us to the charismatic activity of the
Spirit in signs and wonders as a witness to the already-inbreaking eschatological kingdom. As
with the apostles, the churchs mission is empowered by, and confirmed with, the supernatural
activity of the Spirit. It is engagement in the same Spirit-driven mission as the apostles that
467
Pinnock, Church, 7.
201
constitutes apostolicity for the church. This, for Pinnock, is what makes Pentecostal ecclesiology
a truly third-stream ecclesiology. He proposes,
Roman Catholics see the apostolicity (being sent) of the church in historical terms, that is, in
the succession of bishops. Protestants (on the other hand) see it in terms of the restoration of
apostolic doctrine. But pentecostals see it in the recovery of apostolic mission with signs
following, a recovery of experiential apostolicity Being apostolic means following the faith of
the apostles and also, in consequence of this faith, following in the steps of the apostolic
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ministry.
The fourth theme is Fellowship in the Spirit, and it is here that Pinnock significantly
repeats an emphasis on the constituting presence of the Holy Spirit as a defining principle for a
Pentecostal theology of the church. Drawing upon Newbigins description, Pinnock again
contrasts Pentecostalism as a third-stream ecclesiology on this very basis. Pinnock must here be
quoted at length, for this is also a programmatic description like Newbigins that stands at the
heart of this proposal:
A new model of church is rising where people gather, not to hear a well prepared lecture (the
Protestant way) and not to witness a sacerdotal liturgy (the Catholic way) but to experience the
presence of the living God. The meeting throbs with life. The power of the original event of
Pentecost is prolonged ritually. God is experienced as doing new things. There is the expectation
that God will move with power. Around the speaking and the singing, there is room for
improvisation. Faces shine. There are shouts of joy. Gifts are in operation. There is broad
participation. There is an empowerment of laity. It is not so much a theory of church as it is an
experience of the church now charismatically alive [Newbigin is footnoted here].
Where is the church? The location of church in this model is where the Spirit is present in
power. It is where there is a dynamic spirituality operates [sic] at the center of church life. It is
468
Pinnock, Church, 8.
202
where people echo Jacob at Bethel: Surely God is in this awesome place. This is no other than
the house of God and this is the gate of heaven. (Gen 28:16-17). This is a model of church
where the prominent mark is manifestations of the presence of God. In the pentecostal model
of church, the key and defining thing is to have a living experience of the Spirit. This does not
exclude the Word and sacraments. They are God given and important and no one should demean
them as means of grace. Indeed they abound. But the fellowship must transcend the merely
institutional. The emphasis falls on the community which has gathered to share in the fellowship
of the Spirit. Even more than through the proclaimed word and/or ritual activity, God
communicates by the Spirit through one another in tongues and prophecy and in every way. Each
believer has an opportunity to contribute to the life of the body through the gifts with which the
Spirit equips them. This feature is of the very essence of this model of church. The dynamic of
the fellowship is concretely lived out through gifts of the Spirit.
This model of church presupposes a lively faith in the Holy Spirit. Where God no longer a
distant figure but a reality that is encountered. It requires that people know God, not just about
God. Believers in this context do not speak of God in despairing tones. They know that they are
loved. They have experienced the reality of Pentecost. They function naturally in the
supernatural. In this atmosphere, God is not absent from the world. The secular paradigm is
rejected. But it is not so much right thinking about God, as it is about a radical relationship with
God. They speak of Jesus and God as someone who is not only very real but is a someone who
can be counted on to help in the day to day struggle for life. It is easy to see why pentecostalism
reaches the poor. It is because, in their churches, the poor and broken discover that what they
read in or heard from the gospel is happening now in their midst. They discover that the
Christian faith, when it is true to its origins, has the power to transform life, to give direction and
energy to it, and to pass the experience along. I would say that they open themselves
unreservedly to the presence of the Spirit in the midst.
Whereas at the Reformation, people responded to the word of forgiveness, today people are
responding more to the Spirit in their midst. In the preaching and singing, with tongues and with
dancing, with prayers and healing, and with the casting out of demons, they experience the touch
of God and are grasped by a power that can put their lives together and support them in lifes
struggle. If hearing the message of Gods forgiveness provided a dynamic faith for people
centuries ago, today it is the experience of the presence of the Spirit of God in power that
changes everything and gives life a new direction. The issue is not primarily a doctrinal one, as if
it were just a matter of learning something that one didnt know intellectually. The thrust is
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thoroughly experiential - God is not a vague and distant figure but a reality which can be
encountered. Church services provide the context for mystical encounter, for experiencing the
divine and the inbreaking of the supernatural which overwhelms humans. It is not without
checks and balances though, in that The [sic] God being encountered is no other than the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.469
Aside from the original description by Newbigin, I suggest that what Pinnock portrays here
captures the heart of what makes an authentically global Pentecostal theology of the church
distinct from any other ecclesiology. Not only does it build on Newbigins third-stream
characterization, it clearly distinguishes Pentecostalism from evangelicalism, and from being a
mere expression of Free Church. It is its own unique expression of church. What remains is to
build upon this description to account for particular pentecostal practices and to apply it to
specific ecclesiological issues.
It bears observing that two of the most astute depictions of the potential for Pentecostal
ecclesiology both come from non-pentecostals. This demonstrates that while this description of
Pentecostal ecclesiology solidifies its uniqueness, it is not exclusive of others. The ecumenical
potential of this way of understanding and doing church is starkly evident from the fact that it
has perhaps best been perceived by ones who are (at least formally) outside the movement.
But Pinnock is not yet done with his themes. After describing this fellowship of the
Spirit in emphatically charismatic ways (i.e. supernatural, spontaneous, mystical, experiential),
he turns to what he added verbally as the bark that protects the life of the tree. Thus, the fifth
theme is the Continued Charismatic Structure of the church. The emphasis of this theme is the
469
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effect of the charismatic or spiritual gifts in maintaining the priesthood of all believers in the
church. This picture of the gifted community is, admittedly, more of a hopeful, idealistic one.
Messes and abuses have surely abounded. But where Pentecostalism has practiced a healthy
exercise of the charismata, the priesthood of all believers has functioned perhaps as well as in
any church movement for its time. However, the irony in Pentecostal experience is often the
need for strong leadership to manage the challenge of facilitating this healthy exercise.
Nevertheless, Pinnock maintains that in general Pentecostalism has been a model and influence
on other churches in this area: The church today has mostly the pentecostals to thank for the
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recovery of these truths which hold the promise of life and power for us all.
The final theme continues the area of structure with the Institutional Dimension. Since
there are numerous structural models within Pentecostalism, and since further the Charismatic
Movement has taken hold in every kind of church, the issue is not which one, but what kinds
of structure serve the churchs mission and charismatic nature. Pinnock identifies criteria to
guide in determining this:
The main thing is to be careful that the forms we work with are appropriate. For example, be
sure that they facilitate the work of the God. The church will need workable structures which are
culturally viable and temporally flexible. And it will be important that the Spirit is not stifled by
the traditions that we adopt. Key to remember is that the Spirit is much more fundamental for the
church than structures. Charisma is what the church is about and points to what the church
essentially is. Crucially (therefore) we must allow for openness to promptings of the Holy Spirit
and give the Spirit primacy over structures and offices, even though they too are Spirit- given.471
470
Pinnock, Church, 12.
471
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Here again, Pinnock emphasizes the charisma as the defining element of the church, what makes
the church, and therefore institutional forms are subservient to this principle. On this point,
Pinnock echoes what Krkkinen has written (or vice versa). For Pinnock, the Spirits presence
is given primacy over all other aspects and functions of the church.
While most or all of Pinnocks six themes have been also identified or articulated in a
similar manner by the other Pentecostal scholars we have surveyed, none has bundled them
together and connected them to the central organizing principle of the Spirits presence quite as
effectively as Pinnock has. This is why I have saved him for last. He comes closest to building
on the core determining quality of a pentecostal ecclesiology first described by Newbigin as a
community of the Holy Spirit. At a time when pneumatological ecclesiology has become much
more in vogue, Pinnock has managed to use this trajectory to successfully show the real potential
of pentecostal ecclesiology. The Church in the power of the Holy Spirit is an assembly of the
People of Gods Presence.
3 Conclusion
What this lengthy survey of the options for a Pentecostal ecclesiology has done (besides
more precisely situate the status questionis within contemporary Pentecostal scholarship) is to
identify both the common pieces of the puzzle I want to put together, to identify that (as most of
these scholars have themselves stated) there remains the need for further proposals that will lead
toward a more full-orbed doctrine of the church for the movement, and to demonstrate that the
notion of the Church as the People of Gods Presence has merit and support (whether explicitly
or implicitly) within the body of work of those surveyed here.

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In particular, from this survey there appear to be at least three essential or bedrock
elements to the shape of a pentecostal ecclesiology. According to this survey, any ecclesiology
claiming to be pentecostal must first necessarily be pneumatological/charismatic in orientation.
This does not, in any instance of our sources here, mean that a Spirit ecclesiology is
christologically-diminished, or that there is a Trinitarian deficit. In fact, the opposite rings true.
Because the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus, and through his presence brings Christs presence
to the church to endow it with the Fathers heartbeat for the world, a Spirit ecclesiology can and
must remain highly christological and trinitarian in its theological foundation. Although most of
the pentecostal scholars (Chan, Yong and Macchia) paid some attention to the tensions in various
areas (i.e. baptismal formula) made manifest by Oneness Pentecostals, none deviated from a
trenchantly trinitarian perspective of church. Yet the centrality or primacy of the charisma of the
Spirit in defining the church is obviously essential from a pentecostal perspective.
Secondly, it must also be eschatological in perspective. Throughout these works, the
charismatic presence and activity of the Spirit in the church could only be properly and
proleptically understood in light of Gods future. The nature and mission of the church has to be
viewed from the knowledge of the ultimate fulfillment of Gods redemptive plan in history, as
the church witnesses to the already-inbreaking and yet still coming Kingdom of God.
Thirdly, it must be missional in orientation. While this is surprisingly not emphasized by
all the scholars we have surveyed, it should be apparent that when it is not this is a shortcoming
rather than normality. Just as the Pentecostal revival was as missional a movement as there has
been in church history, and within the reality that nearly any and all contemporary discussion on
ecclesiology has some focus (if not urgent preoccupation) on the missional dimension of the
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472
church in the twenty-first century, so must any proposal toward the further development of
pentecostal ecclesiology grapple to articulate the mission of the church. From these three core
elements, we see that the Pentecostal movement has the potential to articulate its own unique
vision of the church in relation to God, to the Kingdom, and to the world.
It now remains to continue to build on this description, by drawing upon an image that,
while not excluding other images for the church, is most suitable upon which to establish a
biblical foundation for this ecclesiological proposal. For this I will now turn to an exposition of
the Church as the Temple of the Spirit.
472
The current literature on the missional dimension of the church is far too vast to even begin to point towards
here, with new works literally coming out every month. But missional thinking is found in nearly every major
ecclesiological discussion currently, from the Emergent Conversation to Liberation Theology to church as polis or
culture to the Seeker-sensitive movement, etc.
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Chapter 4
The Church as the People of Gods Presence
Having just surveyed contemporary contributions to pentecostal ecclesiology, it has
become readily apparent that there is notable diversity in approaches to defining the church
among scholars of Pentecostalism in methodology, in sources and in theological construals.
Understanding the importance of scripture to the movement, and in aiming to remain true to the
core pneumatological, eschatological and missional dimensions of its theology, my own
constructive proposal seeks to utilize the biblical image of Temple as a locus through which to
describe the church from a uniquely pentecostal perspective as the People of Gods Presence.
1 Image of the Temple

I would put forward that the Temple image is one of the least utilized and least
understood (or most misunderstood or misappropriated) biblical images of the church within
Pentecostalism especially. You will observe from the previous chapter that contemporary
contributions to pentecostal ecclesiology have generally ignored it, and the other biblical images
in general. The exceptions are Simon Chan, who utilizes it in Liturgical Theology, which is
specifically written to evangelicals, and Frank Macchia. In spite of this trend, I submit that a
foundational biblical image is imperative to give needed scriptural direction to a central
ecclesiological principle for the Pentecostal movement. Addressing a much different audience,
George Lindbeck nevertheless offers sound advice when he suggests,
a view of the church must be biblically warranted. It must, above all, be consistent with the
total witness of Scripture as this centers on Jesus Christ. Without this, it can be neither catholic
nor ecumenical. In addition, correspondence with scriptural patterns of thought is normally
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regarded as enhancing biblical backingother things being equal, correspondence to what

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Scripture says is desirable.
The church as Temple, therefore, attempts to achieve this correspondence with the
biblical narrative. In doing so, it can also be useful for decoding the traditional ecclesiological
marks of oneness, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. The image of the Temple, while
certainly not the only option and not intended to eclipse or replace the other NT images (i.e.
flock, body, bride, vineyard, etc.), appears well suited to this task. Chan, in fact, states that The
church as the temple of the Spirit in a most decisive way completes the other two images as
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people of God and body of Christ. Certainly Ephesians does explicitly attribute the qualities
of unity or oneness (i.e. 2:15-16), holiness (2:21), and apostolic foundation (2:20) to this new
Temple of the Spirit.
475
Despite its unpopularity and consequent neglect, the church understood as the Temple
of the Holy Spirit is suitable ground from which to construct a distinctly Pentecostal ecclesiology
centered on the People of Gods Presence. As a movement indelibly characterized by the
immanent presence and work of the Holy Spirit, the church as Temple offers Pentecostalism a
natural place to develop the urgently needed ecclesial self-understanding. Unfortunately, this
biblical idea of Temple has usually been applied only to individuals in Pentecostalism. It is
473
George Lindbeck, The Church, chapter 8 of Geoffrey Wainright, ed. Keeping the Faith: Essays to Mark the
Centenary of Lux Mundi (London: SPCK, 1989), 181.
474
Chan, Liturgical Theology, 31-32.
475
Popular Christian writer Philip Yancey surmises that, as an ancient image, temple no longer connects with a
modern audience. See Yancey, Church: Why Bother? My Personal Pilgrimage (Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1998), 47. I remember another reading, whose author and title escapes me, which articulated a
dislike for the Temple image because it reflected hierarchical domination.
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interesting that during the Roman Catholic/Pentecostal dialogue, Roman Catholics have rightly
challenged Pentecostals to think of the whole community, too, as a "temple of God" in which the
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Spirit dwells (1 Cor 3:16).
For Israel, the Temple was the center for the spirituality of the nation, and the house or
dwelling place of the presence of God among His people (cf. house of God, Ezra 5:15,16,
NASB). The church as the people who now collectively make up the particular abode for the
Spirits presence and work can now be more clearly seen as the communal center for the moving
of the Spirit in these last days. As Thomas Oden exclaims, As temple the church is the place
where the active presence of God is celebrated, where all in its precincts consent to become the
477
sphere of Christs habitation. It is also as the Temple that the church can be that which
Pentecostals are more readily able to profess belief in as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
Further, the Temple is that image that represents the story of the progression of the Presence of
God in the biblical narrative, and therefore can be utilized to engage a fresh articulation of the
pentecostal identity within salvation history in a way that is conducive to their historyneither
merely recapitulating it nor ignoring it.
476
Perspectives on Koinonia: Report from the Third Quinquennium of the Dialogue between the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders 1985-1989, #76. Obtained at
http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/pe-rc/doc/i_pe-rc_pent03.html.
477
Thomas Oden, Life in the Spirit, Systematic Theology: Volume Three (Peabody, MA: Prince Press, 1992), 296.
Oden lists pentecostal scholars Vinson Synon [sic], W. J. Hollenweger, Gary G. McGee, and Frederick Dale Bruner
as influences (along with many other scholars from various other traditions) in the Preface to the third volume of his
Systematic Theology, xi.
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2 The Presence of God in the Biblical Narrative

2.1 Old Testament
The imagery of holy Temple for the church intrinsically carries with it the OT
understanding that the Temple represents the place where Gods very presence dwells among
humanity. Prior to Gods chosen covenantal people occupying their promised land, Yahweh met
the Hebrews, or was present to them, through various means and locales: pillars of cloud and fire
(Ex 13:21-22), on a mountain top (Ex 24:15-18), then in a tent of meeting outside the camp(Ex
33:7-11), then a constructed portable tabernacle during the wilderness wanderings (Ex 40:34-
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38) . Of this stage, Yves Congar observes, It mattered little whether God was in this place or
that, he wanted to be with his people. This is why he dwelt with them in a tent since they were a
wandering people like the nomads. We are not yet told that God is in men, he wants to be with
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them.
Following the settlement of the Israelites in Canaan, and the establishment of Jerusalem
as the capital (2 Sam 5:6ff), a permanent Temple was eventually constructed there by Solomon
(1 Kings 6-8). This Temple became the permanent home of the Ark of the Covenant, and its
inner altar was the Holy of Holies (cf. Hebrews 9:3). The Temple bore manifold social,
spiritual, political, economic, and cultural importance for Israel, precisely because it was in its
inner chambers that the King of the Universe was known to dwell with an especially awesome
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Note the graduating proximity or nearness of Gods very presence to where the people were spatially. This
pattern continues up to the climactic advent of the Spirit at Pentecost, where after the Spirit Gods active Presence,
now dwells in all flesh who receive Him.
479
Yves Congar, The Mystery of the Temple (Maryland: The Newman Press, 1962), 28-29, italics his.
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480
presence. For centuries the life of this Temple as the dwelling place of Yahweh served as
the thermometer for the life of Israel: the glory of God filling the temple at its dedication in the
time of King Solomon (and the corresponding fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice) was the
high point of the nation (2 Chron. 7:1,2), with the dedication of its reconstruction in the time of
Ezra another high point (Ezra 6:16-22); the two instances of its destruction (by the Chaldeans in
586 B.C. and by the Romans in 70 AD) signaled the darkest hours in Israels long history. In all
of this, the Temple constituted the state of Gods relationship to His People, indeed their identity
as His Covenant People. The historic designation of Second Temple Judaism following the
post-exilic reconstruction of the Temple by Ezra is a testament to this fact. Indeed, it remains so
to this day as the Western Wall remnant of the Temple continues to be regarded as the holiest
place on earth for practicing Jews. All through this lengthy time, The presence of God
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separated Israel from all the other nations (Ex. 33:16).
2.2 Incarnation
The revelation or self-disclosure of God to both His Covenant People and to the world
took a dramatic and definitive step with the incarnation of the Son of God, Savior of the world,
Messiah, the Christ (cf. John 1:14; Phil 2:6,7; Hebrews 1:1-3). This event also signaled the
initial inbreaking of the eschatological Kingdom of God, and therefore was the Presence of God
as the Word made flesh, now dwelling in the world in an entirely new way, through a human
body. By his own testimony, Jesus expressed that he was replacing the temple as the abode of
480
Rodney Clapp, A Peculiar People: the church as culture in a post-christian society (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1996), 86.
481
Edmund Clowney, The Church (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995), 33.
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the divine presence (John 2:19-21), as he ushered in the messianic kingdom. Gods Presence
was no longer connected to a building, but to a person; or as Edmund Clowney puts it, Gods
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presence was no longer localized at the temple in Jerusalem, but in Christ himself. Jesus was
Emmanuel, God with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). This is confirmed by the renting of the veil
hiding the Holy of Holies in the Temple at the time of Jesus death (Matt. 27:51; Luke 23:56; Mk
15:38). So here a new and profound reality of Gods presence comes into being, what Congar
calls the new and positive reality of Gods Presence in messianic timesthe Most High does
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not dwell in temples made by mens hands
Furthermore, the Word inhabiting human flesh was also anointed by the charismatic
Spirit, so that the Holy Spirit was now indwelling human flesh during this incarnation as well.
Roger Stronstad has shown that in Lukes Gospel in particular Jesus ministry is depicted as a
Spirit-anointed charismatic ministry, and then in Acts this same Spirit-anointing transfers to the
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disciples after Pentecost. As the Spirit-anointed Messiah, Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of
485
the temple.
482
Clowney, The Church, 124.
483
Congar, Mystery of the Temple, 47.
484
Cf. Roger Stronstad, The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984). See
esp. Chapter Three: The Charismatic Christ, and Chapter Four: The Charismatic Community.
485
214
2.3 Pentecost
In moving to the Pentecost event, I will use the Lukan account for its prominence in
Pentecostal thought. Now that Jesus had come and brought about a new covenant between God
and creation through His substitutionary atonement, followed by the outpouring of His very
Spirit upon all kinds of people, the physical Jerusalem Temple no longer functioned as Gods
dwelling place in the previous manner. The Spirit did not fall there at Pentecost, but rather in a
rented room some blocks away. Jesus, the divine presence incarnate, had now ascended back to
the Father. What would constitute the permanent dwelling place of Gods presence now?
As Craig Van Gelder states, The birth of the church opened a new chapter in Gods
redemptive work. Gods presence in the world would no longer be mediated through a single
nation nor located in the physical Temple in Jerusalem. God was constructing a spiritual
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building consisting of people from all nations. This construction either began or was
487
inaugurated into a new dimension with the infilling of the Spirit experienced by the 120 in the
Upper Room at Pentecost. It was here that the Spirits presence was observed in the sound of
wind, the tongues of fire over the disciples heads, and their speaking in other languages. NT
scholar Graham Twelftree explains the scriptural significance of these particular signs of the
Spirits presence at this event:
As wind was thought to accompany the presence of God [2 Sam 22:16; Job 37:10; Ezek.
13:13], this image would have brought to mind Gods powerful and mysterious activity in the
486
Craig Van Gelder, The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 2000), 103.
487
I will not here engage the debate as to when the church was actually born. For my own treatment of that
subject and its varied positions even among pentecostal scholars, see Robson, The Spirit-Driven Church (MTS
Thesis, Wycliffe College, 2000). Most would agree at a minimum that Pentecost represents the beginning of a new
era in salvation-history and correlatively the churchs role in that history, if not the actual birth of the church.
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Old Testament [E.g. Ps. 147:18; Isa. 40:24; Ezek. 37:9-14; see also Eccl. 43:16, 20.]. The
symbol fire would have reminded Lukes readers of the tangible, awesome presence of the pure
holy God in the theophany on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:18). 488
Van Gelder adds, The spiritual Temple of God was being filled with the Spirit by his
direct, indwelling presence. Gods redemptive reign was becoming visible in the world. The
489
Spirit was creating the church. It was this palpable, manifest, sensory-experienced presence
of the Spirit that constituted the church as the new Temple on that significant day, and made it
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visible to the world. These overpowering manifestations of the Spirit are what the churchs
self-understanding as the new covenant people of God were founded upon. Indeed, as Gerhard
Lohfink puts it, It is impossible to discuss the self-understanding of the early church without
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considering the consciousness of the living presence of the Spirit in its midst. With the
advent of the Spirit at Pentecost, those who experienced the infilling of this divine presence now
took on a distinct identity as the People of Gods Presence, which was also expressed as the
ekklesia of Jesus Christ. As Slovenian Pentecostal scholar Peter Kuzmic expresses, The
Pentecost event became crucial for the launching and the constitution of the Christian church, the
new eschatological community bound together by their loyalty to the risen Lord and their
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common experience of the Spirit. Furthermore, as Chan (following Robert Jenson) boldly
488
Graham Twelftree, People of the Spirit: Exploring Lukes View of the Church (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic,
2009), 72.
489
Van Gelder, The Essence of the Church, 104.
490
Gerhard Lohfink, Jesus and Community (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 81.
491
Lohfink, Jesus and Community, 82,
492
Peter Kuzmic, Kingdom of God, in DPCM, 525.
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adds, Pentecost is the birth of the church not as the people of God but as the body of Christ and
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Temple of the Spirit. While some would heartily disagree with the first part of Chans
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statement (George Lindbeck immediately comes to mind ), and I would also want to propose
that Pentecost is precisely where the Church became the People of Gods Presence, he
nevertheless identifies the significance of Pentecost for bringing about the new idea of temple
that is henceforth presented in the NT. As Pentecostal scholar French Arrington summarizes in
his study of 1 Corinthians, for example, As God dwelt in the Tabernacle and Temple, in His
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Shekinah glory, so He dwells in His people by the Holy Spirit.
3 New Idea of Temple: One, Holy, Catholic and

