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.
The result is a very comprehensive profile of about 57% of present day Pentecostal ministers, their beliefs and experiences. One cannot help but wonder why the other 43% did not reply to the questionnaire. Were they too busy, or do they hold unusual beliefs, like the sole respondent who does not believe in the Second Advent of Christ?
Dr. Kay makes a number of assumptions in addition to his Pentecostal viewpoint. For example, that charismatics who are not Premillennial in eschatology will hold A-millennial views. Postmillennialism is not even mentioned. Two slips were noticed. On page 71, line 20 'word of wisdom' should read 'word of knowledge' and on page 85 it is sickness not healing that Jeffreys thought might result from personal sin.
Although the first and last chapters are very clear, the remaining chapters, though containing much fascinating information, are laced with statistical and sociological terminology and contain over 100 tables. This makes for rather tedious reading for most people which is off-putting for the general reader. Pentecostal ministers and some lay Pentecostal people will want to know what their colleagues believe but will need to read selectively to sift the informational wheat from the terminological chaff.
The book has an index, an 18-page bibliography, and is footnoted throughout.
It will be an important source-book on Pentecostalism in Britain and Bible colleges and seminaries will want a copy for their libraries, while researchers in Modern Church History will find it extremely useful, but it is not for the average church member.
