The
Church of God (Anderson) is a
HolinessThe Holiness Movement in Christianity is a movement which teaches that the carnal nature of humanity can be cleansed through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit if one has had his sins forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. The benefits professed include spiritual power and an ability to...
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
non-denominational body, with roots in
WesleyanMethodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to Reverend John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement in the Anglican Church. His younger brother...
pietismPietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to begin...
and also in the restorationist and
anabaptistAnabaptists are Christians of the Radical Reformation. This article describes the Anabaptists of 16th-century Europe and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites.Anabaptists rejected conventional Christian practices such as wearing wedding rings, taking oaths, and...
traditions. Founded in 1881 by
Daniel Sidney WarnerDaniel Sidney Warner is known primarily as the founder of the Church of God and other similar church groups. He is also known for some of his songs which other church groups have incorporated into their hymnody. He is mostly known by only the initials of his given and middle name, D. S...
, the church claims 1,170,143 adherents.
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.
The
Church of God (Anderson) is a
HolinessThe Holiness Movement in Christianity is a movement which teaches that the carnal nature of humanity can be cleansed through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit if one has had his sins forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. The benefits professed include spiritual power and an ability to...
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
non-denominational body, with roots in
WesleyanMethodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to Reverend John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement in the Anglican Church. His younger brother...
pietismPietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to begin...
and also in the restorationist and
anabaptistAnabaptists are Christians of the Radical Reformation. This article describes the Anabaptists of 16th-century Europe and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites.Anabaptists rejected conventional Christian practices such as wearing wedding rings, taking oaths, and...
traditions. Founded in 1881 by
Daniel Sidney WarnerDaniel Sidney Warner is known primarily as the founder of the Church of God and other similar church groups. He is also known for some of his songs which other church groups have incorporated into their hymnody. He is mostly known by only the initials of his given and middle name, D. S...
, the church claims 1,170,143 adherents.
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 dialog, even though the movement's culture is strongly rooted in Wesleyan holiness theology.
This church movement is not historically related to other
Church of GodChurch of God is a name used by numerous, mostly unrelated Christian denominational bodies, most of which descend from either Pentecostal/Holiness or Adventist traditions.-Major denominations :*Church of God...
bodies such as the Church of God (Cleveland) or
Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee)The Church of God or TCOG is a Holiness-Pentecostal Christian denomination based in the United States. The church's actual name is The Church of God; however, the parenthetical phrase Charleston, Tennessee is added to distinguish it from similar sounding organizations...
. Though these bodies are also Holiness Christian in outlook, the Church of God (Anderson) does not share their Pentecostal practices.
History
It was started in 1881 by
Daniel Sidney WarnerDaniel Sidney Warner is known primarily as the founder of the Church of God and other similar church groups. He is also known for some of his songs which other church groups have incorporated into their hymnody. He is mostly known by only the initials of his given and middle name, D. S...
and several others. Warner had been a member of the
General Eldership of the Church of GodThe Churches of God, General Conference is a Baptist Christian denomination in the United States originating in the revivalism and evangelistic efforts of John Winebrenner.-History:...
. He differed with the
WinebrenneriansJohn Winebrenner , founded the Churches of God General Conference.He studied at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was ordained in the German Reformed Church in 1820...
on the doctrine of
sanctificationSanctification is an ancient concept widespread among religions that refers to anything blessed or set apart for special purposes, from totem poles to temple vessels, to the change brought about in a human believer. The word sanctification refers to the act or process of making sacred or setting...
, which he held to be a
second definite work of graceChristian perfection is a Christian doctrine which holds that the soul of the baptised Christian may attain a high degree of virtue and holiness and become entirely sanctified with the help of divine grace of Jesus.-Catholic Church:...
, 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 1800s 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"("Should We Go to War?"
Gospel Trumpet, April 14, 1898, p. 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 (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).
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 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” (Strege p. 137).
By the time World War II came 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.
Doctrinal changes
The Church of God (Anderson) 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 Holy 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 Catholism 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; to by 1950 the movement no longer taught against the immodesty of mixed bathing (swimming) between the sexes or the addition of the television into the home.
Below is a list of things that the Church of God (Anderson) no longer believe:
- Against outward adornment: wedding rings, ear rings, lipstick on women, following "worldly fashions." However, as a Holiness movement there is still an emphasis on "modesty," i.e. non-ostentatiousness in such things
- that women should not wear clothing that pertains to men, e.g. pants
- that ministers should not receive a set salary
- that musical instruments (such as a piano or organ) should not be used in the worship service
- No divorce, no exception
Beliefs
The church observes
baptismIn Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted to membership of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered.The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the...
by total immersion, the Lord's Supper (commonly known as communion), and
feet washingFoot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, paedalavium, and mandatum.The...
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."
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, IndianaAnderson is a city in Madison County, Indiana, United States, and is part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The city is the county seat of Madison County. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. As of the 2000 census,...
. Currently the General Director is Ronald V. Duncan.
There are 2,214 congregations in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which are affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson), with an average attendance of 251,429. Worldwide adherents number more than 1,170,143 in 7,446 congregations spread over nearly ninety countries. Personal conversion and
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
conduct, coupled with attendance, are sufficient for participation in a local
Church of God congregation.
Affiliated schools
The church's
seminaryA seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of higher education for instructing students , sometimes at the postgraduate level, in philosophy, theology, spirituality and the religious life, to prepare students for ordination as clergy or other ministry...
is
Anderson School of TheologyAnderson University School of Theology is the graduate theological school affiliated with the Church of God . It is a part of Anderson University and receives students from Azusa Pacific University, Bay Ridge Christian College, Gardner College, Mid-America Christian University, Warner Pacific...
in Anderson, Indiana. It is also affiliated with several colleges across
North AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
, including
Anderson UniversityAnderson University is an accredited private Christian liberal arts college in Anderson, Indiana. The college is affiliated with the Church of God of Anderson, Indiana. Anderson University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the society. Anderson University has...
,
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
, Gardner College, Mid-America Christian University,
Warner Pacific CollegeWarner Pacific College is an urban residential and commuter Christian liberal arts college located in Southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1937, the college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities...
and Warner University.
Notable members