MISSISSAUGA, ON-Congregations associated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) have no problem agreeing on some basic elements of their shared mission: they want to see people’s lives transformed by the power of God; to see them "saved" and "filled with the Spirit."

They want vital Christian worship centres to thrive throughout Canada.

But discovering the best way to make that happen is proving to be difficult. "Old methods have stopped working," said PAOC general superintendent Bill Morrow in his "state of the union" address at the denomination’s late-April biennial conference, held this year in St. John, New Brunswick.

"We have not yet found the right way or we would be doing better than we are. We would be more redemptive, more supportive, more releasing and more effective."

Morrow’s hard message was based on statistical evidence that the classic Pentecostalism the PAOC espouses is losing its edge. Although the denomination is registering modest growth overall in terms of starting new churches and counting new converts, other indicators suggest cause for disquiet.

Key concerns
"I get concerned about the lack of Pentecostalism," says Morrow as he examines the data. "As the number of converts has increased, the number of water and Spirit baptisms has declined. I get concerned about our being Pentecostal in belief and practice."

In his time as president of Canada’s largest evangelical denomination, Morrow has emerged as a change agent, known as a sincere and loyal leader who realizes the landscape he represents is radically different than when he (and many of the current crop of leaders) grew up. He was re-elected to a second term at the gathering in St. John.

"I actually believe if we do not transform our fellowship, we will decline over the next 20 years and go the way of all denominations," he says.

But Morrow and his colleagues are a long way from giving up. "Growing things are always changing," says Harold Reid, pastor of Pickering (Ontario) Pentecostal Fellowship and a member of the national executive.

"Along with many other denominations in Canada, we need to make sure our structures serve the grassroots of our fellowship. This will require continual change. The failure of individuals, churches and denominations to embrace a changing landscape is to accept a sentence of death."

Missions and theological education are two important areas where significant changes are transforming traditional PAOC practices. The denomination has revamped the way it funds its missionary work. Under a new "shared funding" approach, missionaries must now raise their own support through relationships with local churches, businesses and individuals. "It was time for change," says Morrow.

"Our missionary force was on the decline and would continue to be. Churches were giving more and more money outside of the PAOC to good people with whom they had connections. There was a call for more relationship from both missionaries and churches."

The method of training people for ministry in the PAOC’s Ontario, Quebec and Maritime districts is also in the midst of an overhaul. After the controversial closure of its Peterborough campus and major changes to the way it delivers theological education, Master’s College and Seminary (MCS) wrapped up year one at its Toronto location.

According to Reid, the school "made a good transition to [Toronto] and had a successful first year at its new location. The number of requests for catalogues and new applications indicate that the student body is on the increase," he says.

Not so sure
But the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland (PAON), a sister denomination affiliated with MCS, is not so sure the changes are serving its needs that well. Its general executive committee recently informed MCS (and their own pastors) that they are exploring other ways of training Newfoundland Pentecostals for ministry positions.

The "explorative action" stems from two primary concerns: they are not certain that MCS has sufficient funds to properly operate an accredited institution; and they think the training provided in Toronto "may prove detrimental to the training of pastors and lay people for deployment in the Newfoundland context."

Meanwhile, PAOC eastern district superintendent Rick Hilsden, who spearheaded the board of Master’s during the recent changes, is no longer serving as board chair. "[He] continues to serve the eastern district well," says Reid. David Shepherd, PAOC western district superintendent, is the new board chair.