Each year the Association holds its annual conference at a different venue, usually in the facilities of a member institution. These meetings, in addition to the necessary business, include papers, seminars and discussions that stimulate theological discussion and encourage an interchange of ideas and information.

For 2010 we held the conference on JUSTICE and Pentecostals!

We will also be posting a statement on the subject and have as many Pentecostal groups sign up to it and act on it as possible. See the front page soon!

Have a look at the blog comment and add your own. 

The college hosting the conference was Mattersey Hall.

The theme was on Pentecostalism and issues of Justice. To that end we heard papers from various speakers. Our Key note speaker was Joel Edwards now with the Micah Challenge International and he used to be the leader of the British Evangelical Alliance for several years. All members will receive the minutes of the AGM in the near future.

Secretary: Dr Anne E Dyer - adyer@matterseyhall.com

 ETS Kniebis  29 April - 2 May 2009 -see the photo gallery for pictures of the conference

 The theme was European Pentecostalism –the history, sociology and interaction of theologies.

Papers were presented on the following themes: Historiography (WK Kay), Scandinavian Pentecostal history (J-Å Alvarsson,), German Pentecostal history (C Simpson), Futures of Pentecostalism in Europe (R Pfister), Sociology of Pentecostalism (WK Kay) and Protestant reformed Europe’s theological interaction with Pentecostalism (J-D Plüss)

Devotional messages were also presented for brief morning sessions and we had a good share, care and prayer evening with a challenge from the Chair at the last morning session.

Conclusions:

This completes a series of presentations concerning Pentecostal identity from history, theology and something of sociology which are to lead to two books (P van der Laan’s) and W K Kay & A E Dyer’s European Pentecostalism). Future conferences can plan further workshops on ground activities of the educational institutes we represent (curriculum development, legal situations for colleges, restrictions due to accreditation needs, financial areas all of which while we are in different situations could lend themselves to learn from each other practically), Biblical theology, and base workshops around the topic we provide for a guest speaker on one of those topics. The executive is open to suggestions but retains the decision on the topic to be chosen.

ETS Kniebis  29 April - 2 May 2009

The theme was European Pentecostalism –the history, sociology and interaction of theologies.

Papers were presented on the following themes: Historiography (WK Kay), Scandinavian Pentecostal history (J-Å Alvarsson,), German Pentecostal history (C Simpson), Futures of Pentecostalism in Europe (R Pfister), Sociology of Pentecostalism (WK Kay) and Protestant reformed Europe’s theological interaction with Pentecostalism (J-D Plüss)

Devotional messages were also presented for brief morning sessions and we had a good share, care and prayer evening with a challenge from the Chair at the last morning session.

Conclusions: This completes a series of presentations from last year and this concerning Pentecostal identity from history, theology and something of sociology which are to lead to two books (P van der Laan’s) and W K Kay & A E Dyer’s European Pentecostalism). Future conferences can plan further workshops on ground activities of the educational institutes we represent (curriculum development, legal situations for colleges, restrictions due to accreditation needs, financial areas all of which while we are in different situations could lend themselves to learn from each other practically). Another suggestion for some future papers would be on Biblical theology, or to invite a guest speaker and base workshops around the topic we provide for him or her. The executive is open to suggestions but retains the decision on the topic to be chosen.

Complex Pentecostal Identities

Reflection on the EPTA-Conference at Senec, Slovakia, July 24-27, 2008

Paul van der Laan

            The theme chosen for the 2008 EPTA conference was “Pentecostal Identity”. In 2007 I proposed this theme because of my desire to perpetuate our heritage. The theme helped to provoke challenging discussions and helped us to reflect on the complexity of who we think we are. The format chosen for this conference, presentations followed by discussion in small groups culminating in a plenary deliberation on the topic, proved most helpful. Initially the term “Pentecostal distinctives” was frequently used, but as David Petts pointed out the word “distinctive” seems to indicate some exclusive qualities, where in fact most of our identity is shared with other denominations or parts of the larger body of Christ. Our identity is shaped by Roman Catholic mysticism, Reformed Biblicism, Pietistic lifestyle, Wesleyan holiness, Darbistic eschatology, Afro-American folk religion etc. etc. Indeed we are standing on the shoulders of many of our esteemed predecessors and we are inclusive rather then exclusive.

            In his opening address Paul Alexander stressed the importance of developing a “hidden curriculum”, by which we could pursue our primary goals in our educational institutions. This enables us to prove the validity of our policies and create an atmosphere by which it will become widely acceptable in our own rank and file. The last section gave some helpful tools by which a missional hidden curriculum can be introduced and sustained. In the group discussion it was pointed out that in fact the “hidden curriculum” was our overriding purpose and for that reason cannot and should not be hidden. It is helpful however, certainly in our Pentecostal tradition, that we prove our point in real life before we have it approved by our constituency. By this we can develop our institutional program in such a way that it touches the very heart of what we consider to be the most prominent aspect of our identity.

    After we had reached this pinnacle of confusion and amazement, a necessary place for reflection and change, we now applied the conference theme to the more practical areas of our student life program and missions. Steven D. Jenkins presented the results of an extensive survey he had completed among students at Mattersey Hall Bible College with regards to the development of the Pentecostal identity in the course of their study. The statistics were most revealing and an eye-opener to all of us. It proved that we cannot take it for granted that students will grow in the use of spiritual gifts, just because they study at a Pentecostal institution. We need to be deliberate in our program to foster such a growth and demonstrate it by personal example. Students are eager to apply the spiritual gifts in their own life and ministry and become spiritually mature, but seem to miss the leadership and mentorship they had expected. In the group discussion it became apparent that most of our member institutions wrestle with the same challenge. The mutual exchange motivated us to devote more of our focus to this crucial part of our training.

           It was appropriate that the last presentation dealt with one of the most characteristic elements of our Pentecostal identity: global missions. Pasi Parkkila exemplified in a power point presentation how the Iso Kirja College in Keuruu, Finland, maintains an extensive missions program. They offer a variety of educational programs for potential missionaries and work in close harmony with Fida International, the Finish Pentecostal missionary organization. In the open discussion that followed we agreed that Iso Kirja serves as a model of how an ideal missionary program can be set up and maintained. As we shared the various missionary programs of the member institutions, which were presented at this conference, it became evident that missions is still at the very heart of our raison d’être and certainly a focus we all share. Jukka Tuovinen, the director of the Iso Kirja missions program, gave us a profound insight in the practical elements by answering some of the questions I had prepared. Another Dutch expression is that one fool can ask more than ten wise men can answer. However, this one wise man responded to more then one Dutch fool could think of. This presentation was a fitting closure of a conference that forced us to look in our Pentecostal mirror. It brought us back to the fact that indeed the Holy Spirit is given to reach the world for Christ pending His parousia.   

             Pondering over the scenic lake of Senec I was reminded of the song of Jean Valjean in the musical Les Miserables entitled “Who am I?”. After he was released from prison Valjean had to take up a new identity and position to become acceptable by society. What about my (our) identity? Have we betrayed who we are to become acceptable by the Church and society or have we simple come of age? We certainly have grown but at what price? This conference has reassured me to search for my original birthright. Walking back to our “Pension Bat” I heard myself singing: Who am I? Who am I? I am … Pentecostal!