Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

[ xxviii ] The Radio Church of God, which was founded by Herbert W.Armstrong (1892–1986) in the USA in 1933, changed its name to the Worldwide Church of God in 1968. The Church's theology is non-Trinitarian, with the B ible being accepted as the infallible word of God and the theory of evolution being rejected. Christmas and Easter are denounced as pagan festivals; the Sabbath is kept on Saturdays [41: 154–5]. It is claimed that the Church has nearly 100,000 members in 122 countries [42: 578]. Among the periodicals published by the Church is The Plain Truth , offered free in newsagents and to listeners of ‘The World Tomorrow’ radio and television shows. The Church has been the subject of considerable controversy, partly as a result of sexual scandals surrounding both Armstrong and his son, Garner Ted, who left to set up the Church of God International in 1978 [41: 151–9]. The Church offers a Christian education and training for ministers on its two Ambassador College campuses. A critical quarterly, Ambassador Report , is published by ex-members. [32; 41: ii/n ; 42: 576–8] ... log in or subscribe to read full text