Open Bible Standard Churches
Encyclopedia
The Open Bible Standard Churches (OBSC) or Open Bible Churches is an association of Pentecostal churches with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa
, United States
. Open Bible Churches is affiliated with New Hope Christian College, an accredited Bible college in Eugene, Oregon
. Open Bible publishes the Message of the Open Bible.
Open Bible is similar in doctrine and practice to the Assemblies of God. Open Bible adherents believe in the modern-day gifts of the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues
as one of the evidences of the gifts being manifested in the believer. Generally, each congregation owns its own property and calls its own pastor
. The organization is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals
, the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
, and the Pentecostal World Conference
.
There are more than 150,000 Open Bible members worldwide. In 2006, U.S. membership was 40,000 in 330 churches.
: the Bible Standard Conference founded in Eugene, Oregon
in 1919 and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association founded in Des Moines, Iowa in 1932; as both were similar in doctrine and structure, the two groups amalgamated in 1935.
The Bible Standard Conference was formed in 1919 after Fred Hornshuh and several other ministers withdrew from the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) led by Florence L. Crawford
. Hornshuh disagreed with the AFM's isolationist stance from other full gospel
groups, centralized and authoritarian leadership style, and its strict position on divorce and remarriage. The Open Bible Evangelistic Association began in 1932 when thirty-two ministers led by John R. Richey left the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
. The separation grew out of the reluctance of these ministers to give ownership of local church property to the Foursquare Church denominational leadership. They were also concerned over the church's divorced leader Aimee Semple McPherson
's remarriage.
The two Pentecostal groups were similar in their resistance to authoritarian leadership and denominational ownership of church property, and they also thought that local churches should maintain some autonomy. Both Hornshuh and Richey were also influenced by John Alexander Dowie
.
Since 1996, the association's public name has been simply Open Bible Churches.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Open Bible Churches is affiliated with New Hope Christian College, an accredited Bible college in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. Open Bible publishes the Message of the Open Bible.
Open Bible is similar in doctrine and practice to the Assemblies of God. Open Bible adherents believe in the modern-day gifts of the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
as one of the evidences of the gifts being manifested in the believer. Generally, each congregation owns its own property and calls its own 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"....
. The organization is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals
National Association of Evangelicals
The National Association of Evangelicals is a fellowship of member denominations, churches, organizations, and individuals. Its goal is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States. Today it works in four main areas: Church & Faith Partners, Government Relations,...
, the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America...
, and the Pentecostal World Conference
Pentecostal World Conference
The Pentecostal World Conference or Pentecostal World Fellowship is a fellowship of Pentecostal believers and denominations from across the world....
.
There are more than 150,000 Open Bible members worldwide. In 2006, U.S. membership was 40,000 in 330 churches.
History
The OBSC's origins are found in two smaller Pentecostal groups which can be traced to the Azusa Street RevivalAzusa Street Revival
The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915...
: the Bible Standard Conference founded in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
in 1919 and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association founded in Des Moines, Iowa in 1932; as both were similar in doctrine and structure, the two groups amalgamated in 1935.
The Bible Standard Conference was formed in 1919 after Fred Hornshuh and several other ministers withdrew from the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) led by Florence L. Crawford
Florence L. Crawford
While Florence Louise Crawford is not the founder of the Apostolic Faith Mission, she was rightfully given credit for having begun that movement in the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States. Initially, it was a satellite church from the original Apostolic Faith Mission, begun by William J...
. Hornshuh disagreed with the AFM's isolationist stance from other full gospel
Full Gospel
The term Full Gospel is often used as a synonym for Pentecostalism, a Protestant movement originating in the 19th century. Early Pentecostals saw their teachings on baptism with the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and divine healing as a return to the doctrines and power of the Apostolic Age...
groups, centralized and authoritarian leadership style, and its strict position on divorce and remarriage. The Open Bible Evangelistic Association began in 1932 when thirty-two ministers led by John R. Richey left the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
. The separation grew out of the reluctance of these ministers to give ownership of local church property to the Foursquare Church denominational leadership. They were also concerned over the church's divorced leader Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson , also known as Sister Aimee, was a Canadian-American Los Angeles, California evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Foursquare Church...
's remarriage.
The two Pentecostal groups were similar in their resistance to authoritarian leadership and denominational ownership of church property, and they also thought that local churches should maintain some autonomy. Both Hornshuh and Richey were also influenced by John Alexander Dowie
John Alexander Dowie
John Alexander Dowie was a Scottish evangelist and faith healer who ministered in Australia and the United States. He founded the city of Zion, Illinois, and the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church...
.
Since 1996, the association's public name has been simply Open Bible Churches.
Further reading
- Mitchell, R. Bryant. Heritage and Harvests. – The history of Open Bible's involvement in international missions.
- On the Wings of a Dove: An African Missionary Saga. 2006. – The memoirs of Grant H. Moore and Wilma M. Moore, Open Bible missionaries to Guinea, West Africa, beginning in 1952.