The
Church of God of Prophecy is a Christian denomination with beliefs and principles similar to Pentecostal
HolinessThe 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...
ChristianA 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...
faith. It is one of five
Church of God bodies headquartered in
Cleveland, TennesseeCleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
that descended from a small meeting of believers who gathered at the Barney Creek Meeting House near the
TennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
/
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
border in 1886.
The Church of God of Prophecy has congregations and missions in over 130 countries, with a membership of over 1,500,000 In 2006, membership in the United States was 84,762 in 1,871 churches. Ministries of the church include homes for children, bible training institutes, youth camps and ministerial aid. The Church operates
Fields of the Wood, a Bible theme park and popular
tourist attractionA tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
, near
Murphy, North Carolina-Household Income:The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,926...
.
Name
The church internally refers to itself rch of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)]], there was controversy over which side of the division had the legal right to the name
Church of God. This body distinguished itself as
Church of God, over which A. J. Tomlinson is General Overseer. In 1952 a judge in
Bradley County, Tennessee, ordered that the church add
of Prophecy to the name
Church of God for use in secular and business affairs, but allowed the use of
Church of God for internal use.
Early history
In August 1886, Elder Richard Spurling (1810–1891), an ordained
BaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, associated with the
Latter RainThe Latter Rain Movement was a late 19th century radical Holiness theology and Revivalist phenomenon which began in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee...
movement, rejected the dominant Landmark Baptist views of the church, which he believed were too Creed and exclusive. With seven members from Holly Springs and Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Churches in
Monroe County, Tennessee, and
Cherokee County, North Carolina- Transportation :Cherokee County is well known in North Carolina as the westernmost of the state's 100 counties. Several US and state highways serve the county, linking it with other regions of North Carolina, along with the neighboring states of Georgia and Tennessee.US 64 - the longest highway...
, he organized the Christian Union. These Christians hoped to free themselves from man-made creeds and unite on the principles of the
New TestamentThe New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. In September 1886, Spurling's son, Richard Green Spurling (1857–1935), was ordained as pastor of the Christian Union congregation. He also formed two other congregations. The father and son shared a vision to restore the church.
Around 1895, a revival under the preaching of B. H. Irwin swept into the area. Richard G. Spurling accepted Irwin's teachings on holiness, but was wary of the extreme direction in which he felt the movement was headed. But the revival was effective in moving Spurling's group away from the general faith and practice of Baptists and toward that of the
Holiness MovementThe 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...
. In 1902, R. G. Spurling influenced a Holiness group led by W. F. Bryant to form the Holiness Church at Camp Creek, North Carolina. Spurling was elected pastor and Bryant was ordained as a
deaconDeacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. The next year brought into the church an energetic and powerful leader,
Ambrose Jessup TomlinsonAmbrose Jessup Tomlinson a former Quaker, united with the Holiness Church at Camp Creek in 1903. With his drive, vision, and organizational skills, he was elected the first general overseer of the Church of God in 1909. He also served as the first president of the church's Lee University...
or A. J. Tomlinson. Tomlinson, a former Quaker, who experienced an inner change of regeneration and sanctification, came in 1899 to the
AppalachiaAppalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
n region as a missionary. He became acquainted with Spurling and Bryant and caught Spurling's vision of the restoration of the church. He united with the church at Camp Creek on June 13, 1903, and soon became the acknowledged leader. He later reportedly could be heard barking and wailing in prayer as well as other strange and erie manifestations, leading many to believe that we was possessed by a demon.
New churches were organized in
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
,
TennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The first annual meeting of all the churches was held in 1906 in Cherokee County, North Carolina, and the name "Church of God" was adopted in 1907. Tomlinson professed a baptism of the Holy Spirit experience in 1908, which firmly established the church as part of the Pentecostal Movement. This took place under the preaching of
Gaston B. CashwellGaston Barnibus Cashwell was an early Pentecostal leader in the southern United States. He was born in Sampson County, North Carolina. His importance lies in bringing several Holiness movements into the Pentecostal camp....
, a minister who was very influential in bringing
PentecostalismPentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
to North Carolina, the
AppalachiaAppalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
ns and the east coast. In 1909, Tomlinson was elected General Overseer of the Church of God.
The present day Church of God of Prophecy officially accepts the Bible as God’s Holy Word, inspired,
inerrantBiblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
, and
infallibleBiblical infallibility is the belief that what the Bible says regarding matters of faith and Christian practice is wholly useful and true. It is the "belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose...
and as the highest authority in matters of faith and practice. This expression,
rightly divided, is evidence that the early 20th century organizers of the
Church of God of Prophecy were heavily influenced by the works of C. I. Scofield, in particular his writings on
dispensationalismDispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants.As a system,...
