Inadequate pastoral training and insufficient ministerial formation within Neo-Pentecostal black churches may lie behind scriptural error and abuse

Abstract

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit brought about revival and many conversions to Christianity in the black neo-Pentecostal stream of Pentecostal churches in South Africa. This revival exposed insufficient pastoral training. Both study duration and high financial costs, among others, became hindrances towards pastoral training in formal theological institutions like universities and Pentecostal Bible colleges. Many leaders in neo-Pentecostal churches are professionals with non-religious qualifications. In their attempt to enhance ministerial qualifications, they enrol on short online courses which provide inadequate training for ministry. This leaves them and their subordinates prone to error and abuse. There is, therefore, a need for proper intensive training for these ministers. The question that must be answered is how to necessitate and access the intensive pastoral training. This paper will contribute answers towards qualifying neo-Pentecostal ministers through theological pastoral reflection using literary research.