Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army
Encyclopedia
The Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army (SICIA) is a spiritual church that emerged from the Church of God in David, a denomination that was founded in the mid-1920s in Alabama
(and later moved to Michigan
) by Bishop Derks Field. Upon Field's death, W. D. Dickson led the congregation and changed its name to the current title, against the wishes of Field's brother.
With a largely African-American congregation, it promotes the belief that as Christians are children of God
and are spiritual children of Israel
, Israel is God, and to find God in oneself is to find Israel spiritually in oneself. Members refer to themselves as Israelites, not to be confused with Israelis. Though not separatist, the church is somewhat political, believing that Adam, Noah
, Moses
, and Jesus
were all black men. Through its fellowship, this black church seeks to free the African-American community from dependence on white America.
The Church believes that because God must be taught, every generation a great teacher is sent to Earth to lead God's people. The church's current head is Bishop Bobby J. Davis, whose title within the church is King of Israel.
The church is currently based in Detroit, but has over twenty-five temples in the United States, mostly in urban areas. Its emblem is the Star of David
, though the retains few, if any, traditional Jewish customs.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(and later moved to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
) by Bishop Derks Field. Upon Field's death, W. D. Dickson led the congregation and changed its name to the current title, against the wishes of Field's brother.
With a largely African-American congregation, it promotes the belief that as Christians are children of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and are spiritual children of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Israel is God, and to find God in oneself is to find Israel spiritually in oneself. Members refer to themselves as Israelites, not to be confused with Israelis. Though not separatist, the church is somewhat political, believing that Adam, Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
, Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, and Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
were all black men. Through its fellowship, this black church seeks to free the African-American community from dependence on white America.
The Church believes that because God must be taught, every generation a great teacher is sent to Earth to lead God's people. The church's current head is Bishop Bobby J. Davis, whose title within the church is King of Israel.
The church is currently based in Detroit, but has over twenty-five temples in the United States, mostly in urban areas. Its emblem is the Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
, though the retains few, if any, traditional Jewish customs.