Christianity • Protestantism
78-579: The Australian Christian Churches ( ACC ), formerly Assemblies of God in Australia , is a network of Finished Work Pentecostal churches in Australia affiliated with the World Assemblies of God Fellowship , which is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. The ACC grew out of the Assemblies of God in Australia, which was founded in 1937 with the merger of Assemblies of God Queensland (AGQ), and
156-434: A Today Tonight story said that several of the final remaining Australian Idol contestants were from Hillsong Church , raising concerns of vote-stacking by the church. It was later revealed that none of the remaining contestants were from Hillsong Church, but several were from churches affiliated with Australian Christian Churches. When the Assemblies of God in Australia was incorporated in 1937, churches generally were
234-557: A heresy , eventually leading to the formation of the Christian Revival Crusade . In its early history, the AOG was a peace church having officially adopted a position of pacifism . Article 23 of the AOG constitution declared "we cannot conscientiously participate in war and armed resistance which involves the actual destruction of human life, since this is contrary to ... the inspired Word of God". However, as WWII progressed, there
312-503: A 1,000 seat church known as Richmond Temple. The Pentecostal Church of Australia grew out of this revival, and many of Australia's early Pentecostal churches trace their origins to Richmond Temple. Together, Richmond Temple and the Pentecostal Church, Sydney formed the centre of the expanding PCA. After a year of revival, Valdez left to pursue itinerant evangelism, and Kelso Glover became the new pastor of Richmond Temple and leader of
390-516: A crisis experience subsequent to and distinct from conversion." This teaching began the controversy that divided the Pentecostal movement into a three-stage (Holiness Pentecostalism), which was the original Pentecostal view, and Durham's two-stage Pentecostalism (Finished Work Pentecostalism). Three-stage Pentecostalism (Holiness Pentecostalism) held the view that there are three distinct experiences of grace—conversion, sanctification, and baptism in
468-403: A local congregation. At the 1977 national conference, it seemed that a split within the movement was inevitable. There was no split; however, it was clear that the charismatic faction had gained the support of the movement. Realizing he had lost support, Ralph Read resigned as general superintendent, and Andrew Evans, a supporter the charismatic movement, was elected to replace him. Evans would lead
546-589: A loose movement of churches and evangelists around 1909. The first steps towards a denominational structure were made in 1927 when the founder of the Good News Hall in Melbourne, Sarah Jane Lancaster , and her network of churches, collaborated with colorful and controversial itinerant evangelist Frederick Van Eyk (sometimes spelled Eyck) of the South African Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) to form
624-647: A monthly publication distributed to PCA members. Glover resigned in October 1927 and handed the church over to Greenwood. Other foreign evangelists were to have an effect on the PCA and Australian Pentecostalism. English evangelist Smith Wigglesworth spent five months in Australia in 1927 under the sponsorship of the PCA. Wigglesworth's healing crusade reinforced the importance of faith and the ministry of healing in Australian Pentecostalism. In April 1928, Donald Gee of
702-515: A two thousand seat tent, the Canvas Cathedral. It has been described as "the greatest religious revival Brisbane has seen". While the AGQ initially welcomed the revival, they became competitors when Booth-Clibborn organised the revival campaign into Covenant Christian Church and many of the AGQ's leaders, including its president George Burns, joined Covenant Christian. After 1932, unity talks began between
780-427: A written apology as well as undertake to partially compensate the former residents from whom they took monies. Mercy Multiplied state that their counseling curriculum "combines biblical principles of healing and unconditional love with best-practice clinical interventions". All treatment offered at their residential homes is faith based, aimed at removing demonic influences on the souls of the girls. This curriculum
858-564: Is anti-gay and pro-life and offers women with unplanned pregnancies alternatives to abortion as part of its program. In 2010, the program was extended to work with victims of sex trafficking . Mercy Multiplied was founded in 1983 by Nancy Alcorn. She had previously worked for eight years as an athletic director in a Tennessee Department of Corrections facility for delinquent girls, then to supervise foster-care placements with an Emergency Child Protective Services unit investigating cases of abuse and neglect, and then Director of Women at
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#1732852370305936-514: Is considered to be the founder of Finished Work Pentecostalism. The doctrine arose as one of the "new issues" in the early Pentecostal revivals in the United States . The term finished work arises from the aphorism "It's a finished work at Calvary", referring to both salvation and sanctification. Finished Work Pentecostals and Holiness Pentecostal are the two main branches of classical, trinitarian Pentecostalism. The dispute surrounding it
