Church of God Germany
The Church of God Germany KdöR is an evangelical free church that belongs to the worldwide Pentecostal movement . It is part of one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in the world, the Church of God (Cleveland) , which is spread around the world . In Germany, the federal government has the legal form of a corporation under public law (KdöR).
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| Official name: | Church of God Germany KdöR |
| Founder: | Richard G. Spurling and several others |
| Spiritual direction: | Presidium Preses: Marc Brenner |
| Membership: |
Forum of Free Church Pentecostal Congregations (FFP) Association of Evangelical Free Churches (VEF) Pentecostal European Fellowship (PEF) |
| Regions: | 5 regions |
| Local communities: | Germany: 70 |
| Members: | Germany: approx. 4200 |
| Address: | Schurwaldstrasse 10 73660 Urbach |
| Training facility: | European Theological Seminar (ETS) |
| Official Website: | http://www.gemeindegottes.de |
Excerpt from the self-presentation
The Pentecostal movement in Germany arose in part from earlier revival and sanctification movements at the turn of the century before last. It is characteristic that the Holy Spirit is given great freedom in the meetings, and a biblical way of life is emphasized. As a free church, the financial expenses are covered by donations . The doctrine of faith is based solely on the Bible . The basis is the evangelical creed . The true church of Jesus includes born again people from all congregations and churches that believe in the Bible. Historically, the church of God sees itself as part of the God-given spiritual movement through the centuries, which began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) with the foundation of the first church in Jerusalem .
Organization and constitution
The constitution of the Congregation of God Germany KdöR. Was passed by the Federal Assembly on November 1st, 2005. In it the Bible is established as a binding basis for faith, teaching and life in the community and the covenant. Compliance with the Apostles' Creed is confirmed.
Name, legal form and seat of the federal government
The “Church of God in Germany” (Federation) was founded in Stuttgart in 1936 and has the legal form of a corporation under public law (KdöR). The federal territory includes the Federal Republic of Germany. The seat of the federal government with its office is Urbach bei Schorndorf, Baden-Württemberg . The covenant consists of individual congregations (associations of people at the local level), which organize themselves according to the constitution and church order of God's church.
membership
Members of the Church of God can become persons who profess themselves to be Christians in the New Testament sense, who convincingly show the intention to act and live according to the teaching of the Bible and who conform to the church order of the Church of God. The admission of persons who intend to become members in the church of God takes place in the individual church that they visit, according to the church order.
Regions
The individual municipalities of the federal government form geographically structured regions. These serve to promote and advise individual communities, perform joint tasks, support the federal government in its tasks, maintain the federal community and prepare for work in the federal assembly. Each region appoints a regional council for its work in accordance with the municipal code. For each region, on the proposal of the regional council, a regional head is elected by the federal assembly for four years with the possibility of re-election. Current regions are north, west, south-south, south-east, and an ethnic region.
working area
The work areas are organized according to the municipal code. Each work area appoints a committee for its work in accordance with the municipal regulations. For each work area, on the proposal of the Presidium, the Federal Assembly elects a leader for four years with the possibility of re-election.
Federal Assembly
As the assembly of representatives of all federal municipalities, the Federal Assembly is the highest federal body. It decides on all federal matters, unless the Federal Presidium or the Federal Management Board are responsible. In particular, at the suggestion of the Presidium, it decides on the admission of communities to a working group with the federal government, elects the members of the Presidium and decides on changes to the constitution. The Federal Assembly receives the statement of accounts from the Presidium and grants it discharge for its management responsibility. The Federal Assembly meets at least once a year. The federal assembly includes: a) parishioners who are delegated by the local parishes in accordance with the parish regulations, b) the members of the presidium, c) all pastors in the service of a congregation, a region or the federal government. The Federal Assembly decides with a majority of the members present, unless otherwise stipulated in this constitution or in the municipal code.
Bureau
The Presidium is responsible for ongoing work in the federal government, unless the federal assembly or the federal management are responsible. The presidium includes: a) the members of the federal management b) the regional heads c) the heads of work areas
President of the Federation
The Chairman of the Presidium of the Federation is the President . The Federal Assembly elects the President and his deputy from among its members for a period of four years. The current president is Marc Brenner.
Federal management
The federal management conducts the day-to-day business. She is available to the congregations for spiritual and practical advice and takes care of joint supra-local issues on their behalf. The Federal Management represents the Federal Assembly and the Presidium between their meetings; It is accountable to both bodies.
Teaching
The creed of the Church of God expresses both an evangelical and a Pentecostal teaching position with Wesleyan influences . The following points are listed in the Creed of the Church of God:
- Literal inspiration from the Bible
- Existence of the one God eternally as a trinity in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Son of God, virgin birth , crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus
- All have sinned and repentance is a prerequisite for the forgiveness of guilt
- Justification , renewal, and new birth come about through faith in Jesus Christ
- Sanctification follows rebirth
- God's will to live in holiness for his people
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit as a result of "purification of the heart"
- Speaking in other languages as the first sign of being baptized in the Spirit
- Water baptism through immersion after personal repentance
- Providing divine healing to all in salvation
- Celebration of the Lord's Supper and the washing of the feet
- Second Coming of Christ
- Bodily resurrection of the righteous to eternal life and of the wicked to eternal damnation
church service
The church services are lively, there is a lot of singing, the focus is on modern songs with modern instrumental accompaniment, to which there is also clapping and dancing. The congregation is also actively involved in prayer . The sermons are dynamic and related to everyday life. Spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing the sick are part of church life.
Way of life
The Church of God places an emphasis on personal sanctification, which for them includes family responsibility, personal integrity , a humble lifestyle, social engagement, and abstinence from drugs .
Ecumenism
The Church of God is committed to the principles of the Evangelical Alliance and is a member of the Association of Evangelical Free Churches and the Forum of Free Church Pentecostal Congregations .
literature
- Congregation of God Germany KdöR: Doctrine - Confession - Building the Free Church Church of God , Urbach 2005.
- Dieter L. Bud: Church of God. Faith - Goals - Vital Structures. A manual for the service of the Church of God in its international fields , Schorndorf 2011.