- Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
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Church of God 
Church of God (Anderson, IN) logo Orientation Holiness Polity Congregational Associations Christian Churches Together
Christian Holiness PartnershipGeographical areas North America, Europe, Africa Founder Daniel Sidney Warner and several others Origin 1881 Branched from General Eldership of the Church of God Separations Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma)
Church of God (Restoration)Congregations 2,214 (US & Canada)
7,446 (International)Members 251,429 (US & Canada)
1,170,143 (International)The Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) is a holiness Christian body with roots in Wesleyan pietism and also in the restorationist traditions.[1] Founded in 1881 by Daniel Sidney Warner, the church claims 1,170,143 adherents. While having some characteristics of a denomination, the Church of God considers itself non-denominational.
One of its more distinctive features is that there is no formal membership, since the movement believes that true biblical salvation, which will result in a life free from sin, makes one a member. Similarly, there is no formal creed other than the Bible. Accordingly, there is much official room for diversity and theological dialogue, even though the movement's culture is strongly rooted in Wesleyan holiness theology.
This church movement is not historically related to other Church of God bodies such as the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) or the Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee). Though these bodies are also holiness Christian in outlook, the Church of God (Anderson) does not share their Pentecostal practices. It is distinguished from these other churches by the location of its headquarters in Anderson, Indiana.
Contents
History
It was started in 1881 by Daniel Sidney Warner and several others.[2]
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The Church of God
Anderson, Indiana, USA
Historical BackgroundDoctrinal beliefsPivotal figuresColleges and Universities- Anderson School of Theology
- Anderson University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Gardner College
- Mid-America Christian University
- Warner Pacific College
- Warner University
Member congregationsNotable membersRelated denominationsSee also:
Church of God Category
Christianity Portal
Christianity WikiprojectWarner had been a member of John Winebrenner's General Eldership of the Church of God, whose members were called Winebrennerians. He differed with the Winebrennerians on the doctrine of sanctification,[3] which he held to be a second definite work of grace, and on the nature of the church. The desire of Warner and the others was to forsake denominationalism and creeds. To this end, they determined to trust in the Holy Spirit as their guide and the Bible as their creed. Warner's vision was that the Church of God would "extend our hand in fellowship to every blood-washed one", rather than align themselves with a movement.
Pacifism
In the beginnings of the Church of God, there was a commitment to pacifism. In the late 19th century, the Church of God used their journal, the Gospel Trumpet, as a means to disseminate their interest in pacifism. In April 1898, the Gospel Trumpet answered a question about the Church of God’s stance on a Christian going to war. The answer printed was "We answer no. Emphatically no. There is no place in the New Testament wherein Christ gave instruction to his followers to take the life of a fellow-man".[4] As time went on the Church of God was able to maintain their stance on pacifism, but as World War I was erupting across Europe, the church’s stance began to soften. As German Church of God congregants were drafted into the army, the Gospel Trumpet began running letters submitted about the conditions of training camps and on the battlefields. While encouraging their readers to pray for the German soldiers, the Gospel Trumpet made no reference to the apparent contrast between supporting the war effort and encouraging pacifism.[5]
As the United States entered World War I, the Gospel Trumpet restated the church’s official stance of pacifism but also reminded their congregants that they supported the authority of the state and should comply with local laws concerning the draft. There were articles run to help a pacifist request non-combat duty if they were drafted. For those who decided to volunteer, the church reported that the volunteer would not lose their salvation but would have to answer to God concerning their actions during the war. Strege writes that as the war waged on, "there occurs in print no condemnation of those who entered the army—whether German or American—and there is no questioning of their religious commitment".[6]
By the time World War II began there was very little pacifistic sentiment left in the church, even though the official stance never changed. There was always a conflict between the church’s stance that they should submit to the leadership of the government and their position of pacifism. Correspondingly, during the same era the character of warfare changed, such that distinguishing between combatants and uncommitted civilians became increasingly difficult or even impossible.