Apostolic House of God
It is within this all-important historical-theological framework that the church as
Temple can also be described as one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Through the prism of
Temple, these marks derive their full meaning in this proposed pentecostal ecclesiology. As
the Roman Catholic/Pentecostal Dialogue report, Perspectives on Koinonia, states: Pentecostals
believe that there is only one holy catholic apostolic Church made of all believers (cf. Eph 4:4-
493
Chan, Liturgical Theology, 33; Chan here references Robert Jenson, Systematic Theology, Volume 2: The Works
of God (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), Ch 24.
494
See George Lindbeck, The Church, in Geoffrey Wainright, ed. Keeping the Faith: Essays to Mark the
Centenary of Lux Mundi (London: SPCK, 1989), 179-208; and The Story-Shaped Church: Critical Exegesis and
Theological Interpretation, in Fowl, Stephen E., ed. The Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Classic and
Contemporary Readings. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1997, 39-52.
495
French L. Arrington, Divine Order in the Church: A Study of 1 Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1978), 53.
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496
6), but differ from Roman Catholics (and others) as to how these marks are understood .
Harold Hunter adds:
A certifiable pentecostal ecclesiology, now unavoidable in view of the pentecostal ubiquity,

must cope with the remarkable summation captured in the original Nicene-Constantinopolitan
Creed when it sets off marks of the Church as "one, holy, catholic and apostolic" (One Faith
#216-#241). Pentecostals have not always fared well when peering into this looking glass.497
The image of Temple is potentially useful for re-visioning these classic marks in a way that
respects the uniqueness of the pentecostal identity while attempting to connect this identity with
the historical church also claiming these same marks long before Pentecostalism.
In Ephesians, the oneness, or unity of the previously divided peoples is imaged by the
analogy of a holy Temple: with one foundation (the apostles and prophets), a single cornerstone
(Jesus himself), and a lone inhabitant (God). This holy Temple is the one household of God, to
which those who were formerly strangers and aliens now belong as citizens with the saints.
The dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles has been removed, so that previously divided
peoples have now been made one Temple (Eph 2:11-22).
However, the holy Temple image, and the unity it conveys, does not intend to ignore
the diversity of the churchs members existent within that whole structure. On the contrary, it
recognizes that the building is made with many, varied stones. Yet it is still one building with
496
Perspectives on Koinonia, #34.
497
Harold Hunter, The Resurgence of Spirit Christology, in EPTA Bulletin (1992). Accessed at
http://www.fullnet.net/np/archives/writings/epta.html.
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one builder, the Holy Spirit. This is the emphasis that Steven Land had in his afore-quoted
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depiction of the church as the trinitarian eschatological fellowship. So it is that the oneness
of the church is a unity of diversity: of peoplesonce divided, now reconciled and joined
together as one; of gifts (Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, 1 Cor 12:4); and
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of diverse members, now gathered and united in Christ.
As Land indicates, this unity of diversity which defines the church is also fundamentally
a reflection of the divine fellowship of the Trinity. Ephesians clearly shows that the oneness of
peace that the church there now enjoys is penultimately the product of the cooperative effort of
Father, Son and Holy Spiritas powerfully imaged by the Temple analogy (2:14-22). As the
members of the Godhead are one, so too now the believers have been made one church. This
point is expressed theologically by Clark Pinnock:
When we confess that God is triune, we are affirming that the eternal life of God is personal
life in relationship. We are saying that God exists as community and that the life of God is in
essence self-giving love. The church therefore seeks to be a temporal echo of these trinitarian
relations. We are the community which [is] called to be, on the finite level, the kind of reality that
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God is in eternity.
Pinnock, it will be recalled from Chapter Three, makes this statement while identifying
501
the thematic element of a Pentecostal Ecclesiology, as A trinitarian society. As those who
498
499
Cf. Moltmann, CPS, 338: The unity of the church is not primarily the unity of her members, but the unity of
Christ who acts upon them all, in all places and at all times.
500
501
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have been recipients of the Spirits baptism, Pentecostals (among others) have experienced in a
physically-manifest way the blessing of the love of the Father expressed through the imparting of
the promised gift of the Spirit which empowers us to be living witnesses to the liberating
atonement of the Son. Being participants of this specific trinitarian activity, in addition to the
salvific activity referred to in Ephesians 2, should naturally and theologically lead and enable
Pentecostals to be the temporal echo of these trinitarian relations, as Pinnock calls for.
Elsewhere, St. Paul writes to the church, Do you not know that you are Gods temple
and that Gods Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that
person. For Gods temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Cor 3:16-17). The Temple
imagery used in the NT signifies the church as the dwelling place of the Spirit (not just
individual bodies, though that is also in Pauls view here), and as such speaks, among other
things, to its oneness also. So Miroslav Volf suggests that in the NT, the unity of the church
seems especially to come about through the indwelling of the one Spirit (and with it of the entire
holy triunity) in every person. Accordingly, and in analogy to the Trinity, every person as a
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bearer of the Spirit participates in the constitution of unity. With their distinctive emphasis
on the infilling of the Spirit for every believer, Pentecostals can find accord with this statement,
and feel a special affinity with the Temple image of the churchincluding how it conveys the
sense of the churchs oneness.
So the pentecostal presence of the Holy Spirit, as the constitutive element of the church,
is also the uniting element of the church by applying the work of Christ, who is our peace (Eph
2:14). The Spirit does this through His same indwelling in all peoples. It is the one Spirits
502
Volf, After Our Likeness, 219 (italics his).
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presence that unites us all in Jesus Christ, making us all to have the same fellowship with the Tri-
une God, and consequently a shared fellowship through Christ with one another. Therefore, the
church that is caught up in the divine fellowship is one because of the same divine presence from
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whom it lives. The church is united in the bond of Gods love through the Holy Spirit.
This description of the church also resonates with the Azusa Street Revival, where whites
and blacks, rich and poor, experienced the same outpouring of the Spirit, as evidenced by
504
tongues, or glossolalia. A dividing wall of another kind was also (temporarily, as it
unfortunately later turned out) broken down, and another new humanity formed from the
common experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Pentecostals can potentially
identify with these words of Ephesians in a manner that not all can. Indeed, of course, it is the
Pentecost event in the biblical narrativeand most specifically the impartation of new tongues
by the Spirit upon the 120that is recognized as being a divine, unifying corrective to the
divisions created at Babel so long before. If the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon
all flesh signifies the solidifying of one People of Gods Presence, then between this event and
the image of Temple, Pentecostals have two powerful theological constructs upon which to
understand the churchs oneness.
But for Pentecostals it is much more than utilizing these theological constructs, it is about
understanding the ecclesiological significance of the social results of their own experience of the
Spirits presence. This is where Yong conclusively turns in his own treatment of this particular
mark:
503
504
For vivid descriptions of the scandal of such an event in its time, see Suurmond, Word &Spirit at Play, 1, 5-6.
221
Here lies the significance of the pentecostal appeal to the eschatological Spirit as the one who
mediates disunity into unity in a sacramental (pentecostal) sense. This paradigm of unity-in-
disunity as reconciliation emerges from the pneumatic and charismatic intuitions derived from
the pentecostal experience. The pentecostal experience at Azusa Street, which overcame gender,
ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic barriers present in American life at the turn of the twentieth
century, simply reembodied the eschatological outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost
and in the life of the early church. The pentecostal experience, then and now, brings sons and
daughters together with menservants and maidservants no small feat for a world ruled by
patriarchy. It binds Samaritans, Ethiopians, and other Gentiles together with Jews again, a
major achievement in a world of ethnic and racial hostilities. It reconciles into one body the
haves and have-nots through various meansit also emphatically demarginalizes those who for
physical reasons were barred from the assembly (cf. Deut. 23:1; Isa. 56:3-5).
And such unity is to be experienced in the Spirit, who brings those otherwise separated
together in Jesus Christ in anticipation of the eschatological union before the throne of GodPut
ecclesiologically, the church is one only even while she is being made one. 505
In fact, it is from the amazing unity produced at Pentecost by the Spirit that Macchia
finds scriptural impetus for Pentecostals to take the ecumenical journey more seriously. For him,
this even goes beyond dialogue with other churches, which is already radical enough for many
Pentecostals, but to those beyond Christianity. As he states, In the ecumenical task, the all
flesh of Spirit baptism demands that we also respect the others we encounter outside the
Christian faith. Though I believe Christ to be the only Lord of all creation and salvation, I also
regard him as more inclusive and expansive in significance through the witness of the Spirit than
506
many of us wish to admit. The global, inclusive vision of both Solomons temple and the
Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh challenge Pentecostals to a broad and complex
505
Yong, Spirit Poured Out, 137-139.
506
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understanding of the churchs mark of oneness. As stated earlier, a distinctly Pentecostal
perspective of this first creedal mark of the church may differ from that of, say, Catholics, yet
they can make the same creedal affirmation in their own way through an understanding of the
church as the one Temple inhabited by the special presence of the Holy Spirit.
507
It is also as Temple that the mark of holy upon the church gets its fullest sense. In
His divine plan, God has made the Church (the community of believers brought together to now
be one) to be the place of His dwelling; where His Presence may continually live and bring
life. So it is in Christ that the new people of God are built together spiritually (literally in the
Spirit) into a dwelling place for God (Eph 2:21, NRSV). As the collective abode for Gods
holy Presence, the gathered Christians are now themselves consecrated to be holy, even as the
physical Temple was consecrated a holy place, by virtue of Gods indwelling presence. The
Church, as recipients of Gods saving grace joined together, is now consecrated by the Holy
Spirit for His residence. As this new Temple, Hans Kng states that The Church is the place of
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Gods special presence on earth. It is this very presence which consecrates the new Temple
that is comprised of the assembly of living stones that are disciples of Christ, and makes holy a
collection of people comprised of those who were formerly strangers and aliens (Eph. 2:19).
Macchia affirms with Kng that, The holiness of the church is secured by the presence of the
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Spirit and all grace, thus transcending the personal holiness of its individual members. This
is also echoed by Yong when he writes, The holiness of the church thus marks not the
507
Cf. 1 Cor 3:16-17; Eph 2:21; 1 Peter 2:4-10.
508
Hans Kng, The Church (Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1976), 225.
509
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accomplishments of its members but the authentic presence and activity of the Spirit of God
510
directed towards the eschatological kingdom.
Thus, the Pauline image of the church as one holy Temple is a meaningful starting
point for re-visioning the second mark of the church for Pentecostals as well. Whatever their
various views of the other marks may be, most Pentecostals would surely agree with the Nicene-
Constantinopolitan Creed that the church is holy precisely because scripture also designates
this same mark or virtue to the church (Eph 5:27, cf Eph 2:21).
As a people made holy through Christs atonement and by the sanctifying of the Spirit (1
Peter 1:1), there is now consequently impressed on the church a responsibility to go with this
divinely-produced, ecclesial and soteriological identity. To be a holy Temple, a dwelling place
for Gods abiding presence in place of a single building, requires certain acts of our will. This is
what is treated in the latter half of Ephesians: what does this new holy Temple look like, if it is
no longer a physical structure but rather embodied through human community instead?
Throughout chapters 4-6, the writer of Ephesians spells out the practical, ethical activity
implicated for those who constitute Gods dwelling place, which broadly include: remaining
united by loving each other (4: 1-16); living as children of light instead of darkness (4:17-21;
5:8-14); changing our spiritual wardrobe (4:21-29), not grieving the Holy Spirit with our conduct
(4:30-5:5); being wise to the will of the Lord (5:15-17); being continually filled with the Holy
Spirit (5:18-20); relating to others in our household properly (5:21-6:9); and resisting evil (6:10-
18). These actions do not in themselves make a church holy, but rather they reflect the holiness
of a church already made to be Gods new Templethe place of His Presence. Such behaviour
510
Yong, Spirit Poured Out, 142.
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is presented as appropriate and necessary for the church to realize or actualize its divinely-
imputed holiness. The church is holy, then, because the Holy Spirit constructs it as the abode
for Gods holy presence. Yet this bestowed or constructed holiness is purposed to be
evidenced by a radical change in the ongoing conduct of the church community.
For Pentecostals who have experienced the supernatural baptism of the Holy Spirit upon
their bodies and in their gatherings, the biblical image of being Gods holy Temple is all the
more real or tangible. It is not an esoteric theological abstraction, or a mere literary metaphor.
The essence of Pentecostalism is the physical awareness of the immanent presence of a holy
God, through the person of the Holy Spirit. His Spirit is personally present within human flesh,
and (perhaps more importantly) within human community. This divine Presence is not
manufactured, attained by merit, or earned by status of any kind. It is simply received where it
has been specifically invited by faith.
So there is, or should be, an innate awareness among Pentecostals that they, too, have
been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13) into Gods household, and joined together
to be built together in the Holy Spirit to be a dwelling place for a holy God. Indeed this was their
desire, to be holy in this very sense. As well, in keeping with the teaching of Ephesians 4-6,
from the very outset of the movement it was always understood that the overwhelming blessing
of the Spirits holy presence was given for the purpose of renewing the church to fulfill its
bestowed identity as Gods holy Temple. Out of their experience of what scripture describes,
then, Pentecostals are able to affirm what others teach about the holiness of the church.
This is where the holy Temple image of the church functions as well. The physical
Temple was where the people would present their sacrifices to atone for their sins; it was where
cleansing would occur. Now that Jesus has made Himself to be our sacrifice once for all (Heb
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10:10), and we ourselves are where the holy presence of the Spirit abides, the church community
itself embodies this cleansed statea state which is removed from the sin-infected, fallen world.
So Clowney concludes, The cleanness, the holiness, of the people of God must mark them as
his. Now that the outward regulations have dropped away, the inner meaning applies with full
force. Paul therefore contrasts Moses description of Israel with his own description of the
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church: children of God without fault, blameless and pure (Phil. 2:15; cf. Dt. 32:5).
The catholicity of the church as Temple is a more difficult proposal, especially for
Pentecostals and their historically restorationist, remnant, and even sectarian views toward the
universal church. From the metaphorical standpoint, the Temple of the Holy Spirit is his
dwelling place upon the earth, which now consists of all people who are Spirit-filled from a
Pentecostal perspective. So the image of the Temple as the assembly of all those who have been
made citizens in the household of God also makes the church universal or catholic in this very
sense. The Temple is therefore not restricted to one location but is made up of all the living
stones globally that are built together spiritually (Eph 2:22). This obviously entails a view of
the Temple as extended beyond the local church, which appears to be the immediate context for
Pauls use of it in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians. Yet, other references in scripture to this image
imply a more universal application. Overall, the universality of the church for Pentecostals is
determined by their experience of Spirit baptism, or the divine, life-transforming encounter with
the palpable presence of the triune God. Yong affirms that, The ties that bind pentecostals
together around the world are their experiences of Jesus in the power of the Spiritpentecostals
experience Christian unity precisely through the universality of the Spirits presence and activity,
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226
which enable the confession of Jesus lordship amidst the peculiarly pentecostal congregations
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and liturgies.
There is another understanding of catholicity proposed by a formidable Pentecostal voice.
In his writing on Pentecostal ecclesiology, Simon Chan undertakes a different approach to this
mark. In doing so, he (perhaps unconsciously) addresses more specifically a challenge identified
by Volf, namely, the discussion of catholicity always involves the fundamental question of the
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relationship between unity and multiplicity. More specifically, how is the local congregation
to be understood as related to the universal church? Chans suggestion for dealing with this
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relationship revolves around appropriating a Eucharistic Catholicity for Pentecostals.
The logic of this novel idea is actually quite plain. His starting point is the fundamental
presence of the Holy Spirit as the constitutive, defining element of the church (as in Newbigin),
as this dissertation is also emphasizing. He then draws upon the function of the eucharist as
calling on the Spirit to fill the church once again through the Lords Supper. As he explains,
the action of the Spirit in the church is on-going and dynamic. This is seen in the way the church
understands the action of the Spirit in relation to the eucharistic celebration. The presence of the
Spirit is regularly invoked in the eucharist. As Zizioulas has pointed out, it is when believers
come together for the Lords supper (1 Cor. 11:18) that they are constituted anew by the Spirit as
the Church of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament the local congregation could therefore be
described as the whole church (Rom. 16:23) which is what the word catholic means
512
Yong, Spirit Poured Out, 145.
513
Volf, After Our Likeness, 261. (italics his)
514
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 102f: A Dynamic Catholic Community.
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precisely because it is constituted whole by the Spirit when the whole church gathers together in
515
the name of Jesus Christ to celebrate the Communion.
It is in and through the eucharistic celebration that the church becomes whole, and
thereby is made one by the one Spirit. This is Chans eucharistic unity in the local church,
and it is what makes the local church catholic. He continues,
what makes the church unique is that as an eucharistic community sharing the one bread and one
cup it transcends all social and racial boundariesIt is this transcending wholeness which makes
the local congregation catholic. Catholicity is a concept that is first applied to the local
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congregation before it becomes a universal concept.
The wholeness of the local church is grounded in the Lords Suppernot in the makeup
of the congregation itself. This is where Chan sees the eucharist as a needed corrective for the
Pentecostal movement:
if catholicity has to do primarily with the wholeness of the local congregation that gathers
together to share one loaf regardless of race, culture or sex, then the problem of catholicity is far
more real and urgent. To the extent that the local congregation fails to transcend its ethnocentrism,
it fails to discern the Lords Body and, therefore, has fallen short of an essential quality: the
churchs catholicity a catholicity that we claim to believe in when we recite the Nicene Creed:
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We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church
515
516
517
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 102-103. (italics his)
228
Chan then goes on to observe that, if Pentecostals were to experience and practice
eucharistic unity in the local church, this would conceivably lead to a possible eucharistic
unity in the Pentecostal movementsomething he connects to William Seymours original

518
catholic understanding of the real significance of the Pentecostal outpouring. Once again,
if it is the presence of the Holy Spirit which constitutes the church, and this presence of the Spirit
is continually invoked afresh through the anamnesis of the eucharist, and furthermore it is this
presence which marks the church as having an all-transcending catholicity (over and above
race, culture, gender and any other socio-economic categories), then it is the eucharist which
functions as that which continues the true spirit of Azusa: the shattering of all social-cultural
barriers in Gods one, holy, and catholic church. Chan relates how, historically, Seymours
vision of the truly catholic church as encapsulated by the Azusa Street revival was quickly lost
on other (mostly white) leaders, both sociologically and theologically (something previously
noted by Suurmond and others as well). Thus, he maintains, the eucharist is needed to recapture
it.
In addition to this unity or wholeness, Chan continues to identify two other characteristics
or fruits which a eucharistic catholicity would produce in the church, within Pentecostalism.
One is healing. He writes, the Spirit that creates the eucharistic community transcending all
social, cultural and historical boundaries also implies that this community is characterized
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chiefly by its work of reconciliation and healing. Belief in, and the expectation for, divine
healing, has always been a noted Pentecostal distinctive. Yet, Chan suggests this ministry
practice is best rooted in the eucharist, rather than in personality-centered events common in
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519
229
Pentecostal circles. The reason is that the latter implies that the church needs some external
human agent to carry on its work. Whereas to believe in the Spirit-filled church means that the
charismata operate freely within the life of the church, especially in the eucharistic event when
520
the action of the Spirit is particularized. Chan therefore concludes that, the holy
communion should be the best occasion for prayers of reconciliation and healing to take
521
place. Indeed, there are Pentecostal churches that do practice healing prayer either before or
after celebrating the Lords Supper.
The eucharistic event is also where the all-embracing healing work of the Spirit is
recognized as central to the mission of the church, Chan points out. Traditional celebrations of
the eucharist end with a sending forth or sending out of a church now fed and renewed to
engage the world. By locating the presence of the Spirit in the eucharist, and juxtaposing it with
the Spirits sending out the church into the world, it appears Chan is (perhaps unconsciously),
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presenting a pentecostal catholicity that would parallel the ecclesiology of Karl Barth. In any
event, given the distinctive prominence of divine healing in Pentecostalism, it is significant that
523
he suggests Gifts of healing are the fruits of catholicity.
Finally, Chan sees the action of the Spirit in the eucharist as producing a truth-
traditioning community. The eucharist is a historic eventa tradition that grounds the church
in history. Likewise, Pentecost is also a historic event, and thus needs the practice of traditioning
520
521
522
Cf. Eric G. Jay, The Church: Its Changing Image through twenty centuries, (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980),
362ff, which brings together Barths three separate points about the Holy Spirit and the ingathering, upbuilding
and sending of the Christian Community in CD IV; cf. Robson Spirit-Driven Church, 48.
523
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so that the church may be grounded also in it. This is perhaps the lynch pin of Chans argument
for eucharistic catholicity in Pentecostalism:
The Pentecost event cannot be divorced from history, or there would be no historical
continuity of the vertical event. Herein lies the Achilles heel of Pentecostalism: by freeing the
Pentecost event from its historical moorings, it has considerably weakened its capacity for
traditioning. If truth can come directly from the Spirit, what need is there to check it against the
historical Christian tradition? The way for Pentecostals to overcome this weakness is by locating
their experience in the ecclesial life, especially in the context of eucharistic worship where the
ordinary things are transfigured. Pentecostals would do well to appropriate the rich
pneumatological resources in the Orthodox theology of the eucharist. If there is a sense in which
the Spirit is especially present in the eucharist, could it not become the focal point of Pentecostal
worship? Could it not be the occasion for prayer for a fresh in-filling of the Spirit for physical,
524
emotional and spiritual healing?
Simon Chan offers a challenging, tantalizing theological proposal for a Pentecostal
understanding of catholicity rooted in the eucharist. It is attractive in that it connects elements of

525
what Volf calls a qualitative catholicity (relational, eschatological, and missional) to an
event which all are able to experiencemuch like Pentecost itself. It also springs from the
source of the churchs identity as that which is constituted by the infilling presence of the Holy
Spirit. We will deal with the Eucharist further in this ecclesiological proposal, but will keep in
mind Chans notion of eucharistic catholicity.
When it comes it apostolicity, classical Pentecostals would first historically say that the
Spirit-filled church, or the true Temple as it is being imaged here, is apostolic in its faith. Edgar
524
Ibid., 108.
525
Cf. Volf, After Our Likeness, 266f.
231
R. Lee, for instance, confirms what was established in Chapter Two, that Pentecostals are
frequently described as restorationists because of their efforts to return to the apostolic faith of
526
the New Testament. Macchia echoes this by writing, If Pentecostalism is anything, it is
apostolic by intention. Its original mission was dedicated to the apostolic faith, and many
Pentecostal churches around the world since then have raised the banner of apostolic quite
527 528
high. Land also refers to the churchs apostolic faith, in identifying apostolicity from a
pentecostal perspective. This faith is the confession of Jesus as Saviour, baptizer, sanctifier,
529
healer and coming king. It is a confession of the full-gospel preached by the apostles in the
New Testament. Yet, apostolic faith as a confession of this full gospel is not merely or
fundamentally verbal consent or vague theological agreement; it is a lived experienced. This
apostolic faith is nothing less than a personal encounter with the risen, living Christ proclaimed
530
by the apostles, in the communal setting of an eschatological Trinitarian fellowship.
Secondly, from a Pentecostal perspective the church is also apostolic in its mission. This
was the impetus for the giving of the Spirit to the apostles, as Newbigin writes: When the risen
Lord bestowed the apostolic commission upon the Church and empowered it to continue His
526
Edgar R. Lee, He Gave Apostles: Apostolic Ministry in the 21st Century (Springfield, MO: Assemblies of God
Theological Seminary, 2005), 7.
527
528
Land, lecture notes from Pentecostal Spirituality for the Whole Church, Tyndale College/Canadian Pentecostal
Seminary, June 17-21, 2002.
529
Cf. Krkkinen, Christology: A Global Introduction (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003), 16. Donald
Dayton, of course, argues that the true Pentecostal confession dropped Jesus as sanctifier, in Theological Roots of
Pentecostalism, as observed in Chapter Two.
530
232
531
mission, the very heart of His act lay in the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals have
largely understood their Spirit-baptism experience to be the same divine empowerment received
by the apostles, to carry out the same mission, or commission, that was mandated to them by
Christ (Mt 28:18).
Thirdly, if the church is apostolic in mission, then from a Pentecostal perspective it must
also necessarily be apostolic in power. Gary McGee writes, When applied to the churchs
mission in the world, apostolic has been used to refer to the faith and actions of the
apostlesthe churchs missionary task and the means of fulfilling that task, with the latter
including the displays of divine power that accompanied the expansion of the church in the Book
532
of Acts. This meaning is also proposed by Steven Land, who writes, But this church that is
one in the divine presence and holy in the divine union is apostolic and catholic in its power and
universal mandate, respectively. The church in the Trinitarian eschatological presence of God
moves into all the world toward the end. The apostolic power is authority and strength to
533
proclaim the one gospel in word and demonstration of the Spirit. This authority and strength
comes from the divine empowerment of the Spirit, as depicted at Pentecost. It is the same power
as the apostles had, though it is not attained through political succession with them. Rather, it is
found in experiencing the same baptism of the Spirit they experienced at Pentecost.
Thus, apostolicity for Pentecostals is a restoration not only of New Testament faith and
mission, but also of the New Testament experience of the Spirits power, as demonstrated by
531
532
Gary McGee, The Dilemma Over the Apostolic Nature of Mission in Modern Missions, in Lee, ed., He Gave
Apostles, 47.
533
Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 205, also echoed by Edgar R. Lee, He Gave Apostles, 7.
233
signs and wonders. Krkkinen, summarizing the observations of Michael Harper, calls this
534
fruit of Pentecostalism, the restoration of experiential apostolicity to the whole Church. He
goes on to explain its distinctiveness from more traditional understandings of apostolicity:
The Roman Catholic Church has stressed its apostolic nature largely in historical terms,
apostolic succession and all that. Protestant Churches moved the emphasis to doctrine in an
attempt to restore the apostles teaching to the Church.The Pentecostal contribution has been in
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the restoration of the apostolic signs-healing, miracles, prophecy, speaking in tongues and so on.
Just as apostolic faith is an experiential faith, so apostolic power is an experiential power.
It is demonstrated by the physical manifestation of the Spirits ministry, in the context of the
mission of the kingdom. As the apostles saw their message confirmed with signs following
(Mar 16:20) through the divine working of the Lord, so Pentecostals have experienced and
expected the very same biblical phenomenon.
It is here, in the context of apostolicity as referring to power, that Howard Snyder
uniquely suggests something which Pentecostals would very likely find affinity with: that a truly
apostolic church must also be a prophetic church. He explains:
If its [the churchs] apostolicity is really empowered by the Holy Spirit, then it will be
prophetic. Biblically, it seems the church is prophetic primarily in two senses: first, in being a
community that visibly incarnates the prophetic message of justice, mercy, and truth found in the
Old Testament as well as in the life of Jesus, and second, in proclaiming the good news of Gods
534
Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, 77.
535
Krkkinen, An Introduction to Ecclesiology, 77.
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reign. This means different things in different historical contexts, but it always means being salt
536
and light in the present world (Matt. 5:14; John 8:12, Phil.2:15).
Snyders explanation of prophetic would not be identical to that of many Pentecostals, but it is
biblical, and thus is a helpful constructive insight to a distinctly Pentecostal understanding of
apostolicity, particularly with reference to the empowerment of the Spirit that classical
Pentecostals cherish.
Fourthly, apostolicity is also understood as referring to witness. This is proposed by J.
Rodman Williams, who states, The church is apostolic because it is based on the witness of the
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New Testament apostles. This is also echoed by none other than Moltmann, when he writes,
the church which in Christ is holy and catholic only encounters man in history through the
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apostolic witness. In both cases, the meaning of apostolic witness is broad and in many
respects encapsulates or is relatively synonymous with some aspects of apostolicity already
identifiedfaith and mission, in particular. For Pentecostals, this appeal is supported by its
restorationism. It pertains to the churchs faithfulness to the normative teaching or message
(kerygma) of the apostles. Perhaps it is helpful to see apostolicity as the churchs engagement in
the mission of witnessing to the apostolic message of salvation in Christ through her faith in this
Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit promised by Christ (Acts 1:5).
536
Howard A. Snyder, The Marks of Evangelical Ecclesiology, in John G. Stackhouse, Jr., ed. Evangelical
Ecclesiology: Reality or Illusion? (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003), 87.
537
J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective, Volume Three:
The Church, the Kingdom, and Last Things (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 38.
538
Moltmann, CPS, 357.
235
Fifth, and related to witness, apostolicity is also seen to refer to the tradition of truth.
539
This, however, is understood in diverging ways, which are subtle but not minor. For Miroslav
Volf, arguing for the Free Church ecclesiology, the churchs loyalty to the apostolic
traditioncomes about through direct access to the historically mediated apostolic

540
scriptures. This definition fits fairly comfortably with the restorationist ethos of
Pentecostalismthough it would be even more so if the words historically mediated were
absent.
For Simon Chan, who on the other hand champions a Catholic or sacramental/liturgical
ecclesiology, The church is apostolic precisely because the Spirit guides her into all truth and
preserves her from error by binding her diachronically to the apostles in an unbroken
541
succession. Chans development of doctrine is obviously a far more radical idea for
Pentecostals. Whereas for Volf the churchs apostolicity is rooted more in sola scriptura, Chan
puts more emphasis on historical tradition. Though both see apostolicity as referring to the
tradition of truth, they have significantly different perspectives as to how this apostolic tradition
is understood. Comparing these two ideas of apostolicity as tradition will be a crucial exercise in
any future development of a thorough Pentecostal ecclesiology. Here, I would offer the hope
539
For instance, outside of the scholars engaged here, Oneness Pentecostal churches, especially African-American
ones, claim the Apostolic label in their names to represent their hold on apostolic truth and doctrine, particularly the
baptismal formula decreed by Peter in Acts 2:38. See David A. Reed, In Jesus Name: The History & Beliefs of
Oneness Pentecostals. JPTSup Series 31 (Blandford Forum, UK: Deo Publishing, 2008), 229.
540
Volf, After Our Likeness, 275 (italics his). This is seemingly echoed by Charles Colson, The Body (Dallas: Word
Books, 1992), 125: apostolic = rooted and proclaiming the apostles teaching.
541
Chan, The Church and the Development of Doctrine (paper delivered at Wycliffe College, Toronto, March 3,
2003), 11. This also appears to be echoed by John Wesley, Cf. Howard Snyder, The Radical Wesley & Patterns for
Church Renewal (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1980) , 76: apostolicity is gauged by the succession of
apostolic doctrine in those who have been faithful to the apostolic witness (italics his), and by NPC, 10: apostolic
= the succession of apostolic truth throughout the ages.
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that some sort of mediating position can be found, whereby the pentecostal emphases on Spirit
and Word can be understood cooperatively through a kind of traditioning that comes organically
out of the church in its play. The playful nature of pentecostal worship, as Suurmond has
characterized it, entails that rules must be respected even as the spontaneous, charismatic and
ecstatic move of the Spirit is enjoyed in worship. These rules to ensure joyful and responsible
play (much like a sport or game) operate as the expression of the regula fidei of pentecostal faith,
and can be developed from the authority of scripture as interpreted and applied (contextually, as
Vondey would stress) in a traditioning process that is Spirit-led, in the communitys exercise of
ongoing discernment.
Finally, mention must be made of the eschatological dimension of apostolicity from a
pentecostal perspective. This is what Yong offers at the conclusion of his own treatment:
The point, after all, is not that apostolicity resides in abstraction in the church but that the
apostolic message and witness are preserved authentically in ecclesial life and faith as directed
toward the impending kingdom of Godthe church is apostolic not only in terms of its
foundation, its authority, and its message but also regarding its eschatological gathering around
the throne of God (Revelation 4-5).542
In sum, I have identified here at least six different ways in which the church is seen to be
apostolic by pentecostal voices: faith, mission, power, witness, tradition of truth, and
eschatological character. All have validity, so that they are complementary aspects of, rather
than competing options for the meaning of apostolicity in a pentecostal ecclesiology. What
remains is a method of conceiving apostolicity in a Pentecostal re-visioning, which can viably
542
Yong, Spirit Poured Out, 150-151.
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connect these different ways together in one stream. Thus far, Pinnock presents a distinctly
Pentecostal vision of apostolicity that perhaps offers the best attempt of doing just that, and so he
has the last word on this mark:
Roman Catholics see the apostolicity (being sent) of the church in historical terms, that is, in
the succession of bishops. Protestants (on the other hand) see it in terms of restoration of apostolic
doctrine. But pentecostals see it in the recovery of apostolic mission with signs following, a
recovery of experiential apostolicity. The apostles are dead but the mission remains. One the one
hand, it requires agreement with the apostolic witness which points us to Christ. On the other hand,
it involves continuing the mission in the service of the kingdom. Every believer has his/her own
particular task, according to gifting. Being apostolic means following the faith of the apostles and
also, in consequence of this faith, following in the steps of the apostolic ministry. Like the other
marks of the church, apostolicity is not static. Like them, it has a historical dimension to be fulfilled
ever anew in history. As Christians, we are the successors of the apostles. We must hear their
witness, believe their message, and imitate their work. We must be and ever become believing and
living members of the apostolic community.543
The image of the Temple, then, as a metaphor for the church as the People of Gods
special presence (to use Kngs term), with its dynamic quality of still being constructed (Eph
2:21, 22), depicts the churchs oneness, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity in a manner
conducive to a distinctly Pentecostal ecclesiology. As Amos Yong has suggested, pentecostal
reflection on these traditional marks from a pneumatological perspective can not only help
retrieve them for our time but also provide for an enriched understanding of the churchs self-
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definition.
543
Pinnock, Church, 8. At the end of this paragraph he footnotes a reference to Hans Kng, The Church, 344-59.
544
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4 Elements of an Ecclesiology of Presence: Church as

