Pentecostal Studies

The Pentecostal Studies cluster is the largest research community of its kind anywhere in the world. Although Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in history, it has been relatively under-researched compared to other Christian communions. At AC, faculty and HDR candidates from across several disciplines utilise a range of methodological approaches to investigate the dynamic and fast-changing landscape of Pentecostal beliefs, practices, institutions, and their socio-cultural impact. Researchers in this cluster explore the place of theological ideas and biblical texts in contemporary Pentecostalism, while also addressing contemporary social issues through a Pentecostal lens. Particular areas of research concentration include the interface between biblical studies and Pentecostal theology, and the complex dynamics of spiritual experience in Pentecostal communities today. Working from a number of disciplinary and methodological approaches, researchers in this cluster seek to understand the theological foundations and contemporary expressions of Pentecostalism in a way that fosters informed theological engagement with social and global issues.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Grey, Jacqueline N. and Paul W. Lewis (2024). Introduction to Biblical Interpretation: Participating in God's Story of Redemption. Baker Academic

Newton, Jon K., Houston, G. (2023). Holy Spirit Breakout: Discovering the Stories of Australian Pentecostalism. Melbourne

Newton, Jon K. (2024). Mainstream and Marginal Theologies in Australian Pentecostalism. Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 33 79-99

Rizzo, Daniela. (2024). Animal Glossolalia: A Pneumatological Framework for Animal Theology. Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, 46 (1), 60-79

Toh, Leng and Thornton, Daniel. (2024). Understanding “Love” in the English Lyrics of the Original Songs by the Multilingual New Creation Church Singapore. Religions, 15(5) 603

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2023). The Old Testament as a Source for Ethics for the Pentecostal community. In K. Archer & Z. Tackett, Festschrift in honor of Murray W. Dempster. Oxford: Regnum Books

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2023). Worship: A Pentecostal Perspective. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, 24 (1) 53–73

Austin, Emma M.(2023). Beyond the Face: A Pentecostal’s re-evaluation of Orthodox iconography In J. M. Luetz, D. A. Austin, & A. Duderija, Interfaith Engagement Beyond the Divide: Approaches, Experiences, and Practices (pp. 147–160). Springer

Griffiths, John D. (2023). Tongues as of Fire: Pentecost as a Temple Inauguration Theophany. Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 31.2. |External link

Potts, Daryl J. (2023). Eco-theology and Pentecostal Pastor’s Families: Could an Intentional Focus on Eco-theology Strengthen Pentecostal Pastor’s Families?. Journal of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, 43:2

Thornton, Daniel. (2023). “This Is No Performance”: Exploring the Complicated Relationship between the Church and Contemporary Congregational Songs. Religions, 14(5) 578

Dodds, Adam. (2022). ‘Ecclesiastical Cannibalism’ and the Imperative for Unity: Critical Reflections on Newbigin’s Theology and Pentecostal Church Planting in New Zealand. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, Vol. 23 Issue 2 156-171

Coetzee, N.J. & Austin, E.M. (2022). To Build or To Be: An Intertextual Exploration of Sarai's Scheme. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, 23 (1) 59-72

Coetzee, N.J. (2022). Moses' Embodied Encounter: Bare Feet Grounded in the Wilderness (Exodus 3.1-4.17). Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 31 1-15

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2022). Make Azusa Great Again. Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Vol 44, Issue 3-4 345-362

Grey, Jacqueline N. and Austin, Emma. (2022). The Spirit in 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Esther: Transforming the Spirit Traditions for New Contexts. In Craig S. Keener and L. William Oliverio Jr, The Spirit throughout the Canon: Pentecostal Pneumatology (pp. 23-27). Leiden: Brill

Grey, Jacqueline N. and O'Keefe, Dean (2022). “Fear God, and Keep His Commandments”: Models for a Pentecostal Pedagogy from Exilic and Post-Exilic Texts of the Old Testament. In D. Johnson & R. Wadholm Jr, Pentecostal Education in the Majority World: A Pentecostal Perspective. Baguio: Asia Pacific Theological Seminary Press

Grey, Jacqueline N. and Helmore, Edward J. (2022). Do What is Right and Good: The Theological Foundations for the Common Good in the Old Testament Prophets. In Daniela C. Augustine & Chris E.W. Green, The Politics of the Spirit: Pentecostal Reflections on Public Responsibility and the Common Good (pp. 89-98). College Park, MY: Seymour Press

Griffiths, John D. (2022). In the Last Days: Alteration, Eschatology, and the Spirit In Peter G. Bolt, Jesus: Beginning, Middle, & End of Time? Eschatology in Gospels & Acts Research. SCD Press

Griffiths, John D. (2022). The Spirit as Gift in Acts. Leiden: Brill. |External link

