Living Church of God
Encyclopedia
The Living Church of God (LCG) is one of the church groups formed by followers of the teachings of the late Herbert W. Armstrong
. It was formed as a series of major doctrinal changes were introduced in the Worldwide Church of God
(WCG, originally incorporated as the Radio Church of God) after Armstrong's death in 1986. The leader of the Living Church of God, called the presiding evangelist, is Roderick C. Meredith
. Meredith had been a high ranking evangelist in the WCG since 1952, and in terms of ordinations conducted by Herbert W. Armstrong, he has the most seniority.
After Armstrong died, the Worldwide Church of God immediately began to change many of its historic and core doctrines (including the key teaching that seventh-day Sabbath is holy and set aside for worship). These changes continued until the WCG became indistinguishable from other "mainstream" Protestant churches, later changing its name to "Grace Communion International".
Meanwhile, members of the Worldwide Church of God who objected to the doctrinal departure of its new leadership left and joined together in diverse seventh-day Church of God groups, usually according to their proximate geography as well as teachings. Many of these small groups incorporated as churches and then split again over wranglings that ranged from suspected ministerial dereliction of duty to board members running off with church funds to start their own church.
(which he founded in December 1992 after leaving the Worldwide Church of God over doctrinal differences) by its board of directors on November 25, 1998, the Living Church of God was quickly incorporated several weeks later in San Diego, California
in December 1998. His dismissal was widely unpopular with most of the GCG membership, and as much as 80 percent left the organization to come with him. In addition to a majority of the membership leaving with him, a large majority of the GCG ministry joined the new organization as well.
In 2003, the church's corporate headquarters was moved from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina
. By 2011, the church reported it had 330 congregations in 45 countries, with over 8,000 members attending its annual 8-day long festival of the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day at 46 sites in 31 countries located in Africa
, Asia
, Australasia
, Europe
, North America
, and South America
. An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported for 2010 the church had an annual income of over $14.3 million (US). This revenue for its expanding worldwide work were received through tithes, holy day offerings, and other contributions from its members and supporters.
In May 2006, the church's Media Department reported that the television program was accessible to nearly 78 million American households, or 71 percent of the American television market.
According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research, the program was estimated to reach an average of 50,000 new viewers each week. To date, approximately 320 programs have been taped and televised since 1999.
A free bi-monthly magazine and website by the same name is also published, with 1.8 million copies being mailed to subscribers in 2006. From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007 8.3 million copies had been sent out. The current bimonthly circulation for the magazine is 326,000.
The church produces several foreign language radio programs, and are broadcast on 15 stations. These include a Spanish language program titled El Mundo de Mañana (Tomorrow's World). It is presented by Mario Hernandez, who also is the presenter of the Spanish language telecast by the same name. The second radio broadcast, mainly throughout the Caribbean, is the French language program titled Le Monde Demain (Tomorrow's World). Up until his death in 2010, it was presented by longtime Church of God evangelist and radio presenter Dibar Apartian.
The school is continuing to explore accreditation for its undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
, consisting of God the Father and God the Son (also called The Word). The Holy Spirit
is "not a Being", and is considered "the very essence, the mind, life and power of God". It also holds generally that members should not take part in politics, juries or military service. Other beliefs include:
The church's official statement of beliefs are comparable to those of Herbert W. Armstrong's original Radio Church of God.
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
. It was formed as a series of major doctrinal changes were introduced in the Worldwide Church of God
Worldwide Church of God
Grace Communion International , formerly the Worldwide Church of God , is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, United States. Since April 3, 2009, it has used the new name Grace Communion International in the US...
(WCG, originally incorporated as the Radio Church of God) after Armstrong's death in 1986. The leader of the Living Church of God, called the presiding evangelist, is Roderick C. Meredith
Roderick C. Meredith
Roderick C. Meredith is the leader and founder of the Charlotte, North Carolina based Living Church of God. One of the first five Evangelists of the Worldwide Church of God, he was ordained to the rank in 1952 by Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Radio Church of God...
. Meredith had been a high ranking evangelist in the WCG since 1952, and in terms of ordinations conducted by Herbert W. Armstrong, he has the most seniority.
History
According to Herbert W. Armstrong, the church was to be governed "from the top down." He created a structure of ranks in the WCG ministry that allowed for progressive increases in responsibility and salary, including deacon (unpaid, nonministerial); local elder; preaching elder; pastor; regional administrator, and others. "Evangelist" was the highest rank attainable except for the title of "Apostle," given to Armstrong.After Armstrong died, the Worldwide Church of God immediately began to change many of its historic and core doctrines (including the key teaching that seventh-day Sabbath is holy and set aside for worship). These changes continued until the WCG became indistinguishable from other "mainstream" Protestant churches, later changing its name to "Grace Communion International".