Temple
In addition to the temple image conveying meaning for the creedal marks of the church,
there are other defining elements which belong in a pentecostal ecclesiology which can also be
represented in this particular biblical metaphor. These will be identified according to the
churchs relationship to God, to the Kingdom, and to the world.
4.1 The God of Church

It is apparent from the survey of contemporary pentecostal scholars in Chapter Three that
communion ecclesiology, or the manner in which the church is understood theologically to image
the inter-trinitarian relations of the Godhead, is a concern of some of those contributing towards
a pentecostal theology of the church. However, notable differences exist in how this is to be
approached, and consequently we have seen that there is the legitimate question posed by some
(such as Shane Clifton) over the viability or usefulness of this approach at all. Whether or not a
communion ecclesiology is the template from which pentecostals should construct their own
ecclesiology, their understanding of the church must at some point express the churchs identity
in relation to God. The proposal here is that the church should be understood as the collective
assembly in which the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit dwells in a transformative,
empowering, charismatic fashion, which then makes the church visible to the world. There are a
number of considerations stemming from this suggestion, which the Temple image can help
communicate.
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First, to repeat what has already been stated above, the church as Temple images a
dwelling place for the divine presence. The Temple does not so much image the Trinity as it
does house or embody the manifest presence of the Spirit, who shares divinity with both the
Father and the Son. This does not at all diminish the churchs calling to reflect the character of
her God; indeed, quite the opposite. Spirit and Word at play will transform both individual lives
and the community, so that the People of Gods Presence are also marked as the People of truth,
love, humility, grace, etc. The Temple must be holy, and will be holy because the Holy Spirit
inhabits it, and the churchs fellowship should in some human manner be reflective of the
communion in the Godhead, if the Spirit of Gods charismatic presence is permitted to bear the
fruit God desires. This also does not take away from the church as an eschatological fellowship
(see below). But the emphasis is moved from the church imaging the Trinity to simply being the
assembly through which Gods presence is made manifest to the world. The church is of God in
that it is constituted by the indwelling presence of His Spirit, but the church is not God in terms
545
of any kind of metaphysical connection. The People of Gods Presence as the temple remains
distinct from the God whose presence indwells them, as any house is still distinct from its
inhabitant, despite however close an association they may have. Or, as Robert Jenson states,
For though we rely on the church as on the presence of God, we do so just in that the church
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within herself directs us to a presence of God that is not identical with herself. The church is
rather a sign or a witness to the world that the presence of the eschatological Spirit continues to
be poured out on all flesh.
545
Cf. Moltmann, CPS, 72-73.
546
Jenson, Works of God, 167.
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Secondly, the church as the Temple or house of God is inherently a Trinitarian
phenomenon. As Paul presents it, God is the builder (through the apostles and prophets), Christ
Jesus himself is the cornerstone and the Spirit is the inhabitant (Eph 2:19-21, cf. 1 Peter 2:5).
This therefore provides an appropriate ecclesiological foundation for trinitarian Pentecostalism,
with its strong interconnection between the current works of the Spirit of Christ and the person of
risen Christ as Savior, Baptizer, Healer (Sanctifier) and Coming King. The unique manner in
which the early Pentecostals articulated this pneumatological christology finds a suitable
ecclesiological image with the Temple, which is used for both the body of Christ (John 2:19-21)
and the dwelling place of the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph 2:21). It is through Christ that we have
access to the Father in the presence of the one Spirit (Eph 2:18).
It is here that emphasis should be given to how the presence of the Spirit in the church is
the presence of Christ in the church. If the body of Christ and the Temple of the Spirit are one
and the same, it cannot be otherwise. This is how the modern pentecostal outpouring of the Holy
Spirit led to a christocentric movementso much so that part of this movement became Oneness
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in its christology as a result of receiving Spirit-baptism. Though most Pentecostals are not
familiar with the description of Irenaeus about Christ and the Holy Spirit being the two hands of
God, trinitarian Pentecostal theology has operated with a very similar understanding in mind.
Yet it is the charismatic ministry of the Spirit in the church that continues the ministry of Jesus,
who inaugurated the inbreaking of the eschatological kingdom of God, so that the Spirit-filled
disciples can do even greater works (John 14:12). Christ then continues to be Savior, Healer,
Baptizer, Sanctifier and Coming King through the witness and testimony of the Spirit to the
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I am indebted to a phone conversation with Rev. Dr. Ronald A.N. Kydd, a former pentecostal and church history
scholar who pointed out this irony as an example of the ministry of the Spirit in directing our attention to Christ
rather than to Himself.
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world through the Temple that the Spirit indwells, the Temple which now consists of the People
of Gods Presence. The new Temple witnesses to the kingdom or redemptive reign of God in
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Christ on earth, even as the old Temple witnessed to the nations of the God of Israel, and
Jesus witnessed to the mission of the Father in the incarnation. Macchia, for one, affirms the
christological foundation of this image for Pentecostals when he writes, The church as a Spirit-
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filled temple of God is founded on Christ as the man and bestower of the Spirit. Similarly,
Twelftree concludes that The Church is Christ present in Gods people. In other words in
experiencing and expressing the kingdom or powerful presence of Godnow available through
the outpouring of the Spiritthe Church maintains Jesus presence and ministry between
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Pentecost and the Parousia. It is by the Spirits dynamic presence and activity that Jesus is
exalted as Head of His Body, and Lord of the Church.
Another extraordinarily important function of the image of the temple in this
ecclesiological proposal is that it situates the priority of the churchs relationship to God in and
through His Spirit as its primary mission. The emphasis of much missional thinking in
contemporary ecclesiology is either on the purposes of the church (i.e. purpose-driven), or on
the missional character of the church as a community created by the Spirit to participate in the
missio Dei. While the latter of these trajectories is much more in line with this current proposal,
the horse before the cart is the Spirits manifest indwelling in the community he creates, or the
relationship of the People of Gods Presence who now corporately make up the new Temple with
548
Cf. Craig Van Gelder, The Ministry of the Missional Church: A Community Led by the Spirit (Grand Rapids:
Baker Book House, 2007), esp. Ch. 1.
549
550
Twelftree, People of the Spirit, 217.
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the Spirit who graciously indwells it. This relationship between the Spirit and the community He
creates, or the Temple He resides in, is established by His charismatic activity, or how He is
especially present with power in a manifest way in the participative, playful worship of the
community. As Asian Pentecostal scholar Tan Chow May Ling writes,
Within the Pentecostal context, life in the Spirit is essentially a life of worship. Worship is a
code term for the manifest presence of God and is the foundational Pentecostal ministry. The
exhortation Let us enter into the presence of God is not heard as mere rhetoric, but as reality.
For Pentecostals believe and expect that God will meet with Gods people. It is the Spirit who
makes this experience of divine presence an existential reality. Life and worship in the Spirit is
dynamically experienced and eschatologically oriented. What is distinctive about Pentecostal
spirituality is that it is christologically and pneumatologically fused.551
In this thinking, then, the primary mission or priority of the church is her relationship to
the God of church, or her worship of the Transcendent God who graciously indwells her with His
manifest, immanent divine presence. It is out of this prior or foundational mission towards God
that God can then by His Spirit move the church out into the world to participate in His mission
of redeeming it through the Son. The churchs primary mission is to have fellowship with the
God whose passionate desire is to heal His creation. As Pentecostal scholar Terry Cross writes,
it is the very nature of God to move outward beyond the rich fellowship of the Trinity to the
world itself-indeed to the alien and outcast. God is one whose fellowship between Father, Son,
and Spirit overflows to the mission of creating the world and then redeeming the world. God is a
missionary.552 The proper way for a church to be missional, especially from a pentecostal
551
May Ling, Pentecostal Theology for the Twenty-first Century, 142-143.
552
Terry Cross, A Response to Clark Pinnocks Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit, Journal of Pentecostal
Theology, 14:2 (2006), 178-179.
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perspective, is to conceive its mission as being the Temple that God indwells through the person
of His Spirit, to worship before this God in a manner that invites Him to be enthroned on the
praises of Israel (Ps 22:3) with His divine presence in the Temple. Since this indwelling God is
also a missionary God to the world He created (missio Dei), fellowship with this God will
organically result in being propelled out into the world God so loves.
This sequence or priority, I suggest, is what is pivotal to this proposed ecclesiology, is
what Pentecostals can distinctly contribute to the broader ecclesiological conversation, and is
what is reflected by the operation of God in the biblical narrative. It was while Isaiah was
experiencing a supernatural, multi-sensory vision of the holy LORD that he received his
cleansing and resulting call to carry out his prophetic mission, to which he answered Here am I.
Send me! (Isa 6) It was only after the twelve disciples recognized and confessed the authority
of Jesus confirmed by his miracles and in the context of intimate fellowship with him that they
were commissioned to go out to witness about this to the world. It was only after the
supernatural, multi-sensory encounter with the Holy Spirit that the 120 were sent out to proclaim
and to model Spirit-driven community before the nations as their participation in the missio Dei,
led by the previously cowardly but now Spirit-empowered Peter. Likewise, it was only after a
divine, multi-sensory encounter with the Resurrected Lord and an infilling with the Holy Spirit
that Paul received his apostolic calling (Acts 9:1-20). Furthermore, it was while the Antioch
church worshiped the Lord and fasted that the Holy Spirit spoke directly to them, instructing
them as to the enterprise of sending out two missionaries to the Gentiles, in what would be one
of the most significant missional events in history (Acts 13:2,3). Thus, the biblical model clearly
seems to indicate the sequential pattern of divine, empirical encounters with the manifest
presence of God as the providential context out of which the missional endeavours of the church
(or covenant people of God in the OT) are birthed and launched. The modern Pentecostal revival
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saw this pattern continue, as it was directly out of a similar divine outpouring of the Spirit that a
significant missional movement was birthed and launched as well.
Conceiving the church as Temple, therefore, reinforces and images this pivotal
understanding of the nature and mission of the church, which is called to worship before and
while it is called to witness. Further, it is in the churchs playful, participative worship that the
Spirit operates charismatically in a manner that an unbeliever or uninstructed (Greek: idiotai)
may have the secrets of his heart disclosed and thereby declare, God is really among you! (1
Cor. 14:23-25) Likewise it was as the apostolic church practiced Spirit-driven koinonia as well
as signs and wonders or miracles, and spent much time together in the temple worshipping
that the Lord added to their number daily (Acts 2:42-47). The playful, participative worship of
the People of Gods Presence serves as the primary mission of the church, because it is only then
that they will experience the divine empowerment of the Spirits infilling to passionately witness
and be a foretaste of the inbreaking of Gods reign through Spirit-created community. It is as the
new Temple that the church functions in this Spirit-driven manner. The Temple is the house of
worship because it is the house of God. There the people are consecrated for Gods use in the
presence of His Glory. As Gordon Fee explains, At the same time, the Spirits presence,
including his charismata, helps to build up the believing community as its members gather
together to worship GodThe Spirit, who forms the body and creates the temple, is present with
553
unity and diversity, so that all may participate and all may be built up. Consequently, the
missional identity and dimension of the church can only be realized to its fullest potential if this
priority of edifying, charismatic worship is understood and honoured by a pursuit towards it. It
553
Gordon Fee, Paul, the Spirit and the People of God (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996), 184.
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is as the worshipping community that Pentecostals most embody their identity as the People of
Gods Presence, for it is in the context of corporate worship that they experience this Presence in
dramatic ways. It is here that their restorationist understanding of the church best serves the
movement, for as Graham Twelftree concludes in his study of the church in Lukes writings:
Moreover, in going to use this story as the model and template for later followers of Jesus,
Luke establishes the coming of the eschatological Spirit as the defining event and experience of
the Church. Christians are people of the Spirit. Thus, if Luke was asked what determined and
characterized Christianity or the Church he would probably say that those who are part of it are
people of the Spirit: they have had, and continue to have, experiences of the Spirit of God that
are ecstatic and obviousLuke is likely to draw to our attention his expectation that Christian
meetings would involve dramatic encounters with God. In these, God was experienced as
tangibly present to fill those present with his Spirit or give direction of some kind. 554
Likewise, French Arrington notes that in the NT, The church was essentially a worshipping
555
community where the Lordship of Christ was acclaimed and the Holy Spirit worked. The
church as Temple of the Holy Spirit will first be a worshipping assembly, because that is what
first results from the Spirits indwelling presence. As Pinnock states, Spirit incites us to give
556
God praise as his holy temple (Eph 2:22; 1 Pet 2:5).
554
Twelftree, People of the Spirit, 208, 211.
555
Arrington, Divine Order in the Church, 124.
556
Pinnock, Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 120.
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4.2 The Church and the Kingdom

In keeping with the prioritizing of the churchs reasons for existence, God creates the
church as a particular people among whom His special presence dwells in the person of His
Spirit, constructed upon the cornerstone of Christ. He does this so that His presence will be
made visible to the world, as the church witnesses to, is a sign of, and a foretaste of His
557
eschatological kingdom or reign, which is already breaking upon the earth but awaits future
consummation. In this sense, the church is represented well by the image of the Temple. So,
while the church exists first to worship the God who indwells her with His charismatic presence,
she exists secondarily to point to and model the nature and character of Gods already-but not yet
Reign. Gods church as His earthly dwelling place thus exists for Gods kingdom (basiliea).
The church as Temple reveals the now/not yet Kingdom by making visible the Presence
of the eschatological Spirit to the world. As has often been stated, the Church is not the
Kingdom, for the Kingdom exists outside of, above and beyond the church, even as the Spirits
presence is outside of and beyond the church. Yet the Church as Temple also enjoys a favoured
position in the Kingdom as it demonstrates the Reign of God upon the earth. If the Kingdom is
the name of the realm of Gods reign, and church the realm of Gods immanent presence, then
an intrinsic relationship is apparent while the distinction may not be as evident. Temporally, the
church exists in the present but also lives in anticipation of its future: within the fullness of the
kingdom. The Kingdom, meanwhile, was inaugurated through the incarnation (Matt 12:28) and
mobilized further at Pentecost, but its culmination is yet to come. Thus, the church is on a
continuing pilgrimage toward the kingdom that is yet to fully come. The pilgrimage toward the
557
Cf. Van Gelder, The Ministry of the Missional Church, ch. 1.
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kingdom is imaged by the temple that is still under construction (Eph 2:21; cf. Phil 2:12). This is
in light of what Gordon Fee observes, that the kingdom of God is an eschatological term,
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belonging primarily to the category of time rather than space. It is from this eschatological
perspective that the church understands itself as foretaste, which is also imaged in a Pauline
manner described by Moltmann: The charismatically enlivened body of Christ sees itself as a
down paymentas the advance pledge and beginning of the new creation of all things, so that
559
in this way it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The church as Temple inherits this mission of the kingdom from its Head and
Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and does so in the empowerment of the Spirit outpoured at Pentecost
(cf. Acts 1:5). Peter Kuzmic has a lengthy but particularly potent description of this aspect of the
churchs identity following this pivotal event:
The coming of the Spirit, the kingdom power, at Pentecost, marks the transfer of Jesus'
kingdom to his followers. In ways similar to Jesus at his baptism, the empowerment from above
results in public witness, the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom, which is accompanied
by signs and wonders. The Spirit-filled community becomes a witnessing, missionary-oriented
movement, battling against the forces of Satan and extending God's rule among the nations. The
Book of Acts portrays a church that is essentially a community of the Spirit, experiencing at its
very inception an apocalyptic-like harvest and taking the gospel to the ends of the worldIt is a
spontaneous Spirit-driven and Spirit-controlled movement proceeding from the nature of the
Spirit-filled community.560
558
Gordon Fee, The Kingdom of God and the Churchs Global Mission, in Murray Dempster, Byron D. Klaus,
Douglas Peterson, eds. Called & Empowered: Global Mission in Pentecostal Perspective (Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson Publishers, 1991), 8 (italics his).
559
Jrgen Moltmann, The Spirit of Life: A Universal Affirmation (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992), 69.
560
Kuzmic, Kingdom of God, 525.
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Kuzmic stresses the Spirits role as transferring the kingdom power from the now ascended
Messiah to the People of Gods Presence. It is as this people who are filled with the Spirit that
church can demonstrate the kingdoms inbreaking to the world. Pentecostal ecclesiology simply
holds that the church today is meant to have the same identity since it has had, or can have, the
same experience of the Spirit. This aspect of their restorationism still holds to any authentically
Pentecostal theology of the church, for As in the apostolic days, the Holy Spirit is the very life
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of the church and its mission, not replacing but always exalting Christ the Lord.
An integral and significant part of the churchs mission to witness to the kingdom is the
task of passing the faith on to the next generation. The unbelieving world is not the churchs
only ministry subject. Rather, the children and youth who have been born and either dedicated
or baptized or simply brought into the church (though few Pentecostal groups practice
paedobaptism) are as well. Pentecostalism is generally recognized for its priority, passion and
ability to minister to children and youth. I would suggest that it is the pentecostal conviction that
the constituting immanent, supernatural presence of the eschatological Spirit is poured out on all
flesh, including sons and daughters specifically (Acts 2:17, cf. Joel 2:28), that provides the
theological impetus for this ministry priority.
Ecclesiologically, this is a woefully underemphasized aspect of the churchs witness to,
and interplay with, the kingdom. The church as Temple perpetuates the tradition of faith by
bringing the next generation into the manifest presence of God, and in so doing lives in the
perpetual hope of the kingdom that is both here and yet to come. Though the story of twelve
year-old Jesus remaining behind at the Temple, engaged with the teachers at an astonishing level,
561
Kuzmic, Kingdom of God, 526.
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is primarily intended to reveal His particular identity as the Son going about His Fathers
business (Luke 2:49), it also nevertheless fuels the conviction that even our sons and daughters
can experience the presence of God in a manner that increases their understanding. It is a story
which seemingly validates in a momentous way the engagement of the young within the Temple
ministry. The church as Temple lives within and points to the kingdom precisely when it passes
the faith on to emerging generations by bringing them into Gods manifest presence.
Finally, the image of Temple not only connects the church with the story of Gods
presence in Israel, but it is also an inherently eschatological image, as evidenced by its repeated
reference in the book of Revelation (mentioned 16x). This affirms that the church as Temple is a
foretaste of, and is on a journey towards, the eschatological kingdom of Gods eternal reign. In
Johns apocalyptic vision, the kingdom of heaven is imaged by the opening of the temple there
(Rev 11:19), which is filled with the glory of God much like Solomons was on the day of
dedication (Rev 15:8; cf. 2 Chronicles 7:2;). Once the seven bowls of wrath have been poured
out, and the New Jerusalem comes out of heaven to replace the old, the temple is no longer, for
562
Almighty God and the Lamb are its temple (Rev 21:22; see also Zech 2:4-5 ). In other words,
Gods eternal, direct presence is permanently manifested in the new city as His People are
gathered from all times and nations, so that no temple is needed to function as His dwelling
place. The Temple that was the church now lives in this direct presence, now dwells in his
direct, eternal reign, so that John observes that no physical temple exists any longer. There is no
temple as there is no church. There is only the eternal kingdom. Gods glory will be all in all, as
562
Harvey Cox calls this passage a perfect text for a pentecostal sermon: it predicts the New Jerusalemit
promises the immediate presence of God with his people, in Fire from Heaven: The Rise of Pentecostal Spirituality
and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century (Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1995), 275.
250
the kingdom comes to its fullest realization with the direct presence of God permanently
established. All of this is the culmination of the Spirits work in leading the pilgrim church to
this end (as evidenced by the Spirit speaking to the seven churches in Rev 3). In light of this, as
Simon Chan summarizes, to speak of the church as temple of the Spirit is also to recognize its
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essentially eschatological character, since the Spirit is the Spirit of the last days.
This eschatological vision of the end of the Temple also affirms the priority and purpose
of worship for the church, for worship is what will take place in the New Jerusalem when we see
Gods face, and worship is the called response for the hearers of the vision even as it was Johns
response to experiencing it (Rev 22:4, 8). The church as Temple lives out its purpose of
foretaste precisely when it playfully worships in the charismatic presence of the eschatological
Spirit, according to its eternal destiny. It has been suggested, The purpose of worship is not just
to deepen piety, however. The purpose of worship is to transform Christians self-perception and
their perception of the world.Through worship, Christians escape the predominant ideology of
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their culture and enter the reality of God. If this is true, then the playful worship of the
People of Gods Presence is the exercise of making present this future glory, as the Kingdom that
is yet to fully come is breaking upon the earth even now through the charismatic operation of the
eschatological Spirit. Roger Haight echoes this: When pentecostal experience is actualized as
in worship, it is a participation in the reality of the kingdom of God in the sense of Zizioulas, a
participation in the reality of the kingdom beyond history, the eschata, an experience of
563
Chan, Liturgical Theology, 32 (italics his).
564
Anne Jervis, Revelation lecture for NT II: Who is Jesus? course at Wycliffe College, Summer 2011.
251
565
transcendence, something beyond the self. It is thus in the context of her relationship to the
Kingdom that the church as Temple is also, as Land (whom Haight references in his statement
above) puts it, an eschatological missionary fellowship.
Simon Chan takes pains to include the eucharist as a pivotal part within this very picture
of worship as foretaste of the kingdoms coming in fullness. The Lords Supper is not merely
remembrance of the past atoning sacrifice of Christs incarnate body, but is inherently an
eschatological event as well. He explains:
In the eucharistic worship of the church, the Spirit actualizes the past through remembrance
(anamnesis) and anticipates the future (prolepsis) when created things are transfigured (or
transubstantiated, if you like). In this anticipation, something of the future --a foretaste--is
realized as the Father is called upon (Greek epiclesis) to send the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist.
Anamnesis and prolepsis are the two poles held together in the present as the church invokes the
Spirits presence in its eucharistic celebration. 566
Given the proleptical and restorationist nature of the original Pentecostal worldview (they
looked forward even as they simultaneously looked back), this articulation of the eucharist
within the context of the churchs exercise of worship as a foretaste seems fitting within a
pentecostal ecclesiology. When the eucharist is understood as part of the worship of the church
in the presence of the eschatological Spirit, its place is more logically appropriate than past
generations of Pentecostals would have recognized. It is the bedrock distinction of the church as
the People of Gods Presence made manifest by the Spirits coming to carry on the inauguration
of the kingdom by Jesus that makes this possible, for as Chan concludes, For it is in the
565
Haight, Comparative Ecclesiology, 465.
566
252
eucharistic celebration itself that the already-not yet tension is actually upheld by the whole
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church as it invokes the Spirit as arrabon [pledge].
In sum, a pentecostal understanding of the mission of the church in relation to the
Kingdom, then, is to see the contemporary church as continuing the mission of the apostolic
church in proclaiming and demonstrating the good news of the Kingdoms inauguration through
the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Savior, Healer, Sanctifier, Baptizer and Coming King.
This can only be done effectively through the power of the Holy Spirit. Gordon Fee summarizes
this position well:
As with them, so with ourselves. The kingdom has come; it is still to come. With Jesus the
time of the future, the day of salvation, has been inaugurated. But the empowering was the work
of the Holy Spirit. What Jesus began both to do and to say is now the ministry he has left his
church until he comes again. The mission is that of Jesus himself-Gods kingdom has having
come as good news for the poor. But the empowering for the kingdom, as then, is the continuing
work of the Spirit.568
4.3 The Church and the World

