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Philadelphia Church of God

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Philadelphia Church of God Wordmark.png
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationRestorationism
TheologyArmstrongism
GovernanceHierarchical polity
LeaderGerald R. Flurry
RegionInternational
HeadquartersEdmond, Oklahoma
FounderGerald R. Flurry
OriginDecember 7, 1989
Edmond, Oklahoma
Separated fromWorldwide Church of God
Separations
  • Church of God's Faithful
  • Church of God Scattered Faithful
  • Faithful Church of God in Laodicea
  • The Church of God
  • Armstrong Remembrancers
  • Keepers of God's Covenant
MembersApproximately 5,000
Official websitehttps://pcg.church/

The Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) is a sectarian splinter group from an American evangelical New Religious organization called Grace Communion International, formerly the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). The PCG was founded by ex-WCG members Gerald Flurry and John Amos in 1989.[1] The PCG was named for the church of Philadelphia, one of the "seven churches" in the Book of Revelation, and claims itself as "the true church".[1] Its headquarters is in the city of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Beliefs and teachings

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The Philadelphia Church of God claims that it looks to the Bible for all guidance and believes that the Bible is the full word of God.[1]

According to a profile in The Oklahoman newspaper:

Claiming to follow WCG founder Herbert W. Armstrong's teachings, the Philadelphia Church of God rejects the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity, teaching that that the Holy Spirit is not a separate person of God but rather is the "power of God.”[2]

The PCG also teaches that the lost tribes of Israel became the Anglo-Saxons, whose descendants founded Great Britain and the United States, a pseudo-religious belief known as British Israelism. According to the PCG, the British and Americans have been specially endowed by God. The PCG interprets Biblical warnings against "falling away" as directed at these two nations.[2]

The PCG recognizes the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown. Similar to American New Religion Christian Science, the PCG rejects medical care. Members refuse to bear arms or otherwise serve in the military.[2]

Flurry claims to be a prophet and that God continues to give him new revelations, and he warns the "Laodiceans," the United States and British Commonwealth, and Israel of their impending destruction through his various media programs and publications.[3]

History

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The American preacher Herbert W. Armstrong (1892–1986) started his "Worldwide Church of God" (WCG) during the Great Depression. At the time of Armstrong's death in 1986, the WCG was headquartered in California.[2][4]

Armstrong used radio and television to teach an unorthodox form of Christianity that was opposed by many other Christian denominations but which found a large audience of converts.[1][2][5]The doctrines espoused by the WCG are collectively termed "Armstrongism".[4]

In 1986, the WCG minister Joseph Tkach succeeded Armstrong.[1][2] Upon assuming leadership, Tkach began to disavow key aspects of Armstrongism; these disavowals moved the denomination closer to traditional Evangelicalism.[1][2] 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 book Mystery of the Ages.[1] Many who saw Armstrong’s doctrine as life law—and Mystery of the Ages as Armstrong's crowning achievement—became disillusioned with Tkach. In response to Tkach's changes, Gerald Flurry (1935-[when?][6], a minister of a WCG church in Oklahoma, wrote a polemic that he called Malachi’s Message. In his polemic, which he distributed to WCG members and leaders, Flurry denounced Tckach's rejections of Armstrongism.[1]

Flurry and co-minister John Amos eventually left the WCG and incorporated 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][2][7]

Characterizations by media and ex-members

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Oklahoma City-based Fox affiliate KOKH-TV aired an exposé on the PCG on November 24, 2008. The piece detailed the PCG's apocalyptic message and compared Flurry to David Koresh and PCG to the Branch Davidian doomsday cult.[8] Church leadership disputed the comparisons in a statement released to a local newspaper.[8]

Ex-members have criticized Furry's autocratic approach to church government,[9] and one ex-member claimed that Flurry pronounced "I sometimes feel real good when I'm called a cult [sic]" in a 1990 sermon.[10]

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Daily Express noted that the PCG, along with other religious organizations, flooded social media with fear-mongering prophecies.[11] In another 2020 article, the Daily Express criticized Gerald Flurry for his predictions regarding Donald Trump.[12]

As of 2024, none of Flurry's prophecies have been fulfilled.

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WCG vs. PCG

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In 1997, the PCG decided to publish Mystery of the Ages and a six-year legal battle with the WCG over the book's copyright ensued.[citation needed]

Dervaes vs. PCG

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Malachi's Message claims to be Flurry's explanation of the WCG's departure from Armstrong's teachings.[citation needed]

Author Jules C. Dervaes, Jr. (1947 – December 2016) claimed that Flurry plagiarism him. Dervaes [who?] challenged Flurry's copyright to Malachi's Message in 1990, arguing that Flurry's "ideas are a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work The Letter to Laodicean Church, which Dervaes published in stages between 1986 and 1988.[13] Both works identify a "Laodicean era", discuss Zerubbabel and Joshua, and introduce the "man of sin".[citation needed]

Media, promotional, and sponsored organizations

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Gerald Flurry and the PCG produce an array of print, online, television, radio, and streaming programs. They also run a number of affiliated organizations, including an unaccredited college and at least one "institute" promoting Biblical literalist archaeology in the Levant.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Philadelphia Church of God". WRSP. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Tevington, By Andrew. "Philadelphia Church stems from Worldwide". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ^ Flurry, Gerald (2019). The Key of David. United States of America: Philadelphia Church of God. pp. 4, 8, 80, 107, 117, 155, 161, 163, 168, 173.
  4. ^ a b Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale. ISBN 978-0-7876-6384-1.
  5. ^ Tucker, Ruth A. (2004). Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement. HarperCollins Christian Publishing. ISBN 978-0-310-25937-4.
  6. ^ Thewis (2010-02-22). "Gerald Flurry: GERALD FLURRY BIOGRAPHY". Gerald Flurry. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  7. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale. p. 631. ISBN 978-0-7876-6384-1.
  8. ^ a b "The Edmond Sun, Edmond, OK - Church responds to TV news report". web.archive.org. 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  9. ^ "The Cult Vault". YouTube. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  10. ^ "Philadelphia Church of God Info". Exit & Support Network. 7 October 2019.
  11. ^ Kettley, Sebastian (Apr 20, 2020). "Coronavirus: Fears Fourth Seal of Apocalypse broken as Bible warning of pestilence unfolds". Express.
  12. ^ Kettley, Sebastian (Dec 4, 2020). "Donald Trump prophecy: Bible preacher claims Trump 'will remain President'". Express.
  13. ^ Dervaes, Jules (1998). The Hidden Years (1st ed.). United States of America. pp. 283–286.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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