Pentecostalism and Christian Unity: Ecumenical Documents and Critical Assessments

Brief Description: This volume of ecumenical documents, key texts, and critical essays is the first collection of its kind exclusively dedicated to Pentecostalism and its contributions to Christian unity. In the first part, a cadre of internationally renowned scholars addresses the ecumenical heritage and perspectives of the Pentecostal movement since the early twentieth century. Part 2 offers a collection of final reports from international dialogues with Pentecostal participation. The final part contains programmatic essays in response to The Nature and Mission of the Church, a major study on the doctrine of the church published by the World Council of Churches. Most of these essays were first presented by the ecumenical-studies group of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, currently the only organized ecumenical think tank among Pentecostals in North America. Since its formation in 2001, the group has encouraged Pentecostal participation in ecumenical concerns, has hosted Roman Catholic-Pentecostal conversations at the annual meeting of the Society, has invited international scholarly debates on ecumenical matters, and has engaged in the study of ecumenical consensus statements. The essays and documents in this collection model the dedication and commitment among Pentecostals today that engage the challenges and opportunities of Christian unity from the perspective of a tradition that has often been falsely accused of being anti-ecumenical. This collection presents an invaluable resource for teachers, scholars, and pastors interested in engaging the global Christian arena from the worldwide and ecumenical image of Pentecostalism. Contributors Carmelo E. lvarezHarold D. HunterDouglas JacobsenVeli-Matti KrkkinenFrank D. MacchiaRaymond R. PfisterCecil M. Robeck Jr. Paul vaMarc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Table of Contents: Preface -- Introduction -- Part 1. The Ecumenical Heritage and Perspectives of Pentecostalism -- 1. The Ambivalent Ecumenical Impulse in Early Pentecostal Theology in North America / Douglas Jacobsen -- 2. Global Pentecostalism and Ecumenism: Two Movements of the Holy Spirit? / Harold D. Hunter -- 3. Joining the World Council of Churches: The Ecumenical Story of Pentecostalism in Chile / Carmelo E. alvarez -- 4. Guidelines for Ecumenical Dialogue with Pentecostals: Lessons from the Netherlands / Paul van der Laan -- 5. Ecumenism of the Spirit: Toward a Pentecostal Pedagogy of Reconciliation / Raymond R. Pfister -- 6. Lessons from the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue / Cecil M. Robeck Jr. -- Part 2. International Ecumenical Documents with Pentecostal Participation -- 7. Final Report of the Dialogue between the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church and Leaders of Some Pentecostal Churches and Participants in the Charismatic Movement within Protestant and Anglican Churches: 1972-1976 -- 8. Final Report of the Dialogue between the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church and Some Classical Pentecostals: 1977-1982 -- 9. Perspectives on Koinonia. Final Report of the Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders: 1985-1989 -- 10. Evangelization, Proselytism, and Common Witness. Final Report of the Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders: 1990-1997 -- 11. Word and Spirit, Church and World. Final Report of the International Dialogue between Representatives of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders: 1996-2000 -- Part 3. Pentecostal Reflections on The Nature and Mission of the Church -- 12. The Nature and Purpose of the Church: Theological and Ecumenical Reflections from Pentecostal/Free Church Perspectives / Veli-Matti Karkkainen -- 13. The Nature and Purpose of the Church: A Pentecostal Reflection on Unity and Koinonia / Frank D. Macchia -- 14. Pentecostal Contributions to The Nature and Mission of the Church / Wolfgang Vondey -- List of Contributors -- Index of Names -- Index of Subjects.

Contributor Bio:  Vondey, Wolfgang Wolfgang Vondey is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Centre for Renewal Studies at Regent University, Virginia Beach, USA.