Finally, the church as Temple also helps to image the churchs mission to the world. As
stated earlier, the churchs mission is a surprisingly underdeveloped aspect of pentecostal
ecclesiology among contemporary scholars. Even among those who address it, there is certainly
not a monolithic view between them; quite the opposite is the case. Yet given that the seeming
obsession in contemporary ecclesiology concerns the relationship between church and culture,
567
568
Fee, Churchs Global Mission, 18.
253
something definitive should be attempted within pentecostal ecclesiology to address it. I
strategically place it third, behind the churchs mission towards God and towards Gods
kingdom. This is not because the church does not ultimately exist for the benefit of the world; in
fact it surely does. But the church can only effectively serve the world, love the unloved, heal
the hurting, proclaim the gospel with faithfulness, be a redeeming agent of grace, and most
importantly, bring others into the presence of God insofar as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit
to do so, and is propelled by the Spirit into this mission out of the prior context of playful,
charismatic worship. It is God who made the world and it is God who so loved it that He gave
His Son up for it. An authentically worshipful relationship where this Gods presence is
palpably experienced will lead to an authentically missional church towards the world that God
so passionately desires to transform. As I have demonstrated from the biblical narrative, this is
what results of a supernatural experience with the immanent presence of God encountered by
those whom He calls into mission by calling them into His presence first. The heart of God
towards His entire creation will be imbibed by those among whom His divine presence indwells.
Cooperation with the missio Dei results most naturally from encounter with Gods special
presence.
In this configuration, then, the church as Temple ultimately exists for the benefit of
transforming creation precisely as the special dwelling place of Gods presence. Mission,
therefore, is paramount to the churchs purpose even though it functions as its third priority.
Though the chief end of the church is worship in the indwelling presence of God, this also results
in an overwhelming missional purpose since the God of church will direct her attention to the
task of seeing the Kingdom break upon the world for its salvation and healing. This has a
metaphorical sounding even in Solomons dedicatory prayer of the first Jerusalem Temple, when
he asked God to hear and answer the prayers of the foreigner there, in order that all peoples of
254
the earth may know your name and fear you (2 Chronicles 6:32, 33). Similarly, just as God
instituted a covenant-relationship with Abrahams seed so that all the families of the earth shall
be blessed (Gen 12:3), God inhabits the new Temple of the People of His Presence in a
particular covenant manner through the charismatic presence of His Spirit for the same ultimate
end: the blessing of all the families of the earth. The greatest effort to articulate a missional
ecclesiology, to most effectively make the church to be a passionate and humble servant of all
families of the earth, I suggest, is actually to make the world the tertiary priority of the church.
For as the church moves toward the manifest presence of God, and consequently moves toward
569
the inbreaking of Gods kingdom, it will then find itself inherently motivated and
organically moved out into the world in humble service to it. This is, I propose, a faithful
theological and ecclesiological reading of the modern Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
It is also the framework within which a healthy understanding of the Pentecostal doctrine of
Spirit-baptism as empowerment for mission can be articulated. Jesus baptizes His followers with
the Holy Spirit in the context of loving communion with them, as a witness to the inbreaking
Kingdom before the world, empowering the receivers to boldly proclaim the Gospel with the
final goal of bringing others into this same Presence that has so transformed them.
Thus, in this configuration, the church as Temple relates to the world not as having total
570 571
priority over it, as in Chan ; or in being contextualized into it, as in Vondey ; or in somehow
572
merely imaging trinitarian communion, as in Volf and others; or primarily in engaging in
569
Cf. Dempster, Klaus, & Peterson, eds. Called & Empowered, 261.
570
Chan, Liturgical Theology, esp. 21-23.
571
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, ch 5.
572
Volf, After Our Likeness.
255
573
ecumenical, inter-religious dialogue, as in Yong , though this may indeed be one significant
forum for the churchs mission. There may be strains of truth to each of these articulations, but
the church as Temple relates to the world foremost as the humble agent of healing and
transforming love, propelled and empowered by the eschatological Spirit to model the reign of
God through a demonstration of His immanent Presence. Or, to draw on the Apostle Paul, the
churchs mission is to operate in the charismatic presence of the Spirit so that unbelievers
acknowledge, God is really among you! The church as Temple makes visible the kingdom of
God to the world by being the dwelling place for His empowering presence, not from a position
of dominance or superiority, but from a place of humility, service and love. Twelftree describes
this mission in terms of its embodiment of Lukes ecclesiology:
[Luke would] say that mission is not simply speaking about Jesus but also demonstrating
the powerful presence of God through the performance of signs and wondersThe portrayed
strategy of mission in Luke-Acts is not devoid of care for the physical needs of outsiders. That
care is in the form of miraculous healings and exorcisms signs and wonders taken to be
evidence of Gods powerful presence the church per se has as its mission helping people
experience the powerful and transforming presence of God to enable them to receive salvation
and then join other believers.574
Yet, as a sign of the kingdom, the church as Temple does not merely amalgamate with
culture, or accommodate it either; though some integration is bound to take place, particularly in
expressions of worship and ministry. The church seeks to transform culture, not through the pre-
pentecostal political force of Christendom, but through being the alternative community where
573
Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on all Flesh.
574
Twelftree, People of the Spirit, 215-216.
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Spirit-driven koinonia in the abiding presence of the Most High God contrasts with the broken
world in a magnetic manner. A community edified through the charismata (1 Cor 14:3-12) will
be an effective witness to the healing grace of God to the world.
This emphasis on the missional role of the charismatic, supernatural presence of the Spirit
through the church may bear resemblance to the power evangelism of Fuller Seminarys late
575
adjunct, John Wimber, for example. Admittedly, there are congruencies in understanding the
charismatic work of the Spirit as confirming the Gospel to the world through signs and
wonders such as divine healings, prophecies and exorcisms. For instance, when Wimber writes:
The Church should announce and demonstrate the Kingdom of God. Kingdom evangelism
involves power evangelism: that means evangelism that transcends the rational through the
demonstration of Gods power in signs and wonders and introduces the numinous of God. This
involves a presentation of the good news of Gods reign accompanied with the manifest presence
of God. Power evangelism is spontaneous and is directed by the Holy Spirit.576
This sounds very much like a pentecostal way of describing the nature of the churchs mission to
the world, because of the acknowledged pentecostal influence on Wimber and other Third Wave
charismatic evangelicals. The historic distinction has been on the heightened view of glossolalia
as the initial evidence of Spirit baptism on the part of Pentecostals, which Third Wavers do not
575
Although Wimber was a leader in what is called the Third Wave (charismatic evangelicals who are not
classical Pentecostals or from the mainline charismatic movement), he attributes his theology of spiritual gifts and
miracles as being directly influenced by pentecostalism. Cf. John Wimber & Kevin Springer, Power Evangelism
(Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1986), 17-19. Charles Kraft, another Fuller professor of missiology, is likewise a
Third Waver who also acknowledges that his views on the necessity of the demonstration of Gods power to reach
the world come from pentecostalism: A Third Wave Perspective, in Dempster, Klaus, & Peterson, eds. Called &
Empowered, 302-306.
576
John Wimber, Power Evangelism, in Renewal Journal #10: Evangelism. Renewal: Brisbane.
http://www.renewaljournal.com. Accessed June 23, 2011. Edited by Geoff Waugh. Both article and journal are
copyrighted.
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share. Nevertheless, this idea of the churchs mission to the world involving demonstrations of
Gods authority (exousia) over sin, sickness, evil, etc. is what led Clark Pinnock to call
577
pentecostal ecclesiology a power ecclesiology.
There is also agreement on the spiritual reality that while the church serves the world as a
foretaste of the kingdom of God, she inevitably comes into conflict with other kingdoms,
including rulers and powers that are opposed to Christ (Cf. Rom 8:38; Eph 3:10, 6:12; Col
1:16, 2:15). The mission of the People of Gods Presence to the world inherently includes acting
as a liberating instrument against the forces of darkness that Christ has already conquered and
will vanquish at the eschaton (cf. 1 John 3:8). One of the very few times Jesus is recorded as
mentioning the church (ekklesia) is when he uttered the promise that He would build it, and the
gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). This statement infers conflict between the
journey of the church and other powers that would seek in vain to overpower it (cf Eph 6:10-12).
In a pentecostal ecclesiology that is based upon the conviction that the church is the Temple of
578
the Spirit, the special locus of the Spirits presence, such a theology operates in a cosmology
which recognizes that there is more than one kind of spiritual presence in the world.
In this important respect, I suggest that a full-orbed pentecostal ecclesiology in its
articulation of the churchs relationship to the world must involve seeing the churchs mission as
going up against forces of darkness operating in the world, in a similar manner to power
evangelism theology. A significant aspect of the churchs mission to the world in
demonstrating Gods presence is to liberate those in captivity to the conquered forces of evil, as
577
Pinnock, Church, 4.
578
Haight, Comparative Ecclesiology, 467.
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part of the inbreaking of the Kingdom upon the world. This is something that is curiously not
made explicit in nearly all of the pentecostal scholars surveyed in the last chapter, but is intrinsic
to the traditional pentecostal worldview. Pentecostals are, after all, characterized in part by their
shared conviction with St. Paul that the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. (1
Cor 4:20) That was how the apostolic church related to the culture, and it rightfully belongs in a
contemporary pentecostal ecclesiology as well. The proclamation of the kerygma inherently
involves and is accompanied by demonstrations of the Spirits manifest presence to verify Gods
intention and ability to bring liberation to the sick, the oppressed, and the sinful; much like
Moses demonstrated Gods power to the Egyptians when he called for Pharaoh to let my people
go (Ex 7:8-12:32).
More closely, the church as Temple continues to demonstrate the inbreaking kingdom to
the world in the same way Jesus did. For as Fee explains, In his healing the sick, casting out
demons, and eating with sinnersand thereby showing them Gods unlimited mercythe
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people were to understand that Gods great eschatological day had finally dawned. The
church in the power of the Spirit of Christ dispenses Gods mercy to the world with humility as
Christ did, even as it manifests this power supernaturally at times as the agent of Gods kingdom,
which has already conquered the kingdom of darkness. But this demonstration of the Holy
Spirits power is not merely to win a fight, though that is what is involved in the struggle with
forces of evil, but to continue Christs ministry of liberation for the families of the earth, or as
T.F. Torrance puts it, to see the transformation and renewal of all human social
structureswhen society may at last be transmuted into a community of love centring in and
579
Fee, The Churchs Global Mission, 10.
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sustained by the personalising and humanising presence of the Mediator, who is Jesus Christ:
Savior, Healer, Baptizer, Sanctifier and Coming King.
Again, this is not an ecclesiology oriented toward warfare for its own sake, but one that
simply cannot be ignorant of the spiritual reality of engaging forces of darkness while it carries
out the mission of seeing the Spirit poured out on all flesh. Twice, Israels defeat was completed
with the destruction of the Temple, so the image of the Temple in some sense stands for the
gauge of victory or defeat at the hands of the enemies of Gods People. Given the promise of
Jesus, the church as the Temple of the Spirit is guaranteed victory as long as it remains His
dwelling place; but spiritual conflict with other powers and principalities is also guaranteed as
well while the church engages the world in service as it demonstrates the Spirits presence.
5 An Ecclesiology of Presence
I now want to apply an ecclesiology of the People of Gods Presence, which has been
thus far represented by the biblical image of the Temple, more specifically to various aspects of
the churchs mission and ministry. In particular, how does an ecclesiology of presence apply to
the practices of the church? Before doing so, I want to briefly articulate with more focus what
has been said to this point about the nature of this divine presence that constitutes the church as
the People of Gods Presence.
First, as has been alluded to all along up to this point, the divine presence which
constitutes the church and defines it as the People of Gods Presence and the Temple of the Holy
580
T.F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ (Colorado Springs: Helmers & Howard, 1992), 72.
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Spirit is the presence of a divine person. In a distinctly pentecostal ecclesiology, the church is
defined by the manifest indwelling and charismatic operating of the Third Person of the Trinity,
the Holy Spirit, who is also the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of Christ, and the eschatological
Spirit. This Spirit, although He goes by the name of Pneuma (wind or breath), is not an
impersonal force, or a thing, or an it, or a utility that simply brings empowerment (as He has
too often been unconsciously reduced to in Pentecostal theology). This divine presence is a
personal presence, the person of the Holy Spirit operating and indwelling in a manifest,
perceptible way among those whom He gathers to shape into an eschatological missionary
fellowship. By ascribing Personhood to the Holy Spirit, I mean a distinct member of the
Godhead who possesses those characteristics that define it as a someonei.e. a will, opinions,
actions, traits, etc, even as He shares full and complete divine essence with the Tri-une Godhead.
In the case of the Holy Spirit, His personhood relates to his distinct identity within the Godhead,
while also sharing full divinity and communion with the Father and the Son. The Statement of
Fundamental and Essential Truths of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada states this about the
Spirit: His personality is shown by the fact that He has personal characteristics and that
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individuals may relate to Him as a person.
This demonstration of the personhood of the Spirit in the church is what is narrated in
Acts, and is therefore at the essence of a healthy pentecostal restorationism. The Holy Spirit is a
distinct character in the biblical narrative, even as He is the Spirit of God. As Newbigin
described, then, what makes the church the church is where this Person of the Spirit is noticeably
present with power. This involves more than just glossolalia or miracles (theophanic
581
Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, Article 5.2.3.
Accessed at
http://www.paoc.org/upload/files2/docs/Stmt%20of%20Fundamental%20and%20Essential%20Truths.pdf.
261
presence), though it also includes these, and more than just a sacramental presence (as in the
Lords Supper), though it also includes this, but also the direct leading (i.e. Acts 8:39; 13:4;
16:6,7; 20:22), encouragement or comfort (Acts 9:31), speaking and responses of the Spirit (both
positivei.e. Acts 15:28, and negativei.e. Acts 5:3) as other examples of personal, immanent
interaction with the assembly of called-out ones (ekklesia) as well. It is, therefore, the special,
direct activity of the Spirit as He personally indwells a collective of people as the promised
Paraclete (Jn 14:16) that defines the church. All of the practices of the church, then, are shaped
in large part in response to, or in cooperation with, this manifest divine activity on the part of the
person of the Spirit, as it was in Acts. As Chan declares, The key to understanding the Spirit in
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the church is to see the Spirit in his own right as the Third Person of the Trinity.
As stated above, however, it is precisely in the demonstration of His own personhood that
the Spirit makes the assembly the church of Jesus Christ: Savior, Healer, Baptizer, Sanctifier and
Coming King. Again, Chan affirms this when, in emphasizing the personhood of the Spirit in
the church, he states, The Spirits coming constitutes the church by uniting the church to its
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Head, making it the body of Christ. This is why, as we saw in Chapter 2, a pentecostal
scholar like Dale Coulter can describe Richard Spurlings ecclesiology by utilizing the words of
the Orthodox theologian John Zizioulas: Christ institutes the church, the Spirit constitutes the
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church. There is a definite sense in which the inherent pentecostal understanding of the
cooperation or synthesis (to use Zizioulas word) between the persons of Christ and the Spirit in
582
583
584
Cf. Coulter, Development of Ecclesiology in the Church of God, 68; Zizoulas, Being as Communion, 140.
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forming the church can find some manner of significant affinity with, in this case, Orthodox
ecclesiology on this point at least.
It is thus as a divine Person that the recognizable or discernible presence of the Spirit
makes the church what it is, the living Temple constantly under construction as it houses the
divine presence in a transforming, empowering manner that then gives witness to the world of
who the triune God is. As I have been pointing out all along, one of the crucial ways the Spirit
demonstrates this personhood in the church is through His exercise of the charismata. Here,
Chan, writing to evangelicals, is helpful again:
Pauls use of the analogy of the body with many different parts to explain how the
charismata should be exercised in the church highlights another aspect of the Spirit as Third
Person. The Spirit is distinguished as the Third Person not only as the gift from the Father that
the risen Christ poured out on the church (Acts 2:33) but also as the giver of gifts (1 Cor 12:7-
11), making the whole church a charismatic community. It is largely to the credit of Pentecostals
that this dimension of the Spirits work in the church is now receiving the attention it
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deserves.
The operation of the charismatic gifts in the participative, playful worship of the Temple,
both for the edification of the body, and to make visible Gods presence to the unbeliever, is the
active working of the Spirit in a way that manifests His Personhood to all. This is why the
operation of the charismata is one of the chief defining practices of the Pentecostal church, as it
was for Paul, and plays a fundamental role in pentecostal ecclesiology. It is in the operation of
585
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these spiritual gifts that the person of the eschatological Spirit bears witness to the inbreaking of
the Kingdom through the church.
This is also where the pentecostal emphasis on glossolalia may be construed
ecclesiologically in a helpful way. Rather than merely being the initial evidence of individual
Spirit-baptism (a strictly utilitarian function), glossolalia should be seen as a sacramental practice
of the church which demonstrates the nearness of the presence of the transcendent person of the
Holy Spirit, who is sent by Jesus the Baptizer. This is where Macchias sacramental
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characterization of glossolalia as theophanic presence is useful. It is picked up by Max
Turner, who helpfully suggests:
it is the distinctly new Christian phenomenon of invasive glossolalia which most strongly
marks the transcendence of the Spirit. In this gift, the Spirit is the theophanic presence of the
redeeming God, which inspires joyful doxology. At the same time, however, invasive
glossolalia paradoxically underlines the remaining sharp distance between humankind and God
(the tongue inspired is incomprehensible!), while perhaps pointing forward to the
eschatological renewal of language in the final reconciliation. It is this understanding of
invasive glossolalia as a sacramental sign of deep and joyful encounter with the mysterium of
God, and its paradigmatic nature for Pentecostalism, that prompted Maloney and Lovekin to
speak of the movement in terms of Troeltschs third sociological class of religious movements
not Church, nor Sect, but Mysticism. In making this observation they were pointing to the
fact that Pentecostalism is marked out less by the pattern of its relationships to (or withdrawal
from) society, and more by the way its institutions and activities as a group are primarily shaped
by the drive for encounter with God. While this does not give adequate account of the mission
586
Cf. Peter Althouse, Spirit of the Last Days: Pentecostal Eschatology in Conversation with Jrgen Moltmann
(New York: T & T Clark International, 2003), 196, comparing Macchia with Moltmann on this point.
264
orientation within Pentecostalism, it is a good measure of the degree to which the Spirit is
perceived as the transcendence of God in the worshipping community.587
By understanding glossolalia as a sacramental mark of the theophanic presence of the
transcendent Spirit which the pentecostal community encounters instead of merely initial
evidence, pentecostal tongues now takes on a far greater ecclesiological significance, as
opposed to a strictly utilitarian purpose. While Paul later preferred the Corinthians to exercise
prophecy over tongues, especially tongues without interpretation, for its greater ability to edify,
he did call tongues a sign of the presence of God for the unbeliever in that context, where the
Corinthian believers were already aware of tongues (1 Cor 14:2-25).
Along with and through the charismatic gifts, including glossolalia, the Spirit also
demonstrates His presence as a divine person through the ongoing declaration of Truth in the
church. A defining role of the churchs mission is stewardship of the truth, which is a preceding
necessity to proclamation of the truth in Spirit-empowerment. This is modeled to a degree by the
apostolic church in that the operation of the person of the Spirit inspired the church to articulate
and hold fast to the kerygma of apostolic proclamation in His dynamic empowerment (i.e. Acts
2:14-26, 42; 3: 12-26; 4:8-12, 24-30; 5:30-32; 7:7-53; 8:35; 10:36-43; 13:16-41; 17:22-31; 26:2-
3). Chan calls this personal action of the Spirit the living tradition, because it leads to what he
588
has elsewhere called the development of doctrine. Truth is intrinsic to the ontological
personhood of the Holy Spirit, for The Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who embodies the Truth in
587
Max Turner, Power from on High: The Spirit in Israels Restoration and Witness in Luke-Acts JPTSup 9.
(Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996), 441-442.
588
Cf. Simon Chan, The Church and the Development of Doctrine, paper delivered at Wycliffe College, Toronto,
March 3, 2005. Later published in JPT, 13:1 (October 2004): 57-77.
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589
the church as well as guides the church into all truth to Christ himself (Jn 14:26). Therefore,
the People of Gods Presence in the indwelling of the person of the Spirit must also be a people
of Truth, who tradition truth through the dynamic inspiration of the Spirit of Truth in their
ongoing pilgrimage to the culmination of the Kingdoms manifestation. It is interesting that,
according to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus twinned the name of the Spirit of truth with that of the
Paraclete (Jn 14:16,17). Because truth is therefore not a commodity, but is actually in the
ontology of the Persons of the Trinity, it will be a living, dynamic reality in a church that is truly
the Temple of the Spirit.
Another characteristic of truth as grounded in divine personhood rather than as a
commodity is that truth is not merely propositional claims, but foremost is grounded in narrative.
The Spirit is driving the church along Gods story, along salvation-history, moving it towards the
eschaton in a proleptical manner. Truth is grounded in story because it is grounded in
personhood, and that is what makes the churchs stewardship of truth a dynamic or living
enterprise. The church continues to tell Gods kerygmatic story in the power of the Spirit even
as it continues to live it in the Spirits fullness. This solidifies the church as the Temple in which
the Spirit resides, for as Chan adds, The story of the church is what it is because it is the story
of the Spirit who constitutes it, the continuation of the triune economy of salvation. Ecclesiology
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and pneumatology therefore cannot be separated.
All of these areas are examples of constituting activities of the presence of the Spirit
which demonstrate His Personhood in and through the church. It is therefore the personal,
589
Chan, Liturgical Theology, 35 (italics his). It cannot be overemphasized that both the Spirit and Christ are
named truth, in conjunction with the Father who is also ontologically characterized as truth, cf. Rom 1:25.
590
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experienced presence of the Spirit in these ways (as well as others which cannot all be
enumerated or discussed here) that reflect the church as the Temple of the Spirit, which is made
up of the People of Gods Presence.
I now want to say more about the specific nature of the Spirits presence in the church
itself, building upon these tangible examples of how it manifests in ecclesially-defining ways.
All throughout this work, I have been referring to this divine presence in a multitude of ways,
and have also utilized a bevy of descriptions used by scholars with regard to it. Some call it
591 592
special presence (Kng), unmediated or immediate presence, mystical presence,
593
miraculous presence, indwelling presence, powerful presence, supernatural or
594 595 596
preternatural presence, tangible presence, dynamic, manifest or eschatological,
along with many other adjectival expressions to try to describe the experienced divine activity of
the Holy Spirit in the church that is the hallmark of Pentecostalism. Notably and curiously, the
same pentecostal experience of the Spirits presence has been independently called both
transcendent and immanent. I would suggest these two descriptions should be fused to more
fully describe the phenomenon of Pentecostalism as the immanent experience of the transcendent
591
Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, 387
592
Cf. Cox, n78 above; Cross, A Response to Clark Pinnock, 177; Anderson, Introduction to Pentecostalism, 9;
Haight, Comparative Ecclesiology, 465 (immediate divine presence).
593
mystical, indwelling, and miraculous are used by Tony Campolo, How to be Pentecostal Without Speaking
in Tongues (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1991), 48, 57.
594
Powerful and preternatural are used by William G. MacDonald, Pentecostal Theology: A Classical
Viewpoint, in Russell P. Spittler, ed. Perspectives on the New Pentecostalism (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1976), 62.
595
Graham Twelftree, People of the Spirit, 108, 133.
596
Dynamic, manifest and eschatological are used by Tan Chow May Ling, Pentecostal Theology for the
Twenty-first Century, 143, 146.
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God through the charismatic activity of the divine person of the Holy Spirit. God the Spirit
draws near to us to indwell our collective gathering and our individual consciousness, and in
doing so makes us aware that He who is immanently present is the Transcendent Lord above all.
Or, as Ralph Del Colle states, Interiority and immanence are marks of the Spirits work and
personal presence. The transcendent God is present to us and in us by the Holy Spirit, and that
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presence is more interior to our psychological consciousness than we might think.
Another significant description of the pentecostal experience of the Spirits presence,
which here is understood to function as ecclesially-constituting, is the word reality. Simon

598
Chan writes of the Pentecostal reality when referring to this phenomenon, while Pinnock
599
refers to the reality of God encountered in the context of charismatic manifestations.
Richard Baer, when comparing pentecostal glossolalia with Quaker silence and Catholic Liturgy,
refers to a deep movement of the human spirit as it encounters the Spirit of God, the presence of
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the risen Christ, the reality of the Holy Spirit. This, he suggests, can be common to all three
contexts of worship. I would heartily agree. But this reality of the Holy Spirit, while
manifested in all three settings in a comparable manner (in Baers thesis), is understood to be
ecclesially-defining in a unique manner for Pentecostals. The particular point here is that there is
an experienced manifestation of the divine presence of the person of the Spirit that can be
597
Ralph Del Colle, The Experience of the Divine, Chicago Studies, Vol. 31, No. 3 (1992), 297.
598
Cf. Chan, Pentecostal Theology, 12, 96, 116,119.
599
Pinnock, Church, 8, 10.
600
Richard Baer, Jr., Quaker Silence, Catholic Liturgy and Pentecostal Glossolalia Some Functional
Similarities, in Spittler, ed. Perspectives on the New Pentecostalism, 156.
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described as a reality that then determines other realities by its existence, including the reality of
the church as the People of Gods Presence.
The other crucial point that bears repeating when attempting to describe the specific
nature of this divine presence is how it belongs to the person of the Spirit, but, as Baer states in
his description above, is thereby also the presence of the risen Christ. Here, the charismatic
Catholic scholar Ralph Del Colle is helpful. In attempting to answer the question, What is the
presence of the Holy Spirit?, Del Colle is led to address the relationship between the Spirits
presence (Spiritus praesens), and Christs presence (Christus praesens) because they cannot now
be understood apart from each other. This is in large part because It is characteristic of the
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Holy Spirit then to move beyond its own Person toward the other, as has already been noted
above. The presence or reality of the Spirit in the church manifests the nature of the inner-
trinitarian relations of the Godhead. The Spirits presence represents Christs presence as He is
Head and Lord of the church. Thus, Christ is present in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is
the agent of the risen Lords presenceTherefore, we cannot artificially separate the presence of
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the risen and exalted Christ from that of the Holy SpiritThey are distinct but not separate.
The distinction, he later notes, is in their relationality only. Again, this is why a church that is
constituted by the palpable presence of the Spirit has consequently been characterized by its
Christology of Jesus as Savior, Healer, Baptizer, Sanctifier and Coming King.
Writing within the sacramental tradition, Del Colle concludes the following about the
Spirits presence in the church: The presence of the Holy Spirit is constitutive for the presence
601
Del Colle, Experience of the Divine, 297.
602
Del Colle, Experience of the Divine, 298-299.
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of Christ in the Eucharistic meal. And this Eucharistic presence is constitutive along with the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the congregation to go forth from the assembly as the Body of
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Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Herein lies the crucial distinction between Catholic
and pentecostal ecclesiology in light of the Temple metaphor. Del Colle acknowledges the
Spirits presence explicitly in both the eucharistic meal (epiclesis), and in the manifestation of
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the giftedness of God in the lives of believers or charismata, as would nearly all of the
pentecostal scholars surveyed in the previous chapter. Yet, for Del Colle and all Catholics, the
eucharist would be the primary venue of the Spirits presence, whereas for Pentecostals the
opposite would be the case. This distinction is simply one of experience and the respective
history of both churches.
5.1 Charismata and Order/Structure

