Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
40°48′30″N 73°56′54″W / 40.808233°N 73.948300°W
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith | |
---|---|
Pentecostal | |
Polity | Episcopal |
Founder | Robert Clarence Lawson |
Origin | 1919 New York City |
Branched from | Pentecostal Assemblies of the World |
Separations | Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc., 1957 and Church of God in Christ Jesus International Ministries, Inc. (Apostle Wilbur L. Jones, Sr) 2000 |
Congregations | 700-900 churches |
Members | 500,000+ |
The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith is a Oneness Pentecostal church with headquarters in Manhattan. It was founded in 1919 by Robert C. Lawson.
The church's mission statement is: "To evangelize the world for Jesus Christ; to equip every believer to become true Disciples of Christ; and to engage those social problems that challenge the communities we have been called to serve."
History
The "Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ", as it is most commonly known, was organized by Robert C. Lawson, a protégé of G.T. Haywood, who claimed salvation and the baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1913.
In 1914 Lawson was called to the ministry and soon began
The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been very influential among
After Lawson's death in 1961, a rising minister in the organization, William L. Bonner, proposed a change in the church's governmental structure. Whereas Bishop Lawson, as founder, had been the sole governing prelate of the organization, Bonner suggested that there be a board of archbishops, or "apostles", who would govern the churches. Two other groups, the Board of Bishops and the Board of Presbyters, both hold accountable and are held accountable by the Board of Apostles.
The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ has many other auxiliaries that function to serve its members and those of the community. The International Armor Bearers' Young Peoples' Union (ABYPU), the International Sunday School Department, the International Missionaries, and the International Congress are a few that work together to bring the ministry to laymen and surrounding communities.
Doctrine and practice
The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ is, historically and doctrinally, a
Organization and membership
Governance of the church includes the Chief Apostle, the Presiding Apostle, the Board of Apostles, the Board of Bishops, the Board of Presbyters, the Executive Secretary, and the General Council. The organization of the church is a mixture of episcopal and presbyterian polity. The church does not claim or maintain any succession from the original 12 apostles or Church fathers.
Major laity-driven auxiliaries are Women's Council; Ministers' and Deacons' Wives' Guild; the International Sunday School Association and the Armor Bearers' Young People's Union, which together make up the International Congress; and the International Music Department. Though women are not ordained, they are licensed as social, senior, and field Missionaries through the organization's International Missionary Department. There is also a Deacon's Union.
In 1990 the church had about 30,000 members in 450 churches in the United States. In 2018, there are now 1,200 churches worldwide, including congregations in
Leaders
The presiders of the organization have been:
- Robert C. Lawson, 1919–1961
- Hubert J. Spencer, 1961–1973
- William L. Bonner, 1973–1995 (Presiding Apostle)
- William L. Bonner, 1990-2014 (Chief Apostle for Life)
- Gentle Groover, 1995–2001
- James I. Clark Jr., 2001–2007
- Matthew Norwood, 2007-2012
- Robert Sanders, 2013–2016
- James I. Clark, Jr., 2016-2022
- James A. Maye, 2022–present
References
Notes
- ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.92
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2010) |
Bibliography
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
- Discipline Book of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- For the Defense of the Gospel, edited by Arthur Anderson
- My Father in the Gospel, by Bishop W.L. Bonner.
- And the High Place I'll Bring Down, biography of Bishop W.L. Bonner
External links
General Links
- Official website
- Official Google+ Page
- Official Youth Site - ABYPU
- Official International Congress Site
- Official Forum
- Official Web Site Of Newly Elected Presider Bishop Matthew Norwood
- History and Movements coming out of C.O.O.L.J.C.
About the leaders