Walter Hollenweger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter Jacob Hollenweger (born 1927) is a Swiss theologian and author, recognized as an expert on worldwide Pentecostalism. His two best known books are: The Pentecostals (1972) and Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide (1997) [1]
From 1949-1958, Hollenweger served as the pastor in a Pentecostal Mission, but in 1962 was ordained in the Swiss Reformed Church.[2]
In 1955 he began studying at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zurich. He wrote a ten volume doctoral dissertation Handbuch der Pfingstbewegung (Handbook of the Pentecostal Movement) published in 1966. The core of this work was published in various languages and became a standard work on Pentecostalism. His numerous publications in the years following made him one of the premier interpreters of this movement.[3]
Hollenweger, who served as the first Secretary for Evangelism in the Division of World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches from 1965 to 1971, continues to be a staunch advocate of ecumenism for Pentecostal churches. [4]
During 1971 to 1989 Hollenweger was Professor of Mission at the University of Birmingham and Selly Oak Colleges at Birmingham, U.K. [5]
Named in his honour, the Hollenweger Center [6] at VU University, Amsterdam, is an academic platform for and across different disciplines within the field of Pentecostal/Charismatic studies, providing opportunities to study Pentecostalism on MA and PhD level (theology, missiology, religious studies, anthropology of religion).
[edit] References
- ^ * Hollenweger, W.J., The Pentecostals (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1972)
- Hollenweger, W. J., Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide, (Hendrickson Publications, 1997).
- ^ European Pentecostal / Charismatic Research Association, Press Release, July 17, 1999 Retrieved Oct 6, 2007.
- ^ European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism, ‘’ Bibliography Walter J. Hollenweger’’, 2005 Retrieved Oct 6, 2007.
- ^ The Ecumenical Quest for Pentecostalism, Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research Retrieved 23 Sep 2007.
- ^ Postgraduate Programmes in the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at the University of Birmingham, Graduate Institute for Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham Retrieved 23 Sep 2007.
- ^ Hollenweger Center
