nr 2: Organizations and Decision Procedures within the Swedish Pentecostal Movement

Page 14

Pentecostal Revival, because many people employ these terms as synonyms‛.11 Such remarks however, that the two words are synonyms, cannot be accepted as a watertight argument against a more precise definition of the terms. For it is quite obvious that we have all reason to distinguish between the Pentecostal Revival (the religious contents) and the Pentecostal Movement (the organizational form). In this study I have therefore chosen to use the Pentecostal Movement as a united designation for the Pentecostal Churches in Sweden.

2.2 The Bible and society In a separate chapter I shall try to reproduce the picture that the Pentecostal Movement gives of itself referring to the Bible. Then there will follow a discussion of the different boards and committees. These boards and organizations must be understood as the response to needs created at that particular time depending on the conditions in the Swedish society, The Pentecostal Movement has therefore had to find solutions to their administrative problems, solutions which correspond to their reasons for belief, their ecclesiology, according to their understanding of the Bible and also to meet the requirements created in the Swedish society. Harald Gustafsson also concedes this to be so. ‚We have something in our Churches which we cannot find any traces of in the New Testament – a juridical board, regulations and administrative meetings. This is something which we have got to have according to the Swedish law system. This is why we own Churches and chapels and real estate. But we do not find any parallels to this in the New Testament. Let us therefore not put any greater emphasis upon this than is absolutely necessary‛.12 Gustafson refers to the local Church but in principle, this could also be applied to the different boards and committees in operation within the Swedish Pentecostal Movement. Another Pastor, Helge Brattgård, quotes from a talk given by Lewi Pethrus at the ecumenical national meeting in Gothenburg called G72 which shows, that he too was aware of the influence on the movement in view of the Swedish society. He says ‚I was born a Baptist, and have a Baptists doctrinal view. If I had been _________________ 11 Den Kristne nr 12 1962, p. 231, 232, Samuel Edestav, ‛Pingstväckelse – pingströrelse‛. 12 Ordet och tron nr 2 1968, p. 14, Harald Gustafsson, ‛Ledningen av Guds församling‛.

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Articles inside

DENOMINATIONS

1min
pages 93-94

7.5 The influence of the local Church

2min
page 82

BIBLIOGRAPHY

7min
pages 86-92

7.4 The Yearly National Conferences

1min
page 81

7.3 The history of the central Organizations

2min
page 80

6.12 The Pentecostal Churches Youth Work (PU

5min
pages 75-77

7.2 No to denomination – yes to its functions

1min
page 79

Churches

10min
pages 69-74

6.8 The IBRA Radio (International Broadcasting Association

7min
pages 62-65

6.6 The ‘Kaggeholms Folkhögskola’ Foundation

8min
pages 47-51

6.10 The Pentecostal Mission’s International Literary Centre (PIL

1min
page 68

6.7 The Swedish Free Mission (SFM

18min
pages 52-61

Foundation

3min
pages 66-67

6.5 Lewi Pethrus’ Foundation for Philanthropic Work

9min
pages 42-46

6.4 The Philadelphia Central Fund for Preachers

3min
pages 40-41

6.3 The General Savings and Credit Bank (Samspar

1min
page 39

5.3 Arguments against organizations

1min
page 30

6.2 The Newspaper Dagen Ltd

7min
pages 35-38

5.4 ‛Apostolic links‛

2min
pages 31-32

4.8 A leader and succession

2min
pages 26-27

5.2 Elders and the function of administration

1min
page 29

4.6 A leader’s legitimate role

1min
page 24

4.7 A leader and the rules

1min
page 25

4.5 A leader’s personality

2min
page 23

4.2 A leader and power

1min
page 20

PREFACE

5min
pages 7-9

2.2 The Bible and society

2min
page 14

4.4 A leader takes the initiative

2min
page 22

2.3 Time and space

0
page 15

1.4 Objectives

1min
page 12

4.3 A leader’s calling

2min
page 21

WHY THE SWEDISH PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT OBTAINED ITS

1min
page 4
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