A critical analysis of the Pentecostal hermeneutics used by Elim local church leadership teams in relation to the topic of women in ministry. Jamys Jeremy Carter Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science September 2019 2 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement The right of Jamys Jeremy Carter to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 3 Acknowledgments In accordance with my faith, I want to first thank God, who has led me and enabled me to complete this research. Integral to my life, my wife has inspired me, encouraged me and released me to pursue this line of academic enquiry. Her continuing support and help have been essential. My supervisors Professor Rachel Muers and Dr. Adriaan van Klinken have provided ongoing challenge as they have helped me to think and write more academically and critically. Their input has been vitally appreciated on this journey. I want to thank my parents who have been a great support and help as I chose to undertake this study. Also, my in-law family who inspire me in all things academic. Within Elim, I have been encouraged by the original support of the General Superintendent Chris Cartwright, who helped assuage my doubts about taking the step to study full time. I also want to thank the many women ministers who have ministered despite gender barriers; their tenacity and obedience continue to inspire me. 4 Abstract In this thesis, I address the question of how lay leaders of the Elim Pentecostal Church (Elim) practise their hermeneutics. Building upon prescriptive academic writings regarding Pentecostal hermeneutics, I use qualitative empirical research to explore how the role of Scripture, Spirit and Community are navigated by Elim Pentecostals. This enables me to provide a description of what people say about their hermeneutical approach, whilst examining their actual practice. In particular, I explore the hermeneutics of Elim lay leaders under tension, centring the discussion around the topic of women in ministry. Although women are officially allowed to minister in all levels of leadership within Elim, previous research has demonstrated that there are ongoing tensions at both local leadership level (Carter, 2016) and congregational level (Nunn, 2018). I chose this topic because it both provides a contentious topic in which hermeneutics can be examined, and it is an ongoing issue about which I am passionate. In response to the question, I argue that Elim Pentecostals highly value the Bible, utilise the community as a hermeneutical partner (especially in dealing with contentious topics) and bring a certain level of fluidity, claimed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, to their approach. Reflecting the verse “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17), I show how that freedom allows a relatively fluid response. Not only is the triad of Scripture, Spirit and Community used in non-static ways, but the fluidity allows for an incorporation of some interpretive differences, enhancing unity amongst the community of believers. Furthermore, the role of experience and relationships inform the hermeneutical process, as ways forward are found through the incorporation of a Pentecostal pragmatism, within the boundaries of the triad. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 9 1.1. Elim Focussed ................................................................................................................ 9 1.2. Beyond Elim ................................................................................................................ 12 1.3. Thesis Focus ................................................................................................................ 12 1.4. Overview of the chapters ............................................................................................ 13 Chapter 2. Methodology and More ...................................................................................... 16 2.1. Epistemology ............................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1. Pragmatism .......................................................................................................... 17 2.2. Methodology ............................................................................................................... 20 2.2.1. Pentecostal Methodology .................................................................................... 21 2.2.2. Reflexivity and positionality ................................................................................. 27 2.2.3. Ordinary theology ................................................................................................ 31 2.2.4. Practical theology ................................................................................................. 32 2.3. Pentecostal and Evangelical theology ......................................................................... 36 2.3.1. Comparable studies ............................................................................................. 39 2.4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 3. Settings and methods for the empirical research ............................................... 43 3.1. Methods ...................................................................................................................... 43 3.1.1. Electronic survey (e-survey) ................................................................................. 44 3.1.2. Focus groups (FG) ................................................................................................. 47 3.2. The focus groups (FGs) ................................................................................................ 51 3.2.1. Practical ................................................................................................................ 51 3.2.2. Shaping the questions .......................................................................................... 53 3.2.3. The embodied process of and in the focus groups .............................................. 54 3.2.4. A testimony - Reflections on running the focus groups ....................................... 55 3.3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 4. Pentecostal hermeneutics – Overview and Scripture ......................................... 60 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 60 4.2. The Scripture ............................................................................................................... 64 4.2.1. Inerrancy .............................................................................................................. 65 4.2.2. Historical-critical and historical-grammatical approaches .................................. 70 4.2.3. Postmodern approach ......................................................................................... 77 4.3. Chapter conclusion ..................................................................................................... 86 Chapter 5. Pentecostal hermeneutics – The Spirit and the Community .............................. 88 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 88 6 5.2. The Spirit ..................................................................................................................... 88 5.2.1. Is the Spirit essential to interpretation? .............................................................. 90 5.2.2. The Spirit: Experience and yada .......................................................................... 98 5.3. The Community of faith ............................................................................................ 101 5.3.1. The Local church ................................................................................................ 103 5.3.2. Elim nationally .................................................................................................... 104 5.3.3. The global and historic Church .......................................................................... 106 5.3.4. The trained leader .............................................................................................. 108 5.4. Subjectivism .............................................................................................................. 110 5.5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 114 Chapter 6. Analysis of research with reference to Scripture .............................................. 116 6.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................