Welcome back to the fold
One of the most aggressive and widely published religious denominations has changed it name and rejected its former doctrines. The denomination, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1934, was originally called the Radio Church of God. It became the Worldwide Church of God in 1968. It published “The Plain Truth” magazines and distributed them to people in transport and aircraft waiting lounges.
It was known for its fundamentalist and legalistic doctrines, its emphasis on pre-millennialism “The World Tomorrow”, and its failure to distinguish between the Old Covenant (which made observance of the Old Testament festivals, the Sabbath, triple tithing and salvation by observance to the Law of Moses) obligatory on all members, and the New Covenant seen in the New Testament (where people are saved by God’s grace through faith alone, not by anything we do nor observances which we must keep.) Many individual Protestants got caught up with the strong legalism of this denomination and the ostentatious Bible training colleges and life style of its leaders.
Herbert W. Armstrong lived the high life, with his own private jets, extravagant gifts to world leaders who were always pictured receiving gifts from Armstrong. Many became disillusioned with the comfort he found with the second Mrs Armstrong so soon after his first wife died.
After Armstrong’s death in 1986, the church re-examined its doctrines and teachings. This process led to a complete reformation to Christian orthodoxy by the mid 1990s. At this time, on behalf of all major denominations in Australia, I welcomed the Australian Christian leaders of the World Wide Church of God back into the fold of true evangelical faith.
They repented of past doctrinal errors and attended in large numbers at Wesley Theatre, and freed themselves from 70 years of living in error while the followed the flawed teaching of a man who criticised the Biblical faith of the mainstream denominations.
The church’s message now centers on Trinitarian, Incarnational theology and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The church had abandoned its former legalistic doctrines, exclusivist teaching, and prophetic speculation and has been warmly embraced by the Christian community. The church sees itself in full communion with the greater Body of Christ and a participant in the collective effort to proclaim the gospel of grace.
The new evangelical denomination is now a member of the National Association of Evangelicals with church president, Joseph Tkach, serving on its board.
Its Advisory Council of Elders settled on the name “Grace Communion International.” Denominational leaders believe the new name better describes what the church has become and will serve it more effectively in the future. “Grace lies at the heart of our values and mission as a transformed church. Our spiritual unity with God and with one another is reflected in the word Communion. The word International identifies us as a unified body of believers who span the globe, sharing a common history and journey of faith,” said denominational president Joseph Tkach. “We are a church that God radically transformed. Our new name is consistent with that transformation and aptly describes what God has made of our fellowship.”
Grace Communion International has about 42,000 members worldwide, meeting in nearly 900 congregations. Welcome back into the fold brothers and sisters in Christ.
Rev The Hon Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC