Church of God (Holiness)

For other uses of "Church of God", see Church of God (disambiguation).

Church of God (Holiness)
Anchored in the Word of God
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Evangelical
Polity	Mixed. Elements of Congregationalist, Presbyterian and non-sacramental Episcopalian polities.
Origin	1886 Centralia, Missouri
Separated from	Methodist
Branched from	Methodist
Congregations	unknown
Members	unknown

The Church of God (Holiness) is an association of autonomous holiness Christian congregations. It is an outgrowth of the 19th-century holiness movement.

History

The Church of God (Holiness) began in 1886 with the founding of a church in Centralia, Missouri. The movement grew out of disaffected Methodists that had been participating in the Southwestern Holiness Association. The leading cause of their departure from the Methodist Church was their zealous propagation of the doctrine of entire sanctification, and Methodist opposition to the Church of God interpretation of that doctrine. The churches were originally referred to as "Independent Holiness People'". One of the early leaders was John Petit Brooks (1826–1915), who was editor of the Banner of Holiness, and later The Good Way and The Church Herald. He left the Methodist Episcopal Church circa 1886 '.^[1]

Beliefs

The doctrines of the Church of God (Holiness) are revealed in a ten-article statement of faith, emphasizing the triune God, the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, the sinfulness of man, salvation by grace through faith in the blood of Christ, and entire sanctification as a second work of grace. Two ordinances are observed - water baptism and the Lord's supper.^[2]

Organization

The Church of God (Holiness) has about 120 congregations in the United States, with the majority in Missouri and Kansas.^[3] Additionally they have 12 congregations on the Navajo Reservation, 13 Spanish-speaking congregations in California, Texas, New York and Colorado, a Korean ministry in Overland Park, KS and two Haitian works in New York and Florida. The church also has a sizeable outgrowth in the Cayman Islands.^[4] Ministry departments of the church include Home Missions, World Missions, Harmony Hill Youth Ministries, and the Herald and Banner Press. Headquarters are located in Overland Park, Kansas. A general church conference is held annually in Overland Park. World missions works are found in Bolivia, the British West Indies, the Virgin Islands, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and Ukraine.^[5][6]

Education

The Church of God (Holiness) is associated with Kansas City College and Bible School in Overland Park, Kansas. This institution gives degrees in ministry and education. The headquarters for the church is located on the campus and the General Camp and Convention are also held here. The church is also associated with several private elementary and secondary schools. These are El Dorado Christian School in ElDorado Springs, MO, Fort Scott Christian Heights in Fort Scott, KS, Gravette Holiness Bible School in Gravette, AR, Lowery City Christian School in Lowery City, MO, Mount Zion Bible School in Ava, MO, Mountain State Christian School in Culloden, WV, and Overland Christian Schools in Overland Park, KS.^[7]

External links

• Church of God (Holiness) - Official Web Site
• Kansas City College and Bible School
• Harmony Hill Youth Ministries
• Herald and Banner Press
• Church of God (Holiness) Eastern Caribbean

References

1. ^ A History of the Church of God (Holiness), by C. E. Cowen
2. ^ Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
3. ^ Roster of Accredited Ministers and Church Directory 2009-2010: Church of God (Holiness)
4. ^ Roster of Accredited Ministers and Church Directory 2009-2010: Church of God (Holiness)
5. ^ www.coghworldmissions.org
6. ^ Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
7. ^ Roster of Accredted Ministers and Church Directory 2009-2010: Church of God (Holiness)