Pentecostal Family Churches
The Assemblies of God (General Council of the Assemblies of God)
General Notes
The Assemblies of God is the largest denomination of what are collectively
called the “Pentecostal” Churches.
A core belief of the Assembly of God Churches is that the charismatic
experience of Pentecost and the early Christian Church is essential and
continues today. The primary expression of that experience is glossolalia, or
speaking in tongues. The Bible is interpreted literally and is seen as the
primary source of all Christian religious truth. Individual congregations are
loosely affiliated and may differ widely in specific practices and details of
living out the Christian faith.
The Assemblies of God has no official stand on most issues. There is a
strong belief in finding direction on particular issues through prayer, seeking
guidance from the Bible, and by direct inspiration from God.
Specific Religious Practices
Sunday is seen as the Lord’s Day and should be a day of worship and rest.
Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are observed but with no special required
celebration. Baptism by immersion and Holy Communion are seen as “ordinances of
the church” rather than as sacraments (defined as communicating God’s grace).
Holy Communion is usually celebrated once per month.
Understanding of Healing
Direct healing by God and deliverance from sickness is seen as the privilege
of all believers. Members pray for the sick with the laying on of hands and
anointing with oil. While standard medical care is usually sought there is at
times a sense of opposition between faith and medical science.
Abortion
Abortion is seen as justified in some serious situations. Abortion for
personal convenience, social or economic advantage is seen as morally wrong.
Legislation to legalize abortion for those reasons is opposed.
Notes for Pastoral Care
One problem is often encountered not only with Pentecostal groups but with
“charismatically" oriented Christians whether they have remained within
their church of origin or not. There is often a belief that when healing is
called forth in faith, based on the “correct” conditions and understandings, it
is in fact bestowed. Symptoms and medical problems at that point are
indications that the healing has not yet made itself manifest, or that Satan is
attempting to trick the believer in abandoning the healing or turning away from
God. Those who regard the symptoms and medical condition as real can be viewed
with suspicion or hostility, whether they are part of the medical staff or
nursing staff or chaplains. The ordinary denial process of preparatory grieving
can reach new heights of intensity.
Also, there is often a correlation made between the intensity of religious
feeling and the presence, quality, and validity of faith. Healing is often
expected to occur within that context. The presence or expression of doubt is
rejected.
Medical decision-making can become a major problem. Paradoxically, a
patient’s family may be insistent on highly aggressive forms of care, continued
use of a respirator, etc. while affirming faith in the patient’s healing. Even
situations of brain death may meet resistance. Other family or church community
members may continue to support that dynamic. Someone not of the same world
view, even a Chaplain, may have little or no credibility. In some situations
there has been an expectation that a patient who has died can be brought back
to life by intense prayer even hours or days after the death.
Often the most that can be done is not to support the dynamic while not
challenging it directly. Simple, clear, short statements of the patient’s
condition, while resisting medically unjustified treatment, may be the most
possible under the circumstances. Over time the family will usually begin to
accept medical reality and start to verbalize a rationale that they can accept
for why physical healing does not appear to be occurring. Sometimes it has
helped to suggest that if God is going to miraculously heal he doesn’t need the
respirator in order to do it.
Membership
In 1997, membership in the United States was 2,467,588.
Church Of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Most of the Pentecostal churches which bear the name "Church of
God" can be traced to a holiness revival in the mountains of northwest
Georgia and eastern Tennessee in the late 1800s. Eventually there was an
experience of sanctification and speaking in tongues. Groups formed an
association called “The Christian Union.” They considered their collective
experience to be a Biblical phenomenon and a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The Christian Union, as it grew, drew charges of fanaticism. As its members spoke in tongues and held noisy services, various members of the local community complained. Some leaders of the Christian Union, responding to the criticism, decided to make the services more orderly. They devised a simple plan of government. The group's name was changed to the Holiness Church. Later the more biblical name of “The Church of God” was chosen.
With the establishment of further congregations, the members saw the
necessity of a large organization. The first assembly convened in 1906 at Camp
Creek. It was determined that footwashing was to be observed at least annually
and that midweek and family services should be encouraged. At the 1907
assembly, the name was officially changed to the Church of God. The 1908
assembly introduced the idea of Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Doctrinally, the Church of God believes in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as
an experience subsequent to sanctification. Practices include Baptism by
immersion, the Lord's Supper, and footwashing. Members believe in
holiness-of-life, which excludes the use of cosmetics, costly clothes, and
shorts or slacks on women. They accept a premillennial second coming (the
coming of Christ to bind Satan before Christ's thousand-year reign on earth
with his saints).
Membership
In 1984, total membership was 505,775.
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
This Church was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), a
controversial itinerant Pentecostal minister. A widow, she encountered
opposition because of the belief that women should not speak from the pulpit.
She founded Angelus Temple in Los Angeles in 1923. She established a training
center and ministers went out to found other Foursquare Churches.
The church has a lengthy declaration of faith, which affirms the authority
of Scripture and traditional evangelical beliefs. There are two ordinances,
Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is emphasized,
but along with an equal emphasis upon the Spirit-filled life and the gifts and
fruits of the Spirit. Tithing is seen as God’s plan for the support of ministry.
Membership
In 1994, membership in the United States was 218,534.
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
This is the oldest of the “Jesus Only" Pentecostal churches. It began
as a loose association of trinitarian pentecostals in Los Angeles in 1906 but
it became the first to adopt the new theology that sees Jesus as the Jehovah of
the Old Testament, denying the Trinity. In 1918, the General Assemblies of the
Apostolic Assemblies merged.
From its beginning the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was fully
integrated racially, though predominantly white in membership. Eventually many
white members withdrew and formed the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, now a
part of the United Pentecostal Church. The remaining membership was largely
black.
Doctrine is similar to that of the Assemblies of God except that it does not
believe in the Trinity. Holiness is stressed and the group believes that for
ultimate salvation, it is necessary to have a life wholly sanctified. Wine is
used in the Lord's Supper. Healing is stressed and footwashing practiced.
Members are pacifists, though they feel it is a duty to honor rules. There is a
strict dress and behavior code. Divorce and remarriage are allowed under
certain circumstances.
Membership
In 1994, total membership was 1,000,000.
United Pentecostal Church International
The United Pentecostal Church International was formed in 1945 by a merger
of the Pentecostal Church, Inc. and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ.
Numerous earlier splits among Pentecostal groups had occurred, mainly involving
racial issues.
The Church states its basic doctrine as Baptism by immersion in the name of
Christ along with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in
tongues. There is affirmation of what is called the “oneness doctrine” which
states that there is one God who manifested himself in the flesh as Christ, and
after the Ascension, as the Holy Spirit.
The Church practices footwashing and healing and follows a holiness code
which includes disapproval of secret societies, mixed bathing, women cutting
their hair, worldly amusements, home television sets, and immodest dress. While
strongly affirming loyalty to the government, the church is against bearing
arms or taking human life.
Structure is congregational.
Membership
In 1991, membership in the United States and Canada was reported as 500,000.
Page was last updated on 08/14/00