Church of God and Saints of Christ
Encyclopedia
The Church of God and Saints of Christ is a 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.
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 are peoples of African descent. However, 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.
The Church of God and Saints of Christ synthesizes rituals drawn from both the Old Testament
and New Testament
. Its OT observances include circumcision
of newborn boys, use of the Hebrew calendar
, wearing of yarmulke
s, observance of Saturday as the Sabbath
, and celebration of Passover
and other religious holy days specified by the Bible. Its New Testament rites include baptism
(immersion) and footwashing, both of which have Judaic origins from the Old Testament. Despite their name, members of the Church of God and Saints of Christ adhere to Judaism
as their religion, and do not believe in Christianity
.
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. Under these three men, 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 and dozens in Africa. The organization also manages businesses and residential properties at its headquarters in Suffolk, Virginia, including a hotel and two living communities for senior citizens.
As early as 1909, local branches of the organization severed their ties with the congregation, forming their own organizations. Today, among the groups not affiliated with Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr.
are headquartered in Cleveland, OH and New Haven, CT.
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, by William Saunders Crowdy
William Saunders Crowdy
William Saunders Crowdy was an American soldier, preacher, entrepreneur, theologian, and pastor. As one of the earliest Black Hebrew Israelites in the United States, he established the Church of God and Saints of Christ in 1896.-Early life:In 1847, William Saunders Crowdy was born into slavery at...
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.
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 are peoples of African descent. However, the congregation believes that anyone, regardless of race, nationality or ethnicity, can embrace Judaism and become a member. Members believe that Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
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.
The Church of God and Saints of Christ synthesizes rituals drawn from both the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Its OT observances include circumcision
Brit milah
The brit milah is a Jewish religious circumcision ceremony performed on 8-day old male infants by a mohel. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal .-Biblical references:...
of newborn boys, use of the Hebrew calendar
Hebrew calendar
The Hebrew calendar , or Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits , and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses...
, wearing of yarmulke
Kippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
s, observance of Saturday as the Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, and celebration of Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
and other religious holy days specified by the Bible. Its New Testament rites include 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...
(immersion) and footwashing, both of which have Judaic origins from the Old Testament. Despite their name, members of the Church of God and Saints of Christ adhere to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
as their religion, and do not believe in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
The group established its headquarters in Philadelphia in 1899, and William S. Crowdy later relocated to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1903. In 1906, Crowdy named Joseph Wesley Crowdy, William Henry Plummer and Calvin Samuel Skinner as leaders of the congregation. Under these three men, the organization continued to grow in membership. In 1921, William Henry Plummer moved the organization's headquarters to its permanent location in Belleville
Belleville, Virginia
Belleville is an unincorporated community in the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia, United States. It is located at the junction of Interstate 664, U.S. Route 17, and State Route 164....
(city of Suffolk), Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, which was purchased by William S. Crowdy in 1903 as the intended headquarters for the organization. Howard Zebulun Plummer
Howard Z. Plummer
Howard Zebulun Plummer .His father, William H. Plummer, joined the Church of God and Saints of Christ soon after Howard’s birth, and the Plummer family became intimately involved in its doctrine and work. In August, 1900, Howard's parents brought him to be blessed by the Church’s founder, prophet...
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.
Jehu August Crowdy, Jr.
Rabbi Jehu August Crowdy Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Sr. and Sylvia W. Crowdy. He is a great-grandson of Prophet William S...
, a great-grandson of William Saunders Crowdy. As of 2005, it had fifty tabernacles in the United States and dozens in Africa. The organization also manages businesses and residential properties at its headquarters in Suffolk, Virginia, including a hotel and two living communities for senior citizens.
As early as 1909, local branches of the organization severed their ties with the congregation, forming their own organizations. Today, among the groups not affiliated with Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr.
Jehu August Crowdy, Jr.
Rabbi Jehu August Crowdy Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Sr. and Sylvia W. Crowdy. He is a great-grandson of Prophet William S...
are headquartered in Cleveland, OH and New Haven, CT.