Christian Church International

The Christian Church International, until October 2018 known as the Christian Universal Life Church (CULC),[1][2] is an independent global panentheist, evangelical[3] Christian church based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2007 the church was founded by Elias I. and a team of fellow panentheists in Toronto, Canada. In 2018 the denomination had 1.5 million members in more than 80 countries and 1.4 million followers on social media.[4] It is therefore one of the biggest grassroot and social media churches on a global scale.[5]

Christian Church International
ClassificationChristian, Evangelism, Christian Fundamentalism, Panentheism
OrientationThe Holy Bible
PolityHierarchical
AssociationsIAA Accreditation Association, ULCO Seminaries, Open Doors USA (endorsement)
FounderElias I., Sister Jemima, Bishop Matthew, Bishop Jonah Samuelson
Origin2007
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

History

Elias I., born Achim Schmidt, a Canadian theologian with German roots was a member of a baptist church and the head of a small Christian ULC group in Toronto. Having been disappointed by both churches he founded the volunteers-only “Christian Universal Life Church”, setting it up as a grassroot movement and social media church on an international level. As of 2018 the Christian Universal Life Church had become a heavy weight in missionary work worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa.[6][7] In 2018 Elias I. handed over his worldly duties to his successor Lukas Emanuel. To avoid any confusion with the Universal Life Church, the Christian Universal Life Church officially changed its name to “Christian Church International”, which is now also an unregistered trademark to reduce the risk of further puzzlement.[8]

Doctrine

The Christian Church International follows an evangelical and panentheist approach.[9] It is moderately conservative and has two wings, a fundamentalist evangelical one as well as a socially progressive, apostolic one.[10] The Christian Church International believes in God as “the One and Threefold” and the teachings of the Holy Bible. As panentheists the Christian Church International believes that all beings are part of God. This is because God is thought to be “all that exists and all that exists is God”.[11]

Churches, schools and missionary work

As a grassroot and social media church, based in the United States of America, with a strong focus on missionary work, the Christian Church International is organized in house churches, bible groups and missionary teams.[12] Its entire international operations are controlled by the “Global Missionary Center” in Boston, Massachusetts. All clerical staff hold a university degree or are an alumnus of the internal and tuition-free élite school Arnulf Seminary of Theology. The missionary work led to an exponentially strong growth of the church, even in unlikely regions like Afghanistan, where now approx. two per cent of the population are a member of the Christian Church International.[13]

Organization and finances

The Christian Church International has a worldly and an ecclesiastical leader, a central committee as well as directors and ambassadors for different purposes. The entire Christian Church International is a non-profit, volunteer-only church. It doesn't even accept monetary donations.[14]

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References
  1. Declaration of the name change, retrieved November 7th, 2018
  2. Aus der Christian Universal Life Church wird die Christian Church International. Article in German. In: OpenPR Press Release, published November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. Official website, sections “That's us” – second last paragraph, retrieved December 9, 2018
  4. Social Media site with follower counter, retrieved November 7, 2018.
  5. The Blasting News: “The Christian Universal Life Church has enacted a new dogma”. Published March 31st, 2017. Retrieved November 7th, 2018.
  6. Craig D. Atwood, Frank S. Mead, Samuel Hill: Handbook of Denominations in the United States. Abingdon Press, 2010
  7. The Blasting News: “Russia: missionaries in trouble?”. Published April 4, 2017. Retrieved November 7th, 2018
  8. Reg. #WI/62529, issued Nov 5th 2018
  9. Official statement, “That's us” – second last paragraph, retrieved December 9, 2018
  10. The Huffington Post, German edition, article about gay marriage and the position of this very church (old name) in regard to that topic: “Ehe für alle? Ja, in Gottes Namen!”, published 30 July 2017, retrieved November 7, 2018
  11. Quotes retrieved from the official website on November 7, 2018
  12. Mark R. Gornik: Word Made Global. Stories of African Christianity in New York City. Eerdmans Publishing 2011
  13. Why two percent of all Afghans are now members of a church. Published in The Blasting News Section on April 1, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  14. Information on the official website, retrieved November 7, 2018.
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