Classification Church of God Region International Origin 1999 | Leader David C. Pack Headquarters Wadsworth, Ohio Founder David C. Pack | |
Separated from Worldwide Church of God, Global Church of God Founded 1999, Wadsworth, Ohio, United States Profiles | ||
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The Restored Church of God (RCG) is one of the many churches to form following major doctrinal changes in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) which was founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. RCG claims to retain the tenets, style, and structure of the earlier WCG before Armstrong's death in 1986. It is one of the Sabbatarian Churches of God that emerged following WCG's major schism in 1995.
Contents
Foundation
RCG was formed in May 1999, in the midst of ongoing upheaval in the wake of a departure from WCG's established beliefs. It is based in Wadsworth, Ohio.
RCG's founder and leader is David C. Pack (born 1948). As Pastor General of the Restored Church of God, David C. Pack oversees the operations of the church. He attended Ambassador College and entered WCG's ministry in 1971. Following the 1995 schism in WCG, Pack became a minister in the Global Church of God, but was fired on May 3, 1999, and established his own church. Since then, he has established over 50 congregations, authored more than 20 books, written hundreds of booklets and articles, and appeared on The History Channel. The church attendance is claimed to be in the thousands, but no reliable numbers have been published.
Doctrines
RCG's doctrines are very similar to those of WCG before Armstrong's death, adhering to what critics often refer to as Armstrongism, which includes belief in the impending Apocalypse followed by the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on Earth, along with Old Testament dietary provisions, tithing, observance of seventh-day Sabbath, bans on holidays and festivals with pagan roots like Christmas and Easter and most of Herbert W. Armstrong's other teachings.
The Church also considers birthday celebrations and festivities such as St. Patrick's Day to be against the Bible.
Media projects
RCG's flagship magazine is The Real Truth, of which Pack is editor-in-chief. Pack hosts the program The World to Come. Additionally, Pack has written a two-volume Biography, and a booklet titled Here Is The Restored Church of God, which explains more about his church. RCG's literature and programs are offered free of charge to the public.
Schools and camps
RCG runs Ambassador Center, a two-year institution to train RCG's future ministers and leaders, modeled after WCG's Ambassador College. The church also runs Ambassador Youth Camp, an annual summer camp for its teenagers.
Wadsworth headquarters
RCG started construction on its world headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, in 2012, modeled in part on Armstrong's Ambassador College campus in Pasadena, California. The church's plans for the project include a four-level Hall of Administration building; a 450-seat auditorium; an educational training center; a studio; and a mail-processing building. The project broke ground on May 10, 2012, and the administration building officially opened June 21, 2013.