The Church of God (Holiness) is an association of autonomous

holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

congregations. Originating in the 19th century, it is aligned with

conservative holiness movement The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (F ...

of Methodism. With respect to

ecumenism Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...

, the Church of God is a member of the

Global Wesleyan Alliance The Global Wesleyan Alliance (GWA) is an ecumenical organization of Christian denominations who adhere to Wesleyan-Arminian (Methodist) theology. It was formed in Anderson, Indiana, in 2011. The initial December 2–3, 2011, organisational meetin ...

and

Interchurch Holiness Convention The Interchurch Holiness Convention (IHC), formerly the Interdenominational Holiness Convention, is an ecumenical organization of denominations and congregations within the conservative holiness movement. Aligned with the conservative holiness movem ...

History

The Church of God (Holiness) began on March 29, 1883, with the founding of a church in

Centralia, Missouri Centralia is a city in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 4,541 at the 2020 census, with an estimated population of 4,244 in 2018. A very small portion of the city lies in Audrain County. The Boone County portion of ...

with 44 members. Those involved in this effort were: J. F. Watkins, N. T. Sneed, H. A. Foster, G. R. Sneed, F. H. Sumter, J. B. Ceighton, J. H. Allen, D. C. Brenneman, G. W. Petty, Isaiah Reid, T. B. Bratton, A. L. Brewer, A. M. Kiergan, and W. T. Bean. The movement grew out of a group of former members of the

Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. ...

that had been participating in the Southwestern Holiness Association. The leading cause of their departure from the Methodist Church was their zealous propagation of a unique interpretation of the doctrine of

entire sanctification Christian perfection is the name given to theological concepts within some sects of Christianity that purport to describe a process of achieving spiritual maturity or perfection. The ultimate goal of this process is union with God characterized by ...

that differed from the rest of the Methodist Church. One of the early leaders was John Petit Brooks (1826–1915), who was editor of ''The Church Witness'', which subsequently merged with ''The Good Way'', to become the ''Church Herald'', which later merged with the ''Church Advocate and Holiness Banner'' to become ''The Church Herald and Holiness Banner''. He left the

circa 1886.

Beliefs

The idea of church is for believers to come together as a body, and to have fellowship with other believers. God desires that we come to Him with a repentant heart and a desire to know Him more fully.

Organization

The Church of God (Holiness) has about 120 congregations in the United States, with the majority in Missouri and Kansas. Additionally they have 12 congregations on the Navajo Reservation, 13 Spanish-speaking congregations in California, Texas, New York and Colorado, a Korean ministry in

Overland Park, Kansas Overland Park ( ) is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in Johnson County, Kansas, it is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the most populous suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As ...

, and two Haitian works in New York and Florida. The church also has a sizeable outgrowth in the Cayman Islands. Ministry departments of the church include Home Missions, World Missions, Harmony Hill Youth Ministries, and the Herald and Banner Press. Headquarters are located in Overland Park, Kansas. A general church conference is held annually in Overland Park. World missions works are found in Bolivia, the British West Indies, the Virgin Islands, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and Ukraine.

Ecumenism

With respect to

, the Church of God is a member of the

and the

Education

The Church of God (Holiness) is associated with Kansas Christian College in Overland Park. This institution gives degrees in ministry, business leadership, psychology, and education. The headquarters for the church is located on the campus and the General Camp and Convention are also held here. The church is also associated with several private elementary and secondary schools. These are El Dorado Christian School in Eldorado Springs, Missouri; Fort Scott Christian Heights in

Fort Scott, Kansas Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 7,552. It is named for Gen. Winfield Scott. The city is located south of Kansas City on the Marmat ...

; Gravette Holiness Bible School in

Gravette, Arkansas Gravette is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population is 3,547 according to the 2020 census. The population was 2,325 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region. Geography Gravette is located in nort ...

; Lowry City Christian School in

Lowry City, Missouri Lowry City is a city in St. Clair County, Missouri, United States. The population was 613 at the 2020 census. Lowry City is the city where the Ozark Mountains meet the Great Plains. History Lowry City was platted in 1871 when a railroad was buil ...

; Mount Zion Bible School in

Ava, Missouri Ava is the only incorporated city in Douglas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,894 at the 2020 census. Ava is the county seat of Douglas County. The city was founded in 1871. It was renamed ''Ava'' in 1881, the town's orig ...

; Mountain State Christian School in

Culloden, West Virginia Culloden is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cabell and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 3,061 (2,683 in Cabell County, 378 in Putnam County). Culloden is part of the Huntingto ...

; and Overland Christian Schools in Overland Park.Roster of Accredited Ministers and Church Directory 2009-2010: Church of God (Holiness)

References

External links

Church of God (Holiness)
- Official Web Site
Home Missions DepartmentWorld Missions DepartmentKansas Christian CollegeHarmony Hill Youth MinistriesHHYC Young Adult Missions ProgramHerald and Banner Press
{{DEFAULTSORT:Church Of God (Holiness) Centralia, Missouri Religious organizations established in 1883 Church of God denominations Holiness denominations Evangelical denominations in North America Christian denominations established in the 19th century Protestant denominations established in the 19th century 1883 establishments in Missouri