Theological authority is of paramount importance for the future of African American Pentecostal public theology. Largely ignored as authoritative sources by white Pentecostals in the years following the Azusa Street Revival, black Pentecostals were often snubbed by black denominations as well. Consequently, at the traditional table of theological discourse, black Pentecostal pastors have been notably absent. The question of theological authority in black Pentecostalism can be answered, in part, by examining its historically relevant contributions to theology in general, and to black liberation theology in particular. Early social prophetic theologians left a treasure trove of leadership hermeneutics and models for public engagement. This article highlights four pastors who left legacies built on their roles as pioneers in the black Pentecostal movement. The biographic profiles reveal sources of i) historical authority within the broad contours of the black Pentecostal tradition, and, ii). innovative hermeneutics as valid models for engaging public theology.

神学权威对于非裔美国人五旬节派公共神学的未来至关重要。在Azusa街复兴之后的几年中，白色五旬节派通常被权威人士视而不见，而黑色五旬节派也常常被黑色派别所吸引。因此，在传统的神学话语表中，五旬节派黑人牧师显然不存在。黑人五旬节教派的神学权威问题可以部分地通过研究其对整个神学，特别是对黑人解放神学的历史相关贡献来回答。早期的社会预言神学家留下了领导诠释学和公众参与模型的宝库。这篇文章重点介绍了四位牧师，他们在黑人五旬节运动的先驱角色基础上留下了遗产。传记资料揭示了i）黑色五旬节传统的广阔轮廓中的历史权威，以及ii）。创新诠释学是吸引公众神学的有效模型。