The issue of charismata and institution is an inevitable one that is ubiquitous to all revival
movements, and has been a topic as old as the church itself. Terry Cross, responding to Clark
Pinnock and referring to Avery Dulles, frames the question of this issue as one of the foremost
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that a pentecostal ecclesiology must attempt to answer. Space does not permit an exhaustive
603
604
605
Terry Cross, A Response to Clark Pinnocks Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit, 176: How do we
allow the freedom of the Spirit to enter the church and flow through the institution in a dynamic, living manner?
The short answer of this dissertation, in line with Krkkinen, is that it is the flow of the Spirit that is itself the
constituting element of the church, so that the question should be, how do we structure the church around the Spirits
dynamic presence?
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treatment of it here, but something must be said about how the pentecostal church as Temple of
the Spirit and as the People of Gods Presence understands herself theologically around this point
so as to navigate the tension between the freedom of the Spirits surprising presence, and the
order that is necessary and biblically mandated (i.e. 1 Cor 14:26-40) to keep the churchs playful
worship within the rules. It is a tension that has often been avoided. Elim Pentecostal minister
John Lancaster observes that, Generally speaking, the average Pentecostal church has a
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comparatively loose structure. A good place to start addressing the tension is with 1
Corinthians 14 itself, where Paul looks to address certain Corinthian abuses of the charismata.
His instructions are self-explanatory, and as they are inspired by the Spirit himself, demonstrate
that the Spirit of God who is not of disorder but of peace (v. 33) would not operate in such a
way as to be the author of harmful confusion in the church. The tension, then, does not originate
with the person of the Spirit, who is revealed throughout the biblical narrative to be an agent of
justice, peace and order (as seen by His participation in the process of creation, for example), but
with the dynamics inherent within human organization. Here again is where pentecostal
ecclesiology can follow a developed or mature pneumatology to avoid a dichotomy between
freedom and spontaneity over against order and structure.
The works of Suurmond, Pinnock and Krkkinen are also helpful here in that each has
also tried to orient the relationship between the surprising life of the Spirit with ecclesial
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structures. Suurmond does this effectively in his aforementioned theology of playful worship.
Worship as play allows for freedom of individual expression, outbursts of joy, spontaneity,
606
John Lancaster, The Spirit-filled Church (Cheltenham, UK: Grenehurst Press, 1973), 2.
607
Suurmond, Word & Spirit at Play, particularly 208ff. Suurmond focuses on the two sacraments of water baptism
and the eucharist as primary examples of the objective rules of the game.
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surprises, and creative participation by all in their own unique ways, etc. But for any play to
accomplish this in healthy, productive (as in recreational) ways, there always must be rules to the
play. This is universal to all play, whether it is a group of children at the playground, a hockey
match, or a pentecostal worship event. Playfulness as recreational, celebratory and communal
can only be achieved in a context of structure and order. Playful worship as the primary mission
of the Temple of the Spirit must take place within certain confines of this Temple, that merely
sets an order that will not stifle the Spirit or the human players.
Pinnock refers to the common analogy of structure being the bark that holds the life and
growth of the tree and protects it. The Spirit brings life, but order and tradition protects this life
and allows it to continue to flourish and be nurtured over time. Thus it is in fact necessary for
the church to operate as an institution to the degree that this is accomplished. He refers to this
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bark as the Continued Charismatic Structure of the pentecostal church, and then ends his
piece discussing further the Institutional Dimension of a pentecostal ecclesiology. That the
structure is charismatic means that it operates according to spiritual or divine giftings rather than
by man-made structures. The church is ordered according to the distribution of the charismata
by the Spirit instead of a human corporate model. This allows for unity in diversity, for balance
between various types of giftings (ie. spontaneous prophets and organized teachers is the
example Pinnock uses), and ideally leads to a culture of humility and service rather than
competition and hierarchy (cf. 1 Cor 12). The Spirit has already provided for checks and
balances, and structure to maintain a healthy body of Christ. Thus, the task of the body is to
recognize and practice these gifts properly. That is where the institutional dimension then enters.
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In a similar approach to Krkkinen, Pinnock stresses the value of institution insofar as it
serves its purpose of continuing the mission of the church and facilitates the ongoing encounter
of the presence of God by the people. Therefore, It is not so much a question whether the
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church has an institutional dimension but of what kind. The array of vastly different polities
operating within global Pentecostalism demonstrates that the question truly is what kind and
not which one. Pinnocks answer from a biblical point of view are ones that are
functional, culturally viable, and temporally flexible. He stresses the primacy of the Spirit
over structure, and, though he does not use the term, also emphasizes the principle of semper
reformanda in that all structures are not permanent and will need to change over time to maintain
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the ongoing dynamic renewal of the Spirit in His Temple. This principle, I suggest, is vital to
any and all churches, but must be intrinsic to the character of pentecostal ecclesiology. Though
it is a restorationist movement, Pentecostalism is clearly in need of its own reform after a century
of existence. Like any revival movement, its institutionalizing is prone to squelch its incipient
power unless the principle of semper reformanda is grounded into the structures and leadership
of the many denominations that the movement is now comprised of. This is especially true
where the movement is older and colder, such as in the West.
It will be remembered from the previous chapter that Krkkinen, in portraying the
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church as a Charismatic Fellowship, also stressed the primacy of the charisma over institution
for essentially the same reasons as Pinnock. This reflects the pentecostal ethos. While the
original Pentecostals were passionately averse to any structure, traditioning or even order at
609
610
611
Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology, 111ff.
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times, as any revival movement matures the inevitability of institutionalizing is accepted,
begrudgingly or not. After the Azusa revival waned, even William Seymour drew upon the
AME handbook and other materials to produce his own constitution, The Doctrines and
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Discipline of the Apostolic Faith Mission, to help govern the churches he had planted. What
authentic, mature pentecostalism is characterized by is not the aversion to structure, but the
prioritizing of charismata or the experience of the palpable presence of God over structures, so
that the structures serve this greater, ecclesial-constituting event. What is often lamented by
Pentecostals is the loss of the fire of Gods Presence when it appears extinguished by the
clericalism or institutionalism of denominational politics. Thus, it bears repeating that
charismata and structure or order should not be dichotomized ecclesiologically, but put in proper
perspective and priority within the framework that both are equally works of the Spirit in the
church and will function best under the Spirits leading. The Corinthian situation and
Pentecostalism both testify to the propensity of abuses of spiritual gifts, and the need for some
institutional structure to facilitate their healthy use. But the same Spirit of God, who is the
author of order rather than confusion, is as equally concerned with guiding the church into the
right structure as He is with distributing gifts. The ordered description of the early church
following Pentecost in Acts 2:42-47 seems to confirm this. The phenomenon of Pentecostalism
demonstrates that a variety of structures can be used, and this fact bears witness to the
ecclesiological principle that it is how the structure is employed, rather than which particular one
it is, that matters most.
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http://www.azusastreet.org/WilliamJSeymour.htm, accessed July 18, 2011.
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5.2 Presence and Koinonia

It is also from Krkkinen (and others) that the biblical picture of church as koinonia is
addressed from a pentecostal perspective. The bottom line in this regard is that it is the Spirit
who creates authentic fellowship in the church. He does so through distributing the charismatic
gifts without discrimination to any and all willing recipients. It is this charismatic structure in
which the experience of the Spirit bonds people to one another in the highly participative, playful
worship of the People of Gods Presence that founds the basis for a uniquely pentecostal
experience of biblical koinonia. This is affirmed by Paul Lee when he observes as a Catholic,
The concept of fellowship is indeed highly valued in the Pentecostal understanding of the
Church. Their awareness of the complementarity of the spiritual gifts that each receives,
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establishes a fellowship among the members.
This unique premise of koinonia established by a common experience of the Spirits
presence stands in stark contrast to current Western ecclesiologies which see community as
something manufactured through programs and resources. Contrary to this popular opinion is an
ecclesiology which sees genuine care in fellowship among diverse peoples as a direct fruit of
encountering the preternatural presence of God (Acts 2:44-46). Earlier I suggested that a church
constituted as the Temple of the Spirit, where the tangible presence of the Spirit shapes the
church as it fellowship with Him in playful worship, will also be a missional church in that this
presence will also propel the church into the world to serve it with His grace. A church that
encounters the divine, infilling presence of Spirit-baptism in pentecostal fashion will also be
driven by the indwelling Spirit to care for one another, as the apostolic church did. The koinonia
613
Paul D. Lee, Pneumatological Ecclesiology, 208.
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that marked the Acts 2 church came as a direct result of the Acts 2 experience in the Upper
Room. When the Holy Spirit is encountered in this way, the sanctifying grace of God in His
spiritual Temple draw the People of Gods Presence in love toward one another, even as He
empowers them to witness to the world. This koinonia is in itself a crucial part of His
empowerment to witness to Himself to the world. It is interesting that in Acts 2, the church did
not initially grow daily as a result of planned missional efforts or strategic evangelism; but as
they were together and had all things in common, the Lord added to their number dailyno
doubt those who were yearning to belong to such a community of love.
A trite personal anecdote may help to illustrate this point. When I received an infilling or
baptism of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues for the first time, the first action I
remember doing after spending time in joyful, ecstatic worship before God was to turn and
embrace the young man next to me. He had also just experienced the same event at the same
time. We were both older teens who were not at all prone to hugging our male friends. Yet it
was the most natural thing to do in that moment. We had become so full and so aware of Gods
love for us that it was just natural to direct it toward other people. This appears to be what
Lukes account describes. The koinonia enjoyed by the apostolic church did not come about
through human means, at least that quickly. Their pentecostal encounter with the Spirits divine
presence in their midst transformed their orientation and priorities toward one another and then
out into the world.
The modern pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit at Azusa Street also bears testimony to
this suggestion of Spirit-driven koinonia. In Chapter Two we noted how the social dimension of
this phenomenon was one of the most radical characteristics of the revival at the time: interracial
worship in a segregation era; women participating in leadership; rich and poor worshipping and
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encountering the divine presence together; the washing away of the color line, etc. There was a
radical koinonia experienced there that could only be attributed to the divine work of the Holy
Spirit; a new koinonia that matched the description of Paul to the Ephesians: that in
reconstituting the Temple, the dividing wall of hostility had been broken down (Eph 2:14), if
even for a short time.
With the divine source of true koinonia established, the ecclesiological question for
Pentecostals then concerns their understanding of koinonia with regards to both the locality and
visibility of the church. Traditionally, Pentecostals have emphasized the local church, and the
invisible church. This is understandable for a persecuted, restorationist revival movement which
has experienced the Holy Spirit in its own unique way. The presence of the Spirit is encountered
by particular local assemblies, but has also been poured out on all flesh around the globe. The
ecclesiological challenge at this point in the movements history is to address the question of
koinonia with other churches. Specifically, if they hold to the theology of the church offered
here, that the church is the People of Gods Presence, can other churches that have experienced
the presence of God in quite different ways, or cannot be said to be genuinely experiencing this
presence at all at the moment, also be called churches and thereby have a basis for true
fellowship with Pentecostals? Does this basis for ecclesiality allow for a broader view of
koinonia? If so, what is the basis for this more universal fellowship?
It was made explicit in Chapter One that one of the objectives of constructing a distinctly
pentecostal ecclesiology is to empower the movement ecumenically. That is, one of the chief
benefits of having their own ecclesiology is to be able to contribute a valuable piece to the
ecumenical puzzle. Clearly, in having this objective I am already operating out of the
presupposition that there is such a thing as a more universal koinonia between Pentecostalism
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and other churches. So now how do we reconcile a distinct ecclesiology of divine presence as
that which constitutes the church with an ecumenical objective of koinonia? Of course, an
identical or similar challenge is faced by all distinct ecclesiologies. The beginning of addressing
this challenge here is in reminding ourselves that this ecclesiology (along with potentially any
other), as distinct or unique as it attempts to be in its articulation, does not entirely negate the
recognition of other ecclesiologies or forms of church as legitimate. All ecclesiologies are only
partial in that, however developed they may be, they do not fully encompass all that the church
potentially is or even has been historically, as much as they may attempt to do so.
To be more specific, the idea of the church as the People of Gods Presence attempts to
define the essence of church from a pentecostal perspective. In doing so, it emphasizes a crucial
aspect of what makes the church visiblein this case, the tangible presence of the Spirit as
encountered by the ekklesia in certain, visible ways such as charismata, Spirit-baptism, playful
worship, etc. But Pentecostals have also retained, for the most part, a Protestant conviction that
the Word rightly preached is also a vital part of the churchs existence and essence. It has even
been stated that, For Pentecostals, the central element of worship is the preaching of the
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Word. As several scholars have noted, they have also (perhaps unconsciously most times)
embodied the distinctly Lutheran ideal of the priesthood of all believers. They have also
presumed that everyone must make a personal confession of faith to be converted and be part of
the Bride of Christ. These three examples alone are in large part why Pentecostalism is often
614
Perspectives in Koinonia: Report from the Third Quinquennium of the Dialogue between the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders 1985-1989, #96.
Obtained at http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/pe-rc/doc/i_pe-rc_pent03.html.
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characterized ecclesiologically as a subset of Protestant evangelicalism on one hand, and as
merely another (radical) expression of Free Church or Believers church on the other, as noted in
Chapter One.
As our survey of contemporary scholars writing on pentecostal ecclesiology also
confirmed, there is a prevailing concern among pentecostal theologians to give a much larger
place to the sacraments within Pentecostalism. The diversity of polities found within the
movement also testifies to its broad understanding of the churchs many legitimate expressions
of governed life. All of these aspects, and many more besides, allows Pentecostals to, for
example, engage in formal dialogue with Roman Catholics and the Reformed Church for mutual
benefit and for some greater form of koinonia.
In fact, the report of the third quinquennium of the Catholic/Pentecostal dialogue was of
course entitled, Perspectives on Koinonia. Through this formal dialogue with a historic
church that has often been viewed as apostate by the restorationist movement, Pentecostal views
on unity with other churches through the prism of koinonia were explored and challenged in
various ways. There, the following was acknowledged at that time:
the Pentecostal Movement is less than a century old and has had little opportunity to engage
in sustained theological reflection on ecclesiology. Although Pentecostals do not possess a
developed ecclesiology, they do embrace a variety of ecclesiological polities, and they hold
strongly to certain basic ecclesiological convictions (e.g. the importance of the local
congregation). These convictions have been brought to bear on the various issues discussed. 615
615
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Aside from identifying the pentecostal emphasis on the local church, the dialogue report
also affirmed that koinonia with others in the global church is conceived to be based upon a
common experience of the Spirits presence for the movement. On this point the report states:
As believers continue to be filled with the Spirit (cf. Eph 5:18), they should be led to seek
greater unity in the faith with other Christians. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity (cf. Acts
2:1ff.). Just as the Spirit fell on Gentiles and showed the Church to be a universal community,
made of both Jews and Gentiles (cf. Acts 10), so also today God is bestowing his Spirit
everywhere on Christians from different churches, promoting unity around our common Lord.
The common experience of the Holy Spirit challenges us to strive for greater visible unity as we
reflect on the shape God wants this unity to take. 616
The reality reflected by this statement of this dialogue, and of Pentecostalisms
communion with other churches, then, is that the charismatic renewal in the Roman Catholic and
other churches, followed by the Third Wave in other evangelical churches, has been the catalyst
for the possibility of visible koinonia between Pentecostalism and others in a way not conceived
of beforehand. Another statement in the dialogue seems to confirm this fact: Wherever the
Spirit is genuinely present in the Christian community its fruit will also become evident (cf. Gal
5:22-23). Genuine charismata mentioned in Scripture (e.g. 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28-30; Rom 12:6-8;
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etc.) also indicate the presence of the Spirit. The fact that the manifestation of the Spirits
charismatic presence is now mutually recognized and experienced by Catholics (and others) has
opened up new doors of koinonia between Pentecostals and others who also affirm this presence.
616
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This is, in fact, theologically and spiritually healthier than the efforts in previous decades
of Pentecostal denominations to attain fellowship with Fundamentalist alliances, and is healthier
than current trends in North America where numerous local Pentecostal churches are adopting
wholesale the methodologies of newer mega-churches (i.e. seeker-sensitive and purpose-
driven). While the common experience of the Spirits presence may still seem like a narrow
basis for ecumenical communion, it is far more preferable to these other phenomena. A further
statement in the report, which could either confuse or broaden the possibilities of koinonia with
others, occurs shortly thereafter to reflect the prior pentecostal stress on fundamental doctrines:
Pentecostals tend to view denominations as more or less legitimate manifestations of the one,
universal Church. Their legitimacy depends on the degree of their faithfulness to the
fundamental doctrines of the Scripture. We both agree that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity in
diversity (cf. 1 Cor 12:13ff.) and not the Spirit of division. 618
While the emphasis on a standard of truth and doctrinal faithfulness to the kerygma is necessary
and positive, the manner in which the movement historically acted on this is now generally
regarded as regrettable. At a minimum, it is therefore essential that Pentecostals continue to find
ways to define koinonia theologically which will incorporate a healthy fusion of these two
criteria (experience of the Spirits presence, and doctrinal fidelity) in the proper configuration to
guide their (hopeful) continued efforts at greater spiritual communion with other church bodies.
One such attempt at this could be read into a later statement in the report, found within a section
concerning koinonia and water baptism: Pentecostals do not see the unity between Christians as
being based in a common water baptism, mainly because they believe that the New Testament
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does not base it in baptism. Instead, the foundation of unity is a common faith and experience of
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Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through the Holy Spirit. The identification of both faith and
experience which is articulated in terms of the synthesis between christology and pneumatology
is able to capture the heart of pentecostalism in a way that also allows for common ground with
many other church groups, including Catholic and Orthodox.
Another significant, possible means of establishing communion ecclesiologically with
other churches for Pentecostalism is through a theology and practice of the Lords Supper. This
was yet another perspective on koinonia treated in the dialogues report, and its conclusion was
an encouraging surprise at the time:
Both Pentecostals and Roman Catholics recognize that believers have a share in the eternal
life which is koinonia with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (cf. 1 John 1:2-3), and a
communion in the Holy Spirit whom God's Son, Jesus Christ, has given to them (cf. 1 John 3:24;
2 Cor 13:14). This, the deepest meaning of the koinonia, is actualized at various levels. Those
who believe and have been baptized into Christ's death (cf. Mark 16:16; Rom 6:3-4) have
koinonia in his sufferings and become like him in his death and resurrection (cf. Phil 3:10). The
next step is the Eucharist or the Lord's Supper. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a
participation [koinonia] in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a
participation [koinonia] in the body of Christ?" (1 Cor 10:16) All believers, furthermore, who
have koinonia in the eternal life of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who have koinonia in
Christ's death and resurrection are bound together in a koinonia too deep for words. We look
forward to the day when we will also have koinonia in his body and blood (1 Cor 10:16).620
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The eschatological dimension of the eucharist, in particular, allows for an understanding of this
practice that connects Pentecostals with Catholics and others around the table of the Lord, even
as they will at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9). This does not ignore the significant
differences in their respective theologies of the eucharist, but it does establish a hopeful
connection upon which to nurture koinonia between the churches.
Yet ultimately it is the operation of the divine presence of God along with the human
response to it that constitutes koinonia in the church; and most importantly, this is something that
Pentecostals can find partners to affirm, as this dialogue has shown. As one of the more
important statements in the reports says, For Roman Catholics and Pentecostals koinonia in the
Church is a dynamic concept, implying a dialogical structure of both God-givenness and human
response. Mutuality has to exist on every level of the Church, its source being the continuing
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presence of the Holy Spirit. As long as there are churches that believe this, Pentecostals can
happily establish communion with them.
On a practical level, however, this brings back questions concerning church structures
and offices, which the report goes on to address. The pentecostal perspective communicated in
this section of the report reveals or confirms three characteristics of the movement, two of which
have already been identified earlier in this present work. First, that ecclesiality for Pentecostals
is not based upon a particular kind of governance (as it is for Roman Catholics) since
Pentecostalism reflects the same diversity found among the NT churches in this matter (#84).
Second, Pentecostals have operated on a certain view of ordination and its function in the church,
again based on their reading of the NT:
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Although Pentecostals do not limit celebration of the sacraments and leadership in the
Church to the ordained ministers, they do recognize the need for and the value of ordination for
the life of the Church. Pentecostals do not consider ordination to be a sacrament. Ordinarily
Pentecostals recognize that a charism of teacher/pastor is recognized or can be given to a person
at the laying on of hands, but they do not consider that at ordination the power of the Holy Spirit
is bestowed to the person being ordained. Instead, ordination is a public acknowledgment of a
God-given charism which a person has received prior to the act of ordination. 622
It will be noted from the survey in Chapter Three that ordination is not an addressed topic
among any of those doing work on a Pentecostal theology of the church; a fact which in itself
reveals a great deal about pentecostal ecclesiology. Certainly the above statement is accurate in
terms of the common view. From the perspective of this dissertation, the fact that Pentecostals
do not limit the presiding of the Lords Supper to ordained clergy or consider ordination a
sacrament is appropriate, since the essence of Pentecostalism is that which joyfully lives in the
era in which the Spirit has been poured out on all flesh, and all distinctions of charismatic
contributionsage, gender, socio-economic status, etc. have been eliminated (Acts 2:17-18; cf.
Joel 2:28, 29). The concept of the priesthood of all believers inherent within this era of the new
Temple where all are living stones does not functionally allow for a hierarchy of clergy over
laity, or a restriction of ministry to certain offices.
At the same time, it has always been acknowledged in Pentecostalism that certain
individuals are divinely called to be pastors or shepherds over Gods flock, just as in the NT
there were always formal leaders of some kind, whether they be apostles, elders, overseers or
pastors. Thus, ordination, as well described in the above report statement, has been a part of
Pentecostal churches since their inception. In fact, the necessity of ordination was a driving
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factor in the formation of Pentecostal denominations. While ultimate leadership was proudly
attributed to the direct work of the Spirit in their midst, as noted in Chapter Two there was
always a human leader in the assembly, just as there was always a human leader over Gods
People throughout the biblical narrative. Ordination for Pentecostals, then, functions as an
official, public acknowledgement of an individuals calling to serve in this capacity of oversight
or pastoral leadership of the local assembly. This reflects the mature Pentecostal view towards
structure and order discussed above. While the original Pentecostals eschewed such things in
favour of the revival tide of the Spirit operating without any constraints, now there is a
recognized need, as St. Paul taught, for defined structure to allow the gifts of the Spirit to operate
in an orderly, edifying way. The dialogue report, in fact, contains two full paragraphs
articulating the Pentecostal perspective on the need for structure and (by association) recognized
leadership offices. Also affirmed within these paragraphs are that church order can legitimately
623
take different forms, and a statement of agreement that the offices and structures of the
Church, as indeed every aspect of the Church, are in a continual need of renewal insofar as they
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are institutions of men and women here on earth. While this statement is far from
unexpected, it reflects an attitude that embraces the Reformed conviction of semper reformanda
(something you would not anticipate Catholics to adhere to), but in so doing, recognizes that
structures are always necessary to facilitate the work of the Spirit in the church. Since structure
and leadership forms are bound together, Pentecostals carry a view of ordination as a necessary
but subservient function to the operation of the Spirit in the assembly.
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This leads to the third point, where the report unfortunately confirms a bias among
mostly white Pentecostal churches towards certain structures: On the whole, Pentecostals
propose that presbyteral and/or congregational ecclesial models express better the mutuality or
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reciprocity demanded by koinonia. This is a questionable statement given that there are
several Pentecostal denominations, including some of the largest, that employ an episcopal or
semi-episcopal form of government. To repeat, since many (but not all) of the episcopal
Pentecostal churches are black, a statement such as this becomes socially troublesome, even
beyond the point that it shows a disparity within Pentecostalism ecclesiologically.
Another potential point of communion identified by the report was, surprisingly, in the
comparison of the two views of the mission of the church, or the relationship between the church
and the world (through the kingdom). On this point, the report states:
Though Pentecostals do not accept the Roman Catholic understanding of sacraments and the
Roman Catholic view of the Church as "a kind of sacrament," in their own way they do affirm
that the Church is both a sign and an instrument of salvation. As the new people of God, the
Church is called both to reflect the reality of God's eschatological kingdom in history and to
announce its coming into the world, insofar as people open their lives to the in-breaking of the
Holy Spirit. In Pentecostal understanding the Church as a community is an instrument of
salvation in the same sense in which each one of its members is both a sign and instrument of
salvation. In their own way, both the community as a whole and the individual members that
comprise it, give witness to God's redeeming grace. 626
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That Pentecostals can share with Catholics and others a similar understanding of the church as a
sign and instrument of the kingdom for the sake of the world is also a means for the movement
of entering into a broader koinonia with other churches.
Yet another significant point of commonality that Pentecostalism can share with other
churches is sinfulness, as also recognized in the report in the following:
We agree that because of sin, the Church is always in need of repentance. It is at once holy and in
need of purification. The Church is a "holy penitent," and is ever in need of renewal both in its
persons and in its structures. Both Catholics and Pentecostals recognize the fact that their respective
theologies of koinonia are all too seldom reflected in the empirical reality of the life in their
respective communities.627
Pentecostal churches, despite the operating presence of the Spirit as their constituting element,
are broken and reflect human fallenness in their corporate lives and structures, as do all other
churches. In this crucial manner, all churches have the same problem in common and therefore
can see this unfortunate similarity as a point of unity, rather than condescension, superiority or
accusation toward the other. The confession of and repentance from corporate sinfulness is
something churches can engage in together as an act of koinonia before the one God of
redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. Thus, what breaks or mars true koinonia in the Spirit
can potentially lead to agreement and a sense of solidarity before the Lord whose glory the
churches have all fallen short of. It is this view of the sinfulness of the church, couched in the
hope of forgiveness and cleansing by the God of Church, that can be utilized by Pentecostals to
attain koinonia with the universal church.
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Thus, as Perspectives on Koinonia assists in identifying, there are several possible
theological grounds by which this pentecostal ecclesiology gives shape to a theology of a visible,
universal church in which at least spiritual unity is desirable (Cf. Eph 4:3-6). Again, one of the
objectives in articulating a distinctly pentecostal theology of the church is to assist the movement
in having an identity that can then be shared in koinonia with other churches. This becomes
more difficult when there is a lack of ecclesial self-identity. Of course, the hermeneutical circle
for Pentecostals is that their own ecclesial identity has been partially shaped, at least in the
academy, by and through dialogue with other church groups, as reports such as Perspectives on
Koinonia demonstrate.
5.3 Presence and Corporate Ethics

It has also been a phenomenon of historical ecclesiology that churches develop and/or
articulate their identity through certain ethical convictions. The Anabaptist or Radical
Reformation movement would be a perfect example of this. While this is not precisely the case
with Classical Pentecostalism, it does demonstrate that ecclesiology and ethics are meant to be
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intertwined, as scholars such as John Howard Yoder and Stanley Hauerwas have trumpeted.
Thus, in an ecclesiology of the People of Gods Presence, who are collectively the living
stones of the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the ethical convictions of the church are directly shaped
by the indwelling presence of the Spirit in their midst. This could easily command a whole work
628
See, for example, Arne Rasmusson, The Church as Polis: From Political Theology to Theological Politics as
Exemplified by Jrgen Moltmann and Stanley Hauerwas (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1995).
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in itself, but any Spirit who is named Holy is directly concerned with the ethical behaviour of
those in whom He resides. An ecclesiology of presence, therefore, must be passionately given
over to the corporate ethics of the assembly.
More specifically, since worship is the primary mission of the church, the churchs
obedience to the moral directives of her God is of paramount importance, since to obey is better
than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22), and the LORD requires justice instead of festivals, offerings and
songs (Amos 5:21-24). Additionally, the playful worship of the People of Gods Presence will
not only observe the rules of this worship, but also the rules of conduct in all of lifes
relations. Furthermore, as the church also engages in the subsequent mission of serving the
grace of the Gospel to the world, it will aim to do so in the power of the Holy Spirit and thus in a
manner that upholds the integrity of this Gospel witness (cf. Titus 2:8), and has the goodwill of
all the people (Acts 2:47). Tan Chow May Ling quotes Steven Land as reminding us on this
point: After all, the church cannot very well ask the world to consider the justice, peace, unity
and love of God if it is not itself living out of practising these things with visible zeal. 629 Thus,
the church as the Spirit-filled People of Gods Presence will be a people vitally concerned with
the ethics practiced by the community.
This is where, as Macchia contends, the split between Wesleyan and non-Wesleyan
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Pentecostals has produced a weaker pneumatology among the latter group. When Spirit
baptism is reduced to the means of empowerment for witness and is consequently divorced from
sanctification, then the passionate concern of the Spirit for the qualitative dimension of the
629
May Ling, Pentecostal Theology for the Twenty-first Century 52 (quoting Land, Pentecostal Spirituality, 208).
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churchs spirituality can be (unintentionally, I believe) eclipsed. The Spirit does not indwell
the Temple merely for empowerment to perform only one task without the intention of
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transforming life in all its dimensions. Moreover the church cannot truly be consecrated as a
dwelling place for the presence of the Holy Spirit without having her collective conscience
deeply affected by this Presence. Her ethical sensitivities will undoubtedly be heightened, so
that there will be conviction of sin, and a desire for purification (cf Isa 6) as well as liberation
from the old self (Rom 6:6-14).
The Acts narrative that Pentecostals cherish so much as the template for ecclesiology
actually confirms how the Spirit shapes the ethical life of the church through His charismatic
operation in the worshipping community. Examples of this are found in the episode involving
Peters handling of the deception of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), the apostolic response
to the Hellenist complaint (Acts 6:1-7), the respective visions of Cornelius and Peter along with
the Spirit baptism of Gentiles (evidenced by glossolalia) that led to the integration of previously
excluded Gentiles into the church (Acts 10), the Antiochan collection for the famine victims in
Judea (Acts 11:27-30), and the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15, esp. v. 28). In each of these events,
the guidance of the Paraclete is either implicitly or explicitly demonstrated as involved in the
churchs ethical decisions. Lukes narrative, then, makes plain that the Holy Spirit was doing
much more than empowering for witness, but was also concerned with both the general and
specific ethical actions of the community towards one another or other groups of people, so that
they would be obedient to the expressed desires of the God of church.
631
Examples of this divorce can be read into Stronstad and Menzies.
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See Jrgen Moltmann, The Spirit of Life (1992), and The Source of Life (1997), both of Fortress Press.
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As the People of Gods Presence, then, the church lives in careful and passionate
obedience to both the Word and Spirit at play. They will be shaped by the interplay of the
manifest presence of the Spirit with the living Scriptures as the Word of God. The Spirit who
inspired the Word will allow its dynamic quality of truth to continue to be embodied as the
authority of life and faith for the pentecostal community. Thus, the ethical life of the church is
neither wooden nor open-ended, but determined by the real presence of the Spirit indwelling the
community as the Paraclete who reminds the church of the teaching of her Head, Jesus Christ. In
this way, both the universal commands of scripture and the situational decisions made by the
community via its leaders or structure are presided over by the Spirit who is present in the
Temple. This is where both the restorationist bent of Pentecostalism toward the narrative of
Acts, and the truth-traditioning suggestion of Simon Chan can actually coalesce rather than
contradict. The dynamic operation of the Spirits presence can continue His actions from the
churchs past narrative, and in so doing build on these actions to create an ongoing tradition
which guides the churchs ethics. Because the nature of this traditioning is itself living and
dynamic as it derives from the personhood of the Spirit, it can guide the churchs ongoing
reformation (semper reformanda) rather than prevent it, as when a church holds to a tradition
without the living presence of the Spirit.
As the Spirit who inspired the Word, the churchs ethics as grounded in the divine
presence in the church will be historically reflective of the narrative from which it originates and
finds its roots. Additionally, as the eschatological Spirit, the churchs ethics will be
teleologically reflective of its future destiny and therefore its identity as the foretaste of the
coming glorious fulfillment of the kingdom under the Spirits leading. In this vein, Murray
Dempster states, From an ethical perspective, the mission of the church is to witness to the
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reality of what life looks like when humans respond to Gods eschatological reign. In all
cases, the divine presence will guide the churchs ethic to be ontologically reflective of the
nature and character of the Triune God of church. Each of these key elements in the churchs
ethics will most often be shaped by the playful worship of the People of Gods Presence. For in
the play of worship, the people will encounter the character of God as His transforming Presence
inhabits them. In the joyful Sabbath rest and reflection of God as the I AM, the community will
be shaped after His character and thus be transformed and empowered to model it by His
sanctifying grace. It is thus by this divine presence that, for instance, a culture of honesty,
humility, selflessness, love, grace, justice and courage can serve as the ethical parameters and
purposes for the People of Gods Presence.
5.4 Presence and Scripture

