Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
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The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, International is a fellowship of churches and individuals representing various denominations or organizations (primarily from an African American Baptist background) that accepts the operation of spiritual gifts (the charismata) in the church today, in contrast to the teachings of many Baptist bodies.
A spiritual gifts movement beginning around 1992, led by National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. pastor Paul S. Morton, grew among all the National Baptist Conventions and resulted in the formation of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. The first Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference was held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994. Fellowship headquarters remain in New Orleans.
The church is built on a Baptist foundation and embraces a wide scope of Charismatic influences. Such influences include that of speaking in other tongues, prophecy, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, the "five-fold" ministry (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists), the acceptance of women in ministry in all ranks, and heavy emphasis is placed on worshipping God in corporate gatherings in a "Full Gospel" Church. Bishop Paul S. Morton began with 12 men, all of which from traditional Baptist Church backgrounds and continued with him at least until around 1998. The organization's governmental structure is based on an episcopal hierarchy. Leadership extends from the Bishop's Council, through the College of Bishops, General, State & District Overseers, and the Financial Assistance Council, down to Senior Pastors.
In addition to North America, Full Gospel Baptist Churches exist in Africa, Asia, the Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, India, and Italy.
[edit] External links
- Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship - official Web Site
The twelve founding fathers