From Jerusalem to Athens: A Journey of Pentecostal Pedagogy in Australia

Abstract

Abstract The history of the national training college of Australian Christian Churches (formerly Assemblies of God in Australia) provides a fitting case study for a journey of development in Pentecostal pedagogy. Using well-known city typology, this study argues that various internal and external factors carried this institution on a journey of pedagogical transition. Its missions-orientated origins in “Jerusalem” were driven by a pragmatic need for expansion, a characteristic anti-intellectualism, and a focus on experiential spirituality. Following the charismatic renewal and the rise of “new” Pentecostals, the college transited into a more conscious engagement with the broader community and intentional alignment with government quality assurance mechanisms. Ultimately, “millennial” students encouraged a more transformational approach, typified by the “Athens” model of pedagogy, demonstrating that scholarly acumen and Pentecostal spirituality are a potent combination.