Society for Pentecostal Studies President Reacts to Paul Alexander Controversy

on April 10, 2013

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Reacting to IRD’s Jeff Walton’s report on then Society for Pentecostal Studies’ President (SPS) Paul Alexander’s controversial address at the recent SPS annual meeting, the new SPS president, Lee Roy Martin,  defended Alexander’s “metaphorical language.”  And Martin warned:  “The internet is not an appropriate venue for debating controversial matters, especially when serious accusations are involved. If anyone objects to the content of an SPS paper, the proper response would be for that person to present his or her argument in a paper at the next meeting.”  Here is Martin’s statement:

April 10, 2013

A Letter from SPS President, Dr. Lee Roy Martin

We recently completed a wonderful time of scholarship, fellowship, and worship at the Annual Meeting of SPS. However, several of our friends and constituents have been troubled by the claims of recent online blogs in reference to the SPS presidential address that SPS is losing its biblical moorings. As your new president, I want to offer a word of counsel to our members and friends.

I would begin by saying that we cannot take seriously what we read on internet blogs. The internet incorporates no supervision or accountability, and anyone can write anything about anybody. With that said, a few other points are in order:

1. Regarding the authority of the SPS Executive Committee.

It is not the domain of the SPS Executive Committee to enter into the particular debates raised by individual speakers but to ensure that the discussion is conducted according to scholarly conventions, which include civility, honesty, and other ethical practices of research and scholarly work.

2. Regarding the role of the SPS Presidential Address.

It should be understood that the powers of the SPS President are very limited. Unlike other institutions, the direction of SPS is determined not by its president but by its membership and its constitution. The SPS constitution ensures that no single person or denomination gets control of the Society. Neither the Presidential Address nor any other of the more than 100 presentations at the annual meeting represents an official stance of the Society. SPS members are independent scholars, and their views do not necessarily represent their institutions or the SPS. Therefore, it is not accurate to say that any Presidential Address sends the Society in a new direction.

3. Regarding the content of Paul Alexander’s 2013 Presidential Address.

There is something of a recent history of more provocative presidential addresses; therefore, Paul Alexander’s address is not out of the ordinary. The fact that it is controversial, however, does not justify recent misrepresentations, misquotations, and misinterpretations. I was present for Paul’s address, and what I heard him say was that Christians should work toward peace, justice, and kindness toward all people, regardless of their color, ethnic background, culture, or gender. He argued that all Christians who are part of the privileged culture (in USA it would be white protestant male) must be willing to give up our privilege for the sake of those who are oppressed, just as Jesus gave up his power and humbled himself, even to the death on the cross (Phil. 2). I would assume that all Christians can agree with these basic teachings of Christ.

4. Regarding the methodology of Paul’s address.

Paul used metaphorical language to get his point across, and it must be interpreted in that light. The metaphor was clearly indicated when Paul spoke of the Egyptians as “raced-white”, a fact that Paul knows is not historically, literally accurate. The Egyptians were Semitic and were not “white”. Thus, from the beginning, the hearers understand that “whiteness” is a symbol for the privileged or dominant culture. I would advise anyone who is interested in Paul’s address to read it for themselves when it is published in Pneuma this year (in either the summer or at the latest, the fall issue).

5. Regarding charges of heresy.

I would remind us that throughout our history we Pentecostals have been called heretics; we have been persecuted, maligned, and abused by the dominant religious establishment. Our so-called subversive doctrines and practices have been called “the last vomit of Satan” by prominent Christian leaders. I am very disturbed that Pentecostals are now willing to utilize the same unchristian tactics against one another, particularly against someone whose primary goal is the pursuit of “peace with everyone” (Hebrews 12:14), a goal that I would not consider subversive; but in today’s politically charged environment, the pursuit of peace and justice is apparently very subversive.

6. Regarding the nature of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

SPS is an academic society, and honest, open debate over controversial issues is a vital part of such a society. At SPS, almost every speech is challenged and debated face-to-face. SPS includes a broad range of perspectives, with members from a range of traditions including Protestant, Catholic, Trinitarian Pentecostals, Oneness Pentecostals, Charismatics, etc. Yet within this context of diversity, the SPS discussions are “family talks”, which are not meant to spill over into public display (i.e. internet) until the presenters are ready to publish their final versions of their papers. Before publication of their papers, authors almost always include changes based upon the feedback obtained at the SPS meeting.

7. Regarding the appropriate Christian forum for deciding controversial issues.

The internet is not an appropriate venue for debating controversial matters, especially when serious accusations are involved. If anyone objects to the content of an SPS paper, the proper response would be for that person to present his or her argument in a paper at the next meeting. At that point the two persons can debate the strength of their arguments. I repeat, internet gossip is unchristian, and no good can come from it. The use of misquotations and sound bites, though a common strategy in today’s media, will not illuminate the truth; it will only inflame conflict. Therefore, the SPS Executive Committee will not be debating anyone over the internet. In conclusion, there is no reason for anyone be alarmed by ominous internet posts. The SPS is a strong society of scholars who are firmly committed to the Kingdom of God. In fact, I would insist in the strongest terms that our scholars are more devoted to the Pentecostal faith than are Pentecostal laity and ministers in general.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lee Roy Martin, SPS President

  1. Comment by Guy Caley on April 10, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    Publishing an edited version of the address months after the fact is probably not the best way to quickly resolve the concerns. Why not post audio or video immediately? It would make it clear pretty quickly if he was maliciously misquoted. By all means publish it to clear his name sooner rather than later.