1014-530: Is entitled to send one delegate for every 250 adults in regular attendance. The national conference elects the nine-member national executive, which includes the national officers. The officers are national president, vice-president, and secretary. National executives are always ordained ministers, except for the national secretary who can be a layperson. National officers serve terms of four years; all other executives serve two-year terms. The national executive issues ministerial credentials and, in between sessions of
1092-930: The Assemblies of God , the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel , the Open Bible Churches , Elim Fellowship , and the Pentecostal Church of God . Mercy Ministries Mercy Multiplied is an international Christian charitable organization that offers a six-month faith-based residential program for young women between the ages of 13 and 32 who suffer from issues such as eating disorders , depression , self-harm , abuse issues, and drug and alcohol addictions. The ministry operates as A Girl Called Hope in New Zealand. The organization
1170-598: The Assemblies of God in Great Britain attended the annual convention of the PCA. In 1934, the Melbourne Apostolic Church began near Richmond Temple. Originating in Great Britain, the Apostolic Church was distinct from the majority of Pentecostal groups at the time by its belief in the fivefold offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. Most Pentecostals saw prophecy as a function open to
1248-465: The Christian Life Centre (CLC) name. From the 1990s onwards, many churches with "Assembly of God" or "Christian Life Centre" in their name changed their names to make it shorter and more generic, for example, Shire Christian Centre became Shirelive Church and Mt. Gravatt Assembly of God became Garden City Christian Church . Hills Christian Life Centre became Hillsong Church in 2001, after
1326-451: The Pentecostal Church of Australia . In 2007, at which time it had over 375,000 members, it assumed "Australian Christian Churches" as its public name, but remained registered as the incorporated Assemblies of God in Australia until 2013. Hillsong Church , the largest church in ACC, separated from the ACC in 2018. The Doctrinal Basis of Australian Christian Churches contains the central beliefs of
1404-541: The charismatic movement was far reaching in the AOG. It was initially celebrated by classical Pentecostals as a sign that Pentecostalism was influencing traditional churches; however, there were also concerns over the influence the charismatic movement was exerting within the AOG. Pastors of the New Zealand Assemblies of God (AGNZ) would lead the way. Because of its openness to the Latter Rain Movement of
1482-477: The holiness movement , which sought to propagate the Methodistic doctrine of entire sanctification (Christian perfection). Most advocates within the holiness movement, in accordance with Methodist theology, taught that sanctification had both instantaneous and progressive dimensions. They taught the availability of entire sanctification, which was a post-conversion experience. In this "second definite work of grace",
1560-462: The 1950s, the AGNZ was quick to accept the charismatic renewal than the more conservative Australian movement. New Zealand pastors such as Robert Midgley , Frank Houston , and Phil Pringle would significantly influence Australian Pentecostalism, and all ultimately moved their ministries to Australia. Opposition to the renewal mainly arose over traditional Pentecostal views of mainline churches, especially
1638-498: The 1990s, Hillsong Church became the largest church in the movement and also in Australia until Hillsong Church separated from the Australian Christian Churches in 2018. Hillsong Church at Baulkham Hills , Sydney , NSW separated from Australian Christian churches in 2018. Finished Work Pentecostal Finished Work Pentecostalism is a major branch of Pentecostalism that holds that after conversion ,
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#17328523703051716-536: The ACC have revolutionised church praise and worship. The largest driving force for this change was the popularity of the Hillsong Music label, featuring the bands Hillsong United , Hillsong Worship and Hillsong Young & Free , of Hillsong Church (since 2018 no longer a member of ACC). Other influences have been bands such as Planetshakers and Planetboom , and Influencers Church in Adelaide . The polity of
1794-448: The ACC use a wide range of worship styles, generally churches use contemporary praise and worship music for services. From using hymns in the 1930s to 1950s, music from the Jesus movement in the 1960s and 1970s and the contemporary praise and worship of the 1980s to today, ACC churches have continually adapted to new styles of praise and worship. In recent decades, churches affiliated with
1872-517: The AGQ more egalitarian. Led by Enticknap (Queensland), Greenwood ( Victoria ), and Duncan ( New South Wales ), the AGQ and PCA held a "United Conference" at the Pentecostal Church in Sydney in 1937. It was decided that the new denomination's name would be the Assemblies of God in Australia. By this time, Greenwood had developed a close relationship with Donald Gee of the British Assemblies of God and
1950-466: The AOG for 20 years during a tenure that saw the denomination grow from less than 10,000 to over 115,000 members. Another legacy of Evans' leadership was decentralisation. The autonomy of local churches was now only limited by the AOG's doctrinal statement—which was broad enough to allow for diversity. Church growth techniques also became popular during this period. Prominent pastors such as Frank Houston also began to advocate strong pastoral leadership of
2028-532: The Apostolics. After this upset, the PCA, along with the Assemblies of God Queensland, struggled to distance itself from the Apostolic Church's teaching. By the 1930s, it was recognised by the leaders of both movements that a more harmonious, co-operative and unified relationship was needed. The two bodies were virtually identical doctrinally, culturally, and in their focus on missions and evangelism. Furthermore,
2106-549: The Assemblies of God in Australia National Conference, the public name of the movement was changed to Australian Christian Churches; however, it remained incorporated as Assemblies of God in Australia until 2013. There has been significant attention drawn to the denomination's relationship to the Family First Party , particularly in light of the party's founder, Andrew Evans , being a former superintendent of
2184-551: The Assemblies of God is based on the principle of voluntary and cooperative fellowship. "Registered" churches (mature and self-supporting) are autonomous but agree to abide by the United Constitution, state by-laws, and policies of the National Conference , the highest governing body of the Assemblies of God. "Provisional" churches are churches which have not met the requirements to become registered churches and are under
2262-529: The Assemblies of God name to gain the recognition of the global Pentecostal movement, as Australian Pentecostal churches were dependent upon visiting clergy. The AGQ would be challenged by the Brisbane revival of American evangelist William Booth-Clibborn, grandson of Salvation Army founder William Booth . He came to Australia in 1930 and stayed two years, beginning an evangelistic work in Brisbane which grew to fill
2340-573: The Assemblies of God, Queensland , and a year later many other AFM affiliates joined the newly established Pentecostal Church in Australia. What remained of the AFM dissolved after Lancaster's death in 1934. At a 4 July 1929 conference of the AFM's Queensland pastors, the decision was made to separate from the AFM and form the Assemblies of God Queensland. Besides the controversy over Van Eyk, many Queensland pastors had long been concerned over Lancaster's non-Trinitarian and annihilationist beliefs. They adopted
2418-590: The Australasian AFM. The AFM name was taken from the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, United States. The AFM had also affiliated congregations in New Zealand. The AFM was short lived, however. Doctrinal controversy, disputes over female authority, the volatile character of its leaders and accusations of immorality against Van Eyk led to the movement splitting. In 1928, the AFM's northern churches formed
Australian Christian Churches - Misplaced Pages Continue
2496-574: The Finished Work Pentecostal doctrine was also propagated through ministers of a Reformed background, including Pentecostal clerics William Howard Durham . The Finished Work doctrine became popular among those accepting a belief in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit who came from Reformed backgrounds; these adherents are known as Finished Work Pentecostals. While accepting a belief in a Baptism of
2574-817: The Foundations, used by Mercy Multiplied until June 2008, included "salvation", "forgiveness", "godly/ungodly beliefs", "generational curses", "soul/spirit hurts" and "demonic oppression". Although Mercy does not characterize itself as engaging in conversion therapy , girls who are suspected of having homosexual feelings for one another are required to sign "separation contracts" which stipulate they will not be alone together. Complaints by former residents of Mercy Ministries include "emotionally cruel and medically unproven techniques", such as exorcism and residents being required to sign over social welfare payments to Mercy Ministries. Girls in their care are forbidden to reveal to others why they are enrolled, all disorders are treated
2652-520: The Heritage Bible College) retain a belief in the doctrine of entire sanctification—the second work of grace. Despite the resistance of Wesleyan Pentecostals, however, finished work adherents were successful in persuading many Pentecostals of the validity of their view. As a result, most of the Pentecostal denominations founded after 1911 adhered to the finished work doctrine. This can be seen in Finished Work Pentecostal denominations such as
