 | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Christianity |
| Orientation | Restorationism |
| Theology | Armstrongism |
| Governance | Hierarchical polity |
| Leader | Gerald R. Flurry |
| Region | International |
| Headquarters | Edmond, Oklahoma |
| Founder | Gerald R. Flurry |
| Origin | December 7, 1989 Edmond, Oklahoma |
| Separated from | Worldwide Church of God |
| Separations |
|
| Members | Approximately 5,000 |
| Official website | https://pcg.church/ |
ThePhiladelphia Church of God (PCG) is anAmerican evangelicalnew religious organization. Its headquarters is in the city ofEdmond, Oklahoma. The PCG is asectarian splinter group of a new religious organizationcalledGrace Communion International, formerly the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Former WCG members Gerald R. Flurry and John Amos founded the PCG in 1989.[1] The PCG was named for thechurch of Philadelphia, one of the "seven churches" in theBook of Revelation, and proclaims itself to be "the true church".[1]
The PCG produces an array of print, online, television, radio, andstreaming programs, including the print and web publication "Philadelphia Trumpet". According to its website, "the Trumpet—and all literature offered to you free on this site—is paid for by thetithes and offerings of members of the Philadelphia Church of God and their co-workers."[2]
The PCG also runs a number of affiliated organizations, including theunaccredited[3]Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond and theArmstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology inJerusalem. The latter promotesliteralist andmaximalist interpretations of currentBiblical archaeology research in theLevant.[4]
The Philadelphia Church of God claims that it looks to theBible for all guidance and believes that the Bible isthe full word of God.[1]
Claiming to follow WCG founderHerbert W. Armstrong's teachings, the Philadelphia Church of Godrejects theorthodox Christiandoctrine of theTrinity, teaching that theHoly Spirit is not a separate aspect of God but rather is the "power of God".[5]
The PCG also endorses a variety ofBritish Israelism, apseudohistorical belief with origins in the 16th century that posits that theTen Lost Tribes of Israel became theAnglo-Saxons, whose descendants founded bothGreat Britain and the United States. According to the PCG, the British and Americans have beenspecially endowed by God. The PCG interprets Biblical warnings against "falling away" as directed at these two nations.[5]
The PCG recognizes theSabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Similar to American New ReligionChristian Science, the PCG rejects medical care. Members refuse tobear arms orotherwise serve in the military.[5]
Flurry claims to be aprophet and says that God continues to give him newrevelations, and he warns the "Laodiceans", theUnited States and British Commonwealth, andIsrael of their impending destruction through his various media programs and publications.[6]
The PCG is one of several offshoot groups of the WCG. Since its incorporation, members have left the PCG to form splinter groups of their own.[7]
Americanpreacher Herbert W. Armstrong (1892–1986) started the "Worldwide Church of God" (WCG) during theGreat Depression. At the time of Armstrong's death in 1986, the WCG was headquartered inCalifornia.[5][8]
Armstrong usedradio and television to teach anunorthodox form ofChristianity that was opposed by many otherChristian denominations but which found a large audience ofconverts.[1][5][9] Thedoctrines espoused by the WCG are collectively termed "Armstrongism".[8]
In 1986, the WCG ministerJoseph Tkach succeeded Armstrong.[1][5] Upon assuming leadership, Tkach began to disavow key aspects of Armstrongism includingnontrinitarianism; these disavowals moved the denomination closer to traditionalEvangelicalism.[1][5] The moves were controversial within the church and many members left, some forming new offshoot churches.[1]
A turning point in the conflict occurred when the church, under Tkach, sought to discontinue Armstrong’s bookMystery of the Ages.[1] Many who saw Armstrong’s doctrine as life law became disillusioned with Tkach. In response to Tkach's changes, Gerald Flurry (1935-[when?],[10] a minister of a WCG church in Oklahoma, wrote apolemic that he calledMalachi’s Message. In his polemic, which he distributed to WCG members and leaders, Flurry denounced Tkach's rejections of Armstrongism.[1]
Flurry and co-minister John Amos eventually left the WCG andincorporated the "Philadelphia Church of God" in Edmond in 1989 with the stated purpose of continuing Armstrong's teachings. The PCG claims to have members[as of?] in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[1][5][11]
Oklahoma City-basedFox affiliateKOKH-TV aired anexposé on the Philadelphia Church of God on November 24, 2008. The piece detailed the PCG'sapocalyptic message and compared Flurry toDavid Koresh and PCG to theBranch Davidiandoomsday cult.[12] Church leadership disputed the comparisons in a statement released to a local newspaper.[12][13]
Amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, theDaily Express noted that the PCG, along with other religious organizations,flooded social media withmisinformation and fear-mongeringprophecies.[14] In another 2020 article, theDailyExpress criticized Gerald Flurry for his predictions regardingDonald Trump.[15]
In1997, the Philadelphia Church of God published Armstrong'sMystery of the Ages, triggering a six-year legal battle with the Worldwide Church of God over the book'scopyright.[16] The WCG won the initiallawsuit, but the PCG filed acountersuit for the right to reproduce 18 other Armstrong works. WCG said it fought the countersuit because it didn’t want to see the "heretical" works re-published.[17]
In a 2003 settlement, the WCG agreed to sell the rights to 19 books by Armstrong to the PCG for $3 million. The settlement also allows the PCG to reproduce Armstrong’s teachings.[17]
The Philadelphia Church of God is registered as a501(c)(3) charity and is thus exempt from having to pay federalincome tax. Contributions are kept confidential and aretax deductible under applicable federal and international law.[18]
PCG members are expected to contribute ten percent of their income to the church.[18]
According to PCG, approximately "70 percent of all income for the Church’s operations comes from thetithes and offerings of members, while the balance comes from... non-member contributors", whom the PCG labels either "donors" or "co-workers".[18]
The church defines a "donor" as a non-member who contributes less than twice in any six-month period, and whose annual contribution is less than $500, while a "co-worker" is a non-member who makes two or more contributions in any six-month period, or whose annual contribution exceeds $500.[18]
The PCG's peak revenue was $6.6 million in 2023.[19]
