International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
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Background
Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), a controversial female evangelist, founded the Foursquare Church in 1927. Los Angeles was her center of operations, and the Angelus Temple, seating 5,300 people, was opened there in 1923. McPherson was an outright celebrity participating in publicity events such as parades every Sunday through the streets of L.A., along with the mayor and movie stars, directly to Angelus Temple. She built the temple, and L.I.F.E. Bible College next door to it, on the northwest corner of the land that she owned in the middle of the city.
Her son, Rolf K. McPherson, became president and leader of the church after her death in 1944. Not being able to lead with the same charisma his mother posessed, the denomination became stagnant until a new generation of leaders emerged. Led by people like Chuck Smith, Jack Hayford, Roy Hicks, Jr., and Ralph Moore the Church began to convert the Hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s and '70s to followers of their movement. The drug-drenched, spiritually voracious youth were converted in droves to the new paradigm churches that used guitars instead of organs, with bell-bottomed ministers preaching in a conversational tone of voice, rather than in an elocutionary one. The Jesus movement of the 1970s that gave the world "Jesus Rock" and a hip gospel to preach to the Woodstock generation, was birthed by many of the graduates of the Bible College, by this time a citadel of Pentecostalism.
Together with the Assemblies of God, the Church of God, the Open Bible Standard Churches, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and others, the Foursquare Church formed the "Pentecostal Fellowship of North America" in 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1994, it was reorganized as the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. Jack W. Hayford, founder of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and Living Way Ministries, is perhaps the best-known foursquare ministers in the 21st century and is currently the denomination's President.
The "Foursquare" Name
The Foursquare (or four-fold) gospel is based on Jesus Christ's four roles as Savior, Baptizer, Healer, and Coming King. The gospel exists for the body, soul, spirit, and eternity. McPherson revealed this idea at a revival in Oakland, California, in 1922, after it came to her in a vision from God based on Ezekiel's vision as recorded in Ezekiel chapter one. This is exemplified by the four faces representing Jesus Christ - the man (man of sorrows, Savior), the lion (baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire), the ox (the Great Burden-bearer, Healer) and the eagle (the Coming King). Some claim that this idea did not originate with McPherson, but was rather only popularized by her.
Church doctrine
The Foursquare Church believes in the following:
- The Bible as the inspired word of God
- The Trinity
- The atoning death of Christ for sinners
- Salvation through the grace of God by Faith Alone in the Lord Jesus Christ
- The necessity of repentance
- The new birth (Sanctification)
- Baptism by immersion
- The memorial of The Lord's Supper as church ordinances
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit
- Divine healing
- The imminent return of Jesus Christ
- Final judgment
Status
As of 2000, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel had grown to 1844 churches with 218,981 members¹ in the United States. Worldwide membership is over 3.5 million in almost 30,000 churches in 123 countries. Corporate headquarters are maintained in Los Angeles, California. In the United States, the church is divided into districts and local congregations affiliate with the district in their area. A General Supervisor oversees the national office and district supervisors. Glenn C. Burris, Jr., currently (2004) serves as General Supervisor. A number of educational institutions are affiliated with the Foursquare Church. Among these are Life Pacific College, formerly Life Bible College, in San Dimas, California and Pacific Life Bible College in Surrey, British Columbia.
External links
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (http://www.foursquare.org/) - official Web Site
- Living Way Ministries (http://www.livingway.org/)
- Life Pacific College - San Dimas (http://www.lifepacific.edu/)
- Pacific Life Bible College - Surrey (http://www.pacificlife.edu/)
- The King's College and Seminary (http://www.kingscollege.edu/)
References
- Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
- Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000), Glenmary Research Center
- The Vine and the Branches: A History of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, by Nathaniel M. Van Cleave
Footnote
- 1. Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000)