A Taxonomy of Contemporary Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria: Varieties and Features

The varieties and characteristics of the various denominations within the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria have largely shaped the growth and expansion of contemporary Nigerian Pentecostal churches. This article presents a taxonomy of Nigerian Pentecostal churches in their current form, based on the diversity in their doctrinal emphasis, leadership structures, worship styles, and spiritually inspired teachings and activities. A comparative design, through a descriptive and analytical method, is utilized in this study. The goal of this study is to offer awareness of the diverse aspects of Nigerian Pentecostal churches through a streamlined process of five categories for understanding, while presenting a new perspective from previous studies. The taxonomy created in this article will have significant scholarly and practical implications on the highly diverse, complex, and fluid nature of Nigerian Pentecostalism. The study concludes that the peculiarity in their varied expressions has influenced the growth and expansion of Nigerian Pentecostal churches in strengthening their role in the religious, socio-cultural, political, and economic lives of Nigerians.