  2. Comment by RodTRDH--@ politicaljesus.com on April 10, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    Here’s an idea, let’s read and listen to what Paul Alexander has written on sexuality issues before we judge!

  3. Comment by Noel Weymouth on April 11, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    What’s the line from Hamlet? “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” Given the reaction of this Lee Roy Martin, sounds like something has gone public that he prefers to keep hidden. He says “we cannot take seriously what we read on Internet blogs.” Why not, if it’s true? Martin seems to be brushing off complaints with his mandate for critics to show up at the next meeting of the SPS and present a paper. Is he kidding? Most of the millions of Pentecostals in the US have other concerns (like jobs, family) that preclude traveling to the SPS meetings and making inquiries. I think his message can be condensed to “Shut up and stop reporting on what we’re doing!” He seems 100 percent supportive of the guy who made the speech, and that is very troubling. Rest assured, if the Assemblies of God start tilting leftward, it always starts with the higher echelons, not the laity in the parishes. If you ever hear (heaven forbid) that the Assemblies are performing gay “weddings,” know that it was the work of professors and bureaucrats, not the grassroots.

    I’m so glad IRD reported this. It’s disturbing, but it’s stuff we need to know. I hope the staff won’t follow this guy’s advice to back off, by all means keep us informed.

  4. Comment by Sharon R Boyd on April 11, 2013 at 11:26 pm

    This sounds rather haughty. I understand the peer review process, but we live in an electronic age. Public discourse and discussion is healthy. We do not need to be scolded like gossipy children.

  5. Comment by ericvlytle on April 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Sharon, you’re so right, it has the feel of “How DARE you question one of our members!!” and that tells me this coverage has got them rattled.

    I sent a link to this article, and related articles, to about 70 Pentecostal/charismatic acquaintances, hope this will light a fire under them, especially since several of them are pastors who are happy to be part of a faith tradition that is largely unaffected by the secular culture – or so they think. They need to be alert about this issue.

  6. Pingback by Christian Post Reports on Paul Alexander/Pentecostal Studies Controversy | Juicy Ecumenism - The Institute on Religion & Democracy's Blog on April 12, 2013 at 1:54 pm

    […] The Christian Post has published an article about the unfolding Paul Alexander controversy within the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the Assemblies of God. Assemblies of God Superintendent Dr. George Wood responded here, while incoming SPS President Dr. Lee Roy Martin released a letter to SPS members here. […]

  7. Comment by Charlie J. Ray on January 5, 2014 at 8:21 am

    As a former Pentecostal and a former member of the Society for Pentecostal Studies during my seminary training at Asbury Theological Seminary, I must say that this sort of response to doctrinal and dogmatic issues is one of the reasons that I am no longer a Pentecostal and why I resigned from my membership back in 1995.

    Although I am now a Calvinist, it seems to me that sweeping these kinds of doctrinal matters under the rug is why the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement as a whole is heterdox. The Word of Faith teaching and oneness Pentecostalism are both outright heresies but the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the various Pentecostal denominations are unwilling to take a stand against false religion and false teaching.

    These two errors led ultimately to my denouncing Pentecostalism. This in turn led me to reject Arminianism as well. I am now a fully Calvinist believer. In fact, most neo-Calvinists would call me a “hyper-Calvinist.” Thank-you Society for Pentecostal Studies. Reading your articles opened my eyes to just how liberal and heterodox Pentecostalism really is.

    Sincerely,

    Charlie J. Ray

    http://www.reasonablechristian.blogspot.com

  8. Comment by David Thrower on May 11, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    I was a member of the SPS back in the early 1990’s when I was an undergraduate student, and at the time I was also a member of the Foursquare denomination. Back in its early days, the SPS was a good academic group, and was pretty much true to its heritage. However, now a new generation, one that “knew not Joseph” so to speak, has taken over the leadership of the SPS and they are no longer academics but activists. Although they often will holler when someone calls them on this, the fact is that the SPS is making a bad name for Pentecostal scholarship – it doesn’t even have actual Pentecostals as keynote speakers anymore, but rather liberal theologians like Walter Brueggeman, off-base philosophers like Merrold Westphal (this man calls Nietzsche “God’s prophetic voice,” and is a proponent for Marxism), and other liberal non-Pentecostals such as Harvey Cox. I left the Pentecostal movement 20 years ago, as I am now a traditional Anglo-Catholic, but although I have a great respect for the old-time Pentecostals, this new group frankly scares me. The SPS should think about changing its name to something that more accurately fits its recent activist agenda. Any rate, just my humble opinion on the subject.

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