Emmanuel Association of Churches

Last updated
Emmanuel Association
NP Emmanuel Church.jpg
Emmanuel Church in New Philadelphia, Ohio, is a parish church belonging to the Emmanuel Association.
Classification Methodism
Orientation Conservative holiness movement
Polity Connexionalism
Associations Interchurch Holiness Convention
Headquarters Alliance, Ohio
Origin1937
Separated from Pilgrim Holiness Church
Congregations17

The Emmanuel Association of Churches is a Methodist denomination in the conservative holiness movement. [upper-alpha 1] [2] [1]

Contents

The formation of the Emmanuel Association is a part of the history of Methodism in the United States. It was formed in 1937 as a result of a schism in the Pilgrim Holiness Church, led by Ralph Goodrich Finch, the former general superintendent of Foreign Missions in that denomination. [3] [4] It is one of the oldest denominations in the conservative holiness movement. Like other Methodist bodies, it is governed by a General Conference. [4]

The Emmanuel Association's holiness standards are codified in the text titled "Principles of Holy Living". [4] The denomination is opposed to warfare, thus falling into the Holiness Methodist Pacifists subgroup of the holiness movement. [4] [5] It advocates for the principle of nonresistance: [6]

We believe in non-resistance in a qualified sense--that war, dueling, suicide, prenatal destruction of life, and all other forms of willful human life-taking are murder. The last military command that Jesus gave was, "Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt 26:52). "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Matt. 5:38-40). There is no harm in seeking protection under a civil law that is in harmony with the Gospel, as did Paul in Jerusalem when in the hands of a violent mob, and also when transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 21:30-34; 22:24-30; 23:16-30). We must not, however, take the law into our own hands, and by acts of violence force an issue; but rather depend on civil authorities to execute the law. "If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat" suggests a regular coat trial. A brother has the right to appear before the court to testify truthfully in respect to his garment or property, and if the final decision is against him, through false witness or bribes or any other unfair influence, he must submit cheerfully, and give more rather than seek revenge. The same principle holds good in being compelled to take someone a mile, etc. Jesus says, "Take him two," and seek not revenge. God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." It is the "more" that will touch the enemy's heart. "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (1 Peter 3:17). [6]

The Emmanuel Association is based in Alliance, Ohio. [7] It has had churches in cities across the world, including Colorado Springs (Colorado), Campo (Colorado), Hartman (Colorado), Rocky Ford (Colorado), Hayden Lake (Idaho), Logansport (Indiana), Terre Haute (Indiana), Hunter (Kansas), Tollesboro (Kentucky), Kansas City (Missouri), Hayes Center (Nebraska), Shubert (Nebraska), Vineland (New Jersey), Alliance (Ohio), Cincinnati (Ohio), East Palestine (Ohio), Lisbon (Ohio), Little York (Ohio), New Philadelphia (Ohio), Newton Falls (Ohio), Octa (Ohio), Salem (Ohio), Xenia (Ohio), Garrett (Pennsylvania), Gratz (Pennsylvania), Herndon (Pennsylvania), White Haven (Pennsylvania), Watertown (South Dakota), Touchet (Washington), Reed (West Virginia), and Bethesda (Ontario), as well as in parts of Guatemala, Bolivia and Africa. [8]

The Emmanuel Association of Churches holds an annual camp meeting at Hickory Grove Campground in Tollesboro and its tabernacle was built in memory of Reverend R. G. Finch. [9] The connection ran Peoples Bible College in Colorado Springs until May 1994. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

Holiness movement Set of beliefs and practices which emerged from 19th-century Methodism

The Holiness movement involves a set of Christian beliefs and practices that emerged chiefly within 19th-century Methodism, and to a lesser extent other traditions such as Quakerism, Anabaptism, and Restorationism. The movement is Wesleyan in theology, and is defined by its view of personal sin, and emphasis on the doctrine of a second work of grace generally called entire sanctification or Christian perfection. For the Holiness Movement "the term 'perfection' signifies completeness of Christian character; its freedom from all sin, and possession of all the graces of the Spirit, complete in kind." A number of evangelical Christian denominations, parachurch organizations, and movements emphasize those beliefs as central doctrine.