.
In 1923, the Church of God was disrupted by matters concerning finance and governance, leading to a division. The largest body resulting from the division exists as the
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. With over seven million members in over 170 countries, it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world...
. What is now known as the Church of God of Prophecy was the smaller body and remained under the leadership of Tomlinson. Tomlinson continued as General Overseer over this church until his death in 1943.
The presbytery believed that God directed them to bring the younger son, Milton Ambrose Tomlinson (1906–1995), forward to leadership. This was confirmed by the General Assembly in 1944, and he became the General Overseer of the church. The additional phrase
of Prophecy was added to the name on May 2, 1952. Under Milton Tomlinson's leadership, the church began the White Wing Publishing House, White Wing Christian Bookstores, The Voice of Salvation radio and TV programs, and numerous other ministries. In 1961 the publishers at the White Wing Publishing House and Press considered M. A. Tomlinson to be "God's spokesman", a belief which was shared among the church at large. M. A. Tomlinson served as General Overseer until 1990. Past educational institutions (both of which are now defunct), include the Church of God of Prophecy Bible Training Institute, and also Tomlinson College. Both institutions were located in
Cleveland, TennesseeCleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
.
Schisms
Homer Aubrey TomlinsonHomer Aubrey Tomlinson , was a Bishop who planned to crown himself King of the World or "King of All Nations of Men" in Jerusalem on October 7, 1966. He founded the Theocratic Party and had been its candidate for U.S. President since 1952...
, older brother of Milton, formed a separate denomination, the
Church of God (Huntsville, Alabama)The Church of God is a Pentecostal holiness body of Christians, once based in Huntsville, Alabama.The Church of God shares a common history with the Church of God of Prophecy up until their division in 1943. The Church of God was led by Ambrose J. Tomlinson until his death...
under his leadership in 1943–1944. In 1957, Grady R. Kent went out of the Church of God of Prophecy and formed The Church of God of All Nations, which adopted its name in 1958.
When the church elected a new General Overseer in 1990 after the retirement of Milton Tomlinson, the stage was set for another division. A small body left in 1993 after a division in the church led to another church being formed by a group that felt that its congregation was led by God to appoint Robert J. Pruitt as their general overseer. That group, called is commonly known as The Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee).
Recent history
"Exclusivity" has never been an official church teaching. However, some ministers have subscribed to such teachings, and still hold them today, separate from the church's official stance on the subject. The church is working hard to correct the negative impression that this assumption has caused. In 2004, a joint cooperative world
evangelismEvangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
effort began between the Church of God (Cleveland) and the Church of God of Prophecy. This, and other efforts, are steps toward healing the effects of the long-time hurt and mistrust between the two organizations. Exclusivity has been a OFFICIAL teaching in the past. The church is telling a lie here when it says otherwise! There are many documents in print from the Bible Training Institute where this teaching was regularly re-enforced from heatquarters. This teaching was never dropped until the 1990's.
In 2006, at the church's bi-annual General Assembly, General Overseer Fred Fisher retired from this leadership role and a new General Overseer was appointed, Randy Howard. After a week long discussion between members at this same General Assembly, the church changed its long-standing interpretation of acceptable reasons for divorce and remarriage. The church agreed that people who had been divorced (for the cause of
fornicationFornication typically refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. For many people, the term carries a moral or religious association, but the significance of sexual acts to which the term is applied varies between religions, societies and cultures. The...
) and were later remarried may become members of the Church of God of Prophecy. There was an overwhelming majority, made up of several thousand voting members, that voted for the change. Many wishing to conform to the original denomination from which they split and return to the correct ideals they once believed (taking the original name).
Beliefs
From early on, the Church of God of Prophecy has believed its principles are based on the Holy Bible, and continually researches scriptures through various committees. At the Eleventh Annual Assembly in 1915, the General Overseer stated in his annual address, "We do not claim to have reached perfection; we are only searching for it." The following doctrinal insights reflect current findings through the Church of God of Prophecy International Assembly. The leadership acknowledges through various studies and writings that there are human limits of spiritual comprehension. Therefore, the organization continually studies for greater knowledge of God's design for His Church and attempts to better align itself to the New Testament teachings of Christianity in order to continually grow and develop into the "fullness of the stature of Christ".