2730-606: The Higher Life movement. These included Charles Finney , William Boardman and Dwight L. Moody . These evangelicals of the Reformed tradition differed from their Wesleyan counterparts in that they rejected the holiness concept of a "second blessing" instead focusing on an "overcoming" life. Keswickian theology is most notable in the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. Though distinct from Keswickian (Higher Life) theology,
2808-466: The Holy Spirit accompanied with glossolalia, Finished Work Pentecostals reject the teaching of entire sanctification (the second work of grace in Methodism). In 1910, William Howard Durham preached a sermon entitled "The Finished Work of Calvary" at a midwestern Pentecostal convention. His finished work teaching "sought to 'nullify' the understanding of sanctification as wholly realized in the believer by
2886-547: The Holy Spirit; the third stage was added to the two traditional Wesleyan Methodist works of grace: conversion (New Birth) and entire sanctification (Christian perfection). In contrast, two-stage Pentecostalism (Finished Work Pentecostalism), which was the non-Wesleyan view held by Durham, held that sanctification was a lifelong process that began at conversion, thus this view only professed two stages—conversion and Spirit baptism. Durham wrote in his magazine, The Pentecostal Testimony : I ... deny that God does not deal with
2964-597: The Mercy Multiplied website states they are a non-denominational Christian organization, the organization is also considered to be evangelical , charismatic and fundamentalist , both as an organization and in their approach to treatment. Its website states that the founder, Nancy Alcorn, established the following three financial principles for the program: The program treats all disorder through faith- and prayer-based means in place of professional support and treatment. Former residents and staff have reported that
3042-739: The Nashville Teen Challenge program. Alcorn opened the first Mercy Ministries home in West Monroe in 1983 (which until 1987 was better-known as "Covenant Ministries"). A second home was opened in Nashville in 1996 followed by new corporate headquarters in 2001. The organization went international in 2001, opening two facilities in Australia followed by further homes in the United Kingdom in 2006, New Zealand in 2007 and Canada in 2010. Following widely publicized abuse scandals, they announced
3120-523: The PCA. Glover was baptised in the Holy Spirit at the Azusa Street revival and was one of the rare participants in early American Pentecostalism with an intellectual background. Glover thought the greatest need of the Pentecostal movement in Australia was "preachers, anointed of God and rightly instructed in the Word". To meet this need he began a short-lived Bible institute. He also began The Australian Evangel ,
3198-599: The Roman Catholic Church, and how those views were being called into question. These churches had historically been mistrusted by Pentecostals, but now many inside these churches were claiming the same experiences that Pentecostals enjoyed without rejecting those churches. Some AOG ministers responded with "new openness to ecumenical relationships", but others warned against "linking hands with modernists and liberals". Tensions escalated and in January 1973 an official statement
Australian Christian Churches - Misplaced Pages Continue
3276-435: The aid and development agency. Australian Christian Churches has many ministries in place to serve the church. These include: Australian Christian Churches supports many organisations including Mercy Ministries , Teen Challenge and Compassion Australia . In order to train future pastors and leaders in the denomination, Commonwealth Bible College (also known as Southern Cross Bible College, and now known as Alphacrucis )
3354-608: The closure of the Australian homes. The Sunshine Coast facility closed in June 2008 followed by the Sydney ( Baulkham Hills ) home in October 2009. Mercy Ministries New Zealand registered the domain name for A Girl Called Hope on September 21, 2010, completing the transition to this new name on January 28, 2011. The organization also opened homes in St Louis , Missouri and Sacramento , California in 2005 and 2009 respectively. While
3432-773: The controversy was that the young Pentecostal movement was split between Wesleyan-holiness and non-Wesleyan Reformed evangelicals. The finished work gained the greatest support from the independent and unorganized urban churches and missions. The Pentecostal denominations centered in the American South were the most resistant to the new doctrine. Today, these Holiness Pentecostal denominations ( Apostolic Faith Church , Calvary Holiness Association , Church of God (Cleveland) , Church of God in Christ , Congregational Holiness Church , Free Gospel Church , Pentecostal Holiness Church , and The (Original) Church of God ) and their seminaries (such as
3510-663: The converted Christian progressively grows in grace . On the other hand, the other branch of Pentecostalism— Holiness Pentecostalism teaches the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification as an instantaneous, definite second work of grace , which is a necessary prerequisite to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit . Finished Work Pentecostals are generally known to have retained the doctrine of progressive sanctification from their earlier Reformed roots, while Holiness Pentecostals retained their doctrine of entire sanctification from their earlier Wesleyan roots. William Howard Durham
3588-609: The denomination. Its 20 articles are summarized below: At the end of the 20th century, there was a decrease in emphasis on speaking in tongues as the initial evidence as well as the Second Coming of Christ as traditionally understood by Pentecostals. At the same time, the church growth movement and the prosperity gospel became important parts of the denomination's identity. ACC churches follow Pentecostal style services which involve contemporary praise and worship, speaking in tongues , lifting of hands in worship and preaching. While
3666-406: The direct supervision of state executives. The Assemblies of God is led in each state by a conference and executive. These bodies are empowered to manage all affairs that do not concern the national denomination. The roles of the state executive are similar to those of the national executive but specialised to the state with a closer relationship to local churches. The state executives recommend to
3744-493: The entire Spirit baptised congregation, not as offices given to specific persons. However, the Apostolic Church ordained both apostles and prophets. Within a week of the Apostolic Church's opening, 70 of Richmond Temple's members left and joined the new church. The Temple's elders believed that Greenwood should resign and the Temple join the Apostolic Church. However, a congregational vote sided with Greenwood, and all but one elder joined
3822-570: The founder of Methodism, advocated Christian perfection that held that entire sanctification was indeed a definite work that was to follow conversion (the New Birth). Wesley drew on the idea of theosis to suggest that sanctification would cause a change in motivation that if nurtured would lead to a gradual perfecting of the believer. Thus while it was physically possible for a sanctified believer to sin , he or she would be empowered to choose to avoid sin. Wesley's teachings and Methodism gave birth to
3900-834: The holiness movement arose primarily within Methodism, it made an impact on the Quaker tradition, as well as in certain Anabaptist, Baptist and Restorationist denominations. Another movement stressing the importance of sanctification arose called the Higher Life movement , which centered around the Keswick Convention ; the theology of the Higher Life movement is thus known as Keswickian theology. Keswickian theology differs from Wesleyan-Arminian (Methodist) theology. In time, significant Irvingite and Calvinist leaders became thoroughly embedded in
3978-416: The inclination to sin was removed and replaced by perfect love. The state of entire sanctification allowed the believer to turn his or her attention outward toward the advancement of the gospel . In contrast, the state of partial sanctification was said to turn the believer's attention to the interior spiritual struggle for holiness which in turn limited his or her usefulness to the church and society. Though
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#17328523703054056-608: The leaders of both movements' had links to the Sunshine Revival. The two bodies were in some ways different in their polities. Greenwood and Philip Duncan (prominent PCA pastor in Sydney) exercised greater control in their own churches which were large and their influence dominated the other PCA churches. The Queensland churches, on the other hand, were more dispersed and more democratic. Their pastors tended to rotate their tenure, and no single church held preeminence. This tended to make
4134-540: The local church—as opposed to the congregationalism traditionally preferred by Pentecostals. During the 1980s and 1990s, mega-churches came to dominate the denomination at both state and national levels. Members of the National Executive were exclusively mega-church pastors, and both state and national departments came under the control of mega-churches. Decentralisation has also occurred in the area of world missions. In 2001, responsibility for particular mission fields
4212-495: The movement, and its one-time leader, Andrea Mason , attending an ACC church. Both Australian Christian Churches and the Family First Party maintain that links are historical only, and that there is no organisational connection at the present time. Publicly the Assemblies of God in Australia has distanced itself from advocating certain political groups and parties, including the fledgling Family First party: In October 2007,
4290-405: The name "Hillsong" became more well-known than the church name through its music. A megachurch is a Protestant church having 2,000 or more people in average weekend attendance. Most of the megachurches in Australia are affiliated with Australian Christian Churches. In the 1970s and 1980s, the largest churches in the movement were Garden City Christian Church and Paradise Community Church . In
