Pillar of Fire Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pillar of Fire Church (POF) is a Christian denomination headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with a congregation in Zarephath, New Jersey and other locations worldwide. It was established by Alma White in 1901 in Denver, Colorado as the Methodist Pentecostal Church[1]. Adherents were derisively referred to as "Holy Rollers", because of their religious frenzy[2][3].
The Pillar of Fire name comes from Exodus 13:21-22 which states: "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."
The church's theological position is self described as Wesleyan-Arminian[4]. There are, as of 2006, six congregations in the United States, two colleges, missions in six other countries, and three radio stations.
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[edit] Beliefs
The central beliefs of the Pillar of Fire Church are as follows:[5] Biblical inerrancy, Trinitarianism, the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, the consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit, the "universal depravity of the human race," the necessity of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," belief in "justification by faith and in Christian perfection, or entire sanctification, as a second definite work of grace," the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and premillennialism.
[edit] Radio stations
[edit] Schools
[edit] Primary and secondary
- Alma Heights Christian Academy, Pacifica, California[9]
- Eden Grove Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio[10]
- Somerset Christian Academy, Zarephath, New Jersey[11]
- Sycamore Grove School, Los Angeles, California[12]
[edit] Colleges
- Alma White College, Zarephath, New Jersey (Opened 1917; Closed 1978)[13]
- Belleview College, Westminster, Colorado[14]
- Somerset Christian College, Zarephath, New Jersey[15]
[edit] Leaders
- Alma Bridwell White (founder) 1901 to 1946, first General Superintendent
- Arthur Kent White (son of the founder) 1946 to 1981, second General Superintendent
- Arlene Hart Lawrence (grand-daughter of the founder) 1981 to 1984, third General Superintendent
- Donald Justin Wolfram (great-nephew of the founder) 1984 to 2000, fourth General Superintendent
- Robert Barney Dallenbach (husband of grand-daughter of the founder) 2000 to present, fifth General Superintendent
[edit] International missions
The Pillar of Fire Church operates a number of missions in various locations, including Liberia (started in 1941 by John Potee) [16] and India (started in 1985 by Joseph Raju) [17]. Other missions include: Malawi, Nigeria, and Costa Rica started by Pastor José Monge in 1998 [18].
- The oldest of their missions is in London, England, established in 1904 by Alma White. The mission was set up as a Charitable Trust by Deed dated 19 September 1992, and was registered as a charity in December 1992 (Charity No. 1015529). In response to a complaint received by the Charities Commission in 2002, an inquiry was held and the UK mission lost charitable status and was removed from the register on 16 January 2003[19].
- In 1996, Reverend Moses Peter K. Phiri, a native of Malawi who was raised as a Moslem, was ordained as a pastor by Bishop W. Konkel. The Pillar of Fire Church has 43 congregations in Malawi, with a total membership just short of 5,000 in 43 congregations[20].
