Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma)
Church of God | |
---|---|
Classification | Wesleyan-Arminian |
Separated from | Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) (1910s) |
The Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma), also known as the Church of God Evening Light, is a
History
The origin of the Church of God lies in the
George Winn, an ex-slave, founded the Guthrie congregation itself at
In 2003, the Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma) had 43 congregations in 18 states in the United States; (the largest concentrations being in Oklahoma and California). The church does not keep membership rolls. Faith and Victory (founded 1923) is a monthly publication of the church.[4] Through mission efforts the church has extended into at least 11 other countries outside of the U.S., including India, Mexico, Nigeria and the Philippines.[4]
Theology and practices
This body teaches that believers should closely follow the teachings of The Bible. They see an example in spiritual leaders of the holiness movement such as Daniel Sidney Warner, among others, that were instrumental in bringing about the "Evening Light Reformation." They believe that God began to restore the church to the standards and light of the early morning church era through Warner and others in 1880.
The doctrines and practices of the church reflect those of the
As the Church of God teaches nonresistance, it falls into the subcategory of Holiness Pacifists (along with other denominations such as the Emmanuel Association of Churches).[10] It teaches that marriage is "a lifetime union between one man and one woman" and forbids the remarriage of divorced persons.[11]
Practices of the church include
Camp meetings
A campground for church of God meetings was built at Monark Springs, Missouri. The original tabernacle was constructed in 1940, and has been expanded more than once. The tabernacle at Monark is still in use today for the national Church of God campmeeting, with attendance from a number of States and international locations.
The Monark campmeeting begins the third Friday of each July and continues for 10 days. The grounds include dining and sleeping facilities. The Church of God ministry believes in Holy Spirit leadership in the services, allowing liberty for calling of songs, testimonies, and preaching in the general services, as the Lord leads rather than following a prepared schedule. Special services are usually set aside for missionary reports, for observance of foot-washing and the Lord’s supper, and for healing of the sick. The healing service coincides with fast day.
Two meetings are held in Guthrie each year - the Oklahoma State Campmeeting toward the end of May and the Assembly meeting toward the end of December. Both are ten-day meetings. Other major meetings are held in California, West Virginia, and Louisiana each year.
References
- ^ a b Thornton, Jr., Wallace (2008). Behavioral Standards, Embourgeoisement, and the Formation of the Conservative Holiness Movement. Wesleyan Theological Society. p. 177.
The CHM thus resulted from the desire of mid-century holiness conservatives to perpetuate the radical cause which dominated the movement at the beginning of the century. ... The first significant conservative "comeouter" group was the Church of God (Guthrie, OK), which pulled radical constituents from the Church of God (Anderson) in the early 1910s.
- ISBN 978-0-664-22409-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8308-2586-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8108-6318-7.
- ISBN 978-0-8103-2133-5.
In doctrine and practice the Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma) is almost identical with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), but it is stricter in its practice of holiness and refusal to compromise with the world.
- ^ "Teachings of the Church of God". Church of God Evening Light. 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Deeds of Charity" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2016. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Ministerial Statement on Use of Television, Church of God". The Gospel Trumpet. Church of God. 1953. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Outward Appearance" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2016. p. 4-12. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Biblical Nonresistance: The Call of Christ to the Law of Love" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2018. p. 5-9. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Divorce & Remarriage" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2015. p. 5-12. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Wilson Jr., Ostis Benton (8 April 2015). "Procedure for the Lord's Supper". Church of God Evening Light. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "The Ministry" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "The Office of a Deacon" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2020. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Speaking in Tongues" (PDF). The Gospel Truth. Church of God. 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- Birth of a Reformation - Life and Labors of D. S. Warner, by A. L. Byers
- Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
- Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada (Vol. III), by Arthur Carl Piepkorn
- Church of God Doctrines (1979 Edition), by Cecil C. Carver
External links
- Church of God Website - Doctrines of truth and holiness, books for the seeker, tracts for the believer and unbeliever, recorded messages that can be heard online, beautiful singing and food for the soul.
- The Gospel Truth - Church of God teaching
- Church of God missionary efforts - in Africa
- Church of God missionary efforts - in Honduras and India
- Testimonies of Saints - Healing, Salvation, and Sanctification
- Church of God Singing - Congregational and Special Songs
- Church of God Preaching - Gospel preaching by Church of God ministry
- Predicación - Predicación de la iglesia de Dios en Español
- Church of God camp meeting notices - Dates, locations, and contact information for Church of God meetings