Chan, Kenelm Ka Lun (2022). Mediating through Translations from Hillsong Megachurch to the Hills Chinese Community. Journal of Contemporary Ministry, No. 7 (2022)

Perry, David, Fogarty, Stephen, and Austin, Denis (2022). Politics and Pentecostalism in Australia. Pneuma, 44 110-118

Newton, Jon K. (2021). A Pentecostal Commentary on Revelation. Wipf & Stock

Griffiths, John D. (2021). Spirit-Baptised Creation: Locating Pentecost in the Meta-Narrative of Creation and Its Implications for a Pentecostal Ecology. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, 22, 1 46-60. | External link

Griffiths, John D. (2021). Wonders in the Heavens Above, Signs on the Earth Below: Pacific Islands Pentecostalism, Climate Change and Acts 2. In Johannes M. Luetz & Patrick D. Nunn, Beyond Belief: Opportunities for Faith-Engaged Approaches to Climate-Change Adaptation in the Pacific Islands (pp. 329-344). Springer. | External link

Griffiths, John D. (2021). All the Earth, Let Us Sing: Searching for a Latent Pentecostal Ecology in Australian Pentecostal Worship. In Christina Nellist, Climate Crisis and Sustainable Creaturely Care: Integrated Theology, Governance and Justice (pp. 81-102). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. | External link

Hughes, P. and Bohr, M. (2021). Why Gen Y are Leaving Hillsong and Other Pentecostal Churches. Journal of Contemporary Ministry, 5

Chan, Kenelm Ka Lun (2021). Translating Global Western Worship Song in Local Chinese-Australian Congregational Space. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, Volume 22 No. 2 (2021)

Thornton, Daniel (2021). A “Sloppy Wet Kiss”? Intralingual Translation and Meaning-Making in Contemporary Congregational Songs. Religions, 12 (10)

Thornton, Daniel. (2021). Meaning-Making in the Contemporary Congregational Song Genre. Palgrave Macmillan

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2020). For Love of God: A Comparative Analysis of Pentecostal and Sufi Spirituality and Rituals of Worship. In M.N. Behera & J.D Plüss, Conviction in an Optional Society: Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity and Religious Pluralism (pp. 51-68). Oxford: Regnum Publications

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2020). Biblical Hermeneutics: Reading Scripture with the Spirit in Community. In W. Vondey (ed), A Handbook for Pentecostal Theology (pp. 129-39). New York, NY: Routledge

Harris, Tania. (2020). The Wacky, the Frightening and the Spectacular: Hearing God’s Voice in Australian Pentecostal Churches. In C. Rocha, M. P. Hutchinson, K. Openshaw (Eds.). Australian Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements: Arguments from the Margins. Leiden: Brill

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2020). The Restoring of a Prophetic Community: A Vision for the Future of Global Pentecostalism from ‘Down Under’. Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Vol 42, Issue 3 460-76

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2020). Amos Yong and Weaving a Hermeneutics of Love. Australasian Pentecostal Studies, Vol 21, Issue 1 41-48. https://aps-journal.com/index.php/APS

Thornton, Daniel (2020). A Match Made in Heaven: Why Popular Music is Central to the Growth in Pentecostal Charismatic Christianities In Rocha, C., Hutchinson, M., and Openshaw, K. (Eds.), Australian Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements: Arguments from the Margins (pp. 109-125). Brill

Choi, YH (2019). Yonggi Cho's Influence on Pentecostal Theology in Korea In Austin, Denise A., Jacqueline Grey and Paul W. Lewis, Asia Pacific Pentecostalism (pp. 37-60). Brill

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2019). Social Justice in First Isaiah: A Pentecostal Perspective. In A.L. Harris & M. Palmer (eds), The Holy Spirit and Social Justice: Interdisciplinary Global Perspectives (pp. 66-85). College Park, MY: Seymour Press

Grey, Jacqueline N. (2019). Global Considerations in Response to “Do Not Quench the Spirit.”’. Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Vol 41, Issue 3-4 507-11

Grey, Jacqueline; Austin, D.A, & Lewis, P. (eds) (2019). Asia Pacific Pentecostalism. Leiden: Brill

White, A., Arasaratnam-Smith, L. A. (2018). The messenger now and then: A socio-cultural analysis of the role of the 'preacher.'. Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 27 146-158

Perry, David (2017). Spirit Baptism: The Pentecostal Experience in Theological Focus. Leiden: Brill

HDR THESES

Adelana, Segun. African-initiated Pentecostal Churches: Towards an African Diaspora Missiology in Australia (DMin)

Attia, Yvon. Theological beliefs and factors regarding healing among Pentecostals and Charismatics in Miami (DMin)

Billard, Jennifer. Australian Pentecostal experiences of spiritual struggles: a hybrid hermeneutical phenomenological study and spiritual theology framework (PhD)

