Professor of New Testament,
Co-Director, MA in Bible and Theology,
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Melissa Archer is professor of New Testament at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, USA, where she serves as co-director of the MA in Bible and Theology programme. She holds a PhD in Theology (New Testament) from Bangor University, Wales, a ThM from Columbia Theological Seminary, and an MA in Biblical Studies from Ashland Theological Seminary.
She has previously taught at Southeastern University, Lee University, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and Ashland Theological Seminary. In addition to her academic work, she has been involved in pastoral ministry.
Dr Melissa is a former president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and serves as assistant editor of the Journal of Pentecostal Studies Supplement Series. Her publications include I Was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day: A Pentecostal Engagement with Worship in the Apocalypse.
Having been involved in various ecumenical dialogues over the past three decades, I have gained some important insights. Much progress has been made, yet the question remains: How can we, despite our diverse histories and identities, live and function as the Church together? Secularising tendencies in our societies that bring about new challenges, especially in the large urban centres. For the sake of a credible Christian witness, we need to be able to address common concerns together. There are fundamental spiritual desires that are not met in a secular context. The Christian churches have the opportunity to respond to these human yearnings, to a void that is felt, and present the Good News of Jesus Christ in relevant ways. Furthermore, as we live in increasingly pluralistic societies, we witness a growing polarisation of attitudes. This is evident in one-sided nationalist agendas and a discourse rooted in fear. The ecumenical work done so far can serve as a bridge for a common Christian witness “so that the world may believe.”