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 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.
Pastor 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.
Pastor Ron Mehl, senior pastor of the Beaverton Foursquare Church from 1973 until his death in 2003, was one of a handful of pastors, including Pastor Hayford, that the church credits with setting a pattern of explosive growth for the Foursquare denomination. (See Current History of the Foursquare Church).
In 2006, independent filmmaker Richard Rossi released his movie Aimee Semple McPherson. Like McPherson herself, the film was surrounded by controversy. Although magazines like Christianity Today, Charisma, and Ministries Today were positive, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel released a press statement stating they do not endorse the film.
The church has not been without controversy in recent years: former President Paul Risser was forced to resign in 2004 after losing millions of the church's funds in a pyramid scheme. Prior to Risser, President John Holland was also removed from office in a move that was shrouded in secrecy.
Church doctrine
The Foursquare Church believes in the following: [1]
- 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 sincere repentance and acceptance of Christ
- The new birth (Sanctification)
- The daily growth through power, prayer, love and service
- Baptism by immersion
- The memorial of The Lord's Supper as church ordinances
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of Speaking In Tongues
- The Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit
- Divine healing
- The imminent return of Jesus Christ
- Final judgment
- Evangelism
- Tithing and Offerings
Status
As of 2000, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, had grown to 1,844 churches with 218,981 members¹ in the United States. Worldwide membership is over 3.5 million in almost 30,000 churches in 123 countries. The 2006 Foursquare Church Annual Report reflected a loss of membership in the USA for 2005, which was listed at 260,644. 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.
Affiliations
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, the Fellowship reorganized as the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America after reconciliation with African Americans, particularly the constituency of the Church of God in Christ.
See also
External links
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel - official Web Site
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
- The Foursquare Church Annual Report 2006, by Foursquare Gospel Publications
Footnote
- Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000)