Church of God (Holiness)
Encyclopedia
The Church of God is an association of autonomous holiness
Christian
congregations. It is an outgrowth of the 19th-century holiness movement
.
. 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 '.
and the Lord's supper.
. 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.
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.
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
congregations. It is an outgrowth of the 19th-century holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
.
History
The Church of God (Holiness) began in 1886 with the founding of a church in Centralia, MissouriCentralia, Missouri
Centralia is a city in Audrain and Boone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,774 at the 2000 census.The Boone County portion of Centralia is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Audrain County portion is part of the Mexico Micropolitan Statistical...
. 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
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
circa 1886 '.
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 baptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and the Lord's supper.
Organization
The Church of God (Holiness) has about 120 congregations in the United States, with the majority in Missouri and Kansas. 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. 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, KansasOverland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
. 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.
Education
The Church of God (Holiness) is associated with Kansas City College and Bible SchoolKansas City College and Bible School
Kansas City College and Bible School is a Christian college in Overland Park, KS.It is affiliated with the Church of God , an association of autonomous holiness Christian congregations, an outgrowth of the 19th-century holiness movement. It operates Overland Christian Schools, K thru 12, which are...
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.