When Neo-Charismatic Practices Travel Across the Atlantic: Towards a Lutheran Theology of Personal Prophecy

(Publisert i Scandinavian Journal for Leadership and Theology, vol 12, 2025)

In this article, we discuss the possible adoption of prophetic ministry, as it is practiced at the Neo-Pentecostal Bethel Church in Redding, California, in a Scandinavian-Lutheran context. Using an empirical qualitative study design, we identified some key theological themes that we find to be particularly important to assess, if personal prophecy, or similar practices, are to be used in Scandinavian churches and parachurch organizations. Some of these themes correspond to themes that emerge from Pentecostal-Lutheran dialogues, like the interpretation of divine presence and the evaluation of divine and human agency in particular (spiritual) practices. Prophecy appears to be a sort of semi-sacramental practice at Bethel, and a Lutheran understanding of Christ´s presence in practices offers a constructive and critical interpretative lens as we discuss the Pentecostal notion of manifest presence.