Resolution Presented to Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God Executive Committee recently passed a resolution in recognition of “a common heritage” between the Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy.
The resolution was presented last Friday, August 19 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Church of God. Dr. Floyd Carey, chairman of the Historical Commission for the Church of God, made the presentation on behalf of the executive committee at Fields of the Wood, the last stop of the 125th anniversary event. Accepting on behalf of the Church of God of Prophecy was Rev. Paul Holt, director of finance and administration for the denomination.
The presentation was one of the final actions of a day filled with events celebrating the 125th, which included visits to the Barney Creek meeting site, the location of the Shearer Schoolhouse revival, log meeting house, first assembly house, and Fields of the Wood. With the exception of Barney Creek, the sites are owned and maintained by the Church of God of Prophecy Marker Association.
“It is our hope that this resolution, and this occasion, will spark a renewed interest in outreach between our two movements,” Carey stated. “If we stimulate increased dialogue we can work together even more in advancing the Kingdom and educational pursuits.”
The Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy have common roots in that they were the same organization until a schism in 1922. In the last decade the two groups have worked more closely on ministry, projects, and events, including a joint celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the general assembly in 2006. In 2003 an agreement of sharing was forged under the direction of the two general overseers at that time, Lamar Vest for the Church of God and Fred Fisher for the Church of God of Prophecy. A Church of God of Prophecy minister, Rev. Billy Wilson, was appointed as a liaison between the two bodies.
The resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, we have a common heritage “to take the New Testament . . . for (our) only rule of faith and practice . . . and to sit together as the Church of God (a united family of believers)”; and,
WHEREAS, we stand together on a solid biblical foundation, the unwavering commitment to prevailing prayer, and the personal sacrifices of faithful men and women who responded to God’s call for new beginnings; and,
WHEREAS, the fruit of our common heritage has given us a clarion voice of hope and freedom in Jesus Christ that is heard around the world;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we remember our common heritage with a spirit of rich appreciation, holy respect, and scriptural loyalty; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we rejoice together in our common heritage and offer praise and thanksgiving for divine guidance, abundant blessings, and harvest fruitfulness; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that our common heritage unify and inspire us to maintain the vision of our founding fathers to “pray without ceasing,” “to stand together in unity and love,” and “to go into all the world” with the message of abundant life and transforming liberty in Jesus Christ.
–Cameron Fisher, Church of God Communications
