Church on the Rock- International

Church on the Rock-International
Classification	Protestant
Theology	Charismatic Evangelical Pentecostal
Polity	Congregational
Leader	Lawrence Kennedy
Geographical areas	Worldwide
Founder	Larry Lea
Origin	1989 Rockwall, Texas
Separated from	Southern Baptist Convention
Congregations	3,000
Official website	[1]

Church on the Rock-International, also known as the Church on the Rock or COTRI, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination. Christianity Today has described the organization as a "virtual denomination"^[1][2] with over 3,000 affiliated churches worldwide.

COTRI is rooted in the charismatic renewal, historic evangelicalism, and pentecostalism.

History

COTRI was founded by Larry Lea in the 1980's after he separated himself from the Southern Baptist Convention. Following a stint as an itinerant preacher in the late 1970s, Lea was invited to pastor Church on the Rock in 1980 with 12 people in Rockwall, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Within 5 years, the church had shot up to over 5,000. In 1986, Lea began to travel again, holding what he called "Prayer Clinics" and later, "Prayer Rallies" or "Prayer Breakthroughs". Also, that year marked the beginning of Lea's television program, called Change Your Life. Also, that year, Lea released his first book, the best-seller^[3] Could You Not Tarry One Hour?, which was his teaching on The Lord's Prayer. He also began a partnership group where his partners were referred to as "Prayer Warriors".

In June 1990, Lea stepped aside as pastor to oversee Church on the Rock International. He was succeeded by Lawrence Kennedy who still leads the organization today. Lea found himself in some controversy later that year, when Lea and several ministers met at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Lea's ministry was heavily criticized by an assortment of gay-rights activists, pro-choice activists, and Wiccans led by Eric Pryor (who later converted to Christianity^[4]). On Halloween (the first night of the crusade), there was a massive protest^[5] leading to many who came to the Civic Auditorium having to come through a very hostile crowd outside.

A year later, ABC's PrimeTime Live aired an exposé involving Lea and fellow Dallas-area televangelists W.V. Grant and Robert Tilton.^[6] The incident involving Lea came as a result of his fundraising appeals, questions as to how much money was going to mentioned projects, and accusations that Lea implied a fire at one of his homes left his family almost destitute even though they still had the home in the Dallas area.

Lea allowed the National Religious Broadcasters financial integrity arm, EFICOM (Ethics and Financial Integrity Commission), to audit his ministry to look into the charges. Following the incident, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.^[7]

See also

Christianity portal

• Lawrence Kennedy
• Larry Lea

References

United States Christian bodies v · d · e

United States Interchurch National Association of Evangelicals National Council of Churches Churches Uniting in Christ S. Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America North Am. Presbyterian & Reformed Council Anabaptist & Friends Brethren Church Church of the Brethren Evangelical Friends International Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches Friends General Conference Friends United Meeting Mennonite Brethren Churches Mennonite Church USA Old Order Amish Mennonite Church Baptist & Stone-Campbell Baptist Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Association American Baptist Churches Baptist Bible Fellowship International Baptist General Conference Baptist Missionary Association of America Conservative Baptist Association of America General Association of Regular Baptist Churches National Association of Free Will Baptists National Primitive Baptist Convention North American Baptist Conference Southern Baptist Convention African-American Baptist National Baptist Convention of America National Baptist Convention, USA National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Progressive National Baptist Convention Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Churches of Christ International Churches of Christ Catholic & Anglican Anglican Church in North America Episcopal Church Old Roman Catholic Church Polish National Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Holiness & Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of God (Anderson) Evangelical Covenant Church Evangelical Free Church of America Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh-day Adventist Church Wesleyan Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Methodist African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Free Methodist Church United Methodist Church Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Church in America Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Serbian Orthodox Church Non-Chalcedonic Armenian Apostolic of Am. Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. Coptic Orthodox Church Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church of God (Cleveland, TN) Church of God in Christ Church of God of Prophecy Church on the Rock- International Full Gospel Fellowship Intl. Church of the Foursquare Gospel Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Church of God Oneness Pentecostal Pentecostal Assemblies of the World United Pentecostal Church Intl. Presbyterian & Reformed Christian Reformed Church in North America Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Cumberland Presbyterian Church Evangelical Presbyterian Church Korean Presbyterian Church in America International Council of Community Churches National Asso. of Congregational Christian Churches Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Church in America Reformed Church in America United Church of Christ Other Church of Christ, Scientist LDS Church Community of Christ Grace Gospel Fellowship Independent Fundamental Churches of America Jehovah's Witnesses Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Plymouth Brethren Vineyard USA See also: Non-denominational Christianity

1. ^ Kim Lawton, "Broadcasters face ethics questions - again," Christianity Today, January 13, 1992
2. ^ Nigel Scotland Charismatics and the New Millennium (Guildford: Eagle, 1995).
3. ^ http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=TRADE%20PAPER:USED:9780884192107:6.50
4. ^ http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/22317-wiccan-turned-bible-teacher-eric-pryor-dies?
5. ^ "San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Nov 1990: 6,500 Christians Attend S.F. 'Exorcism'". Toobeautiful.org. 1990-11-01. http://www.toobeautiful.org/chron_901101.html. Retrieved 2010-08-17. 
6. ^ Bark, Ed (November 21, 1991). "Judgment Day on `Prime Time Live'". Dallas Morning News. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/DM/lib00377,0ED56291649D24AC.html. Retrieved 2007-01-18. 
7. ^ "Judgment A Journey Toward Healing". Charisma magazine. 2002. http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/features2/346-special-interview/5257-a-journey-toward-healing?format=pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-18. 

External links

• Church on the Rock-International