Living Church of God

Living Church of God
Classification Independent Christian
Leader Roderick C. Meredith
Region International
Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina
Founder Roderick C. Meredith
Origin 1998
San Diego, California
Separated from Global Church of God
Congregations 330

The Living Church of God (LCG) is one of many church groups formed after the death of the late Herbert W. Armstrong, when major doctrinal changes (causing turmoil and divisions) were occurring in the former Worldwide Church of God (WCG) especially during the 1990s. The LCG was formed in December 1998 and is an offshoot organization of the Global Church of God (GCG), which formed in December 1992. The Living Church of God is one of multifarious Sabbatarian Churches of God church groups that have sprung up from the former WCG, now known as Grace Communion International (GCI).

Founder

LCG's leader is Roderick C. Meredith who had been one of the most senior, high-ranking evangelists in WCG.

Following his graduation in June 1952, Meredith was assigned by Armstrong to start and pastor congregations in Portland, Oregon; San Diego, California; and Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. On December 20, 1952, after summoning him back to the WCG's headquarters in Pasadena, California, from his pastorship in Oregon, Armstrong ordained him and four other men—including his uncle Dr. C. Paul Meredith—to the high-ranking position of evangelist. These men were the very first evangelists of the WCG. Meredith was the youngest of the newly ordained men, and was the fifth to be ordained.

Over the following years, Meredith would help start up scores of congregations throughout the United States. He would also conduct many baptizing and evangelizing tours in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa. From the early to mid-1950s, and again in 1960, he was assigned by Armstrong to live in Britain to start up congregations for the Church.

For many years he was one of the WCG's leading theologians and top executives, and an instructor at Ambassador College. Meredith for many years oversaw the ministry in the WCG.

Formation

After Armstrong died, WCG began to change many of its core doctrines, a process that brought the organization into the mainstream of Evangelical Christianity. However, many members objected, and hundreds of splinter groups arose as a result.[1]

Meredith initially founded the Global Church of God (GCG) in 1992, but was controversially fired from his positions as chairman of its board and presiding evangelist in 1998. He left to form LCG, incorporating the church in San Diego, California, in December 1998.[2] His dismissal was widely unpopular with GCG members, and as much as 80 percent of the GCG membership followed Meredith to LCG.[3]

In 2003, the church's corporate headquarters was moved from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina.[4] The church reported in 2011 that it had 330 congregations in 45 countries, and that over 8,000 members attended its annual eight-day festival of the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, at 46 sites in 31 countries on every continent (except Antarctica).[5] An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported that the church's income for 2010 was over US$14.3 million.[6] LCG's revenue comes from tithes,[7] holy day offerings, and other contributions from both members and non-members. The tithe is 10% of a member's income and it is permitted to tithe on the net income.[8] The members should not tithe on the "unearned income" (such as social security, old-age assistance, unemployment benefits, pensions, gifts, disability or similar types of income).[8]

Doctrines

LCG preaches Armstrong's message of an impending Apocalypse followed by a thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on Earth.

Other beliefs include:

Media projects

Shortly after LCG's incorporation, it started producing a weekly, half-hour television program, Tomorrow's World. As of 2007, the show is anchored by Meredith, Richard Ames, Rod King, and Wallace G. Smith.

It is carried on 211 television stations throughout the world. In May 2006, LCG's media department reported that the show was accessible to nearly 78 million American households, or 71 percent of the American television market.[10]

According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research, the program was estimated to reach an average of 50,000 new viewers each week.[11] From 1999 to date, approximately 320 programs have been taped and televised.

LCG also publishes a free, bi-monthly, subscription magazine under the title Tomorrow's World. As of 2006, its circulation was 1.8 million. From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007, 8.3 million copies were produced.[12] Additionally, the church operates a Tomorrow's World website.[13]

The church produces several foreign-language radio programs, which are broadcast on 15 stations. These include a Spanish program titled El Mundo de Mañana ("Tomorrow's World"),[14] presented by Mario Hernandez, who also is the presenter of the Spanish telecast with the same title. Also, the French program Le Monde Demain ("Tomorrow's World") is broadcast throughout the Caribbean.[15] Up until his death in 2010, it was presented by longtime LCG evangelist and radio presenter Dibar Apartian.

Online university

In 2007, LCG launched Living University, an nonprofit, online, distance-learning institution. The school is currently unaccredited, but LCG is exploring accreditation for Living University's undergraduate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.[16]

Terry Ratzmann shooting

In March 2005, a LCG congregation in Brookfield, Wisconsin, U.S.A. was attacked by gunman Terry Ratzmann, a member of the church. Pastor Randy Gregory and seven LCG members, including three children, were killed. The killings thrust LCG into the national spotlight.

No motive was determined by police.[17] Authorities examined possible religious connections to the shooting, but other motives, including Ratzmann's recent loss of a job, and mental health issues, are likely.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A Short History of Grace Communion International". Grace Communion International. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Introvigne, Massimo. "Schism in the Global Church of God: Birth of A New "Armstrongite" Church, The Living Church of God". Center for Studies on New Religions. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  3. ↑ "Church of God Timeline: 1996 to 2004". The Journal: News of the Churches of God. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  4. ↑ Howard, J. Lee (February 14, 2003). "Church group relocating HQ here from San Diego". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  5. ↑ "The Living Church News" (pdf). Living Church of God. January–February 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  6. ↑ "The Living Church News" (pdf). Living Church of God. July–August 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  7. ↑ "God's People Tithe!".
  8. 1 2 "Personal Correspondence Department L061" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Statement of Beliefs". Living Church of God.
  10. ↑ Winnail, Douglas (25 May 2007). "World Ahead Weekly Update".
  11. ↑ Living Church of God, Letter from Roderick C. Meredith, March 12, 2007
  12. ↑ Greetings, Douglas Winnail, May 24, 2007
  13. ↑ The Living Church News, v.4 No.9, July–August 2007, p9
  14. ↑ Programas de El Mundio de Mañana
  15. ↑ http://www.mondedemain.org/emissions.php.
  16. ↑ Co-Worker Letter Library
  17. ↑ "Motive Still Unclear in Milwaukee Church Shooting". The New York Times. August 3, 2005.
  18. ↑ Wilgoren, Jodi (March 15, 2005). "Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings". NYTimes Online (The New York Times). Retrieved 24 January 2012.

External links

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