Henceforth, following each Assembly, the Biblical Doctrine and Polity Committee would be expected to make any further adjustments that would be required in light of this mandate to reflect Assembly decisions.
From its beginnings, the Church of God of Prophecy has asserted that its beliefs are based on "the whole Bible rightly divided." Water
baptismIn 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
immersionImmersion baptism is a method of baptism that is distinguished from baptism by affusion and by aspersion , sometimes without specifying whether the immersion is total or partial, but very commonly with the indication that the person baptized is immersed completely...
, the
Lord's SupperThe 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...
, 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, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
are held to be ordinances of the church. Individuals must profess to be born again in order to become members, as well as maintain a consistent Christian witness. This group does not maintain that an individual must be a member of their specific
denominationA religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
to be a Christian.
The Church of God of Prophecy is firm in its commitment to orthodox Christian belief. It affirms that there is one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It believes in the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, the physical miracles He performed, His atoning death upon the Cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory at His second coming. It professes that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for the salvation of sinful mankind.
It teaches the belief that the sinner is brought to an awareness of the need for salvation through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. It teaches the belief that in sanctification by the blood of Christ, one is made holy. It affirms the present, active ministry of the Holy Spirit who guides the Church and by whose indwelling and empowerment that individuals are able to live godly lives and render effective service to God and others. It teaches the oneness and ultimate unity of believers for which our Lord prayed, and that this should be visibly displayed "that the world may know, see, and believe" God’s glory, the coming of His Son, and the great love He has for His people (John 17:20–23). The organization is committed to the sanctity of the marriage bond and the importance of strong, loving Christian families.
The Church teaches (and many members believe) that it embraces all biblical doctrines as taught in the New Testament. The particular interpretation of the teachings (primarily from the New Testament) were originally introduced in a series of 29 sermons delivered on the Voice of Salvation radio program by M. A. Tomlinson, several doctrinal beliefs of the church became summarized by the 29 Prominent Teachings.
- 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
Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
- Regeneration
Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis , is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of subjection to the decay of death...
- Born Again
- Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
- Holiness
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
- Water Baptism
Immersion baptism is a method of baptism that is distinguished from baptism by affusion and by aspersion , sometimes without specifying whether the immersion is total or partial, but very commonly with the indication that the person baptized is immersed completely...
- Baptism With the Holy Ghost
Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is a term describing baptism in or with the Spirit of God...
- Speaking in Tongues
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
- Full Restoration of the Gifts to the Church
- Signs Following Believers
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Divine Healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
- The Lord's Supper
The term communion is derived from Latin communio . The corresponding term in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as "fellowship". In Christianity, the basic meaning of the term communion is an especially close relationship of Christians, as individuals or as a Church, with God and with...
- Washing the Saints' Feet
- Tithing
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...
and Giving
- Restitution Where Possible
- Pre-Millennial Second Coming of Jesus
Premillennialism in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration...
- Resurrection
- Eternal Life for the Righteous
- Eternal Punishment for the Wicked
- Total abstinence from liquor or strong drink
- Against the use of tobacco, opium, morphine, etc.
- On Meats and Drinks
- On the Sabbath
- Adornment (historically Against Wearing Gold for Ornament)
- Lodge/Secret Society Membership (historically Against Belonging to Lodges)
- Wholesome Speech of the Believer ( not originally listed explicitly)
- Divorce
Many countries in Europe had prohibited divorce, as it is not allowed by the Catholic Church. Sometimes citizens travelled to other jurisdictions to obtain a divorce. No Catholic Church will remarry divorced persons, unless they previously have their marriage annulled, which is only possible in...
and Remarriage (historically Against Divorce and Remarriage Evil)
In recent years, some of these teachings have fallen out of prominence by its membership and/or have continued to evolve with recent and ongoing studies, some available on their international website concerning: issues of marriage, outward adornment, and total abstinence of strong drink, and use of prescription drugs. Some of these are core doctrinal shifts based on recent studies, and some are changes in common practice among the members.
Further reading
- R.G. Robins, "A.J. Tomlinson: Plainfolk Modernist", New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Encyclopedia of Religion in the South, Samuel S. Hill, editor
- Gates Shall Not Prevail, by Raymond A. Carpenter
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
- The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements
The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements is a comprehensive reference work on charismatic Christianity . It is edited primarily by Stanley M. Burgess...
, by Stanley M. Burgess and Eduard M. Van Der Maas
- The Church of God of Prophecy History & Polity, James Stone
External links