International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Infobox Christian denomination
name = International Pentecostal Holiness Church


caption =
main_classification = Restorationist
orientation = Pentecostal
polity =
founded_date = 1890s
founded_place =
separated_from = Methodist Episcopal Church, South
separations = Congregational Holiness Church (1921)
associations = National Association of Evangelicals, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
congregations = 8383
members = 1,040,400
footnotes = Statistics for 1999The International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) is a Pentecostal Christian body whose history, name, and theology bear the marks of two major American revival movements: the Holiness revival of the late 19th century, and the Pentecostal revival of the early 20th century.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hisintro.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Introduction|author=|date=2007|accessdate=] Resulting from the merger of two older denominations, the church's theological roots derive from the Holiness movement and John Wesley's teachings on sanctification. Traditionally centered in the Southeastern United States (South Carolina and Georgia), the church today has an international presence which it has had to adjust to.

History

Predecessors

In 1894, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South adopted a statement which opposed the growing Holiness movement in the church. Within a decade about 25 new Holiness groups, including the Pentecostal Holiness Church, came into existence.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hisholi.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Holiness Movement|author=|date=2007|accessdate=]

Fire-Baptized Holiness Church

The oldest group that is part of the foundation of the present denomination originated in 1895 as the Fire-Baptized Holiness Association in Iowa. The leader, Benjamin H. Irwin of Lincoln, Nebraska, a former Baptist preacher, organized the body into the national Fire-Baptized Holiness Church at Anderson, South Carolina in August 1898. By this time, Irwin's group had organized churches in eight U. S. states and two Canadian provinces.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hisorg.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Organizational Heritage|author= |date=2007|accessdate=]

PHC of North Carolina

Meanwhile, Abner Blackmon Crumpler, a Methodist Holiness evangelist in North Carolina, founded the Pentecostal Holiness in 1897, as the inter-denominational North Carolina Holiness Association.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=] The first congregation to carry the name Pentecostal Holiness Church was formed in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in 1898. Pentecostal was dropped from the name in 1903 to more fully assosciate the church with the Holiness movement.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

Gaston B. Cashwell, a minister of the Methodist Church, joined the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1903. He became a leading figure in the church and the Pentecostal movement on the east coast.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=] In 1906, he traveled to Los Angeles to visit the Pentecostal revival at the Azusa Street mission. While there he professed having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the evidence of speaking in tongues. Upon returning to Dunn, North Carolina, in December 1906, Cashwell preached the Pentecost experience in the local Holiness church.

The influence of the Pentecostal renewal grew while, at the same time, the leader and founder of the church, Abner Crumpler, though willing to accept speaking in tongues, did not accept the idea that it was the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=] At the annual conference of 1908, Crumpler was re-elected president of the body,however, with a majority of the delegates having experienced tongues, he permanently disaffiliated himself from the church.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=] After Crumpler's departure, the conference added an article to the statement of faith, recognizing tongues as the initial evidence: cquote|"We believe the pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer, and the initial evidence of the reception of this experience is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6)."cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hispente.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Pentecostal Movement|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] This is apparently the first official Pentecostal doctrine adopted by a church in the United Statesref|synan. As a further sign of its new identity in 1909, the word "Pentecostal" was added to the name again.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

Mergers

The recognition of this doctrine opened the way for the merger of the Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church, which was already teaching this third blessing. This merger occurred in January 30, 1911 at the Falcon Tabernacle in Falcon, North Carolina The new denomination took the name of the smaller of the two, Pentecostal Holiness Church.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hismerge.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Pentecost & Mergers|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] S.D. Page was elected the first general superintendent.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/timeline/gencon1.html|title=Historic Timeline|author=|date=2007|accessdate=] Following the 1911 merger the Tabernacle Pentecostal Church merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1915.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hisdev.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Organizational Developments|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] Having Presbyterian roots and located mostly in South Carolina, this group of congregations was affiliated with Nickles Holmes Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina. After the mergers, the new denomination, which continued to go by the name of Pentecostal Holiness Church, had about 200 churches with approximately 5000 members. Property for the denomination's first headquarters was purchased in 1918 for $9000 in Franklin Springs, Georgia.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/timeline/gencon3.html|title=3rd General Conference, 1917|author=|date=2007-11-14|accessdate=2008-09-10]

chism

In 1920 a schism came into the Pentecostal Holiness Church over divine healing and the use of medicine. Some pastors believed Christians had the right to use medicine and doctors, while the majority of the church believed in trusting God for healing without the use of medicine and doctors. The minority withdrew and formed the Congregational Holiness Church in 1921.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

Recent history

The Pentecostal Holiness Church was a charter member of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1943, and joined the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America now Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America in 1948. At the general conference a year later an attempt at merging with the mostly African-American United Holy Church failed when the United Holy Church asked if thier members could attend the church's schools and colleges.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/timeline/gencon11.html|title=11th General Conference, 1949|author=|date=2007-11-14|accessdate=2008-09-10]

In the 1960s, the Pentecostal Holiness Church began to branch out beyond the United States by affiliating with sister Pentecostal bodies in other parts of the world. In 1967, an affiliation was formed with the Pentecostal Methodist Church of Chile, one of the largest national Pentecostal churches in the world and the largest non-Catholic church in Chile.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-12911257.html|title=John Paul cries 'wolf': misreading the Pentecostals|author=|date=|accessdate=] At the time, the Jotabeche Pentecostal Methodist congregation was the largest church in the world with over 60,000 members. Today, with over 150,000 members, it ranks second to the Full Gospel Central Church in Souel, Korea. This denomination claims no less than 1.7 million adherents.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=] A similar affiliation was forged in 1985 with the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Brazil. A Neo-Pentecostal body with roots in the Brazilian Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church numbers some 50,000 members and adherents in 1995.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