Evangelical United Brethren Church

The Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB) was a North American Protestant church from 1946 to 1968. It was formed by the merger of the Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The United Brethren and the Evangelical Association had considered merging off and on since the early 19th century because of their common emphasis on holiness and evangelism and their common German heritage. In 1968, the United States section of the EUB merged with the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church, while the Canadian section joined the United Church of Canada.

Brethren in Christ Church River Brethren Christian denomination

The Brethren in Christ Church (BIC) is a River Brethren Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church, Radical Pietism, and Wesleyan holiness. They have also been known as River Brethren and River Mennonites.

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination with churches in 17 countries. It is Protestant, with an episcopal structure and Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communities of 18th-century Pennsylvania, as well as close ties to Methodism. It was organized in 1800 by Martin Boehm and Philip William Otterbein and is the first American denomination that was not transplanted from Europe. It emerged from United Brethren churches that were at first unorganized, and not all of which joined this church when it was formally organized in 1800, following a 1789 conference at the Otterbein Church.

Peace churches

Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating Christian pacifism or Biblical nonresistance. The term historic peace churches refers specifically only to three church groups among pacifist churches:

Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word consecration literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups. The origin of the word comes from the Latin stem consecrat, which means dedicated, devoted, and sacred. A synonym for to consecrate is to sanctify, a distinct antonym is to desecrate.

Pilgrim Holiness Church (PHC) or International Apostolic Holiness Church (IAHC) is a Christian denomination associated with the holiness movement that split from the Methodist Episcopal Church through the efforts of Martin Wells Knapp in 1897. It was first organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the International Holiness Union and Prayer League (IHU/IAHC). Knapp, founder of the IAHC, ordained and his Worldwide Missions Board sent Charles and Lettie Cowman who had attended God's Bible School to Japan in December 1900. By the International Apostolic Holiness Churches Foreign Missionary Board and the co-board of the Revivalist the Cowmans had been appointed the General Superintendents and the Kilbournes the vice-General Superintendent for Korea, Japan and China December 29, 1905. The organization later became the Pilgrim Holiness Church in 1922, the majority of which merged with the Wesleyan Methodists in 1968 to form the Wesleyan Church.

Conservative holiness movement

The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Friends) that emphasize the doctrine of George Fox, as well as River Brethren who emerged out of the Radical Pietist revival and Holiness Restorationists in the tradition of Daniel Sidney Warner. Schisms began to occur in the 19th century and this movement became distinct from parent Holiness bodies in the mid-20th century amid disagreements over modesty in dress, entertainment, and other "old holiness standards" reflective of the related emphases on the Wesleyan–Arminian doctrine of outward holiness or the Quaker teaching on the testimony of simplicity or the River Brethren and Restorationist teachings on nonconformity to the world, depending on the denomination. Many denominations identifying with the conservative holiness movement, though not all, are represented in the Interchurch Holiness Convention; while some denominations have communion with one another, other bodies choose to be isolationist.

Matthew 5:40

Matthew 5:40 is the fortieth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third verse of the antithesis on the commandment: "Eye for an eye".

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was a Protestant Christian denomination formed in 1889 by a majority of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ when that denomination amended the church constitution to give local conferences proportional representation at the General Conference; to allow laymen to serve as delegates to General Conference; and to allow United Brethren members to hold membership in secret societies. The constitution's amendment procedure of the day made amendments all but impossible, but denominational leaders felt these changes were necessary for the good of the church.

Teaching of Jesus about little children Biblical scene of Jesus of Nazareth blessing children and popular theme in art

Jesus' teachings referring to little children and infants/babies appear in several places in the New Testament and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas.

Outward holiness

Outward holiness, or external holiness, is a Wesleyan–Arminian doctrine emphasizing modest dress and sober speech. It is a testimony of a Christian believer's regeneration, done in obedience to God. The doctrine is prevalent among denominations emerging during the revival movements, including the Methodists, as well as Pentecostals. It is taken from 1 Peter 1:15: "He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."

The Evangelical Church of North America (ECNA) is a Wesleyan-Holiness, Protestant Christian denomination headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon. As of 2000, the Church had 12,475 members in 133 local churches. The Church sponsors missionaries in seven countries.

Christian pacifism Christian refusal of violence

Christian pacifism is the theological and ethical position according to which pacifism and non-violence have both a scriptural and rational basis for Christians, and affirms that any form of violence is incompatible with the Christian faith. Christian pacifists state that Jesus himself was a pacifist who taught and practiced pacifism and that his followers must do likewise. Notable Christian pacifists include Martin Luther King Jr., Leo Tolstoy, Adin Ballou and Ammon Hennacy. Ballou and Hennacy believed that adherence to Christianity required not just pacifism but, because governments inevitably threatened or used force to resolve conflicts, anarchism. However, most Christian pacifists, including the peace churches, Christian Peacemaker Teams, and individuals such as John Howard Yoder, make no claim to be anarchists.

Banishment or exile can be a form of punishment. It means to be away from one's home while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened by prison or death upon return. It is a common theme within the Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve. Below is a partial list of these exiles as referenced in the Bible.

The Fire-Baptized Holiness Church was a holiness Christian denomination in North America and much of the denomination was involved in the early formation of Pentecostalism, the advent of which caused schism in the church; it continues today in the following denominations: International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Bible Holiness Church and Wesleyan Holiness Alliance.

Wesleyan theology Protestant Christian theological tradition

Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles Wesley. More broadly it refers to the theological system inferred from the various sermons, theological treatises, letters, journals, diaries, hymns, and other spiritual writings of the Wesleys and their contemporary coadjutors such as John William Fletcher.

In religion, a covenant is a formal alliance or agreement made by God with a religious community or with humanity in general. The concept, central to the Abrahamic religions, is derived from the biblical covenants, notably from the Abrahamic covenant. Christianity asserts that God made an additional covenant through Jesus Christ, called the "new covenant".

Immanuel Missionary Church Methodist denomination

The Immanuel Missionary Church (IMC) is a Methodist denomination within the conservative holiness movement.

Matthew 15:3-6 is a set of verses in the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

References

Notes

  1. The Emmanuel Association of Churches, throughout history, has been called the Emmanel Missionary Association, Emmanuel Association, and Emmanuel Association of Churches. [1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 Echols, Marian (2015). Emmanuel Association of Churches: 1936-2015. Emmanuel Association of Churches. p. 3, 14-15. We consider ourselves old-time Methodists in doctrine
  2. Kostlevy, William (2010). Holy Jumpers: Evangelicals and Radicals in Progressive Era America . Oxford University Press. p.  175. ISBN   9780199703364.
  3. Melton, J. Gordon (2018). Religious Bodies in the U.S.: A Dictionary. Routledge. ISBN   9781135523534.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lewis, James R. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. p. 304. ISBN   9781615927388.
  5. Thomas, Devin (18 June 2014). "Brethren in Christ Weren't the Only "Holiness Pacifists" in the Early 20th Century". Brethren in Christ . Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 Beaman, Jay; Pipkin, Brian K. (2013). Pentecostal and Holiness Statements on War and Peace. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 98–99. ISBN   9781610979085.
  7. https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/ViewImage.do?masterFileId=19871115493&fileId=20161558556
  8. Echols, Marian (2015). Emmanuel Association of Churches: 1936-2015. Emmanuel Association of Churches. p. 23, 126, 133.
  9. Echols, Marian (2015). Emmanuel Association of Churches: 1936-2015. Emmanuel Association of Churches. p. 83.
  10. Gault, Ralph (2015). A Brief History of Peoples Bible College. Emmanuel Association of Churches: 1936-2015. Emmanuel Association of Churches. p. 44.