Pentecostals and Alcohol
The current PAOC bylaws state that a credential holder can be disciplined if they consume mood-altering substances. The 2014 PAOC General Conference in Saskatoon included a discussion regarding a motion to specify alcohol as a mood-altering substance in the bylaws. The motion was defeated. You have your views on what the Bible requires, but you wonder how Pentecostals in Canada have typically thought about drinking alcohol. Were they always against it? Why or why not? Were there cultural factors that influenced decisions or were there only biblical arguments? What has the official PAOC stance been on this issue? What is the official PAOC stance on this today? You have many questions that keep coming to your mind. What other historical questions might help you address this issue? Note: This is not a paper for a theology course. Therefore, you should not engage in debates about how to interpret key scriptures regarding alcohol. Rather, your only aim should be to interpret and analyze this issue with historical awareness. *Rubric guideline to help with the paper: *Please follow these guidelines* Topic: relates an issue in pentecostal history to issues in the contemporary church. Introduction and Conclusion: at an appropriate length (about 100-150 words each) Citations: appears to include citations in footnotes when paraphrasing, summarizing or quoting from other sources. Includes a bibliography. Research: Includes both primary and secondary sources (a total of 7 or more). Includes relevant scholarly sources, including at least one journal article (dictionary definitions do not count as sources). Most pages integrate research from various sources. In addition to historical primary sources (like archive material), you should consider secondary sources ( textbooks or journal articles) that comment on the history of the topic you are researching. introduction: clearly informs the reader regarding the specific topic of the paper. Includes a thesis statement. GUIDELINE TO FOOTNOTE: Citing archival resources: For the most part, archival sources require the same information as other sources. It all depends on what you have. NOTE: USE ONLY theological sources. FOR THE PAPER IS FOR A BIBLE COLLEGE. IN THE 7 SOURCE PLEASE HAVE 3 SOURCES SET AS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCES. If there are an author and title (periodical article, extract from a book): Author, Title of article, Title of Publication, date (issue), page(s). If it is a letter: who from, who to, the date and PAOC Archives, Mississauga, ON. If it is untitled, like a personal note or account, make up a descriptive title, for example, Gordon Atter, (if the author is known, or, Author Unknown) Handwritten account of early days in Canada” plus the date if you have it and PAOC Archives, Mississauga, ON. If there is no date, put n.d. at the end. Use the same format for a diary entry and so forth. Structure: most related points are grouped together; the outline supports the thesis statement. Includes appropriate transitions to bring cohesion to the structure. Substance: describes numerous historical issues relevant to the topic of the paper with accuracy, clarity, and sufficient detail (uses historical evidence to support most points and incorporates some factual information). Does not discuss issues that do not relate to the papers thesis. Application: explains the significance of the historical observations for understanding some issues in the contemporary church. Conclusion: summarizes the key points from the paper and reaffirms the thesis statement; does not introduce new information.
