I transferred my credentials from the A/G to the CoG nearly 18 years ago and never have regretted my decision.
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I transferred my credentials from the A/G to the CoG nearly 18 years ago and never have regretted my decision.
Brojames
Changeagent
Re: I have been AG since 1986
Re: Have any of you transferred from COG to AG?
Just wondering. Did they ask if you were willing to give up complete and total sanctification and trade it in for progressive sanctification. ________________
I’m thinking of a Dr. Seuss book that was read to me when I was a little kid about these little creature that discriminated against each other based on whether they had an X or an O on them. And there was a machine that would change the letters. We should love members of the body of Christ whether they put the letters COG or A/G on them or no letters at all. I can’t speak from personal experience with the ordination, though I’ve actually got ordination/license through a local church that is A/G but nto through the A/G denomination.The A/G is set up kind of like Southern Baptists with each congregation having a lot of autonomy. I believe the denomination ordains, then church boards can vote on pastors and make financial decisions, with each church being set up to a certain extent the way it wants to be. The one I went to when I was younger had a board of ‘deacons’ like a Baptist church. Another one I went to seemed to do whatever Jimmy Swaggart wanted, but they aren’t in the denomination anymore. I get the impression that a lot of COG’s are more ‘country’, but maybe that’s because my experience is in the southeast and folks are country. I visited to an A/G in the south where the pastor sounded like he was from up north and every one in the town was southern. I get the impression that A/Gs might be more likely to use ‘the sinner’s prayer’ approach. Depending on the church, they may be a bit less into certain brands of southern Pentecostal enthusiasm and just a little more reserved. But that varies, too. And some A/Gs are more Charismatic in terms of style. None of that seems to be true of the COG in Indonesia. The A/G is a much smaller denomination than the COG there, and some COG services go by the name ‘Karismatic.’ But an English A/G service in Jakarta has ‘Charismatic’ in the title there in Indonesia, too. And I’ve seen COG preachers in Indonesia rush people through a sinner’s prayer as if that saves them without explaining the gospel first. I know there are Pentecostals who do that here, but I haven’t seen it as much in the Pentecostal denominations that were historically a part of the Holiness movement as I have in the denominations that are big in the western part of the US________________
AG. The large churches have more power. Like if you want to plant a church within a hundred miles of Jacksonville…a large church exercises veto power. If you plant it anyway…your license is taken. So for those of you that feel the large churches have a minimal voice in the COG…the AG might be the right fit________________
His official board, he was a weak pastor. I’m not aware of any bylaws anywhere that give the board of deacons/official Board that authority. The board recommends candidates to the congregation for their approval. And it takes a majority of the congregation to vote out a oastor. Now, if a board is exercising undue Influence over a pastor then he’s a weak leader. And, he needs to promote some more helpful people to be elected to the board. If a pastor was voted out by a board he was probably In trouble with the congregation too. But, if not then the pastor can call his district supt. to come in and mediate with his board if he wants.
Very well acquainted with this church planting problem in Jacksonville. It is real________________
I am currently facing this decision as a new church planter. The AG has an awesome church planting arm called Church Multiplication Network. Which offers training, matching funds of up to $30,000, and coaching. They would love to me to plant with them. But I would have to be a district affiliated AG church. The COG wants me to plant with them also. I grew up COG, gave my life to Christ in the COG, found my calling in the COG, and worked in full time ministry for over 10 years in COG churches. But the lack of emphasis on church planting makes it tough for guys like me. With organizations like CMN, ARC, and ACTS 29offering matching funds and coaching, it is hard for our young church planters not to leave the COG for these fellowships. I have another meeting with the COG this week so be praying for me! I view this a big decisions and want to make the right one for myself and for Take Heart Church. The COG has to have more of an emphasis on young ministers and church planting. It will pay off in the end if they will take the time to invest resources and coaching________________www.takeheartchurch.com
I left the CoG in 1985 & went into the A/G. Came back to the CoG 15 years ago simply because the Lord opened a door of ministry for me & Dr. Lynn Stone (AB at the time) offered to help me switch my credentials. I truly enjoyed my years as an A/G pastor & I have enjoyed the last 15 as well. There is no basis of fact regarding a large A/G having veto power to hinder a church plant in any state or in any town. I have good friends at the executive offices in Springfield & they told me the old practice of veto power from large churches ended over 30 years ago. Also no church in good standing w/Springfield has the authority to legally fire the pastor at the local board level. Even if they threaten to fire him/her the pastor has the right to demand an immediate popular vote with all the membership. I enjoyed the focus on missions and church planting.I love their educational system & multiple colleges/universities.I worked with 3 wonderful congregations here in California where we enjoyed a healthy emphasis on pentecost & the gifts of the Holy Spirit.60% of the A/G in Calif. are district affiliated (they answer to the District Superintendent)My kids grew up on Royal Rangers & Missionettes.The practice they employ regarding ministers personal tithe is refreshing to me because they tie accountability/adhereance to giving to the minister’s personal credentials & it simply …works.I love the CoG most of the time.I love our PB.I wish we were more focused on church planting with a huge swing back to empowering/financing missions projects worldwide.I grew up in the CoG & so did my dad & his dad & his dad. My kids are 5th generation CoG, I have roots here.More of our churches need to be autonomous and/or self incorporated.I would love to see us dismantle/retool our antiquated ToT methods.I love the men & women of God who serve here in the west, it’s a mission field out here & it hurts that most CoG ministers don’t want to get involed in missions out west.I would say enjoy your growth wherever God plants you & don’t let a denomination be the deciding factor as to whether or not you’re involed in ministry.God didn’t call us to a denomination, He called us to do His will!Feel free to PM me as well.________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!
That has been my experience as well. Imperfect men created a system to worship God. The AG is flawed but it works well for the most part. We have a 3 yr Masters Commission that prepares young people for life and if they complete the full 3 yrs the AG grants our students license to preach credentials with the AG. We are a lower cost alternative to a 4 yr Bible College/University and i appreciate the AG’s willingness to accept other paths to ministry. Also, their emphasis on missions and church planting as you said is nothing short of exceptional. (And they ordain women Bonnie
Simply not true________________
Simply not true. If there is in any merit to your claims NB it would be a good idea to call Gen Sup. George Woods office in Springfield & inform them of these actions.Call 417-862-2781 or at [email protected] is a public relations office email at [email protected] i said, they claim that the practice of trying to stop church planting via veto power is non-existent.________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!
Dean,There is no need to call George Wood. He knows full well what they did already.But it might be wise for them to call one of my best friends in Jacksonville – and apologize for taking his license 2 1/2 years ago (they know who he is) – simply for planting a church 15 miles (in a different city no less) from a church that did not want him to plant one.They were wrong. However it is their right to run their church any way they want. But whoever says they don’t do it anymore is lying________________
Well famous wrestler I don’t know the facts to your friends case but I’ve never heard of the A/G just yanking a license for a guy simply or wrecklessly planting a church, so it sounds like there is a lot more to the story & maybe you don’t even have the full story.The A/G is a wonderful denomination that uses it’s full strength to plant churches & support missions works. ________________Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing …introducing people to Jesus!