Gary Roe, a student in SAGU’s M. Div. Program, recently presented a conference paper at the Society of Pentecostal Studies.  This organization, begun in 1970, is composed of scholars dedicated to providing a forum of discussion for all academic disciplines as a spiritual service to the kingdom of God.

The purpose of the society is to stimulate, encourage, recognize, and publicize the work of Pentecostal and charismatic scholars; to study the implications of Pentecostal theology in relation to other academic disciplines, seeking a Pentecostal world-and-life view; and to support fully, to the extent appropriate for an academic society, the statement of purposes of the World Pentecostal Fellowship.  Vinson Synan, a co-founder of the Society of Pentecostal Studies will be speaking at SAGU September 15-16.

In addition to a journal and occasional newsletter, the society holds an annual meeting, of which Roe was a part, for members and friends.  These meetings include sessions related to particular themes, numerous paper sessions organized by discipline-based interest groups, worship, fellowship, and networking opportunities.  The paper Roe presented at the conference was a Pentecostal theological reflection on the English-Only official language legislation passed in Farmers Branch, Texas.

Roe was also selected to present a paper on the same topic at Politics of the Spirit, an academic conference which will precede Shalom '08, held October 17-19 in Dallas.  Shalom ’08 is hosted by the Pentecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Justice, which was co-founded by former SAGU professor Paul Alexander.

According to Roe, “academic conferences are great way to gain exposure and strengthen academic skills.” Students who are interested in participating in these academic conferences should visit the Society of Pentecostal studies at www.sps-usa.org and the Pentecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Justice at www.pcpj.org.   

From the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas, Roe plans on graduating with his Master of Divinity from SAGU in Spring 2010.  He plans to pursue a Ph.D., teach and contribute to Pentecostal Theology through writing.