Classification Independent Christian Region International | Leader Roderick C. Meredith Founder Roderick C. Meredith | |
Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina Origin 1998
San Diego, California | ||
The Living Church of God (LCG) is one of hundreds of groups that formed after the death of the late Herbert W. Armstrong, when major doctrinal changes (causing turmoil and divisions) were occurring in the former Worldwide Church of God (WCG) especially during the 1990s. The LCG was formed in December 1998 and is an offshoot organization of the Global Church of God (GCG), which formed in December 1992. The Living Church of God is one of multifarious Sabbatarian Churches of God church groups that have sprung up from the former WCG, known today as Grace Communion International (GCI). And even from the LCG organization itself, several other split-off groups have resulted, each one of which is headed by a former LCG minister.
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Founder
LCG's leader is Roderick C. Meredith.
Following his graduation from Ambassador College, Pasadena, California, USA in June 1952, Meredith was assigned by Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, to start and pastor WCG congregations in Portland, Oregon; San Diego, California; and Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. On December 20, 1952, after summoning him back to the WCG's headquarters in Pasadena, California, from his pastorship in Oregon, Armstrong ordained him and four other men—including his uncle Dr. C. Paul Meredith — to the position of evangelist. These men were the very first evangelists of the WCG. Meredith was the youngest of the newly ordained men, and was the fifth personage to be ordained.
Over the following years, Meredith would help start up scores of WCG congregations throughout the United States. He would also conduct many baptizing and evangelizing tours in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa. From the early to mid-1950s, and again in 1960, he was assigned by Armstrong to live in Britain to start up congregations for the Church there. For years he was one of the WCG's leading theologians and top executives, and an instructor at Ambassador College. However, when overseeing the ministry during the 1960s, he began to gain a negative reputation for being too harsh.
Formation
After Armstrong died, WCG began to change many of its core doctrines, a process that brought the organization into the mainstream of Evangelical Christianity. However, many members objected, and hundreds of splinter groups arose as a result.
Meredith initially founded the Global Church of God (GCG) in December 1992, but was controversially fired from his positions as chairman of its board and presiding evangelist in 1998. He left to form LCG, incorporating the church in San Diego, California, in December 1998. His dismissal was widely unpopular with GCG members, and as much as 80 percent of the GCG membership followed Meredith to LCG. However, over the years since its' formation several ministers have departed from the church organization and have formed other groups. In 2004 for example, the late evangelist Raymond F. McNair (ordained by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1953, a year after Meredith's ordination] left the LCG and formed 'the Church of God 21st Century'. (It disbanded after his death in 2008). In 2005 ministers Don Haney and Ben Faulkner also left. Haney formed 'the Church of God In Peace and Truth', Faulkner 'the Church of the Sovereign God'. In 2006, Charles Bryce [whom Meredith had appointed 'Head of Church Administration', with responsibility over all LCG's field ministers worldwide] left and formed the Enduring Church of God. In 2013, minister Rod Reynolds left and formed COG Messenger.
In 2003, the church's corporate headquarters was moved from San Diego to Charlotte, North Carolina. The church reported in 2011 that it had 330 congregations in 45 countries, and that over 8,000 members attended its annual eight-day festival of the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, at 46 sites in 31 countries on every continent (except Antarctica). An independent auditor specializing in non-profits reported that the church's income for 2010 was over US$14.3 million. LCG's revenue comes from tithes, holy day offerings, and other contributions from both members and non-members. The tithe is 10% of a member's income and it is permitted to tithe on the net income. The members should not tithe on the "unearned income" (such as social security, old-age assistance, unemployment benefits, pensions, gifts, disability or similar types of income).
Doctrines
LCG preaches a message of an impending Apocalypse followed by a thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on Earth.
Other beliefs include:
Media projects
Shortly after LCG's incorporation, it started producing a weekly, half-hour television program, Tomorrow's World. As of 2007, the show is anchored by Meredith, Richard Ames, Rod King, and Wallace G. Smith.
It is carried on 211 television stations throughout the world. In May 2006, LCG's media department reported that the show was accessible to nearly 78 million American households, or 71 percent of the American television market.
According to reports in March 2007 by Nielsen Research, the program was estimated to reach an average of 50,000 new viewers each week. From 1999 to date, approximately 320 programs have been taped and televised.
LCG also publishes a free, bi-monthly, subscription magazine under the title Tomorrow's World. As of 2006, its circulation was 1.8 million. From the magazine's inception in 1999 through May 2007, 8.3 million copies were produced. Additionally, the church operates a Tomorrow's World website.
The church produces several foreign-language radio programs, which are broadcast on 15 stations. These include a Spanish program titled El Mundo de Mañana ("Tomorrow's World"), presented by Mario Hernandez, who also is the presenter of the Spanish telecast with the same title. Also, the French program Le Monde Demain ("Tomorrow's World") is broadcast throughout the Caribbean. Up until his death in 2010, it was presented by longtime evangelist and radio presenter Dibar K. Apartian.
Online university
In 2007, LCG launched Living University, a nonprofit, online, distance-learning institution. The school is currently unaccredited, but LCG is exploring accreditation for Living University's undergraduate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Terry Ratzmann shooting
In March 2005, the LCG was thrust into national & international spotlight when LCG member Terry Ratzmann took his gun and shot at members of his LCG congregation in Brookfield, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Reportedly he had been infuriated by a sermon the minister had given two weeks earlier. He killed Pastor Randy Gregory, the Pastor's teenage son James and shot at others including the Pastor's wife, but she and others managed to survive. In total seven persons died.
No motive was determined by police. Authorities examined possible religious connections to the shooting, but other motives, including Ratzmann's recent loss of a job, and mental health issues, are likely.