TheChurch of God General Conference (CoGGC) is anontrinitarian,AdventistChristian body also known as theChurch of God of the Abrahamic Faith. It was founded in 1921 and is active throughout the United States and globally. TheChurch of the Blessed Hope, some of whose congregations also use the name Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (CGAF), are a separate denomination, although they share the same origins.
TheChurch of God General Conference has roots in several similar groups inNorth America that eventually united in 1921 inWaterloo, Iowa, to form the current national organization. These small groups had reached similar doctrinal convictions through independent Bible study. In the mid-19th century, some of the individuals and groups, includingJoseph Marsh ofNew York,Nathaniel Field ofIndiana, and the Wilson family ofIllinois (Benjamin Wilson's family), began to circulate religious writings which made the groups aware of one another. This led to fellowship, the development of state conferences, and an attempted national organization in 1888. Strong convictions on the autonomy and authority of individual congregations, though, led to the demise of the original attempt. In 1921 the groups divided, with the larger becoming the Church of God General Conference, and the smaller theChurch of the Blessed Hope. The Church of the Blessed Hope held to the beliefs shared by Benjamin Wilson, and the Church of God General Conference expanded their belief system to embrace doctrines (e.g. the existence of a personalDevil) previously not held by the group Wilson helped co-found.
Doctrines of the Church of God General Conference include belief in the authority of theChristian Bible as the rule of faith; one God, who is the Father; Jesus as God's Son, who came into existence beginning with his miraculous conception; repentance is lifelong change, the literalpremillennial second coming of Jesus; those who have accepted the gospel will be resurrected at the return of Jesus, and promises of God to Abraham will be literally fulfilled, referred to as the "Kingdom of God" being established on Earth.
The Church of God General Conference statement of faith states,[1] and Atlanta Bible College advocates,[2] as follows:
A significant distinctive doctrine of the Church of God General Conference is denial of the personalpre-existence of Christ, but acceptance of thevirgin birth—a position inChristology historically known asSocinianism, although adherents of this view today often prefer the term "Biblical Unitarianism". The main distinguishing doctrinal difference between the Church of God General Conference (CoGGC) andChristadelphians andChurch of the Blessed Hope (CGAF) is that the majority of CoGGC members believe thatSatan is a literal fallen angel, although a minority do not.Anthony Buzzard of Atlanta Bible College has debated Christadelphians and written defending the traditional view of the devil.[3][page needed] However, there is no mention of the devil in the CoGGC Statement of Faith, and this doctrine is not considered a fundamental.
TheChurches of God are congregational in government, yet cooperate in publications and missions ministries, and the Atlanta Bible College. International headquarters are located inMcDonough inHenry County, Georgia in themetro-Atlanta area.The Restitution Herald is the official periodical of the church, and is published bi-monthly. A journal dealing with the doctrines of the movement,A Journal From the Radical Reformation, has been published quarterly since 1991. TheYearbook of American and Canadian Churches states the Church of God General Conference had 89 churches and 5,018 members in 2002. The 2010 US Religion Census listed the CoGGC as having 3,842 members in 84 churches.[4] Korean Extension: The Korean Extension is a Korean ministry of the Atlanta Bible College. The Korean Extension was officially started in the fall semester of the 2003 school year by Pastor Steve An. The Korean Extension is led by Pastors Steve An & Sam An, and the campus is located in Duluth, Georgia. As of the year 2010 there are approximately 100 students in the Atlanta Bible College Korean Extension.
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