The interplay of Word and Spirit as the formative ethical force in the church therefore
leads to the particular relationship between the dynamic, operating presence of the Spirit and the
role of the Scriptures among the People of Gods Presence. In a distinctly pentecostal
ecclesiology, this interplay is most often demonstrated by the ongoing illumination and
revelation of the Spirits prophetic word, and through anointed or Spirit-empowered preaching
of the Word. As Pentecostals have been known to say, the Bible is the authoritative Word of
God, but it is not the only word from God. The Spirit continues to speak prophetically today
afresh and anew, though never in conflict or contradiction with what has already been spoken in
Scripture. The presence of the Spirit of Christ, who is also the Logos, ensures that this Word
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Murray Dempster, Evangelism and Social Concern, in Dempster, Klaus & Peterson, eds., Called &
Empowered, 24.
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continues to be spoken out of resurrection and pentecostal power, even as the Spirit continues to
prophetically speak the word of God now by way of His charismatic action in and through the
church. Thus, Roger Stronstad makes the following bold claim:
The church is to be a community of prophets. But from the post-apostolic period to the
present it has not functioned as a prophetic community which is powerful in works and word. In
fact, in too many places the church views itself as a didactic community rather than a prophetic
community, where sound doctrine is treasured above charismatic action. Indeed, the preaching
and teaching of the word displaces Spirit-filled, Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered ministry. The
Spirit of prophecy has been quenched and the gifts of the Spirit have been sanitized and
institutionalized. 634
Stronstad makes this claim as a NT scholar himself. He is not discarding preaching or sound
doctrine, but sees the church as hearing from God in charismatic ways beyond (as in an
augmenting of Holy Writ) and yet in dynamic conjunction with the Scriptures.
Secondly, the living presence of the Spirit indwelling the temple which is constantly
under construction means that the Scripture continues to be read as story instead of, say, as a
manual. The core narrative quality of scripture is nurtured as it continues to be written by the
operating presence of the Spirit in the church. Just as the stories of scripture often come alive
through pentecostal preaching, the church as the ongoing story of the immanent presence of the
eschatological Spirit who is demonstrating the inbreaking of Gods kingdom upon the world He
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Roger Stronstad, The Prophethood of All Believers: A Study in Lukes Charismatic Theology (London: Sheffield
Academic Press, 1999), 76.
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has already liberated through His Son is made palpably real through the charismatic experience
of the Spirit amongst the playful worship of Gods People.
This then leads to the question of hermeneutics and how the Scriptures operate in the
church as Temple. Again, this could command a whole work in itself, for Pentecostalism is
known, both for better and for worse, for its inconsistent treatment of scripture for homiletical
purposes. While early Pentecostals aligned themselves with Fundamentalism in a strict, literal
interpretation of scripture, they simultaneously have also often liberally engaged in typological
and allegorical treatments through their animated sermons. While this has been repeatedly
criticized by fundamentalists (and others) whom Pentecostals so badly wanted to be in alliance
with at one time, it has also been recognized as a strength and even as a kind of magical
quality about the movements use of scripture, most often in preaching, but also in testimonies,
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etc.. While remaining steadfastly conservative in their belief in the historicity of the Bible,
they have also most often lived in the freedom of allowing the Bible to be more than merely
historical in its potential for application. I would argue here that this freedom (abuses
notwithstanding) has actually come from being a People of Gods Presence. The nearness and
operation of the Spirit of the living word has resulted in a sometimes quirky but often effective
manner of allowing scripture to have allegorical meaning without losing its historical mooring.
For all its warts, one of the mainstays of Pentecostalism has been the power of its anointed
preaching of the bible text in a way that makes it come alive for the contemporary hearer; not
just in the dramatic retelling of the events themselves, but in the typological applications of those
events for the church in the here and now. While technical exegetes might sometimes be
635
This phrase comes from an unrecorded address by Rev. Dr. Earl Creps at a PAOC seminar on missional
ecclesiology in Toronto, November 2010.
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stretched beyond the limits of their agreeable acquiescence, and are therefore urgently needed to
ensure fidelity, few would deny the power and personal impact of authentic pentecostal
preaching to connect an ancient text with a hearers personal journey in an often life-
transforming way. This, I would suggest, is made possible by the fact that the Spirit who
authored the ancient text is now palpably present in the current moment of preaching to speak
directly to those in the assembly.
Thus, the manifest presence of the Spirit in the church both confirms the authority of the
Scripture as the regula fidei, while simultaneously allowing the freedom to let it speak in a
sometimes allegorical manner to achieve its purpose of reproving, correcting and training in
righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). Just as the indwelling of the Spirit makes present the resurrected
Christ who is also the Logos of God, so does He also make present the ancient scriptures in a
life-transforming manner in the church.
It should also be noted that, while Pentecostals place a high premium on anointed
preaching, to the extent that Catholic observer Paul Lee states The preaching of the Word is of
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prime importance in the Pentecostal understanding, they also value the operation of the Word
in individual and group study, and understand the Spirit to help illuminate the scriptures in these
contexts without the oversight of a professional interpreter. In this sense they are much more
evangelical than Catholic. The Spirit as the Paraclete guides both individuals and the church into
discerning the Word so that the church might not err in matters of doctrine especially. Gods
Word is therefore made alive apart from the pulpit through the dynamic work of the personal
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Paul Lee, Pneumatological Ecclesiology, 268.
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presence of the Spirit in and through the church and its individual adherents. As Perspectives
on Koinonia states,
Pentecostals also believe that God has given special gifts of teaching to the believing
community (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:12). But, because Pentecostals hold that Scripture is clear in all
essential points, they believe that each Christian can interpret Scripture under the guidance of the
Spirit and with the help of the discerning Christian community. Thus, Christians can make
responsible judgments for themselves in matters of faith and practice through their use of
Scripture.637
Pentecostals are unmistakably people of the Book, but they are also the People of Gods
Presence, which means they are marked by their experience of the Spirits infilling presence in a
direct way. Their experience and their interpretation of scripture therefore have a reciprocal
relationship in a manner unique to most church groups. It is this experiential dimension of their
relationship to God through the Spirit that provides a distinct ecclesial context for the operation
of the Scriptures in the church, as an authoritybut not the sole authority. The scriptures
operate authoritatively in conjunction with the moving of the Spirit in charismatic fashion to
speak Gods word to the church. In this regard they resemble Pauls instructions to the
Corinthians to have not only hymns and scripture, but a revelation (prophecy) or tongues and
interpretation (1 Cor 14:26). The charismatic gifts of prophecy, wisdom or tongues and
interpretation are expected, welcomed and sought together with the reading and expounding of
scripture to hear and encounter Gods Word. Thus, the Scriptures are understood to operate
within the charismatic structure of the church that is constituted by the indwelling presence of
the Spirit, even as they also guide this structure. Frank Macchia explains:
637
296
Because of the living breath of God, the gospel of the Scriptures bursts forth with signs of
life in the charismatic structure of the church.Within the charismatic structure of the church,
the Spirit functions through the Scriptures as a living book of both freedom and order to guide
our gracious interactions with one another and our mission in the world. In fact, the Scriptures
themselves are a universally relevant and binding gift of the Spirit to the church in order to guide
the particular and diverse charismatic structure of the church in its ongoing life, confession, and
mission.638
It is because of this interplay between experience of the Spirit and Scripture that it has
astutely been suggested that at this point in the movements history, a maturing pentecostalism
could benefit from the method of Wesleys quadrilateral: Scripture, experience, reason, and
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tradition. I would concur that this has great potential within a pentecostal ecclesiology, since
this quadrilateral is in a unique position among methodologies to articulate the equally unique
relationship pentecostals already have between scripture and experience, and then become useful
in integrating their growing tradition and increased use of reason into this relationship as well.
5.5 Presence and Sacraments

Article VII of the Augsburg Confession states that the church is the congregation of
saints, in which the Gospel [or Word] is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly
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administered. I have briefly touched on the Word, and so now will address the Sacraments
638
639
For example, see Winfield Bevins, A Pentecostal Appropriation of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, paper
delivered at the 34th annual meeting of SPS, Virginia Beach, March 2005.
640
Wording from http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Augsburg-Confesionx5984.html.
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more specifically (though they have already cropped up at various points above). Pentecostals,
of course, have most often passionately eschewed any sacramentalism in the past, preferring
instead to call water baptism and the Lords Supper ordinances, or rites that the Lord has
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commanded his Church to perform. Two South African Pentecostals have gone so far as to
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say, the notion of sacramentality is foreign to Pentecost.
However, as seen in Chapter Three, most pentecostal scholars today are espousing a more
sacramental theology, with several freely referring to the baptism and eucharist as sacraments in
the church. There is, in fact, a remarkably consistent witness toward the need for a pentecostal
ecclesiology to be sacramental in nature. Though this is perceived and nuanced differently
among our authors, they all desire to incorporate a Spirit-filled understanding of water baptism
and the Lords Supper as part of the esse of the church. No doubt, this witness is a product of
increased dialogue with the historic churches and a desire on the part of most of these scholars to
see the movement reach its ecumenical potential. For a pentecostal ecclesiology to be effectively
ecumenical, i.e. taking the historic tradition seriously, the sacraments must take on a larger, more
foundational role. There is also the more helpful foundational suggestion by Amos Yong that
pentecostal ecclesiology should see the church itself as a sacrament:
A pneumatological ecclesiology that recognizes the church as constituted by the pentecostal

outpouring of the Spirit will grant that the church itself is sacramental insofar as it consists of
structures, institutions, practices, congregations, and individuals, all inspired by the Spirit of God
for the purposes of establishing the kingdom of God. Further, the sacraments are mediators of
grace insofar as they provide ecclesial venues for the Spirit of God to accomplish the purposes of
God among the people of Godpentecostal sacramentalism is itself empirically established,
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642
Clark & Lederle, What is Distinctive About Pentecostal Theology?, 47.
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founded on the reality of the Spirits manifestation in the material and embodied experiences
for example, glossolalia, the dance, the shout, and healings of the gathered community of
faith.643
Thus, given the momentum toward this more sacramental understanding of the church and even
pentecostal practices in the church, the ongoing construction of pentecostal ecclesiology is likely
to see a continued trend towards a much higher place for the sacraments of baptism and the
eucharist. That is something this constructive proposal also wishes to do here.
First, I will look at Baptism. In a landmark paper delivered at the 1988 meeting of the
Roman Catholic/Pentecostal Dialogue, Pentecostal participants Jerry Sandidge and Cecil Robeck
attempted to envision baptism within an ecclesiology of koinonia. In so doing, they noted early
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on that Baptism has an ambiguous role among Pentecostals. To be more specific, they
spelled out the common stands on baptismal issues in the movement but stressed that these
positions are not at all unanimous:
Most North American Pentecostals argue for and seek to justify biblically the case for
baptism (a) as ordinance rather than sacrament, (b) to be applied to believers rather than infants,
(c) to be accomplished by immersion, (d) to be rightly celebrated through a single immersion
rather than multiple (three) immersions, and (e) to involve the invocation of the trinitarian
formula of Mt.28:19 rather than the invocation of the name of Jesus Christa as was done in some
early Christian baptisms. Most North American Pentecostals and probably most Pentecostals
aligned with the Pentecostal World Conference would argue that this is the Pentecostal
643
644
Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. and Jerry L. Sandidge, "The Ecclesiology of KOINONIA and Baptism: A Pentecostal
Perspective," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 27:3, Summer 1990, 508.
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position. This position, however, is not inclusive of others taken by many Pentecostals around
the world when they address the subject of baptism. 645
Within the Canadian context in which I was raised and served as a minister, I eventually
came to see baptism, which was an ordinance performed by believers through single immersion
using the trinitarian formula (just as described above), as an equivalent to Confirmation in
historic churches, or to the rite of Bar Mitzvah in Judaism, in that it is an event which publicly
symbolizes the believer taking on personal responsibility for the faith they confess, and publicly
testifying to their lifelong commitment to this faith, a faith which was claimed for them when
they were dedicated as infants by their parents in front of the whole church (in a parallel
manner to paedobaptism or circumcision). It is therefore not in itself a means of grace for

646
Pentecostals, though it remained an outward sign of an inward grace already willfully
received by the candidate at a previous point. Yet, it was also not a rite of passage into the
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community, in that the candidate may or may not have already taken formal membership in
the local church. There was simply no connection between baptism and membership, or
theologically between baptism and koinonia. It was simply an act of obedience to a biblical
command, and a demonstrationalbeit a significant oneof ones testimony of having
embraced the new life of salvation offered in the Gospel (cf. Romans 6). This, along with the
645
Robeck & Sandidge, KOINONIA and Baptism, 509 (italics theirs).
646
This is somewhat disputed by Steven Land, who writes of the early Pentecostals, Baptism was not a converting
sacrament of initiation, but it was a means of grace in that it represented walking in the light, public witness,
remembrance and following Christ in public solidarity with the church. Pentecostal Spirituality, 115.
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Here my own experience of Canadian Pentecostalism differs radically from what is stated by Myer Pearlman:
Water baptism is the rite of entrance into the Christian church, Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible, 353.
300
fact that there is striking diversity among Pentecostals globally on each of the above five
positions, are what causes the ambiguity identified by Robeck and Sandidge.
Yet another source of an accompanying ambivalence to this ambiguity is over the
apparent inconsistency of Pentecostal understanding of any distinction between ordinance and
sacrament. Robeck and Sandidge demonstrate through several examples, including one from the
official literature of the PAOC in years past, as well as Duffield and Van Cleaves Foundations
of Pentecostal Theology, that Pentecostal churches often describe their stance on water baptism
in sacramental terms that appear most similar to Calvin and Augustine, most likely without at all
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realizing it. More recently, as mentioned, there have been Pentecostal scholars who are
treating water baptism more as a sacrament. One example is a British Elim writer who suggests
the act of water baptism may be understood as a sacramental encounter such that the moment of
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baptism becomes a moment of encounter with the Divine. It would appear from this
statement that Gods Presence is therefore mediated through the baptismal event. This notion is
certainly one with affinity to the proposed ecclesiology here, and may help to sanction the idea
of sacrament where ordinance is still much-preferred.
The theological result of this inconsistency between ordinance and sacrament is described
by Robeck and Sandidge in the following manner: Ambivalence on the sacramental nature of
baptism by Pentecostals, though, brings with it an ambivalence over its importance in both
650
individual and community terms. This ambivalence is heightened by the lack of academic
648
Robeck and Sandidge, KOINONIA and Baptism, 520-524.
649
Cited by Keith Warrington, Pentecostal Theology, (Carlisle, UK: Paternoster Press, 1998), 163, who only
identifies the writer by the last name of Dyer.
650
Robeck and Sandidge, KOINONIA and Baptism, 522.
301
651
writing on the subject by Pentecostals, at least until fairly recently. Thus, it is in this context
that Robeck and Sandidge attempt to biblically connect baptism to koinonia for Pentecostals.
The starting point for them is the unanimous understanding within the movement that baptism
speaks to the issue of a vertical relationship between the recipient and God the Father, Son,
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and Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the koinonia between God and the person who is baptized.
They then state:
What most Pentecostals fail to take as seriously as the witness to an individuals

identification with Christ in this act is the testimony it contains to identification with the
Christian koinonia, to corporate identification, to the relationship between the person being
baptized and all others who have been baptized and who share in their identification with
Christ.653
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There is therefore a failure to understand fully the corporate nature of this unique event. It
is this failure, and their accompanying underdeveloped ecclesiology that has contributed largely
to an underdeveloped theology of baptism among Pentecostals.
What is most relevant for this present proposal is that Robeck and Sandidge aim to
conceive water baptism in relation to the presence of Christ in the church. Because Pentecostals
have (naturally, for them) understood this presence to be manifest most clearly in the charismatic
operation of the Spirit and most acutely in Spirit-baptism, they have failed to recognize it in
651
See Robeck and Sandidge, KOINONIA and Baptism, 524.
652
653
Robeck and Sandidge, KOINONIA and Baptism, 525-526.
654
302
water baptism. In short, the Pentecostal emphasis on Spirit-baptism has theologically eclipsed
water baptism because the divine presence is empirically evident in one (as in glossolalia) but
not the other. But Robeck and Sandidge propose that this divine presence can also be understood
to operate in a meaningful way here as well, as a form of anamnesis (remembrance) within the
context of koinonia:
if baptism points to the essential koinonia that exists between the person being baptized with
Jesus Christ, the head of the Body of Christ in whose death and resurrection the candidate is
identified, then the act of baptism may be seen in terms of anamnesis; the Risen Lord is present
through the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell the new believer. Baptism then becomes
sacramental by bringing reality to the presence of the one who died and was resurrected, the one
who underwent the judgment of God on our behalf, the one who is risen and, through the Spirit,
is now present in the church. Baptism within the context of koinonia allows the church to act out
and thereby bear witness to Gods judgment, to Christs death and resurrection, and to newness
of life in the Holy Spirit. It points us to the living Sovereign who is present and who makes a
difference in our lives. 655
Further, the identification of dying to self and rising again with Christ to new life is itself
a corporate identification, in that salvation, while being personally applied, also means
incorporation into the Body of Christ, or the People of Gods Presence. Even Pentecostals
understand that water baptism is an ecclesial event, performed with and by the assembly as
witnesses and supporters. They agree that the vertical koinonia with God that is symbolized in
baptism is meant to be lived out in the context of horizontal koinonia with Gods People.
Because baptism takes place before and with the People of Gods Presence, the indwelling Spirit
is also present in a significant manner here as well.
655
303
The significance of baptism as an expression of koinonia in which the Spirit is present
among Gods people as they witness and support ones identification with Christ through this act
then leads to the question of whether this act can then be efficacious for infants. Robeck and
Sandidge attempt to argue that it can, on the basis of the efficacy of the faith the congregation in
whom the candidate is in potential koinonia with, on a parallel basis with the efficacy of the faith
of the community for the healing of one who is sick. Given the fundamental Pentecostal belief in
divine healing, this presents an interesting analogy. Yet, I return to the parallel practice common
within Pentecostalism of infant dedication. While dedication is not a means of grace and is
certainly not the equivalent of Spirit-baptism (as infant baptism is in Roman Catholic theology),
and therefore not an event that declares saving faith upon the infant at that moment, it is a
significant and comparable act of faith on the part of the family and church to dedicate the child
to Gods providential care, thereby trusting that the individual will indeed come to saving faith
by their own volition at an early age.
The question then becomes whether or not infant baptism could be similarly efficacious
to dedication, and could be practiced as a parallel act of faith on the part of the family and
church. While I would suggest this as a possibility, I would also remain in the acute awareness
that the distinctions over means of grace and Spirit-baptism, along with the trenchant and, in
my opinion, orthodox convictions concerning believers baptism and immersion common within
the movement are enough to prevent this from materializing. Instead, the parallels between the
two, and the ecumenical sensitivity towards the practices of the historic churches, both Catholic
and Reformed, should be enough for Pentecostals to accept as baptized those who received it as
infants, and not insist on rebaptism for them, as some churches unfortunately do. This is also a
304
656
point stressed by Robeck and Sandidge. I agree with them when they state, We believe that
the parallels that exist between the Pentecostal practice of infant dedication and the Roman
Catholic practice of infant baptism hold great promise for mutual understanding and
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appreciation. Infant dedication is not a Pentecostal distinctive, of course, but a practice
inherited from other Protestant bodies.
Another perspective on water baptism is offered by Frank Macchia, who primarily seeks
to establish a connection between it and Spirit baptism. He insists that a special relationship
exists between the two in that the experience of Spirit baptism cannot be defined apart from
conversion and baptism as, taken together, they all stem from embracing the God of the Gospel
which is then effected in our lives through the same Spirit in each of these events. This is
658
supported by the descent of the Spirit on Jesus at his own water baptism. Macchia also draws
on charismatic scholars who ascribe sacramentality to Spirit baptism, and therefore connect it to
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water baptism in this way.
Amos Yong also is helpful in that, beyond connecting water baptism to Spirit baptism, he
suggests Pentecostals can find affinity with the brief mention of the need for the invocation of
the Holy Spirit as part of baptismal practice found in the ecumenical document, Baptism,
656
657
658
659
305
660
Eucharist and Ministry. Regarding the theological significance of this statement from a
pentecostal perspective, he writes This invitation identifies the ritual as explicitly Christian and
locates its sacramentality not in the materiality of consecrated water but in the presence and
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activity of the Spirit of the Living God. Here is a way for the People of Gods Presence to
appropriate the practice of water baptism into the overarching, constituting framework of the
Spirits operation in the church. Curiously, not all Pentecostal churches include this invocation
(I do not recall it ever occurring, though I have heard it has been done), but a greater
pneumatological and ecclesiological view of baptism would allow it be organic to their ethos.
There is, then, no pressing need for Pentecostals to change their own practice of baptism
(as diverse as this may be globally), other than their treatment of those already baptized by other
churches. What is urgently needed, however, is a deeper ecclesiological understanding of
baptism as it relates to koinonia, and, consequently, as an event in which the Spirit is
significantly present in the Temple which is the People of Gods Presence. The suggestion of
conceiving this event within the scope of anamnesis is a plausible one, as is seeking to connect
the presence of the Spirit in water baptism with His own pentecostal baptism, though neither one
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is a precondition for the other. This entails an openness (which is already occurring at least in
the academy) to both loosen and clarify the distinction between ordinance and sacrament, or lack
thereof. If pentecostal ecclesiology is able to produce a deeper communal view of water
660
Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry. Faith and Order Paper No. 111 (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1982),
#20 (page 6).
661
662
J. Rodman Williams, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, in NIDPCM, 360-361. Curiously, there is no dedicated
article on water baptism in the NIDPCM.
306
baptism, then this will also bear ecumenical fruit as this baptism by one Spirit into one body will
lead towards a unifying understanding of the global church (1 Cor 12:13).
The Lords Supper or the eucharist is thought to be a much larger issue for pentecostal
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ecclesiology, and has garnered more attention recently among scholars in the movement in
comparison to the woefully underdeveloped area of water baptism. Keith Warrington describes
well the historical position of the movement:
Pentecostal beliefs and practice concerning the Lords Supper may be traced to the
Reformation theology and practice of Zwingli and Calvin via Congregationalism and Brethren
traditions. Fundamentally, Pentecostals adhere to that which they perceive to be a Zwinglian
rather than a Lutheran form of the Eucharist. In reality, Zwingli anticipated more than
retrospection and remembrance but also and because of the former acts, a realization of the
presence of the Lord. However, for most Pentecostals, it is fundamentally a celebration of a past
event though in recognition that it is destined to redundancy in heaven (1 Cor. 11:26). 664
It could therefore be said that contemporary efforts of the part of Pentecostal scholars to
bring a more sacramental understanding of the Supper to pentecostal theology are actually filling
out a more developed Zwinglian understanding. More recently, we have already seen how
Simon Chan, for instance, has presented the eucharist as the means of catholicity within a
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pentecostal ecclesiology. The eucharist is also an event which has been more intrinsically
connected to the divine presence in the church, and as such it is therefore an event that
Pentecostals must explore more closely in the construction of their ecclesiology. Here is where
663
Cf. Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 252.
664
Warrington, Pentecostal Theology, 165.
665
Chan, Pentecostal Theology, p. 102f: A Dynamic Catholic Community (see 18f above).
307
Macchia is again helpful, in that he connects the mode of presence that comes from the
epiclesis (invocation of the Holy Spirit) of the eucharist with other modes of presence, such as
the charismatic presence of the Spirit, since it is the same Spirit present in both cases, in either
mode. Drawing upon the work of Tom Driver as well as various dialogue reports, he states that
the eucharistic mode of Gods presence is therefore continuous as well as mutually

