Pentecostal Lectureship Series: Women in “Their Place”
This past February, students, faculty, and local pastors gathered at Northwest University’s Butterfield Chapel to attend the annual Pentecostal Lectureship Series hosted by the College of Ministry.
Each year, the College of Ministry invites a speaker who is able to address issues of current significance to the development of Pentecostalism. Through this speaker series, the College of Ministry aims to elevate the voices of creative and diverse thinkers within the Pentecostal movement who can encourage, teach, and challenge our community.
The Pentecostal Lectureship Series is a significant event each year because it allows students and pastors alike to hear from varied perspectives while honoring Northwest University’s foundation in the Assemblies of God. The series helps to root and unite people together in the Pentecostal movement while equipping them to propel forward and spread the gospel to the four corners of the earth with a greater theological conviction and mission.
Dr. Kimberly Alexander was this year’s invited lecturer. Her theme was Pentecostal women in “their place” as healers, shepherds, and prophets. She focused on Pentecostal women of history and the Christ-like traits they exhibited throughout the recent past. She helped us reflect on the idea that even though Pentecostal women were often limited in their ministry roles, they were nonetheless able to minister in ways that truly reflected the servant heart of Jesus.
Dr. Alexander brought in a wealth of expertise as a historical theologian, former president of the Society of Pentecostal Studies, and the current director of academics at the Ramp School of Ministry. She has authored numerous pieces on healing, worship, gender, and race in Pentecostalism, as well as early Pentecostal spiritual experience, thus making her an ideal choice as this year’s lecturer. It was an honor to have her with us, and the NU community enjoyed hearing her speak.
We look forward to offering this event again in Spring 2024. Watch two of the lectures from this year below: