Living Church of God

For other uses of "Living Church", see Living Church (disambiguation).

See also: Church of God (disambiguation)

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) after Armstrong's death in 1986. 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.

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, the Worldwide Church of God immediately began to change many of its historic and core doctrines (including the key teaching that seventh-day Sabbath is holy and set aside for worship). These changes continued until the WCG became indistinguishable from other "mainstream" Protestant churches, later changing its name to "Grace Communion International".

Meanwhile, members of the Worldwide Church of God who objected to the doctrinal departure of its new leadership left 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.

New organization

Following the controversial firing of Meredith as the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and 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. His dismissal was widely unpopular with most of the GCG membership, and as much as 80 percent left the organization to come with him. 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. By 2011, the church reported it had 330 congregations in 45 countries, with over 8,000 members attending its annual 8-day long festival of the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day at 46 sites in 31 countries located in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, and South America. An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported for 2010 the church had an annual income of over $14.3 million (US). This revenue for its expanding worldwide work were received through tithes, holy day offerings, and other contributions from its members and supporters.

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 Roderick Meredith, Richard Ames, Rod King, and Wallace Smith. The two-time Telly Award winning telecast (in 2003 and 2007) is shown on 211 television stations throughout the world.

In May 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. According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research, 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 and website by the same name is also published, with 1.8 million copies being mailed to subscribers in 2006. From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007 8.3 million copies had been sent out. The current bimonthly circulation for the magazine is 326,000.

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). 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). Up until his death in 2010, it was presented by longtime Church of God evangelist and radio presenter Dibar Apartian.

Online University

In 2007, the church started Living University, a nonprofit online distance learning institution. Its 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.

Doctrines

The church believes in a two-person Godhead, consisting of God the Father and God the Son (also called The Word). The Holy Spirit is "not a Being", and is considered "the very essence, the mind, life and power of God". It also holds generally that members should not take part in politics, juries or military service. Other beliefs include:

• That the "Anglo-American people" are descended from the Lost tribes of Israel, and "are the possessors of the birthright promises and accompanying blessings of Abraham’s descendants through his grandson Jacob." (British-Israelism);
• That certain Laws, including the "dietary laws" mentioned in Leviticus 11 and in Deuteronomy 14:3-21 concerning the distinguishing between the unclean and the clean animals, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten, should be adhered to by Christians today;
• That Christians should observe the Biblical Sabbath from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday;
• That the annual festivals ("the Feasts of the LORD") listed in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy should be observed by Christians today;

The church's official statement of beliefs are comparable to those of Herbert W. Armstrong's original Radio Church of God.

See also

• Biblical law in Christianity
• Sabbath in Christianity
• Sabbath in seventh-day churches
• Christian view of the Law
• Primitive Apostolic Christianity (Sabbatarian)

External links

• Official website
  • LCG Statement of Beliefs
• Tomorrow's World Television Program
• Living University