Pentecostalization: the Changing Face of Baptists in West Africa
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Copyright © 2012 Randy Ray Arnett All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. PENTECOSTALIZATION: THE CHANGING FACE OF BAPTISTS IN WEST AFRICA A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Randy Ray Arnett December 2012 APPROVAL SHEET PENTECOSTALIZATION: THE CHANGING FACE OF BAPTISTS IN WEST AFRICA Randy Ray Arnett Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ George H. Martin (Chair) __________________________________________ M. David Sills __________________________________________ Charles E. Lawless, Jr. Date______________________________ To Kathy, who attentively listens to and corrects my conjectures, and to Bevin and Jillian, who enthusiastically joined in mission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . viii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . ix PREFACE . x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 The New Shape of Global Christianity . 1 Statement of the Problem . 6 Background . 9 Methodology . 14 Conclusion . 33 2. PENTECOSTALIZATION IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT . 34 The History of IMB Missions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo . 34 The Global Expansion of Pentecostalism in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries . 48 The Expansion of Pentecostalism in West Africa . 62 Conclusion . 72 3. PENTECOSTAL IDENTITY IN AFRICA . 78 Introduction . 78 The Diversity and Unity of Pentecostalism . 79 A Typology of Pentecostalism . 92 Distinctive Emphases of Pentecostalism in West Africa . 110 v Chapter Page Conclusion . 123 4. THE NATURE OF PENTECOSTALIZATION . 128 Introduction . 128 Response Types . 129 Church Activities . 133 Privileged Traits . 140 Influences . 159 Effects . 163 Conclusion . 171 5. THE FACTORS FOR PENTECOSTALIZATION . 173 Introduction . 173 Era 1: Upheaval in the System . 174 Era 2: Ill-prepared for Challenges . 180 Era 3: Re-alignment of Direction . 199 Conclusion . 212 6. THE APPEAL OF PENTECOSTALISM . 215 Introduction . 215 Background Considered . 217 African Worldview Engaged . 224 Well-being Contemporized . 229 Problem-Solving Reframed . 234 Religious Fervency Promoted . 241 Conclusion . 243 7. CONCLUSION . 246 Introduction . 246 Summary of Analysis . 247 vi Chapter Page Implications of Analysis . 256 Response to the Phenomenon . 265 Avenues for Further Research . 273 Closing Remarks . 276 Appendix 1. TYPOLOGIES . 279 2. LEADERSHIP . 290 3. GLOSSARY . 291 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 293 vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AIC African Initiated Church ATR African Traditional Religion BBCT Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo CARIB Carib Baptist Publications CBT Convention Baptiste du Togo CC Conseil Chrétien CIBM Côte d’Ivoire Baptist Mission CPE Centre de Publications Évangéliques EBTAO Ecole Baptiste de Théologie pour l’Afrique Occidentale EP Evangel Publishing House ESBTAO Ecole Supérieure Baptiste de Théologie pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest IMB International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention TBM Togo Baptist Mission TEE Theological Education by Extension UEPBB Union des Eglises Protestantes Baptistes du Benin UEEBBF Union des Eglises Evangéliques Baptistes du Burkina Faso UNEBAM Union des Eglises Baptistes Missionnaires de Côte d’Ivoire viii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table Page 1. Comparison of Kalu’s and Anderson’s typologies . 103 Figure A1. Harold Turner’s typology of modern African religious movements . 279 A2. Walter Hollenweger’s typology . 280 A3. Allan Anderson’s family resemblance typology . 281 A4. Dean Gilliland’s AIC typology . 282 A5. Ogbu Kalu’s renewal typology . 283 A6. Emmanuel Larbi’s six-strand typology . 284 A7. Matthews Ojo’s piety and power typology . 285 A8. Cephas Omenyo’s Ghanaian typology . 286 A9. Azonseh Ukah’s typology . 287 A10. Proposed typology . 288 A11. Proposed ministère typology . 289 ix PREFACE During the interview for acceptance into the Ph.D. program, a professor asked why I wanted to do doctoral studies. I jokingly responded, “Because I’m bored.” That response was not an expected (or acceptable) answer. I went on to explain that I wished to place more than twenty years of cross-cultural missions practice in the crucible of academic inquiry. I had questions about missiology and field practice. The time had come for in-depth evaluation. Over the course of three years of study, I have discovered that my missiology, birthed in the crucible of practice, holds up in the heat of academic inquiry. Indeed, I have adjusted and strengthened my thinking, but the foundation stands firm. Many students begin their doctoral studies with a dissertation topic in mind. I did not. About two years into the program, I encountered a word in an obscure article that caught my attention—pentecostalization. The term captured that which I had observed among West African Baptists. Thus, the quest began, the quest of placing the pentecostalization of Baptists in the crucible of academic inquiry. And, it has been an insightful and enjoyable quest. As all writers of dissertations must acknowledge, dissertations are not created in isolation. In my case, many others assisted and enriched the final product, but I alone am responsible for content. I recognize humbly and gratefully the many who contributed, as follows: The informants shared deeply about sensitive topics. Their cooperation and transparency exceeded expectations. In some cases, they revealed crucial information about developments that would otherwise remain hidden. In return, I have tried my x utmost to maintain that trust, which, at times, means that I must not develop pertinent arguments or provide contextual information. Roger Kpeglo, a former student and longtime friend, painstakingly arranged the logistics of the interviews. The quality of the research was enhanced by his preparations. Kwashie Amenudzie patiently introduced me to Africa and church planting in the late 1980s. My supervising professor, George Martin, and the dissertation committee helped clarify muddled thinking. Past students, colleagues, fellow Baptists, fellow students, and professors challenged my thinking, disputed my plausibility structures, and patiently endured my frequent mess-ups as a cross-cultural worker. IMB encouraged and supported the work on this project. Ron Wilson provided calm guidance and reassurance. My wife, Kathy, inspired me through careful scholarship, cultural sensitivity, and faith-based insights. Her ideas and observations appear throughout the work. She asked probing questions, disassembled arguments, and challenged conclusions. Even while completing her own academic studies, she took up the slack in the household and in our responsibilities as theological education consultants. Finally, God called me to missions and gave the faculty of scholarship. My insatiable desire for understanding comes from him. Thank you for your goodness and mercy that makes all this possible. For me, the objective of this dissertation is not to demonstrate my capacity for academic research, nor simply to add to the body of missions knowledge. Rather, the purpose is that the insights gained by this research will provoke more research and will translate into more effective entry, presentation, disciple-making, church formation, and leadership development. xi Baptists in West Africa are not what they used to be. A new reality has dawned. Will we ignore or confront the current reality? Randy Arnett Louisville, Kentucky December 2012 xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This chapter introduces the research topic of pentecostalization. The first section traces the phenomenal growth of Pentecostalism over the past century. The next section explains the research questions and.