Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
| Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada | |
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| Classification | Protestant |
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| Orientation | Pentecostal |
| Associations | World Assemblies of God Fellowship, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America |
| Geographical areas | Canada |
| Origin | 1919 |
| Separations | Apostolic Church of Pentecost 1921 |
| Congregations | 1,077[1] |
| Members | 234,385[1] |
| Official website | paoc.org |
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the largest evangelical church in Canada.[2][3] It reports 234,385 adherents and 1,077 member congregations throughout Canada.[1] Its headquarters is located in Mississauga, Ontario.
The PAOC is theologically evangelical and Pentecostal, emphasizing the baptism with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. It is also socially conservative on many issues.[citation needed] It historically has had strong connections with the Assemblies of God in the United States and is one of three Canadian branches of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. The other two are the Canadian Assemblies of God and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early history (1906-1925)
In 1906, within a few months of the Azusa street revival in Los Angeles, Pentecostalism had reached Canada. By 1910, there were Canadian Pentecostals on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, with sizable congregations in Toronto, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. In the early part of the 20th century, the prairie provinces had the largest percentage of Pentecostals due in part to the large numbers of immigrants from United States who brought their faith with them. Throughout its history, members of the Pentecostal movement in Canada have had close ties to their American counterpart.
The first attempt to organize Canadian Pentecostals was in 1909 in Eastern Canada, but it failed. Then, in 1918 a decision was made to form the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and then join the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAOW), an umbrella organization in the US. However, when the PAOC was officially chartered on May 17, 1919, the effort was never made to join the PAOW, and the PAOC remained an independent organization with no formal US ties.
Later in 1919, Pentecostals in Saskatchewan and Alberta, who were not part of any broader organization, were invited to join the General Council of the Assemblies of God, the PAOC's American counterpart. In 1920, the decision was made for the PAOC itself to join the Assemblies of God. In doing so, the PAOC had to repudiate the doctrine of Oneness Pentecostalism it had previously affirmed and adopt the Assemblies of God's Trinitarian position. This brought most of Canada's Pentecostals into the Assemblies of God fold, but it also resulted in the splitting away of the Apostolic Church of Pentecost in 1921.
In 1925, the PAOC asked to be released from the Assemblies of God over differences in missionary vision. This was granted and was an amiable parting. The two groups have worked together informally ever since and as members of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship.
[edit] Growth (1926-1974)
As the movement expanded, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada began to include members from across Canadian society, and larger congregations resulted.[citation needed] For example, in 1928 Calvary Temple in Winnipeg, Manitoba, bought the First Baptist Church which seated 1,500 people, a very large church by Canadian standards even today.
In 1925, the PAOC opened Central Pentecostal College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which was the first of several Pentecostal institutions dedicated to theological education. As time went on, the PAOC established a stronger financial base allowing for the construction of new buildings. Notably, Central Tabernacle in Edmonton, Alberta, (has been demolished, and moved to their new location, now North Pointe, in the north end of the city) was built in 1972 which accommodations for 1,800 and Winnipeg's Calvary Temple completed a new 2,500 seat church building in 1974.
[edit] Recent history (1979-present)
Facing the same challenge of many Canadian churches in the latter years of the 20th century, the PAOC worked hard to continue its growth. In the 1980s, under the leadership of General Superintendent James MacKnight, 102 additional churches were added to the PAOC. According to Stats Canada, Pentecostalism is in decline in Canada with the PAOC and Pentecostalism showing a membership decline of 15% between 1991 and 2001 to almost 369,500.
[edit] Demographics
In 2009, the PAOC reported a total constituency of 234,385 people, an increase of 0.4 percent from the previous year. In the same year, it reported an average Sunday morning attendance of 154,630. In 2010, there were 1,077 affiliated churches.[1]
Also in 2010, the PAOC reported 3,555 total credential holders, 901 of which were women. Senior pastors accounted for 964 of the credential holders, and 43 of these were women. In the same year, 345 missionary personnel were reported.[1]
[edit] Beliefs
The central beliefs of the Pentecostal Assemblies are summarized in its Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths.[4] The statement is consistent with general evangelical and Pentecostal beliefs.
