By Laws
THE CHURCH OF GOD (FULL GOSPEL) IN INDIA is a Society Registered before Government under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (XXI of 1860). The Certificate of Registration is No.18 of 1949.
Church's Name
The name harmoniously accepted CHURCH OF GOD was taken from the Scriptures: I Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; II Corinthians 1:1; Acts 20:28
Church's Scope
CHURCH OF GOD is an international Church with established Churches in countries like India, U.S.A., Germany, Canada, England, Philippines etc. The International General Offices are located at Cleveland, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Church's Teachings
The CHURCH OF GOD stands for the whole Bible rightly divided. The New Testament is the only rule for government and discipline. The following is the Declaration of Faith and Teachings:
We Believe:
- In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
- Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
- In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
- In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
- In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
- In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
1. Doctrinal Commitments
| 1. | Repentance | Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19 |
| 2. | Justification | Romans 5:1; Titus 3:7 |
| 3. | Regeneration New Birth | Titus 3:5 John 3:3; I Peter 1:23; |
| I John 3:9 | ||
| 4. | Sanctification subsequent to justification | Romans 5:2; I Corinthians 1:30; |
| I Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 13:12 | ||
| 5. | Holiness | Luke 1:75; I Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12;14 |
| 6. | Water Baptism | Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9,10; John 3:22,23; Acts 8:36-38 |
| 7. | Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to cleansing; the enduement of power for service | Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49,53; |
| Acts 1:4-8 | ||
| 8. | The speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence of the | John 15:26; Acts 2:4; 10:44-46 |
| Baptism of the Holy Ghost | Acts 19:1-7 | |
| 9. | Spiritual Gifts | I Corinthians 12:1,7,10,28,31; 14:1 |
| 10. | Signs following believers | Mark 16:17-20; Romans 15:18,19; Hebrews 2:4 |
| 11. | Fruit of the Spirit | Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11 |
| 12. | Divine healing provided for all in the atonement | Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 15:4,5; Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-16; I Peter 2:24 |
| 13. | The Lord’s Supper | Luke 22:17-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26 |
| 14. | Washing the Saint’s feet | John 13:4-17; I Timothy 5:9,10 |
| 15. | Tithing and Giving | Genesis 14:8-20; 28:20-22; Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42; II Corinthians 9:6-9; Hebrews 7:1-10 |
| 16. | Restitution where possible | Matthew 3:8; Luke 19:8,9 |
| 17. | Pre millennial Second Coming of Jesus: | I Corinthians 15:52; |
| I Thessalonians 4:15-17 | ||
| First, to resurrect the dead Saints and to catch away the living Saints to Him in the air | II Thessalonians 2:1 | |
| Second, to reign on the earth A Thousand Years | Zechariah 14:1-4; I Thessalonians 4:14 II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude: 14, 15 Revelation 5:10; 19:11-21; 20:4-6 | |
| 18. | Resurrection | John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; |
| Revelation 20:5,6 | ||
| 19. | Eternal Life for the righteous | Matthew 25:46; Luke 18:30 John 10:28; Romans 6:22; I John 5:11-13 |
| 20. | Eternal Punishment for the wicked. No liberation nor annihilation | Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 3:29 |
| II Thessalonians 1:8,9; | ||
| Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8 |
2. Ordinances of the Church
Water Baptism
- Water Baptism is to plunge or dip, or a burial beneath the surface of the water and a lifting out again.
- That we authorize the printing of Certificates of Baptism and recommended that they be issued to those baptized by the officiating minister.
- Water Baptism is not a door into the Church, but an act of obedience after one has been converted.
- We recognize immersion as the scriptural mode of water baptism. We recommended that our disciples be baptized by a minister who is baptized with the Holy Spirit. However, in as much as the Apostles baptized before and after Pentecost, we leave this matter to the conscience of the individual party and we should not exclude them if they are satisfied with their baptism.
- That Water Baptism be administered by Ordained or Licensed Male Ministers and that it would be in accordance with the commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19, “Baptising them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”.
Lord's Supper and Feet Washing
The subject of Communion and Feet Washing was considered and the Assembly decided that both are taught in the New Testament and may be engaged in at the same service or at different times at the option of the Local Churches. In order to preserve the unity of the body, and to obey the sacred word. It was recommended that every member engaged in these sacred services which should be observed one or more times each year.
Resolutions Relative to the Principles of Holiness of Church of God
The foundation of the Church of God is laid upon the principles of Biblical holiness. Even before the Church experienced the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, its roots were set in the holiness revival of the past century. It was, and is, holiness, Church-holiness in fact and holiness in name. The passing of a century has not diminished our holiness position or convictions. The years have, instead, strengthened our knowledge that without holiness it is impossible to please God.
We hereby remind ourselves that the scriptures enjoin us at all times to examine our own hearts. The continuing and consistent life of holiness requires this. Conditions of our day desperately require it. The subtle encroachment of worldliness is a very real and unrelenting threat to the Church. We must therefore beware lest we become conformed to the world, or lest a love for the world take root in our hearts to manifest itself as lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or the pride of life.
For these reasons, we present the following: WHEREAS, Church of God in historically a holiness Church, and WHEREAS we are enjoined by the Scriptures to be so and WHEREAS, a time of worldliness threatens the spirituality of the Church.
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Church of God reaffirm our standard of holiness, in stated doctrine, in principles of conduct, and as a living reality in our hearts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, as ministers, maintain this standard in our own lives, in our home, and in our pulpits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, as ministers and members rededicate ourselves to this purpose and guard our lives against conformity to the world, in appearance, in selfish ambition, in carnal attitudes and in evil associations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, as ministers and members seek to conform to the positive virtues of love, mercy and forgiveness as taught by Jesus Christ.
3. Memorandum of Association of the Society of the Church of God (Full Gospel) in India.
The Name of the Society
THE SOCIETY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD (FULL GOSPEL) IN INDIA
The objects for which the Society is established
- To acquire and take over all or any part of the movable or immovable properties herein before or now vested in the State/Divisional/Regional Overseer and Council of the Church of God (Full Gospel) in India in the Indian Union.
- To diffuse useful knowledge for spiritual, cultural, and Social Well-being of mankind and towards the same, conduct and carry on general evangelistic programmes and establish Churches and Presbyteries throughout the Indian Union subject to the faith, order, discipline, organisation and Government of Church of God, an International Church with established Churches in India, U.S.A. and other countries with International General Offices located as at present in Cleveland, Tennessee, U.S.A. and all Churches, presbyteries and other Institutions of the Society shall be deemed to have been established and always functioning accordingly.
- To provide basic needs for the uplift and betterment of the downtrodden and establishing charitable and religious Institutions such as churches, schools, hostels, orphanages, libraries, hospitals and dispensaries etc.
- To invest the funds of Society in Government Securities, shares, stocks, debentures, bank deposits and in the purchase of movable or immovable properties or on mortgages of immovable properties and in other investment of every description approved from time to time by the State/Divisional/Regional Overseer and Council of the Society and to negotiate sale or transfer of the same as and when the State/Divisional/Regional Overseer and Council of the Society may deem fit.
- To apply for, obtain and receive from time to time, Government State and other grants, subscriptions or allowances in connection with any schools, hostels, orphanages or industrial settlements poor and foundling houses that the Society may run.
- To purchase, obtain on lease in exchange or otherwise acquire any lands, buildings or other properties both movable and immovable which may be necessary or requisite for all or any of the objects of the Society and to sell, demise, lease, mortgage and give in exchange or surrender the same.
- To receive and accept any gifts or money or other properties both movable and immovable or any bequests or legacies for any one or more of the objects of the Society.
- To borrow or raise either upon security or otherwise upon bonds, bills of exchange, or promissory notes, or by mortgage or charge upon all or any part of the movable or immovable properties of the Society.
- To print and publish any newspapers, periodicals, leaflets, books that the Society may consider desirable or necessary for the promotion of its objects and in connection therewith to establish and run any printing press that may be deemed necessary.
The names of the first members of the Governing Body are:
- Chancel Eugene French of Eckford, Ootacamund.
- T. M. Varghese of Mulakuzha, Chengannur, Travancore.
- M. M. John of Mulakuzha, Chengannur, Travancore.
- S. S. Samuel of No. 92, Mothilal Street, Arapalayam Road, Madurai.
- V. J. Varghese of Kumbanadu, Travancore.
The Addresses and Occupations are furnished below:
We the several persons whose names and addresses are given below are desirous of being formed into a Society in pursuance of this Memorandum under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
| S.No | Name | Address | Occupation |
| 1 | Chancel Eugene French | Eckford Cottage Ootacamund | Missionary |
| 2 | T. M. Varghese | Mulakuzha,Chengannur Travancore | - Do - |
| 3 | M. M. John | Mulakuzha,Chengannur, Arapalayam Road, Madurai. | - Do - |
| 4 | S. S. Samuel | 92, Mothilal Street, Arapalayam Road, Travancore, Madurai | - Do - |
| 5 | V. J. Varghese | Kumbanadu, Travancore | - Do - |
| 6 | K. M. Thomas | Kumbanadu, Travancore | - Do - |
| 7 | A. C. Mammen | Chengannur, Travancore | - Do - |