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interactive with the other modes of Gods presence in the church. This is a crucial point of
connection for perceiving the value of the eucharist as a sacrament within a pentecostal
ecclesiology. The Church as the People of Gods Presence can partake of the Lords Supper not
merely as an act of obedience to a command, or even as an act of remembrance (anamnesis)as
important as that isbut as an act of partaking of the sacraments of wine (or juice in many
cases) and bread which are made effective by the Spirits presence upon them (epiclesis). For, as
Pinnock states, The sacraments do not work automatically but derive their effectiveness from
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the presence of the Spirit in relation to faith. The presence in this case is sacramental rather
than charismatic, but it is still the presence of the same divine Person and therefore continuous
and mutually interactive, as Macchia points out. Once this is acknowledged, Pentecostals as
the People of Gods Presence can then be open to the concrete manifestations of the Spirit
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667
Pinnock, Flame of Love, 127. Pinnock makes a distinction between sacramental presence and charismatic
presence, but seeks to recover the two-dimensionality of charism and sacrament original to Christianity, 120, in
solidarity with others such as Kilian McDonnell and George Montague, and Robert Webber. This model of
confluence is therefore clearly a form of restorationism, which makes it a potential template for Pentecostals, who
have traditionally been unaware of the early churchs sacramentalism. The connection between the Spirits presence
in both modes is also established by Pinnock in that both have equally suffered at the hands of modernity, 128.
308
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found in the historic liturgies. It is this approach to the eucharist for Macchia that allows him
669
to also regard the practice of glossolalia in the church as sacramental.
Krkkinen echoes something very similar with regard to the Spirits experienced
presence in the Supper. Noting that there has been a general shift of attention from a
mechanistic to a more personalistic-dynamic view of the Lords presence in the meal devoted to
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his memory, he also points to the epiclesis as vital for its pneumatological potential. He
explains that it is the coming of the Spirit in response to the epiclesis that enlivens the anamnesis
of the Lords Supper in a manner that empowers them for mission:
The Spirit makes the remembering a dynamic process that overcomes the distinction
between the past, present and future by anticipating the final consummation of the Kingdom of
the Slain Lamb. The Church acknowledges its dependence on the Lord by continuous prayer for
the coming of the Spirit. The epiclesis entails the whole celebration, not just the moment of
consecration. Through an earnest prayer-cry the celebrants are empowered by the Spirit of him
who raised the crucified Son from the dead. The people of God rise from the Table to spread the
good news of reconciliation to the ends of the earth. 671
This description of the Supper has great potential for pentecostalizing the event by framing it
as a dynamic process that melds past with future and understands the Spirits presence at the
meal to be one that empowers for the mission of bringing the world into Gods salvific presence.
668
Pinnock, Flame of Love, 129.
669
Cf. Macchia, Tongues as a Sign: Toward a Sacramental Understanding of Pentecostal Experience, in
PNEUMA, 15:1 (1993): 61-76; and Signs Too Deep for Words: Toward a Theology of Glossolalia, in JPT 1
(1992): 47-73. See also Baer, Quaker Silence, Catholic Liturgy, and Pentecostal Glossolalia Some Functional
Similarities.
670
Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology, 145.
671
309
It also helps in this respect that it reflects the shift he identifies from the debates about the nature
of Christs presence in the elements to a more personalistic view of the Supper where the focus
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is on the nature of Christs presence among his people gathered around the table. The latter
view of this crucial distinction is obviously much more organic to an ecclesiology of the People
of Gods Presence. Warrington affirms such when he states from a pentecostal perspective,
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Any benefit gained is due to the person of Christ not the elements themselves. By focusing
on how the Spirit mediates Christs presence through the epiclesis rather than on the nature of the
substance of His presence in the elements themselves, Pentecostals find a venue into opening
themselves to the sacramental presence of Christ by way of the Spirit whose presence they
understand as constituting the church.
Krkkinen also astutely describes in a Johannine way how the Spirits presence at the
Supper makes the anamnesis dynamic in nature, for The Holy Spirit comes at the cost of
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Christs departure. At the Last Supper, Christ told His disciples that He must go away so
that the Paraclete will come (John 16:7). The act of remembering Christs death, resurrection
and ascension is made all the more effective by the real presence of the Spirit indwelling the
People of Gods Presence gathered around the Table now.
In addressing the epiclesis prayer specifically, Krkkinen also notes the biblical
observation of Zizioulas that in primitive Pauline Churches charismatic manifestations took
672
673
Warrington, Pentecostal Theology, 168.
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310
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place during the eucharistic gatherings (cf. 1 Cor. 11-14). This supports the continuity and
mutual interaction between the sacramental and charismatic modes of the Spirits presence
identified by Macchia and Pinnock. Again, he also observes that the epiclesis invocation of the
Spirits presence is not so much directed toward the elements as upon the people of God
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gathered around the Table. The distinction between the two modes is characterized by
Krkkinen as the Spirits actual presence in response to the epiclesis, in distinction from His
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real presence which is active in the gathering before the epiclesis. It is the Spirits response
that makes the Eucharist both a transformative and an empowering event in the lives of the
participants. Additionally, it is this eucharistic experience of the Spirits presence that can fuel
the task of unity between Pentecostals and other churches, since the Table is an eschatological
sign of the unity of the Spirit.
Another venue for unity related to the eucharist is the connection between the Lords
Supper and divine healing. Pentecostals have long implicitly connected the two, as it is a
common practice in the Movement to have prayers for healing directly after partaking in the
Supper. In the knowledge that by his bruises we are healed (Isa 53:5), Pentecostals have
understood physical healing to be provided for in the atonement as part of our salvation. Thus,
as part of the anamnesis of the bruised body of Christ broken for our salvation and for our
healing, healing prayer is often practiced with the Lords Supper. The connection between
675
Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology, 139, quoting Zizioulas, Being as Communion, 193.
676
677
Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology, 139. I must confess I find this unpacked manner of
distinction less than completely helpful. Land claims that for the early Pentecostals celebrating the Lords Supper,
The real presence of God was never an issue, Pentecostal Spirituality, 115. Warrington states Pentecostals
celebrate the realized presence of Christ through the Spirit instead of the real presence in the emblems, Pentecostal
Theology, 168. This makes more sense to me.
311
healing and the Eucharist is evidence of an implied view of the Eucharist as a sign of the
inbreaking of the kingdom of God. Murray Dempster confirms this when he states, Through
the eucharistic celebration, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the unseen Host of the table and
invites symbolic participation in his kingdom ministry-his table fellowship that portrayed Gods
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mercy for sinners and his healing of the sick, the weak and the infirm. This is a crucial point
of eucharistic practice that Pentecostals can then share with other churches which believe
679
likewise, according to Krkkinen.
Pentecostals as the People of Gods Presence can therefore develop a theology of the
eucharist as an event in which the sacramental presence of the Holy Spirit invoked by the
epiclesis brings the presence of Christ the Savior, Healer, Baptizer, Sanctifier and Coming King
to those participating at the table in a transforming, empowering, unifying and healing manner
that is in continuity with the charismatic structure and character of the church, which is the
Temple of the Holy Spirit. Since the anamnesis can be seen as more than just a remembrance,
but also as an eschatological act as well (until he comes, 1 Cor 11:26), looking forward to the
marriage supper of the Lamb, the practice of the eucharist as performed in the sacramental
presence of the eschatological Spirit can also allow the People of Gods Presence to recover the
eschatological fervour they once heralded. When the sacramental presence of the eschatological
Spirit at the eucharist is recognized as that which is in continuity with His other modes of
presence in a mutually interactive way, it makes theological sense of how the early Pentecostals
678
Dempster, Evangelism and Social Concern, 28.
679
Krkkinen, Toward a Pneumatological Theology, 144. He cites as an example the Final Report of the
Dialogue between the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and Some Classical Pentecostals 1977-1982, #40.
312
had expectations not only of healing, but of other works taking place at communion services.
Land describes this in the following manner:
Persons could be converted, healed, sanctified and filled with the Spirit in conjunction with
the Lords Supper because it was a part of the ongoing missionary worship and witness of the
body. But it was definitely not the mass or the sine qua non of Christian existence. The Lords
Supper was important because Jesus was present keeping the Passover and promising the
parousia in the Holy Spirit.680
Wolfgang Vondey has also championed a heightened sacramental understanding of the
Lords Supper. He has primarily done so, however, through his more generic work on an
ecclesiology as the People of Bread, as discussed in Chapter Three. In also emphasizing the
work of the Spirit to bring Christ presence as host of the meal, Vondey thereby also stresses
that, a continuing Pentecost, or outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is integral to the effect of the
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Eucharistic meal on the Christian community and in the life of the individual. Pentecost and
the eucharist are not only connected by the presence of the same Person of the Spirit (albeit in
different modes), but then consequently by the need for their continual mutual interaction in the
church until the Parousia. There is, in this sense, no eucharist without Pentecost (the breaking of
bread in Acts 2:46 occurs after the outpouring of the Spirit in the Upper Room). The Spirit
received in the elements of the Lords Supper is also meant to be experienced in His pentecostal
outpouring as well. The eucharist comes to its fullest expression in conjunction with the
pentecostal infilling of the Spirit. In doing so, the Lords Supper is mean to continue the kind of
inclusive, egalitarian fellowship that was created at Pentecost (Acts 2: 17, 18). This is precisely
680
681
313
what Paul chided the Corinthians for in their failure to do this (1 Cor 11:17-34), although he
points not to Pentecost but to the Last Supper. That is because, as Dempster observes,
Similarly, the eucharistic celebration with its open table fellowship mimes the eschatological
banquet that Jesus enjoyed with the mixed membership of his messianic community, including
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sinners and tax-collectors.
Finally, the last word about Presence and eucharist must be its place in the playful
worship of the People of Gods Presence. Suurmond likens it, along with baptism, as the two
rules to keep the game of worship fair, safe and free from chaos. They are something like the
two rails which allows the train the freedom to move as it should. Vondey has echoed a similar
thought, though for him even the structure of play is itself a free response to an encounter
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with God. The Lords Supper is fundamentally a celebration of the new life in the Spirit
purchased for us through the victorious substitutionary atoning death of the Son of God. While it
is often somber and reflective, and the most formal part of Pentecostal worship, it remains a
celebratory reminder of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ by His boundless love.
The eucharist is a practice which allows us to encounter the sacramental or realized presence of
Christ by the invoked Spirit, while at the same time reminding those who feed on the elements of
how this encounter became possible in the grand salvific narrative of God. It is a communal act
that pays tribute to the means of our liberation into the Spirit-filled life. The retrospective (1 Cor
11:24,25), introspective (v.28), collective (v 33), transformative and anticipative (v. 26) aspects
of the meal all accomplish the purpose of what it means to be the People of Gods Presence.
682
683
Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism, 128-129.
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5.6 Presence and Social Concern

Here I am briefly attempting to affirm a theology of divine presence in the church as that
which empowers the church towards acts of service and justice that go beyond mere proselytism
and/or evangelism. While it is true that Pastor Seymours oft-given benedictory charge at the
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Apostolic Faith Mission was Try to get people saved! , authentic Spirit-filled, Spirit-driven
churches are also agents of God against the repressive structures of the world, as the social
dynamics of the Azusa Revival Seymour led demonstrated. I have touched on this earlier in the
chapter, but want to identify it here directly with the manifest presence of the Spirit in the
church.
Murray Dempster has been the primary Pentecostal scholar to emphasize the connection
between social concern and Pentecost. This is meant to be reflected in both the koinoniac and
the diakonic ministry of the church (see section on Peter Althouse in Chapter Three). While
Pentecostal churches globally have at times been intensely involved in social action in response
to their conditions, pentecostal ecclesiology and anthropology have traditionally been more one-
dimensional in the mission to try to get souls saved. Dempster has tried to articulate a biblical
theology of church mission as reflecting kingdom anthropology, which is: all persons are
entitled to respect, are to be treated with dignity, and are deserving of justice because they share
the status of Gods image-bearers. Such actions and social practices that embody love, justice
684
Murray W. Dempster, Byron D. Klaus, Douglas Peterson, The Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion
Made To Travel (Oxford: Regnum Books International, 1999), 30f.
315
and shalom constitute the normative moral structure in a social ethic reflective of Gods kingly
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rule.
In terms of social concern being manifested in the koinoniac ministry of the church,
Dempster conveys this in terms of the churchs identity in relation to the kingdom of God:
Given the essential eschatological and ethical character of church mission from the
Pentecostal/kingdom perspective, the social witness born by the church in its fellowship is to
demonstrate that the new social order of Gods reign is constituted by the basic moral virtues,
obligations, and values of love, peace, justice, generosity, and respect for persons as Gods
image-bearers.686
It is also supremely necessary for the church to bear this social witness for the sake of the
credibility of the Gospel it proclaims, or what Dempster calls the kerygmatic ministry of the
church. He draws upon Newbigins term that this responsibility to demonstrate this new social
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order is a hermeneutic of the message of Gods reign. Of fundamental importance here is
the proposition that only the Holy Spirit can create and sustain such a community. He does so
through the generous outpouring of His pentecostal Presence into the life of the People of Gods
Presence, and by constituting the charismatic structure of the church whereby such a community
can be continually built up.
As for the diakonic ministry of the church, the church as the People of Gods Presence
are called to manifest the kingdom to the world through moral deeds and (I would add) Spirit-
685
686
687
316
inspired prophetic declaration of Gods passionate desire for social justice through the kingdom.
The Spirit, as Pentecostals fundamentally believe, empowers the church for service (diakonia) in
both of these areas. The church witnesses to the kingdom in deed and word as it ministers Gods
care to the widow, orphan, prisoner, outcast, and sick. Yet she also does so through efforts to
change the system where it has fallen short of kingdom values. Dempster states, The church
as a social institution needs to desacralize the state and its system of laws as the ultimate source
of human rights by reminding political authorities of their God-given obligation to guarantee

688
justice for all peoples.
The mission of the church in bringing the liberation of the Gospel to the world is to
therefore engage in ministry that will, first, treat people in this described manner, and secondly,
influence and compel the political and social structures in which the church finds itself to do the
same. In these ways does the temple of the Spirit witness to the presence of the Spirit who
causes the inbreaking of the kingdom upon the earth. Dempster concludes:
By caring for the welfare of persons who need the basics of life, by redressing unjust social
conditions, by desacralizing political power of human governments, by critiquing institutions
that demean human dignity, and by establishing institutions of social transformation within the
system, the church aims to be an agent manifesting Gods eschatological intention to transform
the world. 689
A Full Gospel christology should also produce a Full Gospel anthropology which then
ecclesiologically compels the churchs mission to be towards the whole person, and towards
688
689
317
social justice for all persons, both inside and outside the church. Anything less is a reductionist
understanding of what the eschatological Spirit drives the People of Gods Presence to do.
5.7 Presence and Identity

An ecclesiology of the People of Gods Presence as having a mission of social justice that
is integral to the Full Gospel they preach then leads to the connected area of personal identity
within the Temple of the Holy Spirit. In Chapter Two we identified one aspect of the implicit
ecclesiology of early Pentecostalism as radical social egalitarianism within the new People of
Gods Presence, as a restoration of the fulfillment of Joels prophecy and reversal of Babel which
Pentecost originally signified. Fundamental to the significance of Pentecost was a re-ordering of
the social and religious sphere, and the inauguration of a new era of the Kingdom where the
People of Gods Presence were no longer stratified into kings, priest, prophets and the rest, and
where Jew and Gentile had the dividing wall of hostility removed. The change brought by the
pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit experienced by the 120 in a multi-sensory way was
immediately identified by Peter, speaking in the empowering inspiration of the Spirit, as the
fulfillment of Joels prophecy that the eschatological Spirit was now being poured out upon all
flesh.
Thus, the community that comprises the People of Gods Presence are not only marked
by a new empowerment for witness, but by a radically new social order; a new social
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reality. This, then, must be a fundamental characteristic of authentic pentecostal
ecclesiology. Paul Lee notes, The original Pentecostal ethos transcends race, class, and
690
Pinnock, Church, 5.
318
denomination, as in the Pentecost-event itself, uniting all in the experience of the freedom of the
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Spirit. The restoration of the experience of the apostolic power of the Holy Spirit sought by
early Pentecostals is not merely about a new ability to preach the Gospel and perform miracles
and speak in tongues. One of the greatest miracles which both the biblical and modern
Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit brought about was a community where old and young, sons
and daughters, slave and free, Jews and Gentiles could all equally participate in the new
charismatic structure of the Temple of the Spirit. It is this radical egalitarianism that constitutes
the new identity of a community which is itself constituted by the pentecostal presence of the
eschatological Spirit. Strangely, this is not a point of emphasis among those we surveyed in the
last chapter, but any faithful restoration of the apostolic faith cannot miss this fundamental
element of the churchs identity. It is this kind of community which the Spirit longs to form, and
it is this kind of community which will witness to the inbreaking of the eschatological kingdom
more than any other.
Perhaps most importantly, it is this kind of community which must be experienced by the
emerging generations if they are to receive the faith from us appropriately. This means, in
addition to the removal of distinctions of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status, the barrier
of age must also be removed. Our sons and daughters must be allowed to fully participate in the
charismatic operation of the Spirits presence of the new Temple.
The Spirit poured out on all flesh is a pentecostal phenomenon which gives rise to the
foundational ecclesiological principle that the community which is constituted by the charismatic
presence of the eschatological Spirit can be no less than a radically egalitarian fellowship where
691
Lee, Pneumatological Ecclesiology, 283.
319
all social barriers are removed, most notably in the realm of mutual ministry in the charismata.
As John Lancaster states, The truly Pentecostal Church is a community in which all flesh is
caught up in the momentum of the Spirit: sons and daughters prophesy, young men see visions,
old men dream dreams, men-servants and maid-servants experience the outpouring of the Spirit
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(Acts 2:17,18) and thus the barriers of age, sex, and social status are forgotten.
5.8 Presence and Suffering

It is a point of fascination to this modern Canadian that the last of Luthers Seven Marks
693
of the Church was suffering, or holy possession of the sacred cross. I have imagined what
would happen if a Canadian church had the following phrase on its lawn sign: Come Suffer
With Us! Somehow I doubt a seeker-sensitive church, much less any other kind of church
today, would adopt this as a growth technique. Yet the narrative of the apostolic, pentecostal
church both in the first and twentieth centuries clearly demonstrates that Luther was definitely on
to something. The People of Gods Presence, as the new Temple of the Spirit of the Most High
God and even as a foretaste, sign and anointed herald of the coming eschatological kingdom of
justice, are not immune to suffering. In fact, quite the opposite seems to be the case. Instead the
church as the body of Christ must endure suffering even as their incarnate Head did when He
proclaimed the inauguration of the kingdom of heaven.
692
Lancaster, The Spirit-Filled Church, 42.
693
Martin Luther, Seven Marks of the Church, in Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, Marks of the Body of
Christ (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999), xi.
320
Canadian Clark Pinnock is the one scholar of those surveyed who explicitly identified
this theme. It is precisely because the church is not the kingdom that it suffers. Pinnock states,
The church must not make herself central. Her task is to point to the coming kingdom. The
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church (in fact) is weak and provisional and weighed down with many cares. Despite being
the dwelling place for the special presence of God, the church is not God. Despite being the
foretaste of the kingdom, the church is not the kingdom. Yet even God suffered for our sake; so
must the church suffer for His. A female Pentecostal writer from a bygone era once penned the
following on this subject:
God is calling this company to deaths oft; the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in usGod has wonderful ways of killing us
out. When He took some of us at our word and began to kill us out in public, we did not like it;
but Christ died in public and this company must take the same routeWe may have a thousand
deaths to die and God may humble us until we would rather hide away than be heard of or seen,
but God is going to have His way in bringing forth the Christ.695
The church as a community that suffers in identification with her Savior remains humbly
dependent on the sustaining presence of the Spirit. She is a pilgrim church, on the way to the
eschatological fulfillment of the kingdom, living in the time between the times. On this theme,
Pinnock writes the following:
Now it would not be right to focus solely on stories of glory and exaltation and mountain top
experiences because the experience of Christ through the Spirit is an experience of suffering
also. We all will experience a tension between life as it is now, and life as it will be. As Paul puts
it: Those who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait for adoption, the
694
Pinnock, Church, 4.
695
Christine Gibson, The Mystery, or Christ and His Body, in Faith. (Privately published, n.d.), 5.
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redemption of our bodies.(Rom 8:23) This may explain among other things how Paul could
make such an impact on poor people who were struggling with the harsh realities of life,
including slaves and the despised of his day. It was because the Spirit does not take believers out
of such situations but sustains them in them and gives meaning to what could otherwise be
destructive experiences. The way to Easter has always been via Gethsemane and Golgotha.
Perhaps we need to be asking whether our corporate life reflects Good Friday or only Easter and
we must never forget it.696
The church as the People of Gods Presence lives in the realization that her liberation
from the fallenness of creation is not yet consummated, though it is assured. She lives in the
hope and expectation that Jesus is the Coming King, and eagerly awaits the return of her
Savior, as Paul wrote from prison (Phil 3:20). As the bride of Christ, she must endure this wait
before the bridegroom comes (cf Matt 25:1-13). Yet while she waits and in the midst of
inevitable suffering, she carries out her mission in hope and thereby demonstrates hope to the
world. The courage and grace by which the People of Gods Presence live in the midst of their
suffering will demonstrate the source of her hope and life, the Gospel of Jesus as Savior, Healer,
Baptizer, Sanctifier and Coming King made manifest through the special presence of the Holy
Spirit.
6 Summary
In presenting a constructive proposal for a pentecostal ecclesiology as the People of
Gods Presence, I have chosen to use the biblical metaphor of the Temple as a focal point to
696
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image a third-stream ecclesiology in which the church is constituted by the indwelling
presence of the Holy Spirit. It is through this image that the church as one, holy, catholic and
apostolic can be affirmed from a pentecostal perspective. I then looked at the theological bases
for such an ecclesiology relationally with respect to God, to the kingdom of God, and to the
world. Finally, I began to apply an ecclesiology of presence to various specific ecclesiological
areas in an effort to work towards a full-orbed theology of the church that is distinctly
Pentecostal in that it retains appropriate elements of their incipient restorationism, Full-Gospel
rubric, eschatology and experiential character. In doing so, I have built upon the contemporary
efforts of those who have contributed significantly to this topic in smaller scopes. As the Korean
Pentecostal scholar Young-Gi Hong wrote some years ago on this very topic:
The church is the temple of the Spirit and carries forward the mission, ministry and messages
of Jesus who identified them with the kingdom of God.The Pentecostal contribution to
contemporary ecclesiology may come from an understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit as
constitutive of the church. The Spirit is there in the church to actualize the presence of Christ,
and to lead the church to the kingdom of God. The church is called to serve the world in line
with the will of God, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pneumatology is not just one
dimension of the nature of the church but its essence. The role of the Spirit, kingdom and holistic
mission are inseparable in the purpose of the church. 697
The objective here has been to demonstrate that Pentecostalism does indeed represent a
distinct ecclesiology of its own and therefore is not merely a subset of evangelicalism, as much
as it may share some affinity with it. As a third-stream ecclesiology built upon the organizing
principle of the Spirits powerful presence, Pentecostalism therefore has its own distinct
697
Young-Gi Hong, Church and Mission: A Pentecostal Perspective, in International Review of Mission, Vol
XC, No. 358 (July 2001), 297.
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contribution to make to the universal church and the ecumenical enterprise. In the concluding
chapter, I will deal more specifically with how this constructive proposal can contribute to the
movements place in this enterprise, and to its own maturation and/or recovery of its ideal
identity.
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Chapter 5
Conclusion
In this last chapter I conclude by looking briefly at two more themes in relation to an
ecclesiology of presence that result from the proposal issued here: ecumenism and the future of
Pentecostal identity. These areas are very much related on different levels, but will be examined
individually first.
1 Presence and Ecumenism

Paul Lee, who was quoted in the first chapter for asking the legitimate question as to the
plausibility of speaking of a Pentecostal ecclesiology, nevertheless suggests that the movement
should develop one for ecumenical usefulness. This is all the more necessary in that the original
Pentecostal Revival very much had an ecumenical vision: to see the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit they were enjoying be experienced in all willing churches. Therefore, Lee suggests:
The original Pentecostal ethos/spirituality was to reconcile the different Christian

denominations through their common experience of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enabled
Christians to receive the gifts of conversion, sanctification, and Spirit-baptism so as to sanctify
and unite the children of God and to evangelize the world. For the Pentecostal and Charismatic
movements to prove themselves as a current of grace and to be faithful to their prophetic
vocation, they must re-commit themselves to their original ecumenical spirituality. The original
Pentecostal ethos transcends race, class, and denomination as in the Pentecostal event itself, and
unites all in the experience of the freedom of the Spirit. Just as they have contributed to a greater
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visibility of the invisible and forgotten God, i.e. the Spirit, it will be equally important for them
to give a greater visibility to the one Church. 698
This one church is the universal church that all groups belong to and find when they meet with
one another. Thus, in a more general sense, Lee also posits the following:
The Church is a chosen sign and instrument of salvation in and for the world. Instead of
seeking ones identity as a Church in contradistinction to other Christians, one must first
concentrate on the God-given characteristics of the Church, one must first concentrate on its
unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity, with the intention of growing together in the full
realization of these four marks of the Church. In meeting Christians of other traditions one finds
members of the same Body. Without doubt, ecclesiology is inseparable from ecumenism. 699
This has been one of the driving convictions of this dissertation. Pentecostals have their own
distinct ecclesiological principle that they can share with the rest of the Church. This has been
the story of the twentieth century and continues on today. However, neither their own
ecclesiology nor their ecumenical vision has been properly developed, even after more than a
century. No doubt these two problems are interconnected. In recent decades more and more
scholars from both inside and outside the movement have recognized both the ecumenical
potential and ecclesiological uniqueness of Pentecostalism. For the sake of its own health and
the health of greater Christianity, the distinctly pentecostal vision of the church as the People of
Gods Presence needs to be developed and shared. Coming from the Catholic perspective, Lee
nevertheless concludes:
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699
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The essence of Pentecostalism is a gift of God which belongs to the universal Church. The
Church that is fully conscious of the presence and empowerment of the Spirit, or simply, the
Church fully alive in the Spirit, is the object of a pneumatological ecclesiology. The task of a
pneumatological ecclesiology is to articulate the inseparable, organic relationship of the Spirit
and the Church as the Body of Christ.700
This is obviously what this work has tried to address, particularly through utilizing the image of
the Temple.
1.1 Official Dialogues

Lee drew his assessments from his own dissertation, which examined the
pneumatological ecclesiologies in the official Roman Catholic/Pentecostal dialogues. The
dialogue report which most deals with ecclesiology, Perspectives on Koinonia, has already been
examined in Chapter Four under the theme of koinonia. It has been in the process of this
dialogue, and one with the Reformed church, that Pentecostal leaders and scholars have been
compelled to address their undeveloped ecclesiologies with these historic churches. Although
more obscure, some of the Pentecostal position papers at these dialogues attempted to briefly
address pentecostal ecclesiology, in the context of the greater recognition that the universal
church is much larger than the movement. The participants in the dialogue between Pentecostals
and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) noted this at the outset of their official
report:
700
Lee, Pneumatological Ecclesiology, 276-277.
327
They noted that those who are disciples of Jesus Christ are all members of one Church. They
were concerned, however, that this reality receive attention not merely at an abstract theological
or ideological level, but that it receive some attention at the practical level where churches of the
Reformed tradition and the churches of the Pentecostal movement touch the lives of one another
directly.701
One of the immediate ecclesiological self-identifications evident from the outset of this dialogue,
as the above statement makes clear, is that Pentecostalism sees itself as a movement, while the
Reformed churches refer to themselves as a tradition. What was also established through this
dialogue was that in discussing pneumatology, the affirmation was made that, If there is a
center to the Pentecostal message, it is the Person and work of Jesus Christ. From the beginning
of the Pentecostal Movement, its central message as referred to Jesus Christ as Savior, Sanctifier,
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Spirit Baptizer, Healer and Coming King. While this particular five-fold rubric is unique to
the movement, the christological center of Pentecostalism allows and compels it to explore
greater koinonia with other Christian churches.
More directly, the Pentecostal/WARC dialogue was able to affirm the following
ecclesiological statements: The Church is the Creature of the Word and Spirit, The Church is
the Community of the Holy Spirits Leading, The Church is the Community of the Spirits
703
Gifts, and The Church is in but not of the World. That these two churches could jointly
assert these five aspects of the church demonstrates that, while they may surely be understood
701
Word and Spirit, Church and World: The Final Report of the International Dialogue between Representatives
of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders, 1996-2000,
PNEUMA, Vol 23 (1) (Spring 2001): 10 (#2).
702
Word and Spirit, Church and World, #17, 15.
703
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and/or nuanced differently in each case, pentecostal ecclesiology owes much to, and shares
much with, the older church traditions that were once spurned in favour of the restorationist cry,
Back to Pentecost. At the same time, the movement does have a distinct ecclesiology within
these greater emphases which carries the unique ecclesial self-understanding that Each
Pentecostal community, formed by the outpouring of the Spirit and shaped by the Spirits gifts,
discerns what the Spirit is saying to the Church through the Word and is thereby shaped by the
704
Spirit in conformity to the Word.
Another significant area of theological consensus coming out of the Pentecostal/WARC
dialogue was in the area of Spirit and Kingdom. The two parties composed joint statements of
agreement in this area which indicate considerable ecclesiological compatibility. These
statements specify the distinction between the church and the kingdom, and mission of the
church. Perhaps the most significant point is the following:
Reformed and Pentecostal churches agree that the Church is birthed by the Spirit and serves
as an instrument of the kingdom that Jesus Christ proclaimed and inaugurated. The Church is
called to serve the Kingdom rather than be self-serving or an end in itself. The Spirits role in
ushering in the kingdom relates to its presence in the Church. 705
While I would personally object to calling the Spirit an it, the reference to the Spirits presence
in the church as that which ushers in the kingdom is a substantial ecclesiological point of
agreement which shows great potential for Pentecostalism to contribute to an ecclesiology of
presence that, while distinct to the movement in its articulation here, would perhaps find a
704
705
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broader receptivity by other church traditions. But this is more likely to come to realization if
increased genuine interaction takes place between Pentecostals and other Christians. As the
Pentecostal WARC dialogue concluded: Genuine ecumenism begins when Christians find each
706
other and learn to enter into the lives of one another.
1.2 Back to Newbigin

