The
Pentecostal Church of God (
PCG) is a trinitarian Pentecostal
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...
denomination headquartered in
Joplin, MissouriJoplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of 2006, there were 117,000 members and 2,870 clergy in 1,170 churches in the United States. Sixty churches and missions exist among the
Native AmericansThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. Worldwide, over 5,200 churches have been established outside the United States, and international membership is over 500,000 members in 52 different countries.
The PCG is a member of the
National Association of EvangelicalsThe National Association of Evangelicals is a fellowship of member denominations, churches, organizations, and individuals. Its goal is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States. Today it works in four main areas: Church & Faith Partners, Government Relations,...
, the
Pentecostal World ConferenceThe Pentecostal World Conference or Pentecostal World Fellowship is a fellowship of Pentecostal believers and denominations from across the world....
and the
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North AmericaThe Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America...
. The church's official publication is
The Pentecostal Messenger.
History
First called the Pentecostal Assemblies of USA, the PCG was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1919 by a group of Pentecostal ministers who had chosen not to affiliate with the Assemblies of God (USA) and several who had left that organization after it adopted a doctrinal statement. John C. Sinclair, an early Pentecostal pastor in Chicago, and a former Assemblies of God presbyter served as the first moderator. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the USA was dissolved in 1922, and the organization resumed under the name Pentecostal Church of God.
In the 1920s, the denominational headquarters relocated to Ottumwa, Iowa. It was then moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in the 1930s and took the name Pentecostal Church of God of America. The headquarters moved to Joplin, Missouri, in the 1950s. The current name was formed by dropping
of America in 1979.
Beliefs
The PCG has a Pentecostal and Evangelical statement of faith. It believes the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are the inspired word of God which is the only rule of Christian faith and practice.
It is Trinitarian, believing there is only one God who exists as three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who are of one individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal. The Son, Jesus Christ, is eternally begotten of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice to redeem and restore humanity to God. All who believe in him are justified. He rose again and will return to establish his kingdom.
Salvation is available through Jesus' work on the cross and is a gift from God made possible by grace through faith and not by human works. The PCG believes it is possible to lose one's salvation if one turns away from God. After salvation, a Christian can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of this baptism is speaking in other tongues. It believes in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite and progressive work of grace. It believes heaven and hell are real places. Heaven is for those who have received the gift of salvation, and hell is for those who have not.
The true Church is made of all true Christians. There are three ordinances: water baptism, the Lord's Supper, and foot washing. Water baptism is by immersion and is for believers only. Baptism is a symbol of identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord's Supper is a memorial to Christ's death and resurrection. The PCG only uses unfermented grape juice. Though not an ordinance, divine healing is believed to be provided for in the atonement of Christ and available to all believers. It also believes in the giving of tithes.
The PCG believes that Christ will return and that his return is imminent. It believes his coming will be personal, pre-tribulational, and pre-millennial.
Organization
The church is led by a General
BishopA 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...
(formerly called General Superintendent and before that General Moderator and General Chairman) and a General Convention which meets biennially. It is divided into a number of districts, including four Hispanic districts in the United States. Each district is served by a district bishop, previously district superintendent. District conventions meet annually. In 2002, the General Convention came to a consensus to change the title of their overseer from General Superintendent to Bishop. The change was made because internationally, the term bishop is more commonly related to religious leaders than the previous title. In 2009, Charles Scott was re-elected as General Bishop for a two year term. International headquarters was located in
Joplin, MissouriJoplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
where a college and a publishing house was operated.
As of national convention 2011, the International headquarters and the college have been voted to move to
Dallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
External links