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Latin American Pentecostals: Their Potential for Ecumenical Dialogue

Latin American Pentecostals: Their Potential for Ecumenical Dialogue 85 Latin American Pentecostals: Their Potential for Ecumenical Dialogue Everett A. Wilson* Latin American Pentecostalism, despite its rapid growth, remains on the margins of the church world, in need of better compre- hension of its nature and influences While the diversity and spontaneity of these aggressive, popular groups make any general- ization tentative, the following brief assessment by Dr. Carmelo Alvarez captures much that is commonly held about the movement.2 The writer correctly identifies Pentecostals as legitimate descend- ants of the radical Reformation in their theology and polities. He traces their Latin American origins to insurgencies within the historic denominations, from whose juridical status and social acceptance adherents have benefited.3 He graciously acknowledges that Pentecostal growth has resulted primarily from the groups' "important soul-winning process" and concedes that at least in some instances these churches have been a "force of the Spirit, a movement for the life of the church."' Holding to a sanguine hope for Christian unity, Dr. Alvarez limits his disapproval only to the Pentecostals' exclusiveness in life-style and worship, practices that divide and weaken the already often tenuous Protestant (Sp.j Port. evangelico) community. This disruptive defect, he asserts, is based on misunderstanding, especially the assumption http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Pneuma Brill

Latin American Pentecostals: Their Potential for Ecumenical Dialogue

Pneuma , Volume 9 (1): 85 – Jan 1, 1987

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1987 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0272-0965
eISSN
1570-0747
DOI
10.1163/157007487X00074
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

85 Latin American Pentecostals: Their Potential for Ecumenical Dialogue Everett A. Wilson* Latin American Pentecostalism, despite its rapid growth, remains on the margins of the church world, in need of better compre- hension of its nature and influences While the diversity and spontaneity of these aggressive, popular groups make any general- ization tentative, the following brief assessment by Dr. Carmelo Alvarez captures much that is commonly held about the movement.2 The writer correctly identifies Pentecostals as legitimate descend- ants of the radical Reformation in their theology and polities. He traces their Latin American origins to insurgencies within the historic denominations, from whose juridical status and social acceptance adherents have benefited.3 He graciously acknowledges that Pentecostal growth has resulted primarily from the groups' "important soul-winning process" and concedes that at least in some instances these churches have been a "force of the Spirit, a movement for the life of the church."' Holding to a sanguine hope for Christian unity, Dr. Alvarez limits his disapproval only to the Pentecostals' exclusiveness in life-style and worship, practices that divide and weaken the already often tenuous Protestant (Sp.j Port. evangelico) community. This disruptive defect, he asserts, is based on misunderstanding, especially the assumption

Journal

PneumaBrill

Published: Jan 1, 1987

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