Living Church of God
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- See also: Church of God
The Living Church of God (LCG) is one of the church groups formed by followers of the teachings of the late Herbert W. Armstrong. It was formed as a series of major doctrinal changes were introduced in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG, originally incorporated as the Radio Church of God) in the 1990s. The leader of the Living Church of God, called the presiding evangelist, is Roderick C. Meredith. Meredith had been a high ranking evangelist in the WCG since 1952, and in terms of ordinations conducted by Herbert W. Armstrong, he has the most seniority.
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[edit] Brief history
According to Herbert W. Armstrong, the church was to be governed "from the top down." He created a structure of ranks in the WCG ministry that allowed for progressive increases in responsibility and salary, including deacon (unpaid, nonministerial); local elder; preaching elder; pastor; regional administrator, and others. "Evangelist" was the highest rank attainable except for the title of "Apostle," given to Armstrong.
After Armstrong died in 1986, the Worldwide Church of God immediately began to change many of its historic and core doctrines (including the key teaching that the seventh-day Sabbath is holy and set aside for worship). These changes continued until the WCG became a typical "mainstream" Sunday-keeping Protestant church.
Meanwhile, members who did not wish to accept the changes in the faith left the church and joined together in diverse seventh-day Church of God groups, usually according to their proximate geography as well as teachings. Many of these small groups incorporated as churches and then split again over wranglings that ranged from suspected ministerial dereliction of duty to board members running off with church funds to start their own church.
[edit] New organization
Following the controversial firing of Meredith as the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, and the presiding evangelist of the Global Church of God (which he founded in December 1992 after leaving the Worldwide Church of God over doctrinal differences) by its board of directors on November 25, 1998, the Living Church of God was quickly incorporated several weeks later in San Diego, California in December 1998.[1] His dismissal was widely unpopular with most of the GCG membership, and as much as 80 percent left the organization to come with him.[2] In addition to a majority of the membership leaving with him, a large majority of the GCG ministry joined the new organization as well.
In 2003, the church's corporate headquarters was moved from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina.[3] By 2006, the church reported it had 294 congregations in 44 countries, with over 7,100 members attending its annual 8-day long festival the Feast of Tabernacles at 45 sites in 30 countries located in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, and South America[4]. An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported in 2006 the church had an annual income of $11.1 million (US).[5] This revenue for its expanding worldwide work were received through tithes, holy day offerings, and other contributions from its members and supporters.
[edit] Television & Radio Programs
Within a few weeks of the church's incorporation in December 1998, the organization was once again producing a weekly half-hour television program, Tomorrow's World. As of 2007, the television program is anchored by Meredith, Richard Ames, Rod King, and Wallace "Wally" Smith. The two-time Telly Award winning telecast (in 2003 and 2007[citation needed]) is shown on 211 television stations throughout the world.
In May of 2006, the church's Media Department reported that the television program was accessible to nearly 78 million American households, or 71 percent of the American television market.[6] According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research,[7] the program was estimated to reach an average of 50,000 new viewers each week. To date, approximately 320 programs have been taped and televised since 1999.
A free bi-monthly magazine by the same name is also published, with 1.8 million copies being mailed to subscribers in 2006.[8] From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007 8.3 million copies had been sent out.[9] The current bimonthly circulation for the magazine is 326,000.[citation needed]
The church produces several foreign language radio programs, and are broadcast on 15 stations. These include a Spanish language program titled El Mundo de Mañana (Tomorrow's World).[10] It is presented by Mario Hernandez, who also is the presenter of the Spanish language telecast by the same name. The second radio broadcast, mainly throughout the Caribbean, is the French language program titled Le Monde Demain (Tomorrow's World).[11] It is presented by longtime Church of God evangelist and radio presenter Dibar Apartian.
[edit] Online University
In the Fall of 2007, the church started a nonprofit online distance learning institution called Living University. Its stated mission is "the development of the whole person by educating men and women in the skills, concepts, and values that lead to success in life, while helping them prepare for leadership and worthwhile service to God and humanity".
The school is continuing to explore accreditation for its undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
[edit] March 12, 2005 Shooting
Church member Terry Ratzmann opened fire at a Living Church of God weekly Sabbath service near Milwaukee, Wisconsin and killed seven people, wounding four others, and then shooting and killing himself.[12] The incident brought the church into the international and national media spotlight. Various religious-based sources that research cults, sects, and other non-mainstream Christian religious movements have stated the shootings were linked to the church's teachings, while others caution it may not have been.
[edit] Doctrines / Statement of Fundamental Beliefs
The church's official statement of beliefs on its website are comparable to those of Herbert W. Armstrong's original Radio Church of God.
[edit] See also
- Christian Torah-submission
- Sabbath
- Christian view of the Law
[edit] References
- ^ Introvigne, Massimo. Schism in the Global Church of God: Birth of A New "Armstrongite" Church, The Living Church of God. Center for Studies on New Religions. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
- ^ Church of God Timeline: 1996 to 2004. The Journal: News of the Churches of God. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ Howard, J. Lee. "Church group relocating HQ here from San Diego", Charlotte Business Journal, February 14, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ "The Living Church News" (pdf), Living Church of God, November-December 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ "The Living Church News" (pdf), Living Church of God, July-August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ Winnail, Douglas (25 May 2007). World Ahead Weekly Update.
- ^ Living Church of God, Letter from Roderick C. Meredith, March 12, 2007[unreliable source?]
- ^ The Living Church News, v.4 No.9, July-August 2007, p9
- ^ Greetings, Douglas Winnail, May 24, 2007
- ^ Programas de El Mundio de Mañana
- ^ http://www.mondedemain.org/emissions.php.
- ^ Freed, Jonathan, Police: No motive known for Wisconsin killings, CNN.com (published 14 March 2005), <http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/13/wisconsin.shootings/>. Retrieved on 29 August 2007
