Abstract
This thesis explores the history of the first Pentecostal denomination in New Zealand: The New Zealand Evangelical Mission, later known as the Pentecostal Church of New Zealand (PCNZ), then Elim. Despite the longevity of Elim in New Zealand, little has been researched beyond its establishment following the Wigglesworth revival in 1922, its subsequent fragmentation, and its alignment with Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance in 1953.
This thesis draws on a much wider range of archival sources and other primary material than has ever been used before, supplemented with oral interviews, to revisit the interpretations of earlier scholars regarding the establishment and fragmentation of PCNZ, to demonstrate aspects of continuity in ethos and practice between PCNZ and Elim, and to identify factors that contributed to the absence and presence of growth within Elim across New Zealand from 1922-2000. This study also utilises insights from Elim’s history to extend existing knowledge on Pentecostalism in New Zealand, including attitudes to war, the New Zealand Pentecostal Fellowship, and the Charismatic Renewal.
Chapters follow this history in a chronological sequence. Each chapter places the history in its context and examines Elim’s development in response to internal and external cultural challenges and opportunities. The initial chapters highlight PCNZ’s quest for constitutional stability and the formation of an alliance. The latter chapters reveal how a small, moderately conservative, Pentecostal denomination overcame obscurity and finally flourished as it adapted its structures and forms in ways that resonated with the surrounding context. The conclusion identifies seven factors that were necessary for denominational resilience and growth: coherent yet adaptive governance structures, wide-ranging collaboration, capable leadership, appropriate training pathways, visibility, a resonant message, and identity-enhancing metaphors.