Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Encyclopedia
The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World-Wide was an African-American Oneness Pentecostal
denomination started in 1957 in Washington, DC. In 1997, a division over who was the rightful successor to Presiding Bishop and founder Smallwood Edmond Williams occurred. This dispute ultimately led to the splitting of the church into two separate organizations: a church of the same name led by Huie L. Rogers and the International Bible Way Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ led by Cornelius Showell.
Before the division in 1995, the church had about 300,000 members in 350 congregations world wide. The church's chief officer was the Presiding Bishop. Both successor bodies conduct a general conference annually in July and operate a publishing house in Washington, DC.
as the word of God; salvation made possible only through Jesus Christ; the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues; water baptism
by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin
s; the premillennial second coming
of Jesus Christ; the final judgment of the dead; and the establishment of new heavens and a new earth.
The church was led by a Presiding Bishop
and a General Assembly. The General Assembly was composed of bishop
s, overseers, district elders, pastor
s, elder
s, ministers, deacon
s, missionaries, and laity
.
(COOLJC). Under Williams' leadership, about 70 churches withdrew from that organization to form the Bible Way Church, citing the autocratic leadership of COOLJC leader, Bishop Robert C. Lawson. Nearly half of the 177 churches in the organization left and followed Williams. He and four other leading COOLJC ministers were soon formally ordained as bishops in a ceremony performed by a Bishop John Holly of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
. Williams became the first Presiding Bishop of the church.
On July 4, 1997 during the 40th Convocation, the General Assembly voted to retain Rogers and his administration for a "Sabbath" year. The reasoning being that the people voted for Rogers, but the majority of Bishops wanted Campbell. According to Bible Way's rules and regulations, the Board of Bishops can only nominate a person, but the people must vote on it, thus making Rogers the elected Presiding Bishop. The "Sabbath Resolution" was rejected by a majority of the bishops and pastors due to it not being a part of Bible Way policy, effectively killing the measure. This caused a rift in the Executive and General Boards.
There are now two separate and distinct organizations: Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc. headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and The International Bible Way Church Of Jesus Christ, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
Campbell began the practice of ordaining women to the office of elder. In July 2006, Showell, appointed Pastor Bonnie Hunter as the first woman District Elder.
In July 2011, Pastor Marcia Fountain (Bridgeport, CT), was appointed as the third woman District Elder.
Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
denomination started in 1957 in Washington, DC. In 1997, a division over who was the rightful successor to Presiding Bishop and founder Smallwood Edmond Williams occurred. This dispute ultimately led to the splitting of the church into two separate organizations: a church of the same name led by Huie L. Rogers and the International Bible Way Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ led by Cornelius Showell.
Before the division in 1995, the church had about 300,000 members in 350 congregations world wide. The church's chief officer was the Presiding Bishop. Both successor bodies conduct a general conference annually in July and operate a publishing house in Washington, DC.
Beliefs and organization
Beliefs of the Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ and its successors include the inspiration of the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
as the word of God; salvation made possible only through Jesus Christ; the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues; water baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
s; the premillennial second coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
of Jesus Christ; the final judgment of the dead; and the establishment of new heavens and a new earth.
The church was led by a Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
and a General Assembly. The General Assembly was composed of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, overseers, district elders, pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
s, ministers, deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s, missionaries, and laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
.
History
The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ was organized in September 1957 by Smallwood Edmond Williams, who at the time was the General Secretary of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic FaithChurch of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith is a Oneness Pentecostal church organized in 1919.The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is most commonly known, was organized by Robert C. Lawson. Lawson, a protégé of G.T...
(COOLJC). Under Williams' leadership, about 70 churches withdrew from that organization to form the Bible Way Church, citing the autocratic leadership of COOLJC leader, Bishop Robert C. Lawson. Nearly half of the 177 churches in the organization left and followed Williams. He and four other leading COOLJC ministers were soon formally ordained as bishops in a ceremony performed by a Bishop John Holly of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. Founded in 1914, it is one of the oldest Oneness Pentecostal organizations in existence. Headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana, and The Christian Outlook is the church's official publication...
. Williams became the first Presiding Bishop of the church.
Schism
A division developed over church governance. After the death of Williams in 1991, the church considered Rogers and Campbell each as a potential leader and visionary for the church. The Order of Succession and Constitution, ratified after the death of Williams, stated that both Lawrence Campbell and Rogers would each serve a three year trial term. Then the church body would vote to see who would be the official successor to Williams. It is generally agreed that, during the trial period, Campbell was selected to serve the first term and Rogers the second.On July 4, 1997 during the 40th Convocation, the General Assembly voted to retain Rogers and his administration for a "Sabbath" year. The reasoning being that the people voted for Rogers, but the majority of Bishops wanted Campbell. According to Bible Way's rules and regulations, the Board of Bishops can only nominate a person, but the people must vote on it, thus making Rogers the elected Presiding Bishop. The "Sabbath Resolution" was rejected by a majority of the bishops and pastors due to it not being a part of Bible Way policy, effectively killing the measure. This caused a rift in the Executive and General Boards.
There are now two separate and distinct organizations: Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc. headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and The International Bible Way Church Of Jesus Christ, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
International Bible Way Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Most of the bishops, pastors, and churches stayed with Campbell, and this branch remains the largest entity of the two with approximately 500 churches worldwide. In 2006, Showell, pastor of First Apostolic Faith Church in Baltimore was named Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bible Way Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Campbell began the practice of ordaining women to the office of elder. In July 2006, Showell, appointed Pastor Bonnie Hunter as the first woman District Elder.
In July 2011, Pastor Marcia Fountain (Bridgeport, CT), was appointed as the third woman District Elder.
Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World-Wide
Though the organizations are similar in structure and doctrine, the major differences reside in the questions of which of the two leaders is the rightful head of the church, which according to this branch is Rogers, and of ordaining women to the office of elder, which this branch does not do. This branch has approximately 250 churches throughout the world.External links
- Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ – official Web Site -Apostle Rogers
- International Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ – official Web Site -Apostle Showell
- Bible Way Temple Nation – official web site – Bible Way Temple Nation
- Greater Bibleway – site of the church in the United Kingdom (Rogers)
- Bible Way United Kingdom – site of the church in the United Kingdom (Showell)
- Adherents.com