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The General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh-Day), or simply Church of God (Seventh-Day) or CoG7, is a seventh-day Sabbath-keeping Christian denomination. Like the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA), the Church of God (Seventh-Day) observes Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday).
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History
The General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh-Day) represents a line of Adventist Christians that rejected the visions and teachings of Ellen G. White before the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1858, five years before the founding of the SDA Church, a group led by Gilbert Cranmer of Michigan separated from the Adventists that followed White. Another independent Sabbatarian Adventist body formed in Iowa in 1860, and joined with the Church of God (Seventh-Day) in 1863.
A publication called The Hope of Israel (now The Bible Advocate) was started in 1863, and this publication extended the influence of the body into other areas. Through this publication, the doctrines of the second advent and seventh-day Sabbath were promoted, and other Christians were invited to gather for meetings. This extended the movement into Missouri, Nebraska and other places, and in 1884 the General Conference of the Church of God was organized. They incorporated in 1899, and "(Seventh-Day)" was added to the name in 1923. Offices were established in Stanberry, Missouri.
The Church of God (Seventh Day) split at their conference meeting on November 4, 1933, creating a smaller body headquartered in Salem, West Virginia, and known as the Church of God (7th Day).
At one time the church traced its history back to the Apostles through various medieval Sabbath-keeping groups like the Waldensians and Paulicians.[1]
Membership
As of 2001, the Church of God (Seventh Day) had 200 congregations in the United States and Canada, with an estimated 11,000 members[2]. Worldwide membership is over 125,000 members, with affiliated ministries in more than 20 other countries. Headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado, as of 2004. The church is a member of the Bible Sabbath Association (org. 1943), an organization promoting "fellowship and cooperation between Sabbath-keepers of various groups."
Doctrine and practices
According to the Church of God (Seventh Day), salvation is by grace, received by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from good works[3]. Obedience to the law, while not a means of salvation, is encouraged as an important part of Christian living. The church observes two ordinances - baptism by immersion and the Lord's supper (which is accompanied by feet washing), observed annually on Passover, the day of Jesus' death. The eating of unclean meats such as pork and shellfish is discouraged. The church also opposes the observance of traditional holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Good Friday because of their pagan roots. Pacifism is the official position of this group.
See also
References
- ^ A history of the True Religion Traced From 33 A.D. to Date, A. Dugger and C.O. Dodd
- ^ [1]Data from the National Council of Churches' Historic Archive CD and Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches
- ^ http://cog7.org/faith_statement.htm
External links
- Church of God (Seventh-Day)
- Profile of the Church of God (Seventh-Day) on the Association of Religion Data Archives website
- Iglesia De Dios (7o Dia) A.R. Mexico
- Church of God (Seventh-Day) - Jamaica
- A history of the True Religion Traced From 33 A.D. to Date
Other groups:
- Church of God (7th Day)
- General Council of the Churches of God, 7th Day
- Meridian Church of God Seventh Day
- Iglesia de Dios en México A. R.
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