Church of God is...
The Church of God was founded in 1886 upon the principles of Christ as they are
revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. It has its foundation of faith and practice in the
Scriptures and the vital experience of its constituents is scripturally oriented.
CHRISTIAN
First and foremost, the Church of God is a determinedly Christian church. It is built
upon the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The doctrines and practices of the
church are based upon His teachings.
PROTESTANT
The Church of God is founded upon the principles of Protestantism, although it is not
a traditional follower of any specific leader of the Protestant Reformation. The
denomination stands firmly for justification by faith, the priesthood of believers, the
authority of the Bible, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. It
stands against abuses and extravagance of ecclesiastical ritualism and dogmatism.
FOUNDATIONAL
The Church of God subscribes to the following five foundational Christian doctrines:
The inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible.
The virgin birth and complete deity of Christ.
The atoning sacrifice of Christ's death for the sins of the world.
The literal resurrection of the body.
Christ's second coming in bodily form to earth.
EVANGELICAL
Evangelical is the term used to describe those who affirm the primary doctrines
revealed in the Scriptures. These doctrines include the inspiration and authority of
the Word of God; the Trinity; the deity and virgin birth of Jesus Christ; salvation by faith
in the atoning death of Christ; His bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand
of the Father; the ministry of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Christ; and the
spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ.
The Church of God has aligned itself with the basic statement of faith of NAE
(National Association of Evangelicals) the largest association of Evangelicals in the
USA. Members of NAE subscribe to a common statement of faith. The Church of God
can be described as positioned in the mainstream of Evangelical Protestantism.
PENTECOSTAL
In 1896, many members of the Church of God experienced a spiritual outpouring
they identified as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Because it was so similar to the
experience of the early Christians on the day of Pentecost, it came to be called a
Pentecostal experience, an enrichment of the Christian life through the power of the
Holy Spirit that empowered believers to be effective witnesses of Christ. The
principle distinctive of the Church of God as a Pentecostal organization is its belief in
speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance and that this is the
initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
CHARISMATIC
The charismata (Gk.) or gifts of the Spirit appeared early in the life and ministry of the
Church of God. The gifts can be divided into three categories: the gifts of revelation,
the gifts of power and the gifts of utterance or inspiration. The gifts of revelation are
the gifts of the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits.
The gifts of power are faith, miracles, and gifts of healing. The gifts of utterance and
inspiration are prophecy, tongues and interpretation. The Holy Spirit bestows these
gifts and those who accept the validity of these gifts are called charismatic.
EVANGELISTIC
From its inception the Church of God has been a revival movement. Evangelism has
been in the forefront of all its activities. The church has maintained an aggressive
effort to take the message of Christ throughout the world by all means and methods.
Every program of the church reflects an evangelistic attitude: revivalism, conferences,
worship services, teaching, preaching and its missionary efforts.
ORGANIZED
The magnitude of the Great Commission requires a united effort. This united
endeavor is efficiently served by guidance, support, resources and leadership from a
common center. The Church of God is centrally organized. Centralized church
government is administration from the international, state or territorial and local
levels. It helps facilitate the fulfillment of the mission of the church.
The control of the Church of God rests with the laity and ministers, who jointly form a
governing body called the General Assembly which meets biennially. Benefits of
centralized government include the following: uniformity of doctrine and practice;
principles that bind together local churches in the same manner; membership
commitments in all churches; expansion and extension of fellowship; accountability;
cooperative decision-making; and united efforts in evangelism and world outreach.
revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. It has its foundation of faith and practice in the
Scriptures and the vital experience of its constituents is scripturally oriented.
CHRISTIAN
First and foremost, the Church of God is a determinedly Christian church. It is built
upon the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The doctrines and practices of the
church are based upon His teachings.
PROTESTANT
The Church of God is founded upon the principles of Protestantism, although it is not
a traditional follower of any specific leader of the Protestant Reformation. The
denomination stands firmly for justification by faith, the priesthood of believers, the
authority of the Bible, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. It
stands against abuses and extravagance of ecclesiastical ritualism and dogmatism.
FOUNDATIONAL
The Church of God subscribes to the following five foundational Christian doctrines:
The inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible.
The virgin birth and complete deity of Christ.
The atoning sacrifice of Christ's death for the sins of the world.
The literal resurrection of the body.
Christ's second coming in bodily form to earth.
EVANGELICAL
Evangelical is the term used to describe those who affirm the primary doctrines
revealed in the Scriptures. These doctrines include the inspiration and authority of
the Word of God; the Trinity; the deity and virgin birth of Jesus Christ; salvation by faith
in the atoning death of Christ; His bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand
of the Father; the ministry of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Christ; and the
spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ.
The Church of God has aligned itself with the basic statement of faith of NAE
(National Association of Evangelicals) the largest association of Evangelicals in the
USA. Members of NAE subscribe to a common statement of faith. The Church of God
can be described as positioned in the mainstream of Evangelical Protestantism.
PENTECOSTAL
In 1896, many members of the Church of God experienced a spiritual outpouring
they identified as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Because it was so similar to the
experience of the early Christians on the day of Pentecost, it came to be called a
Pentecostal experience, an enrichment of the Christian life through the power of the
Holy Spirit that empowered believers to be effective witnesses of Christ. The
principle distinctive of the Church of God as a Pentecostal organization is its belief in
speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance and that this is the
initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
CHARISMATIC
The charismata (Gk.) or gifts of the Spirit appeared early in the life and ministry of the
Church of God. The gifts can be divided into three categories: the gifts of revelation,
the gifts of power and the gifts of utterance or inspiration. The gifts of revelation are
the gifts of the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits.
The gifts of power are faith, miracles, and gifts of healing. The gifts of utterance and
inspiration are prophecy, tongues and interpretation. The Holy Spirit bestows these
gifts and those who accept the validity of these gifts are called charismatic.
EVANGELISTIC
From its inception the Church of God has been a revival movement. Evangelism has
been in the forefront of all its activities. The church has maintained an aggressive
effort to take the message of Christ throughout the world by all means and methods.
Every program of the church reflects an evangelistic attitude: revivalism, conferences,
worship services, teaching, preaching and its missionary efforts.
ORGANIZED
The magnitude of the Great Commission requires a united effort. This united
endeavor is efficiently served by guidance, support, resources and leadership from a
common center. The Church of God is centrally organized. Centralized church
government is administration from the international, state or territorial and local
levels. It helps facilitate the fulfillment of the mission of the church.
The control of the Church of God rests with the laity and ministers, who jointly form a
governing body called the General Assembly which meets biennially. Benefits of
centralized government include the following: uniformity of doctrine and practice;
principles that bind together local churches in the same manner; membership
commitments in all churches; expansion and extension of fellowship; accountability;
cooperative decision-making; and united efforts in evangelism and world outreach.
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