About us

One of the major aims of the European Pentecostal Charismatic Research Conference is to facilitate contacts and exchange among researchers and academicians who have interests related to the study of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. As such EPCRA is intentionally international, inter-denominational, and interdisciplinary in its approach. Academicians and interested lay people, theologians and researchers in other disciplines, Pentecostals and representatives of other churches have shared their insights, convictions and visions.

The first conference of this kind took place in 1981 at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Others followed in Birmingham, UK; Gwatt, CH; Utrecht, NL; Mattersey, GB; Kappel, CH; Prague, CZ; Hamburg, DE; and Louvain, BE. Among the speakers have been: David J. Du Plessis, Walter J. Hollenweger, Kalistos Ware, Martien Parmentier, Jan Milic Lochman, Hubert van Beek, Cecil M. Robeck and many others. As Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians have grown to about 600 million adherents worldwide it is also an objective of the EPCRA conferences to help members of different churches, denominations and groups to relate to this new movement and to ponder what they and their traditions have to offer, were they differ and how they can best serve their calling. Although major emphasis is placed on research and current issues ample time is also given to informal contacts, discussions and worship. Papers being read usually focus on a given theme. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.