Meanwhile, members of the Worldwide Church of God who objected to the doctrinal departure of its new leadership left and joined together in diverse seventh-day Church of God groups, usually according to their proximate geography as well as teachings. Many of these small groups incorporated as churches and then split again over wranglings that ranged from suspected ministerial dereliction of duty to board members running off with church funds to start their own church.
New organization
Following the controversial firing of Meredith as the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and presiding evangelist of the Global Church of GodGlobal Church of God
The Global Church of God is a Sabbatarian church based in England. It was founded in San Diego, Calif., in 1992, by Roderick C. Meredith. Following the dissolution of most church operations in the U.S., the GCG's operations shifted to the U.K., and it reestablished a presence in North America...
(which he founded in December 1992 after leaving the Worldwide Church of God over doctrinal differences) by its board of directors on November 25, 1998, the Living Church of God was quickly incorporated several weeks later in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in December 1998. His dismissal was widely unpopular with most of the GCG membership, and as much as 80 percent left the organization to come with him. In addition to a majority of the membership leaving with him, a large majority of the GCG ministry joined the new organization as well.
In 2003, the church's corporate headquarters was moved from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. By 2011, the church reported it had 330 congregations in 45 countries, with over 8,000 members attending its annual 8-day long festival of the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day at 46 sites in 31 countries located in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported for 2010 the church had an annual income of over $14.3 million (US). This revenue for its expanding worldwide work were received through tithes, holy day offerings, and other contributions from its members and supporters.
Television & Radio Programs
Within a few weeks of the church's incorporation in December 1998, the organization was once again producing a weekly half-hour television program, Tomorrow's World. As of 2007, the television program is anchored by Roderick Meredith, Richard Ames, Rod King, and Wallace Smith. The two-time Telly Award winning telecast (in 2003 and 2007) is shown on 211 television stations throughout the world.In May 2006, the church's Media Department reported that the television program was accessible to nearly 78 million American households, or 71 percent of the American television market.
According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research, the program was estimated to reach an average of 50,000 new viewers each week. To date, approximately 320 programs have been taped and televised since 1999.
A free bi-monthly magazine and website by the same name is also published, with 1.8 million copies being mailed to subscribers in 2006. From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007 8.3 million copies had been sent out. The current bimonthly circulation for the magazine is 326,000.
The church produces several foreign language radio programs, and are broadcast on 15 stations. These include a Spanish language program titled El Mundo de Mañana (Tomorrow's World). It is presented by Mario Hernandez, who also is the presenter of the Spanish language telecast by the same name. The second radio broadcast, mainly throughout the Caribbean, is the French language program titled Le Monde Demain (Tomorrow's World). Up until his death in 2010, it was presented by longtime Church of God evangelist and radio presenter Dibar Apartian.
Online University
In 2007, the church started Living University, a nonprofit online distance learning institution. Its mission is "the development of the whole person by educating men and women in the skills, concepts, and values that lead to success in life, while helping them prepare for leadership and worthwhile service to God and humanity".The school is continuing to explore accreditation for its undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Doctrines
The church believes in a two-person GodheadGodhead
Godhead , may refer to:*Deity*Divinity, the quality of being God*Conceptions of God*Godhead , the totality of gods, in Platonism the Transcendent One....
, consisting of God the Father and God the Son (also called The Word). The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
is "not a Being", and is considered "the very essence, the mind, life and power of God". It also holds generally that members should not take part in politics, juries or military service. Other beliefs include:
- That the "Anglo-American people" are descended from the Lost tribes of Israel, and "are the possessors of the birthright promises and accompanying blessings of Abraham’s descendants through his grandson Jacob." (British-Israelism);
- That certain Laws, including regulations concerning unclean foods, should be adhered to by Christians today;
- That Christians should observe Sabbath from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday;
- That the annual festivals listed in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy should be observed by Christians today;
The church's official statement of beliefs are comparable to those of Herbert W. Armstrong's original Radio Church of God.
See also
- Biblical law in ChristianityBiblical law in ChristianityChristian views of the Old Covenant have been central to Christian theology and practice since the circumcision controversy in Early Christianity. There are differing views about the applicability of the Old Covenant among Christian denominations...
- Sabbath in Christianity
- Sabbath in seventh-day churches
- Christian view of the Law
- Primitive Apostolic Christianity (Sabbatarian)Primitive Apostolic Christianity (Sabbatarian)Primitive Apostolic Christianity or Sabbatarianism is movement that attempts to reconstruct the earliest forms of Christianity. Adherents to this movement commonly refer to early Roman Christian requirements to be separated from Jewish traditions which began in Antisemitism and Antinomianism, as...