Doctrinal changes
The Church of God espouses the teachings of the ministry that began the movement in 1880. Warner believed that every group of organized churches who had an earthly headquarters and an earthly creed, other than the Bible, was a part of Babylon. They taught that God had restored the light of unity in 1880. The Evening Light ministry became known as "come outers" because they traveled from town to town preaching that all of the saved need to worship together in one place rather than being separated by creeds, dogmas and doctrines of men. The Reformation Ministry believed that Babylon, or false Christianity, was the harlot woman in the book of Revelation. The ministry believed that the harlot woman was a symbol of Roman Catholicism and that her daughters were a symbol of Protestantism. The slogan of the paper, "One Voice", almost became "On Becoming the Church". The Evening Light Ministry of 1880-1915 believed that they taught all of the truth and that they were the Church. Some changes began in 1912 with the change of wearing of the neck tie, and by 1950 the movement no longer taught against the immodesty of mixed bathing between the sexes or the addition of the television into the home.
Below is a list of beliefs or practices the Church of God no longer teaches:
- against outward adornment: wedding rings, ear rings, lipstick on women, or following "worldly fashions" (however, as a holiness movement, there is still an emphasis on "modesty", i.e. non-ostentatiousness in such things)
- women should not wear clothing that pertains to men, e.g. pants
- ministers should not receive a set salary
- musical instruments (such as a piano or organ) should not be used in worship services
- the absolute prohibition of divorce
Beliefs
The church observes baptism by total immersion,[7] the Lord's Supper (commonly known as communion), and feet washing as symbolic acts, recognizing them as the ordinances (commandments) of God. According to the church's official web site, "None of these practices, termed ordinances, are considered mandatory conditions of Christian experience or fellowship".[2]
Organization
Church polity is autonomous and congregational, with various state and regional assemblies offering some basic support for pastors and congregations. In North America, cooperative work is coordinated through Church of God Ministries with offices in Anderson, Indiana. Currently, the general director is Ronald V. Duncan.
There are 2,214 congregations in the United States and Canada which are affiliated with the Church of God with an average attendance of 251,429.[8] Worldwide, adherents number more than 1,170,143 in 7,446 congregations spread over nearly ninety countries. Personal conversion and Christian conduct, coupled with attendance, are sufficient for participation in a local Church of God congregation.
Affiliated schools
The church's seminary is Anderson School of Theology in Anderson, Indiana. It is also affiliated with several colleges across North America, including Anderson University, Azusa Pacific University, Gardner College, Mid-America Christian University, Warner Pacific College, Warner University and West Indies Theological College.
Notable members
Official U.S. Senate photo of Jon Tester, U.S. Senator from Montana
Official U.S. House of Representatives photo of Mary Fallin, member of the United States House of Representatives.Name Notability Reference Charles M. Schulz 20th-century American cartoonist best known worldwide for his Peanuts comic strip, drew the cartoons titled Young Pillars for the Church of God's teen magazine Youth, mostly about church-related themes. They are reprinted as Schulz's Youth (May 2007: ISBN 0975395890). Jon Tester U.S. Senator from the state of Montana, and former President of the Montana State Senate Mary Fallin Governor of Oklahoma and former Congresswoman for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district Marcia L. Fudge Congresswoman for Ohio's 11th congressional district Sandi Patty Contemporary Christian singer Bill and Gloria Gaither Gospel Writer / Singer and Hymn Writer See also
Affiliated Colleges and Universities
References
- ^ "An Inside Look at the Church of God" (PDF). http://www.elcristianismoprimitivo.com/Church_of_God_Restoration.pdf.
- ^ a b "History of the Church of God". http://churchofgod.chog.org/ME2/Audiences/dirsect.asp?sid=D6384FB8CD884976BB7825A9F1B49078&nm=Our+History.
- ^ "Santification" (DOCX). http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/Warner%20Entire%20Sanctification.docx.[dead link]
- ^ "Should We Go to War?" Gospel Trumpet, April 14, 1898, p. 4.
- ^ See Merle D. Strege “The Demise [?] of a Peace Church: The Church of God (Anderson), Pacifism and Civil Religion, The Mennonite Quarterly Review, Vol. LXV April 1991, No. 2 pgs. 128-140.
- ^ Strege p. 137
- ^ "The ordinances of the Bible" (MS Word). http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/The%20ordinances%20of%20the%20Bible%20Schell.doc.[dead link]
- ^ 2009 Yearbook of the Church of God, p. 353.
External links
Categories:- Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
- Religious organizations established in 1881
- Holiness denominations
- Christian denominations, unions, and movements established in the 19th century
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