In Pentecostals and Roman Catholics on Becoming a Christian, Dr. Karen Murphy explores the fifth round of the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue (1998-2006). Discussing Spirit-baptism, faith, conversion, experience, and discipleship, Dr. Murphy notes areas in which the Dialogue has evolved since its inception in 1972. She unpacks the commonalities that bond Catholics and Pentecostals and examines theological divergences and challenges to dialogue. While Catholics approach becoming a Christian from a sacramental perspective, most Pentecostals think of Christian initiation in non-sacramental, or conversionist, terms, a reality that fosters ongoing tensions between the two traditions. Dr. Murphy reveals how Catholics and Pentecostals seek to overcome this dichotomy by honoring spirituality and experience as integral to the ecumenical encounter.
Karen R.J. Murphy, Ph.D. (2013), Fuller Theological Seminary, is Affiliate Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Fuller Seminary and Adjunct Professor of Christian Studies at George Fox University.
"Een interessante bundel waarin de dialoog tussen de pinksterkerken en de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk, met name in de periode van 1998 tot 2006, erkend wordt. (...) Het boek laat zien hoe de pneumatologie een belangrijk startpunt is voor de toekomstige oecumenische dialoog tussen de pinksterkerken en de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk, juist omdat de gemeenschappelijke ervaringen van de Geest christenen aan elkaar verbinden in een eenheid met Christus." - K. v.d. Zwaag, in: Protestants Nederland, Volume 84.1 (2019) [Transl.: "An interesting volume in which the dialogue between the Pentecostal churches and the Roman Catholic Church, especially in the period from 1998 to 2006, is recognized. (...) The book shows pneumatology is an important starting point for the future ecumenical dialogue between the Pentecostal churches and the Roman Catholic Church, precisely because the common experiences of the Spirit connects Christians in a unity with Christ."]
Acknowledgements Abbreviations
1 Introduction
Importance of the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue
Outline of Chapters
2 Roman Catholic and Pentecostal Rapprochement
Introduction
The Development of Roman Catholic Ecumenism
Current Ecumenical Trends in Roman Catholicism
The Development of Pentecostal Ecumenism
Theological and Historical Challenges to Pentecostal Ecumenism Current Ecumenical Trends in Pentecostalism
Catholics and Pentecostals in Dialogue
Foundation of Dialogue Nature of Dialogue Purpose of the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue Current Challenges to Dialogue
Introduction to the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue
The First Four Phases (1972–1997) The Fifth Phase (1998–2006)
3 Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Christian Initiation
Introduction to the 1998 Session (Bolton, Ontario)
Introduction to the Final Report
Outpouring, Presence, and Charisms Two Moments of Spirit Reception
Biblical Perspectives
Spirit Baptism is a Gift from God Spirit Baptism is Personal and Trinitarian Revelation Spirit Baptism is Pneumatological Empowerment and Christological Presence Spirit Baptism is Transformational
Patristic Perspectives Patristic Support for the Rediscovery of the Charisms in Initiation The Normative and Sacramental Nature of Spirit Baptism?
Contemporary Reflections Catholic Perspectives Pentecostal Perspectives
Summary and Valuation
4 Faith and Christian Initiation
Introduction to the 1999 Session (Venice, Italy)
Introduction to the Final Report The Nature of Faith New Testament and Patristic Perspectives The Salvific Nature of Faith The Ordo Salutis of Christian Initiation Formation in Faith The Communal Nature of Faith Faith and Baptism
Summary and Valuation
5 Conversion and Christian Initiation
Introduction to the 2000 Session (Vienna, Austria)
Introduction to the Final Report Conversion as Christological Event Conversion as Process, Event, or Series of Events
Conversion and Roman Catholicism The Nature of Conversion The Sacramental and Communal Context of Conversion The Evangelistic Quality of Conversion The Importance of Baptism
Conversion and Pentecostalism The Nature of Conversion Conversion as Event or Process Pentecostal Conversion and Water Baptism
Biblical Perspectives Catholic Analysis Pentecostal Analysis Reflections on Biblical Perspectives
Patristic Perspectives Conversion as Transformation The Patristic Challenge: The Authority of the Church Fathers
Contemporary Reflections
Summary and Valuation
6 Experience in Christian Life
Introduction to the 2001 Session (Celje, Slovenia)
Introduction to the Final Report Renewed Catholic Openness to Experience Leading up to Vatican
ii
Pentecostals and Experience Experience in the Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue
Biblical Perspectives The Personal Nature of Experience Experience as Transformative The Communal Quality of Experience Discernment in Experience
Patristic Perspectives Convergences Divergences
Contemporary Perspectives
Summary and Valuation
7 Christian Formation and Discipleship
Introduction to the 2002 Session (Sierra Madre,
CA
,
USA
)
Introduction to the Final Report Convergences Divergences
Biblical Perspectives Discipleship as “Following” Jesus Discipleship as “Abiding” with Jesus The Role of the Holy Spirit in Discipleship and Christian Formation The Communal Nature of Christian Formation
Patristic Perspectives Diverse Ways of Following Christ The Holy Spirit and Discipleship Christian Formation in Catechesis and the Catechumenate
Contemporary Reflections
Summary and Valuation of the Session
8 Summary and Assessment
Summary
Assessment
Looking Forward
Conclusion
Bibliography
Primary Sources: Dialogue Documents Final Reports Dialogue Information Agreed Accounts Hard Questions Position Papers, Cited and Consulted
Secondary Sources Documents Lectures and Conferences Books and Articles
Index
Anyone interested in ecumenism, Roman Catholicism, and Classical Pentecostalism, as well as those interested in Spirit-baptism, conversion, faith, or experience, who desire to understand sacramental and non-sacramental perspectives on these topics.