International Theological Dialogue

between some Classical Pentecostal Representatives and

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches

Joint Communiqué

Detmold, Germany, June 01, 2005 - Representatives of some classical Pentecostal churches and delegates of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) met in Detmold, Germany, May 25 to 31, 2005. The meeting was the third session of an international dialogue on “Experience in Christian Faith and Life” which began in 2002, following the first five-year round of theological conversations on “Word and Spirit, Church and World” (1996-2000).

The theme of this year’s session was how Pentecostal and Reformed Christians discern the will of God through the Holy Spirit as they seek to follow Jesus Christ and to witness to the presence and coming of God’s kingdom. Four papers were presented to facilitate the common exploration of this topic. The discussions that followed focused on the differences and convergences relating to the ways in which Pentecostal and Reformed churches approach discernment and its significance for the life and witness of the Christian community.

This year’s meeting was generously hosted by the Protestant Church of Lippe. The participants were introduced into the life and witness of the Church of Lippe, attended the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the adoption of the Reformed confession in the Lippe region and met with the leadership of the Church. The group also worshipped with the Lippe Christian Centre, a Pentecostal church.

Presentations made by two pastors working in the region, Claudia Währisch-Oblau (Church of Rhineland and United Evangelical Mission) and Samuel Odonkor-Quartey (the Lighthouse Fellowship, Bielefeld), focused on the life of immigrant Pentecostal congregations in Germany and the different attempts being made to facilitate their relationships with the German regional churches.

The Pentecostal delegation included Prof. Dr. David Daniels (Co-chair, USA), Prof. Dr. Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. (USA), Prof. Dr. Anthea Butler (Pentecostal staff, USA), Dr. Jean-Daniel Plüss (Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Wonsuk Ma (Korea/Philippines), Prof. Dr. Julie Ma (Korea/Philippines) and Prof. Dr. Joseph Suico (Philippines). The Reformed team included Rev. Dr. Joseph D. Small (Co-chair, USA), Rev. Prof. Aureo Rodrigues de Oliveira (Brazil), Prof. Dr. Cephas Omenyo (Ghana), Rev. Dr. Gesine von Kloeden-Freudenberg (Germany), Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, (Lebanon), and Rev. Dr. Odair Pedroso Mateus (WARC staff, Brazil).

The next session of the Pentecostal-Reformed international dialogue will take place in May 2006.