Church of God (Chattanooga)
Encyclopedia
The Church of God is a Pentecostal Holiness
Christian
denomination located mostly in the Southeastern United States
. Its origins can be traced to a small meeting of Christians at the Barney Creek Meeting House in Monroe County, Tennessee in 1886. This church is often denominated the Church of God (Chattanooga) to distinguish it from other related Church of God bodies, but the church's designation for itself is The (Original) Church of God, Inc. Offices and a publishing house are located in Chattanooga, Tennessee
.
, led by Joseph L. Scott, separated from the Cleveland-based church. This body's use of Original in parentheses reflects the belief that it is true to the original faith, purpose and practice of the Church of God movement. The church incorporated in 1922. Ridgedale Theological Seminary was founded in 1925.
are recognized: baptism
by immersion, biblical church government
, the Lord's Supper
, feet washing
and tithing
. Other beliefs include the need for repentance
, justification & regeneration for salvation, the Wesleyan
teaching on sanctification
, divine healing, and speaking in tongues as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
. The (Original) Church of God owns a campground in Van Leer, Tennessee and publishes a bi-monthly magazine called The Messenger.
The (Original) Church of God is governed by a Board of Bishop
s and led by a General Overseer. The current General Overseer is James (Randy) Taylor. The church has been updating its bylaws and beliefs, the beliefs are similar to the Church of God (Cleveland).
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denomination located mostly in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
. Its origins can be traced to a small meeting of Christians at the Barney Creek Meeting House in Monroe County, Tennessee in 1886. This church is often denominated the Church of God (Chattanooga) to distinguish it from other related Church of God bodies, but the church's designation for itself is The (Original) Church of God, Inc. Offices and a publishing house are located in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
.
History
The (Original) Church of God shares a common origin and history with the Church of God (Cleveland) and several other Christian bodies named Church of God. The (Original) Church of God, Inc. came into being in 1917, when the Church of God in Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, led by Joseph L. Scott, separated from the Cleveland-based church. This body's use of Original in parentheses reflects the belief that it is true to the original faith, purpose and practice of the Church of God movement. The church incorporated in 1922. Ridgedale Theological Seminary was founded in 1925.
Beliefs
Five ordinancesOrdinance (Christian)
Ordinance is a Protestant Christian term for baptism, communion and other religious rituals. Some Protestants, like the Mennonites, do not call them "sacraments" because they believe these rituals are outward expressions of faith, rather than impartations of God's grace.While a sacrament is seen...
are recognized: baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by immersion, biblical church government
Ecclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches...
, the Lord's Supper
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, feet washing
Feet washing
Foot 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, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
and tithing
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
. Other beliefs include the need for repentance
Repentance
Repentance is a change of thought to correct a wrong and gain forgiveness from a person who is wronged. In religious contexts it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against God, and resolving to live according to religious law...
, justification & regeneration for salvation, the Wesleyan
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
teaching on sanctification
Christian perfection
Christian perfection, also known as perfect love; heart purity; the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the fullness of the blessing; Christian holiness; the second blessing; and entire sanctification, is a Christian doctrine which holds that the heart of the regenerant Christian may attain a state of...
, divine healing, and speaking in tongues as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Structure
In 1993, the (Original) Church of God had a membership of over 18,000 in 70 congregations. The (Original) Church of God has around 50 ordained ministers. Churches are located mainly in the east and south-central United States, such as Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, and West Virginia. They also have several churches and ministers located in the Philippines and one church in Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. The (Original) Church of God owns a campground in Van Leer, Tennessee and publishes a bi-monthly magazine called The Messenger.
The (Original) Church of God is governed by a Board of Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s and led by a General Overseer. The current General Overseer is James (Randy) Taylor. The church has been updating its bylaws and beliefs, the beliefs are similar to the Church of God (Cleveland).
Further reading
- Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States (8th ed.), by Frank S. Mead and Samuel S. Hill