• Read more about the study here.
• The initial report, “Highlights from the 2014 Survey of PAOC Credential Holders,” is now available to view online.

The report is not that long (and mostly tables), so I encourage you to read it.

Personal Reactions

• Although I have already seen this in previous research, I was once again struck by the fact that the majority of current PAOC credential holders are over 50 years old, meaning we will need a lot more leaders soon when this age bracket eventually retires.
• While I expected a slight shift, I was surprised by how significant the shift was in understanding the relationship of tongues to Spirit Baptism. In 1985/86, a strong majority of PAOC credential holders insisted that someone who has not spoken in tongues has not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In contrast, just under half of credential holders today would make the same claim (although they still affirm initial evidence).
• Given conversations during sessions where eschatology was discussed at the May 2014 PAOC General Conference, I was surprised at how high support remains among credential holders for the eschatology currently expressed in the PAOC’s Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, especially with respect to the rapture.
• I was surprised by how significantly views have shifted regarding Christians drinking alcohol and also by how many credential holders have had one or more drinks in the past year.

Additional Features of the Report (the report covers many other issues too)

The report answers questions that some credential holders had about:

• How we maintained confidentiality.
• The rationale behind the questions that were included in the questionnaire.

Again, the initial report, “Highlights from the 2014 Survey of PAOC Credential Holders,” is now available to view online.

The post What do Pentecostal Clergy Believe? Observations Regarding the 2014 Survey of PAOC Credential Holders appeared first on Andrew K. Gabriel.