Linda is passionate about ministry formation and Christian history. During her years in pastoral ministry, she gained a deep appreciation of the important role theological education plays in equipping those preparing for ministry and of the need for ongoing personal renewal while serving others in order to sustain ministry long-term. She also discovered a passion for teaching and research. Alongside lecturing, she has spent over 14 years researching Pentecostal history and theology. 

She published her first book in 2015, A Full-er Gospel? Pentecostal Proclamation in New Zealand 1990-2008, a section of which was published as a chapter in New Frontiers: redefining Christian ministry in 21st century contexts in 2013. Linda has recently completed a PhD on the history of the Elim Churches in New Zealand from 1922-2000. Some of her work has already appeared in peer-reviewed Dictionaries on Pentecostalism Internationally and as popular articles in Elim’s Breakthrough Magazine.

Linda’s career spans over 20 years in theological education and pastoral work respectively as well as ten years in nursing. She began lecturing as an adjunct in 1999 first with Elim Ministry Training College, then Laidlaw, and for a few years - Alpha Crucis. She taught a range of subjects but predominantly, Church History, Ministry Formation and Pentecostal Theology. She joined Laidlaw’s permanent staff in 2007 as Field Educator for the Distance Learning Programme. 

In 2011, Linda and her husband moved to Auckland where Linda was employed as Lecturer and National Internship Programme Coordinator (a role she shared with her husband Graeme) until 2020. Since arriving in Auckland she has contributed to the establishment of Laidlaw’s Centre for Church Leadership and the Sustain Network for Women in Leadership. Linda has also served on the Executive committee of the Australia New Zealand Association of Theological Field Educators (ANZATFE) and is currently treasurer of the Religious History Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (RHAANZ) 

Prior to taking up the national role, Linda worked with Graeme in pastoral ministry: For three and a half years in Tauranga and later, for thirteen years at Burnside Elim Community Church in Christchurch. In 2013 she was ordained as Pastor with the Elim Churches of NZ. Currently she continues to research and works part-time as a Hospital Chaplain for the Waitemata District Health Board.

Linda and her husband Graeme have three married daughters and two grandchildren. To relax she enjoys gardening, walking, and any form of logic-based puzzles.

Current Projects

PhD

Search for Resonance: A History of the Elim Churches of New Zealand: 1922-2012. Otago University. UP, 2022.

PUBLICATIONS

2021

“A. H. Dallimore” in Brill's Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism edited by Michael Wilkinson, Connie Au, Jörg Haustein, Todd M. Johnson, 167-168. Leiden: Brill, 2021.

“Ray Bloomfield” in Brill's Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism edited by Michael Wilkinson, Connie Au, Jörg Haustein, Todd M. Johnson, 69-70. Leiden: Brill, 2021.

2018

“H. V. Roberts: Pentecostal Pioneer, Pastor and Evangelist (1888-1954).” The Australasian Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (ACDPM) (2018).

https://sites.google.com/view/adpcm/q-t-top-page/roberts-harry-valentine-1888-1954

2015

A Full-er Gospel: Pentecostal Proclamation in New Zealand 1990-2008. Auckland: Archer Press, 2015.

2012

“Changing Paradigms in Mission: Gospel Proclamation in AGNZ since 1990” in Newton, Jon K. (ed.) New Frontiers: Redefining Christian Ministry in 21st Century Contexts. Preston, VIC: Mosaic Resources, 2013, 92-115.

Other Publications

“Leaving a Legacy: Les and Isabel Covic” Breakthrough Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2019): 18-19.

“H. V. Roberts: Pentecostal Pioneer, Pastor and Evangelist (1888-1954)” Breakthrough Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2018): 14-15.

“Meet Our Earliest Missionaries” Breakthrough Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2017): 12-13.

“Mission is in our DNA” Breakthrough. Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2016): 26-27.

“A Window into Our History – Why Elim?” Breakthrough Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2015): 36-37.

“A Window into Our History – What is a Pentecostal?” Breakthrough Conference Edition. (Auckland: Elim Church of NZ, 2014): 15-17.

Conference Papers & Presentations

2020

“Dispelling Pentecostal Myths: Narratives behind the disintegration of the Pentecostal Church     of New Zealand”. Presentation to Post-Graduate School, Laidlaw College. Sept 2020.

2019

Response to Roshan Allpress “Imagining the Gospel in History” Church and Society Colloquium, Laidlaw College, Auckland, August 2019.

2018

“Women in the History of the Church.” Faith Thinking Lectures, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 17-18 August, 2018.

“Whatever Happened to the Charismatic Renewal? Elim and Renewal in Marlborough 1970-1985.” Religious History Association Aotearoa New Zealand/'Religion Matters': Conference in Honour of Professor Peter Lineham, Massey University, Auckland, NZ, 3-4 December, 2018.

2017

“Designing Integrative Assessments for Field Education”. Presentation to ANZATFE Conference, Morling College, Sydney Australia, 2017.

“Church-Centred or Evangelism Focused? Elim 1953-1972”. Presentation to Post-Graduate School Otago University July 2017.

2015

“Integrative Conversations for Team Leadership” (Co-presentation with Graeme Flett) to ANZATFE conference, Melbourne, November 2015.

“Building collaborative learning communities: Convergence of academy and parish”. (Co-presentation with Graeme Flett) to ANZATFE conference, Melbourne, November 2015.

2014

“Pedagogies for Renewal and Engagement” (Co-presentation with Dr David Crawley) to ACT conference on Spiritual Formation for Ministry. Christ’s College, Sydney Australia. Oct 2014.

2013

“Exploring trends in Gospel Proclamation in New Zealand”. Address to Engage Centre for Church Leadership, Laidlaw College Auckland in 2013.

2012

“Changing Paradigms in Mission: Gospel Proclamation in AGNZ since 1990” to the New Frontiers conference. Harvest Bible College, Melbourne, Australia. August 2012.