4368-579: The name of the location and then the words "Assembly of God". For example, the AOG church in Paradise, South Australia , was called "Paradise Assembly of God" (now called Influencers Church ). When Frank Houston moved to Australia from New Zealand in 1977 to establish a church in Sydney , he called his church the Sydney Christian Life Centre . From his church, Houston established several others with
4446-556: The national church's power increased. In 1963, the position of chairman was made a full-time one, and the constitution was reformed to make the AG's polity closer to that of the American Assemblies of God. At the national conference of 1969, state presbyteries (governing bodies) were given more responsibility, the denomination asserted more control over ordination, and the title of chairman was changed to general superintendent. The impact of
4524-420: The national conference, is the chief policy making body of the denomination. Until 1997, the national leader of ACC was titled superintendent. The incumbent national president, as from 2009, is Wayne Alcorn. ACCI Missions and Relief is a department of the Australian Christian Churches and currently headed up by Pastor Alun Davies, with ACCI Missions being the missionary sending and support agency and ACCI Relief
4602-437: The national executive eligible candidates for ordination. They provide assistance to churches requesting advice or intervention and also have the authority to discipline ministers. At the request of the state executive or at its own discretion, the national executive can intervene in a state's governance. The biennial national conference is a representative body of all ordained ministers and all registered churches. Every church
4680-477: The nature of sin at conversion. I deny that a man who is converted or born again is outwardly washed and cleansed but that his heart is left unclean with enmity against God in it... This would not be Salvation. Salvation ... means a change of nature... It means that all the old man or old nature, which was sinful and depraved and which was the very thing in us that was condemned, is crucified with Christ. Converts began to share their beliefs in meetings and councils in
4758-423: The organization admit that its claim that its program included support from "psychologists, dietitians, general practitioners and counsellors" was also false, and ordered them to pay restitution to some residents affected by this practice. The Mercy Multiplied website states that they are supported solely by donations from individuals, organizations and other ministries. They host fund raising events throughout
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#17328523703054836-537: The organization seized social welfare payments from residents, contradicting the first principle, and a 2009 investigation in the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that residents at the organization's home in Sydney, Australia were required to sign over their Centrelink benefits during their stay at the program. A ruling by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in the same year also saw
4914-594: The point of dividing families. The dispute grew more heated in February 1911 when Durham went to Los Angeles where he was prohibited from preaching at the Upper Room and Azusa Street Missions. He was able to hold services at the Kohler Street Mission where he attracted 1000 people on Sundays and around 400 on weekdays. Durham died that same year, but the controversy surrounding finished work persisted. The effect of
4992-405: The post until 1959. During his tenure, the college developed a central role in the fellowship and saw an increased number of pastors, church planters, and missionaries trained. This period saw the AOG double in size from 50 churches in 1951 to almost 100 in 1969. Part of this growth was due to immigration, and ethnic congregations, including Slavic and Italian assemblies, were established. There
5070-404: The same because they believe they are all caused by demons. Since early 2008, the organization has attracted considerable media attention in Australia, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom, drawing criticism of their employment of unqualified staff, overall medical negligence, seizing benefit payments of patients in contradiction to their promise of not charging for services, and
5148-453: The two groups and Covenant Christian Church joined the AGQ as Glad Tidings Tabernacle (now Brisbane City Church) in 1940. In 1925, the American evangelist A. C. Valdez visited Australia and was invited by Charles Greenwood to preach at his church in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, beginning what would become the year-long Sunshine Revival. The growing congregation converted a movie theatre into
5226-559: The western United States where the Azusa Movement and its emphasis on sanctification as a definite experience was seen as orthodoxy , and any deviation was viewed with suspicion. This took the form of family members and friends who frequented various revival and camp meetings in the eastern US returning home to the Northwest and attempting to share their understanding of the “new doctrine.” The popularist version suggested that sanctification
