AOG Pentecostal Spirituality in Australia: a comparative study of the phenomenon of historic Pentecostal spirituality and its contemporary developments within the Assemblies of God in Australia

Angelo Cettolin - Doctor of Ministry. Supervisor - Rev. Dr. Keith Hinton and Rev. Dr. Kevin Giles

The Pentecostal movement emerged at the turn of the twentieth century stressing the experience of the Holy Spirit evidenced by glossolalia. It passionately advocated a return to a pristine early Christianity in which empowerment by the Spirit was essential. Recent practice in the Assemblies of God in Australia (AOG) appears to be playing down features of historic of classical Pentecostalism. It gives the impression of moving towards more mainline expressions of the Christian life. Sociological theory proposes that as organizations, including churches, develop they tend to become more structured, moving from spontaneity towards order and routinisation. Tensions begin to develop between the institution and charismatic freedom. This study is seeking to understand what is currently emerging in the Pentecostal spirituality of the pastors in the AOG. The hypothesis is that: growing institutionalization is changing the pastors’ (Pentecostal) spirituality.

The first chapter contrasts the understanding of ‘spirituality’ in Christianity with its secular usage. For Christians it is more than the human quest. It is the attraction to things of the Spirit and the conscious living of a Christian way of life. Pentecostal spirituality, as a form of Christian spirituality, particularly emphasizes God’s Spirit working in the process of sanctification and empowerment for ministry. However, its essential nature is wider than what is described in Pentecostal theology and requires our empirical observation and analysis.

Chapter two outlines the origins and developments of Pentecostalism, setting the context for an exploration of AOG (Pentecostal) spirituality. This thesis seeks to elucidate what particularly distinguished the Pentecostal understanding of the Christian life, at least until recently. Various views are surveyed in chapter three to distil the essential features of AOG (Pentecostal) spirituality. There is considerable consistency despite the varied global phenomena. At the heart of these diverse Pentecostal spiritualities there is a shared experience of the Holy Spirit and the practice of the spiritual gifts that unifies the variety.

In chapter four contemporary expressions of AOG (Pentecostal) spirituality are considered through analysis of the results of a national survey of AOG pastors, the views of key ministers and personal observations. Support is found for the hypothesis that AOG spirituality is changing. Although Pentecostal experience is still important it appears there are changes in certain practices and beliefs, particularly Spirit baptism and glossolalia.

This study concludes in chapter five with a consideration of various views of AOG ministers and some personal observations. Sociological, biblical and theological insights are employed and a Pentecostal ecclesiology with Trinitarian perspectives is offered. An essential aspect of AOG (Pentecostal) spirituality is its inherent flexibility and adaptive, innovative nature. Despite humble beginnings the AOG is now reaching the middle class in Australia. Although there are tensions over charismatic freedom, an organizational structure has developed facilitating the movement’s preservation and ongoing growth.

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