Another Springtime: The Life of Donald Gee, Pentecostal Leader and Teacher. Richard Massey, Highland Books, (1992). ISBN: 0946616922
From 1924 to his death in 1966 Donald Gee was a pivotal figure in British Pentecostalisms development, particularly in his own denomination the British Assemblies of God. He was widely respected as one of the very few bible teachers (as opposed to evangelists, Prophets etc) and because of his careful approach to the Pentecostal tendency to emphasise experience over doctrinal substance and was therefore affectionately referred to as the "apostle of balance". He is also known, along with David du Plessis as one of the few Pentecostal leaders to actively support Pentecostalisms involvement in Christian ecumenism. Richard Massey, a former student of Gee's at the AOG bible college in the UK and currently principal of Birmingham Bible Institute has written an engaging popular survey of Gee's professional ministry.
The first third of the book surveys Gee's Pentecostal conversion, his period as a conscientious objector in WW 1 and his commission as a new minister in Edinburgh, and the churches and Gee's personal affiliation with the newly formed Assemblies of God denomination despite a previous 'flirtation' with George Jeffries' Elim Alliance. It appears that at this point Gee became known for his careful critique of certain theological disputes in british Pentecostalism. In particular, Gee was very strong on his defence of the doctrine of subsequence, namely the gift of tongues being the initial evidence of Holy Spirit baptism and also against his mentor Arthur Saxby against his universalism. The second part of Massey's account recounts the widening focus of Gee's ministry as he contributes to Pentecostal periodicals and books and his teaching gift is recognised in the wider Pentecostal community. Finally Massey outlines the final years of Gee's life, his period as principal of the AOG college, and tries to assess his legacy. Pentecostalism has a nasty habit of prioritising the inconsequential over matters that really matter. Whatever one thinks of Gee (and I would disagree on many, many a point - hell, I'm not even a Pentecostal) I think without his influence then
- i) there would be a lot more bastardisations of the faith such as those exhibited the the Prosperity Gospel and
- ii) there would have been a lot more scepticism from Classical Pentecostals over the then emerging charismatic movement.
Massey's account is not a scholarly history of British Pentecostalism or a detailed account of his theological perspective (this aspect could have been done better). Nonetheless it is a fascinating insight into an important figure in British religious history.
Elsewhere:
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