The Spirit in the Archipelago: New Perspectives
Pentecostal theology is one of the most dynamic and influential currents of contemporary Christianity, marked by rapid global growth and an emphasis on the experience of the Holy Spirit as the foundation of faith and communal life. This essay outlines the questions our first journal issue will pursue.
A Caribbean Horizon
Before we can speak of a distinctly Caribbean Pentecostal theology, we must acknowledge the complex histories that shape the region: colonial legacies, the afterlives of slavery and indenture, and the everyday experience of the Spirit in established churches and independent fellowships.1
“The Spirit does not speak only in the language of the metropole; the Spirit also sings in the rhythms of the islands.”
Questions for the Coming Years
How do we articulate a pneumatology that takes seriously both the classical emphasis on Spirit baptism and the social, economic, and political conditions of the archipelago?2
The Society is bilingual by design, working in both English and Spanish. What resources does this bilingual character of Caribbean Christianity offer for theological method, and how might moving between languages open new ways of hearing the Spirit?3
Toward a Collaborative Future
We invite scholars, ministers, and graduate researchers to join this conversation through the journal, the inaugural conference in San Juan, and the ongoing work of the Society.