5304-673: The year, and invite visitors to their website to donate by becoming a financial partner or "sponsoring" a girl. Mercy Ministries Australia was investigated by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and found to be in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1997 and guilty of "false and misleading advertising" of their services, including advertising that their program was free of charge when their clients were in fact required to sign over their government welfare benefits. The former directors were required to issue
5382-419: Was also increased missionary activity, almost all of which was focused on the mission field of Papua New Guinea. This approach was successful and led to the 1973 turning over of all mission property and authority to local churches and the establishment of the self-governing Assemblies of God of Papua New Guinea which by 1998 rivaled the size of the Australian fellowship. With growth came the need to manage it and
5460-492: Was called the Finished Work Controversy which split the Pentecostal movement into Wesleyan and non-Wesleyan doctrinal orientations, known respectively as Holiness Pentecostals and Finished Work Pentecostals . When Holiness Pentecostalism, the earliest form of Pentecostalism, emerged as a distinct movement within American Protestantism , it was through ministers with a Wesleyan-Holiness (Methodistic) background such as Charles Parham and William J. Seymour . John Wesley ,
5538-627: Was established in 1948 as the official ministry training school of Australian Christian Churches. Since the emergence of megachurches, large churches have begun establishing their own bible colleges. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was estimated that there are over 3,000 full-time students being trained at bible colleges affiliated with Australian Christian Churches. The denomination claims more than 1,100 churches and over 225,000 adherents across Australia. In 2007, affiliated churches had an average congregation of 179 people and 26 churches had over 1,000 members. Pentecostalism in Australia emerged as
5616-416: Was given to "regional churches" (mega-churches or near mega-churches). This occurred at a time when the National Executive has gained power at the expense of the representative National Conference, which by 2003 had only the election of National Executive members on its agenda. In 2007, the ACC had more than 375,000 adherents with more than 1,100 congregations across the country as of 2001. In April 2007, at
5694-408: Was granted autonomy in its own affairs as was each registered assembly. Charles Greenwood was elected the first chairman. From its formation through World War II, the AOG experienced a period of stagnation. At the time of the merger, there were 38 churches and 1,482 members. Over eight years it grew by four churches, but membership decreased to 1,250. In 1939, the AOG declared British Israelism to be
5772-418: Was less consensus on the issue of Christian participation in military service. In the end, the matter was left to "individual conscience". In 1948, Commonwealth Bible College (now known as Alphacrucis ) was founded to train men and women for ministry. James Wallace, an Assemblies of God minister from Great Britain, was appointed principal of the college in 1951 and was then elected AOG chairman in 1955, holding
5850-476: Was not a requirement for Spirit Baptism. This was viewed as a dangerous and fallacious polemic by the majority who assumed that anyone who had received the Pentecostal Blessing had in fact been sanctified and as an outright heresy by those who had slipped into the entire sanctification camp. In either case, proponents of the finished work were seen as contentious and were in many cases officially shunned to
5928-478: Was published challenging the charismatic practices of prostration (being " slain in the Spirit "), dancing, and the belief that Christians could be demon possessed (everyone in the AOG agreed that non-Christians could indeed be demon possessed). These tensions fed into the debate over local church autonomy, with charismatic pastors fearing the ability of a conservative denominational leadership forcing its own views on
6006-570: Was said to have "replaced" "Restoring the Foundations" in 2009 by one media source, and in another, was said to have been "renamed" Choices That Bring Change. This change occurred in June 2008, following revelations that "Restoring the Foundations" involved the practice of exorcism/demonic deliverance. However, as of October 27, 2012, the Mercy Ministries of America website states that "Mercy Ministries does not perform or endorse exorcisms as part of its treatment curriculum". Modules of Restoring
6084-409: Was willing to drop the PCA label in exchange for association with the global Assemblies of God movement. For a national constitution, the conference drew from the two existing constitutions as wells as from the constitution of the Assemblies of God USA . The new fellowship would be based on "voluntary cooperation, on terms of equality" and would be governed by biennial national conferences. Every state
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