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EDITOR’S NOTE concentrate Pentecostal/Charismatic movements. series of descriptive Professor Edith Blumhofer, FOCUS Groups” Chair a FOCUS advances concentrating 1 the readership of within the Charismatic Renewal Interest Group desires to the You will notice some differences in the content of PNEUMA beginning with this Spring 1994 issue of the journal. A new FOCUS section is being introduced with this issue. This section is designed to on a theme that has particular relevance for the study of the In this issue the focus is on Pentecostal Missiology. The Guest Editor who mapped out the design, solicited the articles and contributors, and edited the manuscripts for this issue’s FOCUS section is Professor Byron D. Klaus. Other themes and guest editors are already scheduled for future issues of the journal. In the Fall 1994 issue, the FOCUS will be on the theme of the Charismatic Renewal. Guest Editor Father Peter Hocken has solicited a articles that will update PNEUMA on current developments movement in different parts of the globe. Under the guest editorship of the FOCUS section in the Spring 1995 issue will explore the theme of Women and Pentecostalism. The section will also be available to the society’s official “Interest to delve into themes that would be of concern to the membership as a whole. If a particular develop a thematic study for the FOCUS section, a proposal from the of the Interest Group should be sent to the Editor. Inaugurating section is one way of institutionalizing toward developing coherent thematic issues of the journal made by former editor Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. At the same time, by on thematic articles only within one section of an issue, other pages are open for publishing articles which may not fit with any but which merit publication in their own right. Accordingly, will be an ARTICLES section. thematic essays in one section also allows for the development of the journal. In this issue, for example, a new section is being launched. provide critical commentary on the articles which explored the theme of Hermeneutics in the previous to stimulate dialog on the themes explored in previous FOCUS sections. Two other sections will be started TABLE section will provide a format for the investigation of important of informed discussion. A MAKING section will use an interview format to probe the life stories and intellectual pilgrimages of eminent scholars of and the Charismatic Renewal. These sections join the REVIEW ESSAYS section which was started with the last volume. Of specific theme, in some issues there Placing of other sections FEEDBACK Pentecostal FEEDBACK section is designed topics in the give-and-take PENTECOSTAL HISTORY Pentecostalism course, not all of these sections Responses in this section Fall 1993 issue. The in future issues. A ROUND will be found in each issue of 1 2 PNEUMA. FEEDBACK, HISTORY, The different ROUND TABLE, assumes responsibility journal. sections-FOCUS, ARTICLES, MAKING PENTECOSTAL REVIEW ESSAYS-will be placed together in a variety of combinations depending on available manuscripts, editorial initiative and judgment, and practical logistics. The only section that will be found in each issue of the journal is the BOOK REVIEWS section. In addition to changes in content and organizational format, the new masthead indicates that significant changes have also been made in the administration of the journal. With this issue, Dr. Augustus Cerillo, Jr., Professor of History at California State University, Long Beach, as the Book Review Editor. Over time, Professor Cerillo desires to increase the number of books reviewed in PNEUMA by including some shorter reviews along with the current more substantial reviews and review essays. In addition, Professor Cerillo plans to broaden out the kinds of books that are reviewed in the Ms. Kimberly Rinker, who worked with me behind the scenes in producing the first two issues OfPNEU4A which I edited, officially takes on the role of Editorial Assistant. She will help set up office for tracking manuscripts, monitor the progress the stages toward publication, and produce camera-ready copy of the journal for the printer. A group of Associate Editors has been added to the editorial staff of the journal. The Associate Editors are representative which meet at the annual meetings of the society and procedures and systems of articles and book reviews through “Interest Groups” reflect the diversity of academic investigation of Pentecostalism Associate Editors refereeing the acceptance of the various approaches used in the scholarly and the Charismatic Renewal. The will assist me in the evaluation of unsolicited manuscripts submitted for publication in PNEUMA. In their function of of articles foi- publication, the Associate Editors may utilize their own network of colleagues to assist them in the evaluation of manuscripts. The Associate Editors will also work with the Book Review Editor in recommending in identifying potential reviewers for recommended Together the Associate Editors and Professor Cerillo aim to make the section and scholarship administration books for the review books. source for keeping up with format and editorial Book Reviews section an indispensable on the study of Pentecostalism. These changes in content, organizational are made with the intention of enhancing the quality of the journal and making its contents reflect the broad interests of the of the society. In the days ahead we as a society will gain the 20-20 hindsight to judge whether this intention became a reality. for starters, I hope you find this issue an intellectually stimulating membership But, one. 2
Mark Boversky
The article presents a seemingly academic overview of the changes within the PNEUMA journal, yet it lacks critical engagement with the deeper implications of these updates. Firstly, while Professor Edith Blumhofer and others are mentioned as figures of authority, their perspectives are not universally accepted within scholarly circles. The notion that these changes will lead to better quality content overlooks the concern that they may instead reflect an institutional bias towards specific theological frameworks. According to Pew Research (2018), diversity in religious scholarship is essential for a holistic understanding of faith movements. Moreover, the focus on themes like Pentecostal Missiology and Charismatic Renewal can be seen as limiting, as it does not sufficiently address the broader socio-cultural impacts of these movements, nor does it acknowledge criticisms from outside perspectives that label certain Pentecostal teachings as heretical or gnostic in nature (Pentecostal Archives). The introduction of sections such as FOCUS and MAKING seems more like an effort to compartmentalize knowledge rather than engage with the necessary interdisciplinary dialogue. This could perpetuate echo chambers rather than fostering genuine academic discourse. In conclusion, while the intention behind these editorial changes might appear noble, they could inadvertently contribute to a narrow understanding of Pentecostalism that aligns with specific theological biases, ultimately rendering parts of this discourse misleading and potentially heretical.