The 53rd Annual Conference of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, held March 13-15, 2025, at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, gathered together hundreds of students and scholars whose work relates to Pentecostalism. The conference theme, “More Than a Song: Scholarship as Worship,” selected by Vanguard University adjunct professor and the society’s First Vice President Marcia Clarke, analyzed ways in which the academic task might be considered worship, emphasizing the integration of Christian faith as expressed in worship and learning. While a synthesis of the numerous enriching presentations I attended is too ambitious for this short blog, I would like to focus primarily on ways in which Vanguard University professors and students contributed to the conference.
As a professor, there is no greater joy than experiencing the delightful role reversal of taking notes on a former student’s first conference presentation, and I received two such rewarding opportunities. Vanguard alumnus (B.A., Theology, M.A. Theology) and adjunct professor Daniel Smith presented on the “invaders” in Jude, examining the warning of divine judgment given to these backslidden believers who continued operating in the gifts of the Spirit while living licentious lifestyles. Daniel cautioned modern believers to heed Jude’s warning, and to be careful not to idolize their giftings and continue to operate in them while living lifestyles of unrepentant sin. Edin Gomez, another VU alumnus (B.A. Theology) and current M.A. Theology student presented a paper titled “The Lord is Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.” Edin emphasized distinctions between the roles played by Spirit and Son in the crucifixion and the resurrection, sharing ways in which her education at Vanguard has increased her interest in biblical research related to the Trinity. The papers by Daniel and Eden generated appreciative conversation and probing questions from senior scholars in attendance, reflecting their substantive nature and constructive contributions.
Other presentations from Vanguard faculty include a paper entitled, “That’s What She Said: the Theological Conundrum of Listening to Women Preach,” by adjunct professor Brenton Fessler, in a session chaired by John Mark Robeck, who serves as the Religion and Culture interest group leader. Adjunct professor Jeffrey Bamaca presented his work on the Holy Spirit in the Shepherd of Hermas, and adjunct professor Sara Stabe presented her doctoral research on “Nurturing Pentecostal/Charismatic Emerging Adult Missional Living.” Rodolfo Estrada, who serves as the Biblical Studies interest group leader, shared his research as part of Lois Olena’s presidential address on the topic of welcoming immigrants. Tommy Casarez responded to a plenary session concerning a pneumatology of spontaneity in corporate worship, and Frank Macchia received the prestigious Pneuma Book Award for his recent book Tongues of Fire: A Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. While he was not able to join the conference in person this year, he spoke via recorded video expressing his hopes for the book and his gratitude to the society.
I was grateful for the opportunity to present my research on the theological significance of Isaiah 2:1-5 and Micah 4:1-5 for believers living in the Holy Land today. I presented a literary intertextual analysis of these biblical texts, in conversation with a Messianic Jewish Israeli theologian and a Palestinian Christian Old Testament scholar. Their missional and eschatological readings encourage believers to live toward the prophetic vision in the “here and now” through Spirit-empowered kingdom service, rather than relegating such a seemingly unrealistic utopian vision to the distant future. I argued that these two scholars both embody “scholarship as worship” in their service to the church and to the academy, courageously pursuing the ministry of gospel reconciliation, despite the current conflict and its ongoing challenges.
Another notable paper presented by Andy Opie, director of the Center for Global Pentecostal Studies and professor at Life Pacific University, considered ways in which the Spirit empowers us in our weakness, enabling blessing in our brokenness. Using the lens of disability theology, and sharing his own experience with blindness, he challenged us to consider what may be lacking in church leadership when human frailty is viewed as inferior. Dr. Opie’s paper engaged provocative questions, such as, “Are we exchanging the humility and vulnerability modeled by Jesus for an over-emphasis on perfectionism and productivity called ‘excellence?’ Do we select church leaders primarily because they are powerful, impressive, or spectacular, and if so, how might prioritizing these traits over the presence of Christ’s strength in human frailty affect our spiritual formation and discipleship?” These probing questions continue to challenge my own assumptions regarding what “excellent” leadership looks like.
As I reflect on conference highlights, I am grateful for the privilege of joining my esteemed colleagues in representing Vanguard University, a place where scholarship and teaching are valued as expressions of worship and kingdom service. I am also thankful to Faculty Development for the rewarding opportunity to see scholarly recognition of one former professor, numerous colleagues, and two former students, revealing the rich legacy of mentoring from generation to generation in the Vanguard community.
