PENTECOSTALISM
A Very Short Introduction
By William K. Kay. Oxford University Press. 130 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 0 199 575 152
The confession first. I am a fan of the OUP series ‘A Very Short Introduction’ (VSI), which now includes this excellent survey of Pentecostalism. VSIs are small sized, reasonably brief — this one is about 35,000 words — but academically rigorous.
Each is written by an acknowledged authority in the field. The range is vast, from Advertising and African History to Wittgenstei and The World Trade Organisation. There are now nearly 200 titles in the series. They are great to take on holiday, or slip in your pocket when travelling, even in the e-book age.
William Kay is a well-known researcher in all things Pentecostal, and an excellent choice for this volume. He is currently Professor of Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at Glyndwr University and an Assemblies of God minister.
In a brief survey, the choice of material will determine the usefulness of the treatment. Kay is a well-travelled guide. After a brief treatment of Acts and proto-Pentecostal movements from the 2nd to 19th century, he moves on to describe the phenomenon of worldwide expansion within the last 120 years. Whatever your view of what is appropriate in worship and practice in regard to gifts, apostolic ministry and other issues, the story is remarkable, something the historian David Jenkins has described as the most significant global social movement of the 20th century.
There are summary chapters here on gifts, eschatology, mega-churches and the relationship between Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement. One helpful chapter looks at race, ecumenism and politics.
This would be an excellent starting place for the student or general reader wanting to get a grasp of the global movement. Inevitably its brevity leaves many questions for follow up in other places. Read it on the train or plane; then read some more from the series.
Roger Welch,
pastor of Merland Rise Church;
church history teacher;
Board Chair of the Wycliffe Global Alliance
