David du Plessis and the Assemblies of God Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies Edited by Andrew Davies William Kay Editorial Board Kimberley Alexander, Pentecostal Theological Seminary Allan Anderson, University of Birmingham Mark Cartledge, University of Birmingham Jacqueline Grey, Alphacrucis College, Sydney Byron D Klaus, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, MO Wonsuk Ma, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies Jean-Daniel Plüss, European Pentecostal/Charismatic Research Association Cecil M Robeck, Jr, Fuller Theological Seminary Calvin Smith, King’s Evangelical Divinity School VOLUME 13 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/gpcs David du Plessis and the Assemblies of God The Struggle for the Soul of a Movement By Joshua R. Ziefle LEIDEN • BOSTON 2013 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ziefle, Joshua R. David du Plessis and the Assemblies of God : the struggle for the soul of a movement / by Joshua R. Ziefle. pages cm. -- (Global Pentecostal and Charismatic studies, ISSN 1876-2247 ; volume 13) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-23701-8 (hardback : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-90-04-24147-3 (e-book) 1. Pentecostalism--United States--History--20th century. 2. Du Plessis, David. 3. Pentecostal churches--Clergy--Biography. 4. Assemblies of God--United States--History. 5. Assemblies of God--Clergy--Biography. 6. United States--Church history--20th century. I. Title. BR1644.5.U6Z54 2013 289.9’4--dc23 2012031959 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see www.brill.com/brill-typeface. ISSN 1876-2247 ISBN 978-90-04-23701-8 (hardback) ISBN 978-90-04-24147-3 (e-book) Copyright 2013 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. 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For Rachel CONTENTS Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................ix Abbreviations ...............................................................................................................xi Introduction: Uncovering Pentecost ......................................................................1 I A Practical Pentecost ...........................................................................................7 Primitivism, Pragmatism, and Pentecostalism .............................................8 Problematic Pentecostal Beginnings ............................................................ 10 Early Controversies ............................................................................................ 15 II The Path of Pentecost ....................................................................................... 23 Du Plessis’s Formative Years ............................................................................ 24 Worldwide Pentecostal Dialogue ................................................................... 34 Du Plessis Meets the Ecumenical Movement ............................................ 38 1959: A Year of Hope and Promise ................................................................ 46 III Irreconcilable Pentecosts ................................................................................. 57 The Challenges of Pentecostal Growth ........................................................ 58 The Assemblies of God Dismisses du Plessis ............................................. 67 Du Plessis in the Aftermath ............................................................................ 93 IV Not Babel, But Pentecost ................................................................................103 Ecumenism and the Roots of the Charismatic Movement ..................105 The Charismatic Movement in Mainline Protestantism ......................110 Charismatic Renewal in the Roman Catholic Church ...........................119 V Pentecost Set Free? ..........................................................................................129 The Ecumenism of the Charismatic Movement .....................................131 The Assemblies of God and the Charismatics .........................................137 Interpreting the Assemblies of God’s Changing Perspective ...............150 The Continuing Mission of David J. du Plessis .........................................157 Conclusion: The Lessons of Pentecost ..............................................................167 viii contents Appendix: A Partial Timeline of the Life and Travels of David J. du Plessis, with Emphasis on the Peak Years of his Ecumenical and Charismatic Activity ..........................................................183 Bibliography .............................................................................................................221 Index ...........................................................................................................................229 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Inasmuch as this project represents the culmination of a number of years of my own work and study, it would have been completely impossible with- out the help and support of the numerous individuals who have blessed my life during that time. Just as David du Plessis corresponded with friends and colleagues during the most trying period of his life, so too have I gained great wisdom and insight from those around me all throughout the writing of this book. Many thanks to James Moorhead, James Deming, and Yolanda Pierce for helping me consider the scope and design of this project. My deepest appreciation as well to Allan Anderson, who has challenged me to think and reflect more concisely about du Plessis’s life and the Charismatic Movement. Matthew Fredericks and Annaliese Herms deserve additional acknowledgement for the time and care they provided in helping edit this work as it moved towards completion. I am also grateful to Els Meijer and Mirjam Elbers of Brill for their assistance in helping guide this book toward publication. This monograph would have amounted to nothing without the resources of three important research centers across the United States. First, many thanks to the David du Plessis Archive at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Assistant archivist Nancy Gower greatly aided me as I dug through boxes of records, stayed later than usual when I needed extra time, and readily helped via e-mail whenever footnotes needed clarifying. Second, my deepest gratitude to Darrin Rodgers, Glenn Gohr, and the rest of the staff at the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center in Springfield, MO. Their graciousness and assistance in tracing not only the public records available but also—in conjunction with the office of the Assemblies of God’s General Secretary—more confidential materials greatly increased the depth of my research. Lastly, a note of thanks to John Mackay Metzger for allowing me to interview him about his grandfather John Mackay and granting me access to some of his personal records and reflections located in the Archives of Princeton Theological Seminary. Their reference archi- vist Kenneth Henke deserves hearty thanks for my odd and often idiosyn- cratic queries. I also wish to thank Nassau Christian Center for allowing me the privi- lege of pastoring their teenagers even as I was hard at work on this project. x acknowledgments It was truly a blessing and honor to serve and grow with them in this way. Pastor Richard Linderman in particular deserves praise for the way in which he offered unflagging support for my twin calling to the Church and the academy. To the teens that were under my care I can only say this: thank you for being an encouraging and invigorating presence in my life. You are loved more than you know. For as long as I can remember, my parents William and Doris Ziefle have been a constant encouragement and true examples of what loving parents should be. I wish to thank them both from the bottom of my heart. For my wife Rachel, words are not enough to express how grateful I am. You have been with me since almost the very beginning of this journey, and I look forward to continuing together with you in the years to come. Lastly, my deepest thanks to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Peter, Paul, and David J. du Plessis. Soli Deo Gloria. Joshua R. Ziefle Kirkland, Washington Summer 2012 ABBREVIATIONS AFM Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa A/G Assemblies of God COGIC Church of God in Christ EP Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God FGBMFI Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International IBRA International Broadcasting Association IMC International Missionary Conference NAE National Association of Evangelicals NCC National Council of Churches NOLR New Order of the Latter Rain PFNA Pentecostal Fellowship of North America PWC