www.cogop.org

Basic History
The Church of God of Prophecy historically came from the Holiness/Wesleyan tradition. It grew out of the work of A.J. Tomlinson in the first half of the twentieth century and shares a common heritage with the Church of God. Tomlinson was a Quaker who had come to the Appalachian Mountains in 1899 as a missionary under the auspices of the American Bible and Tract Societies. Two areas in this region, Monroe County, Tennessee and Cherokee County, North Carolina, were perpetuating holiness movements.

Church officials recognized Tomlinson's leadership and he was immediately selected as pastor of the Camp Creek congregation. Under his leadership, the church rapidly organized several congregations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. It grew in the next 20 years to a membership of more than twenty thousand, concentrated mainly in the American South. By 1906, an annual assembly took place to promote closer union and fellowship among the churches. It was during a subsequent Assembly in 1907 that the name Church of God was officially adopted. In the Assembly of 1909, A. J. Tomlinson was selected to serve as the General Overseer of all the Church of God, a position he continued to fill until his death in 1943.

Basic Beliefs
From its beginnings, the church has based its beliefs on the "whole Bible, rightly divided," and has accepted the Bible as God's Holy Word, inspired, inerrant and infallible. The church is firm in its commitment to belief in a triune God, the deity of Christ and his life on earth, belief that salvation results from grace alone through faith in Christ and that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for the salvation of sinful men. The church also stresses the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of marriage and family.

Other teachings include Holy Spirit baptism with tongues as initial evidence - with water baptism by immersion; manifestation of the spiritual gifts, divine healing, total abstinence from the use of tobacco, alcohol and narcotics, practice of the Lord's supper and washing of the saints' feet and a concern for moderation and holiness in all dimensions of lifestyle. The church is racially integrated on all levels, including top leadership. Women also play a prominent role in church affairs, including pastoral positions.

Leadership
The General Assembly of the church has recently adopted a more plural form of government including leaders from around the world who join with the General Overseer in general oversight of the church. They are responsible to project vision and inspiration for the entire church body.

Presently these leaders include:
General Overseer - Bishop Fred S. Fisher, Sr.
General Presbyters - Bishop Jose A. Reyes, Sr., Bishop Sherman Allen, Bishop Miguel Mojica, Bishop Felix Santiago, Bishop Daniel Corbett, Bishop Sam Clements, Bishop Clayton Endecott, Bishop Brice H. Thompson

Basic Facts
In 2000, 1,882 churches in North America reported 76,384 members. Internationally the church is organized in over 115 nations with 546,174 members worldwide. The church reported 7342 clergy in service in the year 2000.

Location
Church of God of Prophecy
P.O. Box 2910
3720 N Keith St.
Cleveland TN 37320
Phone (423) 559-5100