Abstract The idea of Christian unity is a theological commitment of the Church. Leadership of the Church is tasked with preserving this theologically grounded unity. In the present zeitgeist , calls for racial and social justice have challenged what leadership looks like pertaining to maintaining unity within the Church—especially as unity relates to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Transformational leadership is an essential theory in leadership studies. While many scholars agree that a key concept of transformational leadership is creating connections between leaders and followers, defining the parameters of transformational leadership is challenging. This challenge is highlighted in this work because of the shifting nature of cultural contexts that impact the relational connections between leaders and followers in terms of embracing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion while maintaining Christian unity. This case study of Acts 6:1–7 explicates an Africana Pentecostal theology of transformational leadership grounded in a nexus of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Abstract This essay explores a pneumatology of spontaneity in corporate worship, drawing upon a vivid example from the author’s pastoral experience and integrating biblical, theological, and liturgical insights. It argues that the Holy Spirit creates spontaneity in worship as both the Spirit-of-the-Moment and the Improvising Spirit. The essay challenges binary understandings of order versus freedom and offers a constructive model where spontaneity is seen as a Spirit-enabled, trinitarian dynamic. Ultimately, the Spirit’s gift of spontaneity is not for spectacle but for the edification of the Body, the formation of Christlikeness, and the glorification of the triune God.

Abstract This article investigates United States Pentecostal women’s expectations and experiences of motherhood and depression. For Pentecostal women, motherhood within marriage is an ideal state, yet that ideal depends on a broader sociocultural understanding of motherhood that is child-centered, expert-guided, emotionally absorbing, labor-intensive, and financially demanding. Researchers increasingly link this model to adverse mental health outcomes in women, including depression. While Pentecostal experiences of depression have been explored to some extent, little research focuses specifically on how these experiences intersect with motherhood. This article seeks to contribute to the gap by using Grounded Theory to investigate how Pentecostals living in the United States experience depression in relation to motherhood. The findings reveal that the participants’ depression is tied to unmet expectations of motherhood, participants’ lived experiences of parenting, and a perceived lack of Spirit empowerment. While many participants were mothers, the study also included women who were not mothers but aspired to motherhood. The study, therefore, also highlights how the cultural and theological discourse of motherhood affects both groups. Overall, the research sheds light on the intricate relationship between motherhood, expectations, depression, and Pentecostal beliefs, emphasizing the influence of sociocultural contexts and spiritual factors in shaping women’s mental health experiences.