Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism or Classical Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within ProtestantChristianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.

Like other forms of evangelical Protestantism, Pentecostalism adheres to the inerrancy of scripture and the necessity of accepting Christ as personal Lord and Savior. It is distinguished by belief in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as an experience separate from conversion that enables a Christian to live a Holy Spirit–filled and empowered life. This empowerment includes the use of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and divine healing—two other defining characteristics of Pentecostalism. Because of their commitment to biblical authority, spiritual gifts, and the miraculous, Pentecostals tend to see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power and teachings that were found in the Apostolic Age of the early church. For this reason, some Pentecostals also use the term Apostolic or Full Gospel to describe their movement.

Paul Flynn

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The Modern

The Modern could be

Modern Church

Modern Church is a UK-based membership organisation and registered charity that promotes liberal Christian theology.

Founded in 1898 by members of the Church of England as The Churchmen's Union for the Advancement of Liberal Religious Thought, it was part of the modernist movement that defended biblical scholarship and new scientific findings – especially evolution – against fundamentalism. By 1902, when its objects were finally agreed, the name had become The Churchmen's Union. This was changed to The Modern Churchmen's Union in 1928,The Modern Churchpeople's Union in 1986, and Modern Church in 2010. Also in 2010 a new constitution was adopted. Objects remained unchanged from those in place in 1986 but procedures for electing trustees were revised and management responsibilities clarified.

In the years following its formation 'the Union' established a journal and an annual conference. The first issue of The Modern Churchman was published in 1911, edited by Henry D. A. Major. Major continued as editor until 1956 and was considered the moving spirit of the organisation until his death in 1961. The journal, renamed Modern Believing in 1996, is published quarterly and indexed in the ATLA Religion Database. From January 2014 it was published by Liverpool University Press. In June 2014, it was announced that Revd. Dr Steven Shakespeare, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Liverpool Hope University, would become the new editor of the journal from January 2016. Recent editors have included George Pattison, Martyn Percy, Paul Badham, Adrian Thatcher and Jonathan Clatworthy.

Azusa Street Revival

The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. The revival was characterized by ecstatic spiritual experiences accompanied by miracles, dramatic worship services, speaking in tongues, and inter-racial mingling. The participants were criticized by the secular media and Christian theologians for behaviors considered to be outrageous and unorthodox, especially at the time. Today, the revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century.

Background

Los Angeles

In 1905, William J. Seymour, the one-eyed 34-year-old son of former slaves, was a student of well-known Pentecostal preacher Charles Parham and an interim pastor for a small holiness church in Houston, Texas. Neely Terry, an African American woman who attended a small holiness church pastored by Julia Hutchins in Los Angeles, made a trip to visit family in Houston late in 1905. While in Houston, she visited Seymour's church, where he preached receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in others tongues, and though he had not experienced this personally, Terry was impressed with his character and message. Once home in California, Terry suggested that Seymour be invited to speak at the local church. Seymour received and accepted the invitation in February 1906, and he received financial help and a blessing from Parham for his planned one-month visit.