On 30 October 2024, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted the professorial inauguration of Professor Maria Frahm-Arp, Executive Director of the UJ Library and Information Centre and Professor in Religion Studies. Held in the Ubuntu Chambers in UJ’s Madibeng Building, the event celebrated Prof Frahm-Arp’s scholarly achievements and contributions to understanding Pentecostalism’s evolving role in South Africa.
The ceremony included a formal academic procession comprising Prof Sarah Gravett, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Internationalisation; Prof Kammila Naidoo, Executive Dean of Humanities; and Prof Elina Hankela, Professor in Religion Studies, who offered a thoughtful response to Prof Frahm-Arp’s address.
Prof Frahm-Arp’s insights into Pentecostalism’s moral and economic dynamics
In her address, titled “From Puritans to Prophets: Shifts and Changes in the Pentecostal Landscape over the Last Twenty-Five Years,” Prof Frahm-Arp examined Pentecostalism’s appeal within South Africa’s socio-economic contexts since the 1990s. She outlined how, during the early years of democracy, Pentecostal Charismatic churches provided hope and guidance for the emerging black middle class, offering “life-plans” for success in capitalist society. However, she highlighted a significant theological shift from achievement-focused prosperity in churches like Grace Bible Church to “miracle prosperity” in Prophetic Pentecostal churches.
This latter approach encourages lavish offerings in exchange for divine intervention and reflects an economic worldview shaped by dependence on spiritual and governmental support. Through this lens, Prof Frahm-Arp questioned the moral foundations of these practices, asking how they shape and challenge traditional capitalist ideals and moral economics within the community.
A distinguished leader and scholar at UJ
Prof Frahm-Arp’s distinguished career includes her current role as Executive Director of the UJ Library, which she assumed in 2018, having joined UJ’s Department of Religion Studies in 2014. Her tenure has been marked by numerous accolades, including the Humanities Teaching Excellence Award and the Vice Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Award. She has been a transformative figure in the field of Pentecostal studies, exploring power, politics, and economics within Southern African religious contexts.
Her work includes two books, Professional Women in South African Pentecostal Charismatic Churches and Into the Deep: Finding God in the Midst of Suffering, as well as over 32 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She served as the first female president of the Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa and, since 2021, has been editor of the Journal for the Study of Religion.
In the international library sector, Prof Frahm-Arp is highly respected, holding leadership roles on the boards of SANLiC, OCLC, and Sabinet and recently serving as chairperson of the OCLC Global Leaders Committee. A champion for academic excellence, she has supervised numerous postgraduates, reviewed extensively for international journals, and presented at over 50 conferences worldwide, including winning the Best Paper Award at the 2018 Gender and Sexuality conference in Bangkok.
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