Priesthood, prophethood and spirit-led community: A practical-prophetic Pentecostal ecclesiology.

Abstract

This thesis is a modest practical-prophetic ecclesiology of the Pentecostal church. In Part 1， a theological identification of Pentecostals is proposed and is shown to be a useful working definition. Nicholas Healy's practical-prophetic ecclesiology is described and its usefulness, for the examination of Pentecostal ecclesiology, considered. In Part 2， a review of the theology of the priesthood of believers and the prophethood of believers is given in order to determine the practices that these two doctrines represent. Using an eschatological framework enables a Pentecostal definition of the two doctrines as well as partitioning the practices into initiation, the priesthood of believers, the prophethood of believers and being a Spirit-led community. The history and influences that have moulded two contemporary Australian Pentecostal church movements are described, and the beliefs, represented by their statements of faith, are analysed. Part 3 demonstrates the practical-prophetic ecclesiology using an extended discussion of the practice of Pentecostal worship in Hillsong Churches and a briefer discussion concerning the contemporary exercise of the spiritual gift of prophecy in Christian City Churches. Part 4 is the conclusion.