This brings us back full-circle to Newbigins chapter from nearly sixty years ago. It
remains significant both for its description of the third-stream ecclesiology inherent within
Pentecostalism, and for its recognition of the ecumenical potential, and need, of this ecclesiology
in the broader church. He understood the historical validity of the Catholic ecclesiology of
apostolic succession, and the Protestant ecclesiology of the doctrinal orthodoxy, but also
observed the biblical validity of, and present need for, a pneumatological ecclesiology of, what I
707
am calling here, presence.
This is echoed by something Sean ONeal has written:
Historically, the Pentecostal church is a movement that holds the power of God being present
in the lives of people as a high core value of their faith. Even for early Pentecostal believers
experiencing God was not a dry, solemn event, but a living relationship where the individual felt
the power and presence of God in their worship.708
706
707
708
Sean S. ONeal, Bridges to People: Communicating Jesus to People and Growing Missional Churches in a
Multi-ethnic World (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2007), 86.
330
Similarly, British Elim Pentecostal writer W.G. Hathaway has stated:
In the full-orbed Pentecostal Church where the gifts of the Spirit are in operation the wonder-
working power of the Triune God will be in evidence. The power behind these supernatural
manifestations in the Church is the same power which brooded over the waters in the beginning
and brought forth order out of chaos; the same power which brought again from the dead the
Lord Jesus the power of the Holy Spirit. In these operations of the gifts of the Spirit we come
to the summit to the experience of the very fulness of Gods power manifested among men. In
the true Church where God the Holy Ghost is allowed room to work we shall always find the
wonderful expression of Gods mighty power. 709
An authentic Pentecostal church is defined by the presence of this wonder working power of
God manifested and therefore experienced by those gathered by the Holy Spirit. This
resurrection power is that which provides life to the church from a pentecostal perspective.
Finally, South African Pentecostal scholars Matthew Clark and Henry Lederle, while not
explicitly referencing Newbigin, characterize pentecostal ecclesiology in the following manner:
It is neither doctrine, tradition, nor ideology, which makes Pentecost what it is. It is the
presence of God in and among his people in a manner which is readily evident to participator
and bystander alike Consequently, if it is asked, why does a believer attend church services?
or what is the purpose of getting together? the Pentecostal answer is distinctive. Simplistically
stated, where the Roman Catholic might answer to receive sacramentally mediated grace, and to
worship, and the Protestant might say to gather around word and sacrament, and to worship,
the Pentecostal would say to encounter the power of God in Jesus, and to worship, where
encounter must be interpreted in the active and passive sense (blessing others, and being
blessed by others) and includes word and sacrament, among other elements What is peculiar
709
W.G. Hathaway. The Gifts of the Spirit in the Church (London: The Benhill Church Press, 1963), 10.
331
to the Pentecostal notion of the church, and what relativises the contributions so that in the end
there is a priesthood of all believers, is a two-fold emphasis: i) every Spirit-filled believer has a
contribution to make; and ii) every contribution is only valid insofar as it can be traced back to
the dynamic activity of God. 710
It is this theology of encounter (a phrase also used by Keith Warrington), which distinguishes
pentecostal ecclesiology from others, and it is this distinction that is perhaps Pentecostalisms
greatest potential contribution to the wider church. By defining the church charismatically
(instead of adding charisma to a previous church structure or ecclesiology), Pentecostalism offers
a unique template for the priesthood of all believers through its participative, playful worship as
the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The People of Gods Presence are therefore a radically egalitarian
community that enjoys Spirit-driven koinonia with God and with each other. The Spirit-filled
church is one that is characterized by its worshipful relationship to the Triune God, which then
empowers it to be a foretaste of the eschatological kingdom of Jesus the Savior, Baptizer,
Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King to the world it is called to humbly serve.
2 Presence and the Future of Pentecostal Identity

2.1 Dealing with the Warts
Obviously, as a constructive proposal this work naturally is open to the accusation of
others such as Nicholas Healy and Shane Clifton that it is a blueprint or idealistic ecclesiology
that does not sufficiently account for a centurys worth of flaws and warts present within
Pentecostalism. Every constructive proposal and nearly every ecclesiology stands in this
710
Clark & Lederle, What is Distinctive About Pentecostal Theology?, 65, 67-68, 76.
332
precarious place. The task of systematic theology is to attempt to apprehend, discern and
communicate the truth about the Being and Story of God to a flawed humanity and a flawed
church. Constructive ecclesiology walks an especially thin line in that it aims to project a
definition of the church as God intends it, a church which is also a concrete sociological reality
consisting of real human beings with names and stories of their own that unfortunately often
testify to a failure to live out a divine identity as much or more than a success at doing so.
Therefore, inasmuch as ecclesiology must offer a real template of Gods design for the church so
that she understands her identity, so too must it also contend with the church as she actually is in
her concrete, earthly existence. So this ecclesiology must, in this concluding portion, deal with
the warts of the Pentecostal movement.
In attempting to construct another option for Pentecostal ecclesiology in the midst of
several other (smaller) options already proposed, this work has not intended whatsoever to
naively idealize Pentecostalism or suggest that it is anything like a more pure form of Church.
My own personal story of my time as an ordained Pentecostal minister is itself a brutal testimony
to the cruelty, callousness, injustice and sin that are far too prevalent in Pentecostal churches. In
that respect I have no choice but to be among the first to acknowledge the failure of
Pentecostalism to be the People of Gods Presence far too often.
Yet, in the midst of the very real warts and sin that abide within this movement, as they
do in all churches, there is also the historical reality of a genuine Revival over the last century,
comprised mainly of poor, uneducated and marginalized people from various parts of the world,
which continues to reconfigure global Christianity. Given that Pentecostalism is, to repeat what
was said in Chapter One, one of the more rapidly growing religious movements in human
history, it is only responsible as a theologian and ecclesiologist to try to discern what God has
333
done through this phenomenon, personal experience aside. There are horrible abuses in all
churches including the Pentecostal, and given the often hyper-spirituality and restorationist
purity the movement has exuded, along with the superiority claimed by their doctrine of tongues
as initial evidence of Spirit baptism, these abuses appear especially ugly when dressed in
Pentecostal garb.
Furthermore, there unfortunately is always a tension between the spiritual identity of the
People of Gods Presence in their covenant-relationship to the I AM, and their humanity which is
still prone to sin and failure despite their claim to be recipients of the divine presence. One
immediately thinks of the sins of Moses, Samson, Saul and others who experienced the
supernatural, charismatic work of the Spirit of God manifesting through their lives, only to fall
into sin. The biblical narrative teaches us the unfortunate fact that experiencing the divine power
operating through ones participation in the mission of God does not guarantee that the same
participant is immune to temptation, corruption or even a dichotomous existence which fails to
allow the Spirits empowerment to also bring transformation and sanctification of their hearts
and minds. Episodes from the revival starkly illustrate that leaders who were Spirit baptized
and spoke in tongues were also capable of ungodly behaviour. Charles Parham, Florence
Crawford, up to Jimmy Swaggart and many others all typify this incongruous reality.
This is also true on a corporate level. The biblical narrative and church history also attest
that the covenant People of God, who have experienced His blessings and miraculous signs of
His love, are also prone to flagrant hypocrisy despite direct prophetic admonition against this.
God eventually had to release Israel and Judah into exile because this was a lesson they had great
difficulty learning. In one of the stories that comprise Bocaccios Decameron from the thirteenth
century, a spiritual seeker makes a pilgrimage to Rome to attempt to find God. He does find
334
God, but only because he witnesses deplorable hypocrisy there, and ironically concludes that a
church so corrupt and morally bankrupt could only continue to exist by the grace of a real God.
The People of Gods Presence are made the church not through their own merit or faithfulness.
They are made so by the constituting divine presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst, who
works in and through them despite their flaws, warts and sinfulness. It is so in every church, and
it is so in Pentecostalism despite the puritanical airs they have exuded in the past.
2.2 Cross Pollination and Confluence

This brings us to a place of suggestion as to where this proposed ecclesiology can be
useful. It is impossible that Pentecostalism remain isolated in the twenty-first century global
village. It has influenced, and been influenced by, other churches both for better and for worse.
A developed ecclesiology will therefore aid the movement to navigate the future both in terms of
retaining its own identity and sharing this identity in healthy mutually-beneficial ways with the
greater church.
If this happens, my own hope would be an increased cross-pollination of healthy
emphases between Pentecostalism and other churches. Now that the movement is in its second
century and is coming to grips with its own tradition, it will benefit from the positive influence of
other, older church traditions that therefore have something to contribute to Pentecostalisms
maturation. A primary example of this would be the sacramental tradition, which can teach
Pentecostalism how to appropriate a richer understanding of the eucharist within an ecclesiology
of Presence. Or, the Reformed tradition can perhaps continue to assist Pentecostals to be faithful
exegetes of the Spirit-inspired Word. Not to be ignored, the Eastern Orthodox Church has been
recognized by many to be pregnant with potential to supply Pentecostalism with two millennia
335
worth of theological richness upon which to continue to develop areas such as the synthesis
between the presence of the Spirit and Christ in the church, or how the church functions in
deification, etc. Our survey in Chapter Three demonstrates that several Pentecostal scholars are
grappling with one or more of these possibilities already.
In turn, as the Charismatic Movement has demonstrated, Pentecostalism can continue to
influence older churches with the expectation and longing for the palpable experience of the
Spirit of God bringing life, transformation and empowerment to His People. Even someone as
theologically far from Pentecostalism as Marcus Borg has significantly observed,

711
Congregations that are full of God are full of people. Pentecostals have and can continue to
share an ecclesiology of presence with the rest of the Church, so that the whole church will be
full of God through the charismatic presence of His Spirit.
Thus, even while current denominations and traditions can continue to exist as they are
organizationally, greater spiritual unity between them is possible through this increased
confluence. Pentecostals can be made more catholic through a suitable appropriation of the
sacramental tradition and still be Pentecostals as long as they maintain an ecclesiology of
presence. Likewise, older churches can maintain what is best about their traditions while
enjoying a similar operation of the Spirit in their midst as Pentecostals have enjoyed.
Pentecostalism was perhaps never meant to replace or supplant other churches, though their
expression of restorationism sometimes gave this impression. The earliest Pentecostals were
711
Marcus J. Borg, The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion to a More Authentic Contemporary Faith
(San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997), 3. In making this statement, Borg is drawing upon C Kirk Hadaway
and David A. Roozen, Rerouting the Protestant Mainstream (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1005), 76-77.
336
seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit for themselves, then looking to bring it back to their
churches. When this was rejected they formed their own congregations and denominations.
Given that some, such as Clark Pinnock, have articulated a different kind of restorationism that
seeks to revive not only the apostolic charismata but apostolic sacramentalism as well,
Pentecostalisms future can perhaps be seen with greater clarity. It can offer one side of this
equation while learning to appropriate the other from the historic churches. This vision of
712
confluence fits with the suggestions of others.
Coming from the other side of the coin, if Pentecostalism does NOT develop its own
ecclesiological identity with the aim of sharing it for the purposes of cross-pollination, it stands
vulnerable to an array of dangers resulting from an identity crisis. Such dangers are powerfully
illustrated in a parallel manner for evangelicalism by Canadian theologian John G. Stackhouse:
When we, the church, are confused about who we are and whose we are, we can become
713
anything and anyones. This is already clearly evident in North America. Pentecostalism is
being swallowed up into generic evangelicalism, losing its distinctiveness, eschatological
vision and fervour, and has adopted methodologies of newer churches (i.e. seeker-sensitive,
purpose-driven) instead of practicing the playful, participative worship of the People of Gods
Presence in which the Holy Spirit operates in charismatic fashion. Consequently, the question of
what is Pentecostal? today has become more difficult to answer than at any other time in the
history of the Movement. This is not all bad and is part of the maturation process. There are
aspects of original, classical Pentecostalism that perhaps need not be perpetuated for their own
712
I.e. John McKay, David Martin, and David Barrett.
713
John G. Stackhouse, Jr., Preface to Evangelical Ecclesiology, 9. Stackhouse goes on to cite some specific
historical examples of the churchs failure in particular contexts, such as Germany under Hitler, South Africa during
apartheid, Rwanda during the genocide, as well as America and the West.
337
sake. The principle of semper reformanda applies to this movement as well as any other. The
proposal here has therefore been to understand the Pentecostal church as the People of Gods
Presence, imaged by the Temple of the Spirit. The true ethos of authentic Pentecostalism, as
Newbigin identified, is to see the church as the dwelling place for the manifest presence of the
eschatological Spirit which transforms and empowers lives in the context of Spirit-formed
koinonia celebrated in the playful, participative worship of the ingathered community. The
church becomes empowered for mission in genuine Pentecostal fashion only as it lives in this
manifest presence in its playful worship, where Charisma, Word and Sacrament can mediate this
divine presence in polyphonic, complementary ways.
3 Conclusion: Aiming for a Church that Powerfully

Loves
Newbigin answered the ecclesiological question of Where is the church? from a
pentecostal perspective with the answer, Where the Holy Spirit is present with power. It is the
dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit experienced in tangible ways by the gathered community
that constitutes the church from the perspective of a distinctly pentecostal ecclesiology. The
final question, then, is why? Why does the Spirit indwell ordinary people with His
extraordinary Presence? One theological answer given in this dissertation, following the answer
of several others, is to make the church a foretaste of the eschatological kingdom to the world
God so loves that He gave His Son to make atoning sacrifice for their sins. Thus, love is the
ultimate bottom line for the purpose of the churchs existence. Love is the reason why the
church continues to live on. The Spirit is not present with power in the church for the purpose of
domination, triumphalism, or showmanship. The supernatural gifts are not demonstrations of

338
power for powers sake, but for the sake of edifying the community and proving to the
unbeliever that God is really among you (1 Cor 14:25). These ends, then, are acts of love.
The Holy Spirit comes with power to do nothing other than bring life in all its fullness: healing,
restoration, transformation, empowerment for living and participation in the inbreaking of the
kingdom for those who otherwise have no power in their social status.
Frank Macchia concludes his landmark work on Spirit Baptism, which includes one
714
hundred pages on ecclesiology, with a depiction of the Spirit Baptized life as a life of love.
The outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh, the indwelling divine presence upon the ingathered
community, is a gift of love from God to His creation which He is lovingly restoring to Himself.
Central to an ecclesiology of presence, then, is the recognition of the self-giving of the God of
love. Macchia draws upon Barth to describe this divine love:
Love is Gods supreme gift, for it transcends all emotion, conceptuality, and action only to
inspire all three. It gives life and that more abundantly. Love is not only Gods supreme gift, it is
at the very essence of Gods nature as God. There is nothing greater than divine love (1 Cor.
13:13). Karl Barths words are to the point: The Christian life begins with love. It also ends
with love. Indeed, there is also nothing beyond love. There is no higher or better being or
doing in which we can leave it behind us. Love is absolute to the nature of God. It is the essence
of God and the substance of our participation in God. 715
Macchia also draws upon Emil Brunner in describing how Spirit baptism is a vital gift of divine
love: Through Christ as the Spirit Baptizer, God imparts his divine self as all-embracing love
and not just something about God. The benefit that God wills for the creature is not something
714
Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, Chapter Six, 257-282.
715
Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 259. The quotes from Barth are from CD I/2.
339
but Gods presence, for this love is self-surrender, self-giving to the other, to whom love is
716
directed. This bestowal of the Spirits Presence by Christ is ultimately a momentous
expression of the Fathers love for the world as demonstrated through the church, the People of
Gods Presence. As the Spirit indwells the church in this immanent, personal manner, He acts as
the loving agent of the transcendent God. The transcendent/immanent or personal-infinite (to
717
use Francis Schaeffers term ) God who pours out Himself in the person of the Spirit into
human community to create a more abundant koinonia is therefore most definitively a God of
love; the same love that sent the Son willingly to the Cross on our behalf to make all things new.
Thus, as Macchia claims, Faithful to Christ, the Spirit forms Christ in us (Gal. 4:19), in
the many caught up in divine koinonia, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13
NRSV). Ultimately, all of creation is to be anointed by the Spirit as a temple of Gods Holy
718
Spirit in the very image of Christ. Through the biblical narrative, we have seen the
progression of the significant role of the Temple in Gods salvation history, and proposed the
significance of the church as Temple from a pentecostal perspective. Macchia here states that
the role of the church as Temple is to house the indwelling presence of Gods love to finally
bring the world to the place where it will function as Temple in that it is the new creation.
Macchia concludes his chapter (and his book) by casting the following description of Spirit
baptism:
716
Macchia, Baptized in the Spirit, 261. The quotes from Brunner are from Christian Doctrine of God, 185.
717
Francis Schaeffer was a Presbyterian minister, theologian, author and founder of LAbri Fellowship. The phrase
personal-infinite God can be found, for instance, in Francis Schaeffer, The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer:
A Christian Worldview, Volume One, Book Two: Escape from Reason (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1982), 221-
222, and in Volume One, Book Three: He is There and He Is Not Silent, 286-288, after which he inverts it to
infinite-personal God, 288-291.
718
340
Spirit baptism fills us with the love of God so that we transcend ourselves and cross
boundaries. We find the power to transcend limitations through divine infilling to pour ourselves
out for others. In transcending ourselves we are fulfilled, for we have been made for the love of
God. God as a self-giving fountain of love poured out abundantly begins to shape us into
something similar. Jesus pours out the Spirit so that the Spirit may pour forth in our empowered
love for others. We become Spirit-baptized personalities. Jesus thus says that believing in him
will cause a spring of divine life to flow forth from us in abundance. From within those who
drink from the Spirit streams of living water will flow (John 7:38). Spirit baptism as an
experience of empowerment is not just renewed energy to do things for God. It is rather the
power of self-transcending, self-giving love. It involves us entirely.719
What Macchia describes here so well concerning the experience of Spirit baptism also applies
directly to the Spirit-filled Church. The empowering presence of the Spirit in the Temple is not
merely the ability to carry out a divine mission, but to do so in a spirit of love, because the divine
love has been shed abroad in our hearts, and we freely give to others what we have been given.
In so doing, we accomplish the mission of bringing others into the presence of God.
Donald Gelpi, a Catholic scholar, provides this summation in his book, Pentecostalism: A
Theological Viewpoint:
By the same token, if it is to remain orthodox, Pentecostal piety must avoid exclusive
preoccupation with the more flamboyant gifts like tongues and prophecy. There is a gift of the
Spirit corresponding to every legitimate form of human activity. The gifts we should seek first,
as Paul tells us, are those which correspond to actions that are directly expressive of love.
Hence, Pentecostal piety cannot suffer itself to become indifferent to any legitimate form of
human activity. What Pentecostal piety must seek to cultivate is peaceful docility to the
inspirations of the Spirit in every legitimate area of human endeavour.720
719
720
Donald Gelpi, Pentecostalism: A Theological Viewpoint (New York: Paulist Press, 1971), 204.
341
Thus, the powerful presence of the eschatological Spirit which constitutes the church from a
pentecostal perspective operates charismatically for the purpose of bestowing divine love upon
the human community so that they may know life to its fullest and share this life with the world
God loves. As Gelpi states, Pentecostalism must be about the broader mission of spreading
Gods peaceful love rather than perpetuating certain charismata for their own sake.
Pentecostal ecclesiology in the 21st century, therefore, must build upon R.G. Spurlings
original vision of the Church as a Community of Love. The People of Gods Presence must be a
church that loves in the power of the Spirit, for love is the law on which Christ built the
721
church. The two golden rails of the great commandment to love the Lord God with all
heart, soul, strength, and mind, and then to love our neighbour as ourselves (cf. Luke 10:27) are
what the church, like a train, rolls along on its pilgrim journey to the eschatological kingdom. In
this respect, Spurling understood the purpose and mission of the Spirit-filled church perhaps
better than any of his first-generation Pentecostal peers, and better than some Pentecostal
ecclesiologists today. The movement would do well to recover his theology of the church in this
regard. The People of Gods Presence must always aim foremost to be a church that powerfully
loves God and its neighbours.
This beginning attempt at an ecclesiology of presence concludes by quoting Jrgen
Moltmann, who has at many points influenced the pneumatology operational here. He writes:
The gift and the presence of the Holy Spirit is the greatest and most wonderful thing which
we can experience we ourselves, the human community, all living things and this earth. For
721
Spurling, The Lost Link, Chapter 1.
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with the Holy Spirit it is not just one random spirit that is present, among all the many good and
evil spirits that there are. It is God himself, the creative and life-giving, redeeming and saving
God. Where the Holy Spirit is present, God is present in a special way, and we experience God
through our lives, which become wholly living from within. We experience whole, full, healed
and redeemed life, experience it with all our senses. We feel and taste, we touch and see our life
in God and God in our lifeThe Spirit is more than just one of Gods gifts among others; the
Holy Spirit is the unrestricted presence of God in which our life wakes up, becomes wholly and
entirely living, and is endowed with the energies of life.722
The presence of the Holy Spirit is therefore Gods life-giving, constituting gift to the Church,
and by extension to the world. Pentecostals as the People of Gods Presence must therefore
cherish this gift, live always in it and nurture it, so that they may freely share it with the rest of
the church and to the world God so loves. There is no more exciting vision in the Christian
imagination than a community of Spirit-filled people who have experienced the outpouring of
the Spirit of love to such a degree that they love one another in Spirit-driven koinonia so that the
world takes notice and declares, God is really among you!
722
Jrgen Moltmann, The Source of Life: The Holy Spirit and the Theology of Life (Minneapolis: Fortress Press,
1997), 10-11.
343
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Ecclesiology, Soteriology, and Theology of Mission, Amos Yong, ed. Lanham, Maryland:
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________. The Church as the Fellowship of Persons: An Emerging Pentecostal Ecclesiology of

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Macchia, Frank. The Tongues of Pentecost: A Pentecostal Perspective on the Promise and
Challenge of Pentecostal/Roman Catholic Dialogue, in Journal of Ecumenical Studies
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________. The Nature and Purpose of the Church: A Pentecostal Response, paper
delivered at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies,
Virginia Beach, March 2005. Also published in Ecumenical Trends 34 (2005): 97-102.
________. Signs of Grace in a Graceless World: The Charismatic Structure of the Church in
Trinitarian Perspective, 2006. Accessed at
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________.Pinnocks Pneumatology: A Pentecostal Appreciation, in Journal of Pentecostal

Theology 14:2 (2006): 167-173.
________. Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2006.
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Challenge. London: SCM Press, 1996.
Newbigin, Lesslie. The Household of God: Lectures on the Nature of the Church.
London: SCM Press, 1953.
Pearlman, Myer. Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible. Springfield, Missouri: Gospel
Publishing House, 1937.
Perspectives on Koinonia: Report from the Third Quinquennium of the Dialogue

between the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Some Classical
Pentecostal Churches and Leaders 1985-1989
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Pentecostal Studies, Virginia Beach, March 11, 2005. Also published
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A Pentecostal Perspective," in Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 27:3, Summer 1990.
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Thesis, Wycliffe College, Spring 2000.
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Spirit and Doctrine; Wycliffe College, March 3, 2003.
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B) Secondary Literature:
1) Historical Background on Pentecostalism & Restorationism
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Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
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351
Barrett, David B., Kurian, George T., Johnson, Todd M., eds. World Christian Encyclopedia: A
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at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Virginia Beach, March
2005.
Clifton, Shane. On Experience in Australian Pentecostalism, paper delivered at Macquarie

University, n.d.
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Regnum Books International, 1999.
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Hollenweger, Walter J. Pentecostalism: Origins and Development Worldwide. Peabody, MA:

Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.
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Theological Association Bulletin (1992). Accessed at
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Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Oxford: Oxford
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Identity, PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 17, No. 1 (Spring
1995): 3-17.
352
Johnson, Van. Defining Pentecostal Identity Defining Eschatology, paper delivered at

Masters College & Seminary, March 26, 2010.
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Reader. London, UK: SCM Press, 2004.
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2003.
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Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, 2005.
Lyon, David & Van Die, Margaret, eds. Rethinking Church, State and Modernity: Canada
between Europe and America. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000.
Macchia, Frank. Sighs Too Deep for Words: Toward a Theology of Glossolalia, in Journal of
Pentecostal Theology 1 (1992): 47-73.
________. Christian Experience and Authority in the World: A Pentecostal Viewpoint, in

Ecumenical Trends September 2002: 10-14.
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The University of Massachusetts Press, 1982.
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Spittler, Russell P., ed. Perspectives on the New Pentecostalism. Grand Rapids: Baker Book
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3) General or non-pentecostal works on Ecclesiology

Belcher, Jim. Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009.
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Braaten, Carl E. and Jenson, Robert W. Marks of the Body of Christ. Grand Rapids: William B.
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Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
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A Catholic Response, in PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal
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4) Miscellaneous on Spirit, Church, Presence and Temple
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The Temple, the Spirit and the People of the Presence of

God: Examining Critical Options for a Pentecostal

Robert Brian Robson

Copyright by Robert Brian Robson 2012

Robert Brian Robson

Doctor of Philosophy in Theology

University of St. Michaels College

Ecclesiology remains recognized as an underdeveloped area within the burgeoning field

this thesis, I propose to construct a distinct but ecumenically-friendly Pentecostal ecclesiology

description of a third-stream of Christian tradition first offered by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin in

encouragement of various kinds, both tangible and intangible.

Finally, my deepest thanks must go to my family: my wife Heather, my daughters Abigail

reward you all for your endurance.

Chapter 1: Pentecostal Ecclesiology as a Third-Stream 1

Chapter 2: Historical Groundings for a Pentecostal Ecclesiology 39

Chapter 3: Constructing a Contemporary Pentecostal Ecclesiology 104

Chapter 4: The Church as the People of Gods Presence 208

Chapter 5: Conclusion 324

AF Apostolic Faith Newsletter (Azusa Mission, California)

AoG Assemblies of God

CD Church Dogmatics, Karl Barth

CoG Church of God (Cleveland, TN)

CPS Jrgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A

DPCM Stanley M. Burgess, Gary B. McGee and Patrick H. Alexander

EPTA European Pentecostal Theological Association Bulletin

ERT Evangelical Review of Theology

HTR Harvard Theological Review

JPT Journal of Pentecostal Theology

JPTSup Journal of Pentecostal Theology, Supplemental Series

LG Lumen Gentium: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, trans. St.

NIDCPM Stanley M. Burgess, Eduard M. Van der Maas (eds.),

PAOC Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

PNEUMA Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies

SPS Society for Pentecostal Studies

WCC World Council of Churches

study or wish to engage it in dialogue or cooperation. On the one hand, Pentecostalism as a

occurrence. Ecclesiology remains recognized as an underdeveloped area within the burgeoning

manifest Presence of the Tri-une God.

broadly-speaking, will be identified as the Classical Pentecostal movement, or those churches

the early 1900s.

pentecostal ecclesiology distinctively pentecostal. Of equal importance, however, is to also

contemporary Pentecostal scholars such as Veli-Matti Krkkinen, Frank Macchia, Wolfgang

what is certainly more striking is their differences.

introduction forms the heart of his description of it so he must be quoted at length:

the primary distinctive contribution this third-stream offers to a contemporary theological

understanding of the church. As Allan Anderson, a leading scholar on Pentecostalism, observes

While ecclesiology is recognized as underdeveloped in pentecostal theology, work in this

ecclesiological, and so a contemporary attempt at pentecostal ecclesiological construction should

Pentecostals, the ecclesiological theme of Presence proposed in this dissertation will be

operates in a uniquely Pentecostal way. Another common identifying feature of Pentecostalism

ecclesiological options are currently found.

understanding of pentecostal practices by others, to facilitate increased cooperation, and to assist

Ecclesiology: Implications of the Five-fold Gospel Constructive Theological Proposals.

this purpose. Pentecostal scholar Wolfgang Vondeys People of Bread: Rediscovering

ecclesiology. Shane Cliftons dissertation on the Australian Assemblies of God is more of a

in a mutually edifying way.

it be centered or constructed? Is it possible to suggest a distinct pentecostal understanding of the

towards this theological task?

traditional pentecostal distinctives (i.e., Spirit-baptism & glossolalia as initial evidence). In