The largest Pentecostal Holiness churches in the United States include Cathedral of Praise World Outreach Center in Oklahoma City, pastored by Ron Dryden; Northwood Temple in Fayetteville, North Carolina, pastored by John Hedgepeth; Evangelist Temple in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pastored by Dan Beller; Life Christian Center in Oklahoma City, pastored by Dwight Burchett; Christian Heritage Church in Tallahassee, Florida, pastored by Bob Shelley; World Agape Korean Church in Los Angeles, pastored by Jon Kim.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

The church in 1999 had 8383 churches with 1,040,400 members worldwide..cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/history/hisdev.html|title=IPHC Brief History: Organizational Developments|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] U. S. membership was 291,846 individuals in 1964 churches in 2004.cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_997.asp|title=ARDA Profile of IPHC|author= |date=|accessdate=] There were 28 regional conferences and missionaries in more than 90 nations. International offices were once located in Franklin Springs, Georgia, home of Emmanuel College, but is now located in Bethany, Oklahoma (a suburb of Oklahoma City). The church sponsors two accredited colleges, a children's home, and a convalescent center. The word "International" was added to the name of the church in 1975.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

tructure

Reflecting its Methodist heritage the IPHC is governed under a mixed system of episcopal and congregational polity. The church is organized with local congregations led by deacons, elders, and pastors. Local churches manage their own affairs. In geographical areas churches are organized into conferences led by conference superintendents. In their spiritual roles, superintendents function as bishops, and in their administrative roles they act as chief executive officers of their conference. All conference leaders are elected by their local conference but are accountable to the general superintendent. cite web|url=http://info.iphc.org/faqs/saints.html|title=Frequently Asked Questions|author=Dr. A.D. Beacham, Executive DirectorIPHC Church Education Ministries|date=|accessdate=2008-09-12]

The general conference is the highest administrative body in the church. Under it are regional, annual, district, and missionary conferences.cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/450412/Pentecostal-Holiness-Church-Inc|title=Pentecostal Holiness Church, Inc Encyclopedia Brittanica|author=|date=2007|accessdate=] In the IPHC the terms bishop and superintendent are used interchangeably. The church recognizes the biblical office of bishop but does not believe in an historical episcopate or adhere to the doctrine of apostolic succession. cite web|url=http://gso.iphc.org/apostles.html|title=Apostolic Position Paper|author=International Pentecostal Holiness Church|date=2008-04-23|accessdate=2008-09-12]

Educational institutions

*Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, GA
*Holmes Bible College, Greenville, SC
*Southwestern Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK

Charitable organizations

*Falcon Children's Home
*Alternative to Abortion Ministries
*New Life Adoption Agency
*The Children's Center

Doctrine

Since the adoption of the article of faith on the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1908, the Pentecostal Holiness Church has taught the following beliefs as their five cardinal doctrines: justification by faith, entire sanctification, the baptism in the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues, Christ's atonement (including divine healing), and the premillennial second coming of Christ.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/theology/artfaith.html|title=IPHC Articles of Faith|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] The church holds water baptism and holy communion (open communion observed quarterly) to be divine ordinances. Though not considered an ordinance, some of the churches also engage in the practice of feet washing. The church's Articles of Faithcite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/theology/artfaith.html|title=IPHC Articles of Faith|author= |date=2007|accessdate=] lists these 14 doctrines:
*Belief in one God existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
*Belief in the dual nature of Christ, being both God and man, and his crucifiction for the forgiving of sins
*Belief in the resurrection and ascension to Heaven of Christ
*Belief that the Holy Spirit is one in substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and Son
*Belief in the divine inspiration, authorship, and inerrancy of the Bible
*Belief in eternal life in Heaven for the righteous and eternal damnation in Hell for the wicked
*Belief that Christ shed his blood for the remission of sins with regeneration and salvation for sinners
*Belief that justification is by faith in Christ alone
*Belief in cleansing of all sin for the believer
*Belief in sanctification
*Belief that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in the speaking in tongues
*Belief in divine healing
*Belief of premillennial return of Christ
*Belief in the responsibility of every believer to carry out the Great Commission

A notable practice of this church is that it allows its members to “have the right of choice between the various modes as practised by the several evangelical denominations" when choosing to be baptized, including infant baptism.cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/450412/Pentecostal-Holiness-Church-Inc|title=Pentecostal Holiness Church, Inc Encyclopedia Brittanica|author=|date=2007|accessdate=] While in its early years the Pentecostal Holiness were against receiving medical care, emphasizing divine healing, that is not the case today. The church teaches that Christians should believe for divine healing, but that medicine is also from God.cite web|url=http://arc.iphc.org/theology/exeg5.html|title=Divine Healing|author=International Pentecostal Holiness Church|date=2007-11-14|accessdate=2008-09-10]

People

Several ministers who were raised in the Pentecostal Holiness Church have risen to greater name recognition than the church itself, such as Oral Roberts, an internationally known charismatic evangelist, Charles Stanley, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and C.M. Ward, a former Assemblies of God radio preacher.cite web|url=http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html|title=An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church|author= |date=|accessdate=]

ee also

*Congregational Holiness Church
*Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
*Fire-Baptized Holiness Church

References

External links

* [http://www.iphc.org/ International Pentecostal Holiness Church] - official Web Site
* [http://www.pctii.org/arc/synan.html An Article on the International Pentecostal Holiness Church]
* [http://www.gaiphc.org/ The Georgia Conference Part of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church]
*"Encyclopedia of American Religions", J. Gordon Melton, editor
*"Encycloped of Religion in the South", Samuel S. Hill, editor
*"Handbook of Denominations in the United States", by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood