Unavoidable Factors that Outline the Future of Pentecostal Theological Higher Education in Europe

Abstract “You will know them by their graduates.” This is how the European pentecostal-charismatic churches assess the few pentecostal colleges and seminaries that offer higher theological education. This essay analyzes some critical socio-ecclesiological factors that, in juxtaposition with the established academic standards, would help these institutions improve what they currently do and also possibly plan for growth. The article introduces a layout in which the expectations of the churches being constituencies of these schools, the established norms for assessing curricula, the employed faculty, and the debated benefits of accreditation face one another. For almost three decades of university-level experience, pentecostal churches and academia seem to recognize that what has been gained should not be lost. Recognition for making necessary mutual adjustments would provide the best perspective for the future, and this proposed perception is supported by critical reflections and some practical suggestions. Pentecostal theology would be useless without genuine pentecostal spirituality. The local churches could be a great asset for both, and even the challenging European accreditation standards could help the concerned institutions in some way.