Pentecostal Church of God
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This article is about two bodies with the same name, the predominantly white Pentecostal Church of God, headquartered in Joplin, Missouri, and The Pentecostal Church of God, an African-American body headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
The Pentecostal Church of God (PCG) is a predominantly white Pentecostal Christian denomination.
The Pentecostal Church of God was formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1919. It was formed by a group of Pentecostal ministers who had chosen not to affiliate with the Assemblies of God (org. 1914). It was first called the Pentecostal Assemblies of America, then Pentecostal Church of God of America was adopted in 1922, and the present name was formed by dropping "of America" in 1979. John C. Sinclair served as the first moderator.
Beliefs of the PCG include the Bible as the inspired word of God; God in three persons; the fall of man; salvation through the death of Jesus on the cross, received by grace through faith; the possibility of apostasy; Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, accompanied by speaking in other tongues; water baptism by immersion for believers (with the Trinitarian formula); the Lord's supper (with unfermented grape juice); foot washing at the discretion of local congregations; distinct calls for ministry accompanied with divine evidence; tithing for the support of the ministry; Divine healing provided in the atonement; and the imminent pre-tribulational, premillennial return of Jesus Christ.
International headquarters are located in Joplin, Missouri, where a college and a publishing house are operated. There are 1200 congregations in the United States fellowshipping as the Pentecostal Church of God. Over 5,200 churches have been established outside the United States. There are over 500,000 members in 52 different countries. 60 churches and missions exist among the First Americans. The church is headed by the general superintendent. It is divided into a number of districts, including four Hispanic districts in the United States. Each district is served by a district superintendent. A general convention meets biennially. District conventions meet annually. The Pentecostal Church of God is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Pentecostal World Conference and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. The church's official publication is The Pentecostal Messenger.
External links
- Adherents.com (http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_496.html#3065)
- Pentecostal Church of God (http://www.pcg.org/) - official Web Site
- Messenger College (http://www.messengercollege.edu/)
- Messenger Publishing House (http://www.messengerpublishing.com/)
Reference
- Our Story: The History of the Pentecostal Church of God ISBN 1882449363
The Pentecostal Church of God is an nontrinitarian African-American Pentecostal body, whose headquarters are in Detroit, Michigan. The Pentecostal Church of God teaches one God (in spirit) and one mediator (in flesh body) between God and men - Jesus Christ. In this they differ from some unitarian and "Jesus only" bodies by teaching that God still occupies the flesh body in heaven. They also emphasize that there is one God by baptizing "in the name of Jesus" rather than "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost". God is one person and one name - Jesus Christ. Leadership in the church is reserved to men, but women may be gifted in preaching, prophesying, and healing.
About sixty churches fellowship together in this denomination, which was founded by Reverend W. J. Peterson. The church is divided into four districts with an Overseeing Bishop over each district. The majority of churches are found in the southeastern United States. There are twenty-two churches in the state of Florida. The District #4 office is maintained at Winter Haven, Florida. Ministries of the church include a Bible school and a "Women's Department".
External link
- The Pentecostal Church of God (http://www.thepentecostalchurchofgod.org/)