The Pentecostal Assemblies, as stated in the Fundamental and Essential Truths, believe the Bible is the "all-sufficient source of faith and practice" and the "complete revelation and very Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit". It subscribes to the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God exists as three persons: the Father, the Son who is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The Pentecostal Assemblies believes that salvation has been provided for all humanity through the atonement of Christ upon the cross, and this was proven by his resurrection from the dead. Those who have faith in Christ and repent are born again of the Holy Spirit and receive eternal life. The person who repents and has faith in Christ is justified, not because of the believer's own merit but solely because the believer has accepted Christ as savior.[5]
The Pentecostal Assemblies teach that the sanctification of a believer is both instantaneous and progressive. The believer is sanctified as the Holy Spirit teaches the believer through the Word of God and produces within the believer the character of Christ. Consistent with Pentecostal theology, the denomination teaches that Christians should seek the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which is an experience distinct from and subsequent to the new birth. With this experience comes a more intimate knowledge of Christ and an empowerment to witness and to grow spiritually. The initial evidence of receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues. Through spiritual gifts believers can minister effectively by both building up the church and demonstrating the presence of God within the church. The Pentecostal Assemblies believes that divine healing is provided within Christ's atonement, and prayer for the sick and gifts of healing are encouraged.[6]
The denomination teaches that the universal church is the Body of Christ and includes as members all who have been born again. Local churches observe two ordinances: the Lord's Supper and water baptism by immersion. The PAOC believes in a dispensationalist and premillennialist eschatology which includes the pre-Tribulation rapture of the church and the Second Coming of Christ.[7]
The Pentecostal Assemblies believe that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman. The marriage vow can only be broken by "marital unfaithfulness involving adultery, homosexuality, or incest". Even in those circumstances, however, the PAOC believes reconciliation is the desired option, and it discourages divorce for all other reasons. It views remarriage as acceptable in the event of a former spouse's death, in cases where the former spouse committed marital unfaithfulness, or if the former spouse has remarried.[8] PAOC members are encouraged to tithe.[9]
[edit] General Superintendents
- George A Chambers (1919-1934)
- James Swanson (1935-1936)
- Daniel N. Buntain (1937-1944)
- Campbell B. Smith (1945-1952)
- Walter E. McAlister (1953-1962)
- Tom Johnstone (1963-1968)
- Robert W. Taitinger (1969-1982)
- James M. MacKnight (1983-1996)
- William D. Morrow (1997-2007)
- David Wells (2008-)
[edit] Education
- Canadian Pentecostal Seminary, Langley, British Columbia
- Horizon College and Seminary, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Master's College and Seminary, Toronto, Ontario
- Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Leadership Training College, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
- Quebec Bible Institute, Montreal, Quebec
- Summit Pacific College, Abbotsford, British Columbia
- Vanguard College, Edmonton, Alberta
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e "PAOC Fellowship Statistics 2010". Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. January, 24, 2011. http://www.paoc.org/upload/files2/docs/Fellowship%20Stats%202010%20at%20Jan%2024%202011.pdf. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ "Wycliffe, PAOC Sign Partnership Agreement", Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada, May 29, 2008. Accessed August 17, 2011.
- ^ Krysia P. Lear, "All in the Family", Faith Today (May/June 1995). Accessed August 17, 2011.
- ^ Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, What We Believe, accessed June 14, 2011.
- ^ Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.1-5.5.
- ^ Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.6.
- ^ Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.7-5.8.
- ^ Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.9.1-5.9.3.
- ^ Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths, 5.9.4.
[edit] References
- Miller, Thomas William (1994). Canadian Pentecostals: A History of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Mississauga, Ontario: Full Gospel Publishing House. ISBN 1-895168-35-X.
- Rudd, Douglas (2002). When the Spirit Came Upon Them: Highlights from the Early Years of the Pentecostal Movement in Canada. Mississauga, Ontario: Full Gospel Publishing House. ISBN 1-894325-24-9.
[edit] External links
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