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The Church of God and Saints of Christ is a Black Hebrew Israelite religious group established in Lawrence, Kansas, by William Saunders Crowdy in 1896. William Crowdy began congregations in several cities in the Midwestern and Eastern United States, and sent an emissary to organize locations in at least six African countries. The congregation later established locations in Cuba and the West Indies.
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Religious beliefs
The Church of God and Saints of Christ describes itself as "the oldest African-American congregation in the United States that adheres to the tenets of Judaism." The congregation subscribes to the belief in one God, love for all mankind, and the Ten Commandments as the basis for ethical and moral living.
It further teaches that, among the descendants of the biblical Israelites, there are peoples of African descent. Nevertheless, the congregation believes that anyone, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnicity, can embrace Judaism and become a member. Members believe that Jesus was neither God nor the son of God, but rather a strict adherent to Judaism and a prophet sent by God. They also consider William Saunders Crowdy to be a prophet.
Religious rituals
The Church of God and Saints of Christ synthesizes rituals drawn from both the Old Testament and New Testament. Its observances based on the Old Testament include circumcision of newborn boys, use of the Hebrew calendar, the wearing of yarmulkes, observance of Saturday as the Sabbath, and celebration of Passover and other religious holy days specified by the Bible.
Its rites based on the New Testament include baptism (immersion), the consecration of bread and water as Christ's body and blood, and footwashing.
Despite the name of the faith, members of the Church of God and Saints of Christ do not believe in Christianity; they adhere to Judaism as their religion.
Facilities
The group established its headquarters in Philadelphia in 1899, and William S. Crowdy later relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1903.
In 1906, Crowdy named Joseph Wesley Crowdy, William Henry Plummer, and Calvin Samuel Skinner as leaders of the congregation. Led by these three individuals, the organization continued to grow in membership.
In 1921, William Henry Plummer moved the organization's headquarters to its permanent location in Belleville (city of Suffolk), Virginia, which was purchased by William S. Crowdy in 1903 as the intended headquarters for the organization.
Howard Zebulun Plummer was consecrated by Calvin S. Skinner as head of the organization in 1931, and served for over 40 years until 1975.
By 1936, the Church of God and Saints of Christ had more than 200 "tabernacles" (congregations) and 37,000 members.
Levi Solomon Plummer became the church's leader in 1975. Under the leadership of Levi Solomon Plummer, the congregation constructed a temple at its headquarters, Temple Beth El, in two phases, the first in 1980 and the second in 1987. The temple serves as a permanent location for national events, including the annual Passover celebration.
Afterwards, the congregation began to rebuild the headquarters land in Virginia originally purchased by William S. Crowdy. Since 2001, the Church of God and Saints of Christ has been led by Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr., a great-grandson of William Saunders Crowdy.
As of 2005, it had fifty tabernacles in the United States, dozens in Africa, and one in Kingston, Jamaica. The organization also manages businesses and residential properties at its headquarters in Suffolk, Virginia, including a hotel and two living communities for senior citizens.
Independent branches
As early as 1909, local branches of the organization severed their ties with the congregation, forming their own organizations.
Today, two of the groups not affiliated with Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr. are headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and New Haven, Connecticut.