The Foursquare Church

The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination.

Background

Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), a controversial female evangelist, founded the Foursquare Church in 1927. Los Angeles was her center of operations, and the Angelus Temple, seating 5,300 people, was opened there in 1923. McPherson was an outright celebrity participating in publicity events such as parades every Sunday through the streets of L.A., along with the mayor and movie stars, directly to Angelus Temple. She built the temple, and L. I. F. E. Bible College next door to it, on the northwest corner of the land that she owned in the middle of the city.

Her son, Rolf K. McPherson, became president and leader of the church after her death in 1944. Although he may not have had the same charisma his mother possessed, the denomination under his leadership grew from around 400 churches when his leadership began, to 10,000+ after his departure.

Together with the Assemblies of God, the Church of God, the Open Bible Standard Churches, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and others, the Foursquare Church formed the "Pentecostal Fellowship of North America" in 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1994, it was reorganized as the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. Jack W. Hayford, founder of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and Living Way Ministries, is perhaps the best-known foursquare minister in the 21st century and is currently the denomination's President.

Church doctrine

The Foursquare Church believes in the following:

The Bible as the inspired word of God
The Trinity
The atoning death of Christ for sinners
Salvation through the grace of God by Faith Alone in the Lord Jesus Christ
The necessity of repentance
The new birth (Sanctification)
Baptism by immersion
The memorial of The Lord's Supper as church ordinances
The baptism of the Holy Spirit
Divine healing
The imminent return of Jesus Christ
Final judgment

Status

As of 2000, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, had grown to 1844 churches with 218,981 members¹ in the United States. Worldwide membership is over 3.5 million in almost 30,000 churches in 123 countries. Corporate headquarters are maintained in Los Angeles, California. In the United States, the church is divided into districts and local congregations affiliate with the district in their area. A General Supervisor oversees the national office and district supervisors. Glenn C. Burris, Jr., currently (2004) serves as General Supervisor. Jack W. Hayford has been the president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel since October 1, 2004. A number of educational institutions are affiliated with the Foursquare Church. Among these are Life Pacific College, formerly "L.I.F.E. Bible College", in San Dimas, California and Pacific Life Bible College in Surrey, British Columbia.

External links

References

Encyclopedia of American Religions, J. Gordon Melton, editor
Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000), Glenmary Research Center
The Vine and the Branches: A History of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, by Nathaniel M. Van Cleave

Footnote

1. Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000)