Borrow, Barbara. History of the Theology of C3 Movement (PhD)

Burns, Lee. A Pentecostal theology of koinonia (PhD)

Chester, Sandra. Catherine Booth-Clibborn’s contribution to Pentecostal history and spirituality: “She speaks with fire and brilliance" (MPhil)

Crouch, Donna. A history of Hills Christian Life Church (DMin)

D'Sa, Pamala. Workplace Gender Equality within CRC Churches International (DMin)

Delport, Vicki. Facilitating the progression of women into positions of senior leadership in the Australian Christian Churches: identifiying opportunities and obstacles (DMin)

Elsayed, Yasmin. Signs, wonders, and miracles in Pentecostalism and Sufism (PhD)

Floyd, Jemma. Violence Against Women: Gendered Attitudes in the ACC (PhD)

Harrison, Wayne. Conditional Cessationism: A revised doctrine of cessationism for the Reformed Tradition (PhD)

Law, Matthew. What leadership theories are exhibited in the thoughts and practices of ACC pastors and what are the potential implications for the next generation of pastors? (DMin)

Menzel, Miranda. How do Pentecostal Women Explain, Understand and React to Pornography Consumption by Household Partners? (PhD)

Nahavandi, Layla. Pentecostals and Patristics: A theological reflection on Pentecostal ressourcement (PhD)

Newton, Judith. What aspects of inner healing prayer do Australian clients find most helpful to well-being? (DMin)

Oluoshola, Adeboye. An investigation into human experiences and perspectives on signs and wonders: Comparative analyses between Sweden and Nigeria (MPhil)

Onyait, Samuel. Mission as Transformation: An Analysis of the Role of Pentecostal Churches in Engendering Holistic transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa with Reference to Kenya and Uganda from 1980 to 2019 (PhD)

Rengger, James. A Mixed Methods Study of the Trinitarian Foundations of Local Church Caregiving 'In the Moment': Integrating Clinical Pastoral Education Practices and the Theology of Jürgen Moltmann into C3 Church Caregiving Praxis (PhD)

Rizzo, Daniela. The Spirit and all flesh: Towards a Pentecostal pneumatology of non-human animals, with a special emphasis on animal glossolalia (PhD)

Staggs, Andrew. Supernatural Transformational Leadership and Strategic Intuition: Towards A Practical Theology of Strategic Pentecostal Leadership Development (PhD)

Tam, Susan. The Lived Experiences of Women in Leadership in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PhD)

Toh, Leng. Sung Theology: A Comparative Textual Analysis of the Original Song Lyrics of New Creation Church, Singapore, and Those of Hillsong Church, Australia (PhD)

Winchester, Ross. Developing Transformational Pentecostal Leaders in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand: A Model for In-Service Leadership Training (PhD)

HDR THESES (COMPLETED)

Cat, Christopher. Unrealised Pentecostal Divine Healing Expectations : A Pastoral Dialogue With The Psychology Of Religion And Coping (PhD)

Furniss, Jennifer. Exploring the Effect of Speaking in Tongues on Desire, Motivation, and Emotion (DMin)

Gurung, Bhupendra. What is the problem? The Restrictions of Female Leadership in Nepalese Pentecostal Churches (MPhil)

Harris, Tania. Towards a Theology of Pentecostal Revelatory Experiences (PhD)

Hepplewhite, Glenda. Empowering female Pentecostal undergraduate students (PhD)

Odion, Omogbai. The Pentecostal Phenomenon: An Examination of Factors Contributing to the Growth, Expansion, and Influence of Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria from 1998 to 2018 (DMin)

Pillay, Jasmine. Integration of Asian Pentecostal migrants into Australian Pentecostal churches (MPhil)

Rhodes, John. Divine healing in Australian Christian Churches: a review of contemporary ministerial practice and perspective (DMin)

LEAD RESEARCHERS

HDR CANDIDATES

Segun Adelana
Yvon Attia
Jennifer Billard
Barbara Borrow
Lee Burns
Sandra Chester
Donna Crouch
Pamala D'Sa
Vicki Delport
Yasmin Elsayed
Jemma Floyd
Wayne Harrison
Matthew Law
Miranda Menzel
Layla Nahavandi
Judith Newton
Adeboye Oluoshola
Samuel Onyait
James Rengger
Andrew Staggs
Susan Tam
Leng Toh
Ross Winchester

HDR GRADUATES

Dr Christopher Cat
Dr Jennifer Furniss
Bhupendra Gurung
Dr Tania Harris
Dr Glenda Hepplewhite
Dr Omogbai Odion
Dr Jasmine Pillay
Dr John Rhodes

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

This research cluster contributes to the advancement of the following goals: