Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI) is a Charismatic Baptist denomination. It advocates the operation of spiritual gifts in church, in reaction to the teachings of many Baptist bodies.
| Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | FGBCFI |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Full Gospel Baptist |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Presiding Bishop | Joseph W. Walker III |
| Founder | Paul S. Morton |
| Origin | 1992 |
| Separated from | National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. |
| Congregations | 5,000 (self-reported in 1997) |
| Members | 1 million (self-reported in 1997) |
History
The FGBCFI was founded by Bishop Paul S. Morton, separating himself from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., with others following the charismatic movement in 1992.[1]
Bishop Joseph W. Walker III is the current Presiding Bishop. The FGBCFI has an Executive Council, a Bishops Council, and several auxiliary bishops. The FGBCFI has an annual 6 in 1 Conference that convenes in various locations (e.g., Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana) typically in July. 25,000 attended the first conference in 1994.[2] The FGBCFI was reported to have over 10,000 active members in 1993 and 20,000 in 1995;[1] in 1997 it claimed 1 million members and 5,000 churches throughout the United States.[3] In 2020, they reported more than 800 affiliated churches.[4]
References
- Sherry S. DuPree (13 September 2013). African-American Holiness Pentecostal Movement: An Annotated Bibliography. Taylor & Francis. p. 347. ISBN 978-1-135-73717-7. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- Double Honor. Walter Kambulow. pp. 95–96. GGKEY:3XBW0K49BJT. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- Jacqueline Trussell. "The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship: Giving Baptists A Choice". Black and Christian. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. "Locations - Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-07-08.