Church of God Mountain Assembly

The Church of God of the Mountain Assembly, Inc. (CGMA) is a holiness pentecostal Christian body formed in 1906, with roots in the late 19th century American holiness movement and early 20th century Pentecostal revival.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Doctrine 3 Status 4 External links 5 References

History

Beginning around 1895, several ministers of the South Union Association of United Baptists became involved in the holiness movement. At their annual session in 1903, the South Union Association excluded all ministers preaching apostasy (the possibility of losing one's salvation). About five or six churches withdrew from the association. On August 24, 1906, representatives met at the Jellico Creek church in Whitley County, Kentucky and formed a new association. They chose the name Church of God. The early leaders were ministers J. H. Parks, Steve Bryant, Tom Moses, and William O. Douglas. About the time of organization, they also accepted the Pentecostal revival. After discovering that other bodies were holding property and transacting business under the name Church of God, this body added the words "of the Mountain Assembly" to Church of God for identification and legal purposes. In 1917 the body was incorporated, and in 1918 headquarters were established in Jellico, Tennessee.

The Gospel Herald, official publication of the Church of God Mountain Assembly, was first published in 1942. A new form of governance was adopted in 1946, including the offices of General Overseer, First Assistant General Overseer, and General Secretary and Treasurer.

Doctrine

The church has drawn up a Church Covenant similar to that of their Baptist forebears, and holds a twelve article Statement of Faith. Doctrines of the Church of God Mountain Assembly include:

• the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God
• God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Ghost
• the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial atonement, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
• salvation by faith through regeneration by the Holy Ghost
• sanctification as a second work of grace
• the full Gospel, including divine healing and speaking in tongues
• water baptism by immersion, the Lord's supper and washing the saints feet as ordinances
• the premillennial second coming of Christ

Status

The Church of God Mountain Assembly maintains headquarters and offices in Jellico, Tennessee, with a large open air tabernacle and several parsonages. The main geographical strength of the body (about 70% of the churches) is in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. There were over 6000 members in 118 churches in 1998. CGMA is a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (formerly the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America).

The Church of God Mountain Assembly has suffered two divisions since its formation, resulting in the Church of God Union Assembly (org. 1920 in Jackson County, Georgia) and the Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly (org. 1946 at Williamsburg, Kentucky).

External links

• Church of God Mountain Assembly - official Web Site
• Adherents.com

References

• Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
• The C.G.M.A. File: Inside Information about the Church of God of the Mountain Assembly, Inc. - (pamphlet distributed by the church)
• Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, 1999, American Council of Churches