PENTECOSTALS IN BRITAIN
By William K. Kay
Paternoster Press. 372 + xxiv pages £19.99
ISBN 1 84227 011 7
This book discusses the results of a postal survey carried out by Dr. William Kay during 1996-97. A questionnaire was sent to all the ministers of the four main Pentecostal denominations in the UK: Assemblies of God, Elim, Apostolic Church and the Church of God. Of approximately 1,600 ministers, 930 responded. The results were analysed and this book is the result. As Dr. Kay is 'a Pentecostal minister with two doctorates' (p. xvii) the book is written from a committed Pentecostal perspective.
The first chapter is a brief history of Pentecostalism in Britain. The next ten chapters cover such subjects as the vocal spiritual gifts; healing; the Toronto Blessing; non-charismatic beliefs such as the Bible, Creationism, Jesus and the Trinity, eschatology, demons, and women's ministry; ethical issues such as divorce and re-marriage, homosexuality, and holiness codes; ministers' backgrounds, material conditions and spirituality; ministerial experiences, roles and job satisfaction; charismata and church growth; personality of ministers and burnout. The final chapter is a discussion of the implications of the data and speculates on possible future outcomes.