- In 1998, José Monge, a native Costa Rican Pastor , was authorized to join to Pillar of Fire, opening the Mission in Costa Rica, as of 2006 there are 8 Congregations. Pillar of Fire, Costa Rica
[edit] Timeline
- 1862 Birth of Alma White as "Mollie Alma Bridwell" in Kinniconick, Kentucky[21]
- 1887 Marriage of Alma Bridwell to Kent White
- 1896 Church established in Denver, Colorado[22]
- 1901 Methodist Pentecostal Union Church dedicated in Denver, Colorado in December[1]
- 1902 Alma White ordained an Elder[23]
- 1904 "Pentecostal Union Herald" changed to "Pillar of Fire"[24]
- 1905 (circa) Pillar of Fire separates from Methodist Episcopal Church
- 1907 Creation of community at Zarephath, New Jersey[1]
- 1909 Alma White separates from husband after he converts to Pentecostalism [25][22]
- 1917 Name of church officially changed to "Pillar of Fire"[24]
- 1917 Alma White College founded in Zarephath, New Jersey[13]
- 1918 Ordained as first woman bishop in the United States[1] by William Godbey[22]
- 1920 Acquires Westminster University of Colorado property in Westminster, Colorado[26]
- 1924 Publishes Woman's Chains, which is in print until 1970[22]
- 1925 Westminster University renamed Belleview College and Preparatory School[26]
- 1928 KPOF radio station in Westminster, Colorado[27]
- 1931 WAWZ radio station in Zarephath, New Jersey[28]
- 1932 Church established in Morrison, Colorado[29]
- 1936 Property estimated at $US 4M with 4,000 adherents in 46 congregations [30]
- 1946 Death of Alma White on June 27th[1]
- 1946 Death of Ray Bridwell White on November 5th[31]
- 1946 Arthur Kent White begins tenure as second General Superintendent
- 1978 Alma White College closes[13]
- 1981 Arthur Kent White ends tenure
- 1981 Arlene White begins tenure as third General Superintendent
- 1984 Arlene White ends tenure
- 1985 Donald Justin Wolfram begins tenure as fourth General Superintendent[32]
- 2000 Donald Justin Wolfram ends tenure[32]
- 2000 Robert B. Dallenbach begins tenure as fifth General Superintendent
- 2003 Donald Justin Wolfram dies on August 25th[32][33]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Alma White: Founder of Pillar of Fire Dies at 84", The New York Times; June 27, 1946; p. 21.
- ^ "Bound Brook Mob Raids Klan Meeting: Thousand Hostile Citizens Surround Church and Lock In 100 Holy Rollers.", 'The New York Times, May 2, 1923, p. 1.
- ^ Cyril Edwin Mitchinson; The Babbitt Warren
- ^ Pillar of Fire Church: Doctrinal Statement in Brief, accessed August 31, 2006
- ^ Pillar of Fire: What We Believe, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ AM91 & Castle History, accessed September 1, 2006 - "KPOF is the oldest station of the Pillar of Fire Network, which is the oldest network of Christian Stations in the World."
- ^ Star 99.1 Jobs, accessed September 1, 2006 - "STAR 99.1 is a radio-ministry of Pillar of Fire"
- ^ 93.3 Cincinnati Ohio Christian Radio, accessed September 1, 2006 - "93.3 WAKW is a service of Pillar of Fire, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization"
- ^ Pillar of Fire, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ An Overview of Eden Grove Academy School, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Somerset Christian Academy: History, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Sycamore Grove School: A Ministry of the Pillar of Fire Church, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ a b c institutions that have closed, merged, or changed their names, accessed September 3, 2006
- ^ Introducing Belleview Christian College, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Somerset Christian College: History, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Pillar of Fire, International - Missions: Liberia, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Pillar of Fire, International - Missions: India, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Pilar de Fuego Costa Rica, Quienes Somos, accessed September 15, 2006
- ^ Charities Commission (March 16, 2005). Pillar of Fire, Registered Charity No. 1015529. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
- ^ Pillar of Fire, International - Missions: Malawi, accessed September 1, 2006
- ^ Alma Bridwell White, Encyclopædia Britannica online, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ a b c d Book Review of Susie Cunningham Stanley's "Feminist Pillar of Fire: The Life of Alma White" Bethel College (Indiana), accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ Time Line 1900's, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ a b Historic Downtown Colorado Springs, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ Robert McHenry; Famous American Women: A Biographical Dictionary from Colonial Times to the Present
- ^ a b Historic Westminster, Colorado: The Princeton of the West, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ Denver Radio: 80 Years of Change, accessed September 1, 2006 - "On March 9 [1928], KPOF went on the air and was owned by a religious movement called the Pillar of Fire.
- ^ New Jersey AM Radio History, accessed September 1, 2006
- ^ The Town of Morrison, Colorado: Pillar of Fire Church, accessed September 2, 2006
- ^ Robert McHenry; Famous American Women: A Biographical Dictionary from Colonial Times to the Present
- ^ "Ray Bridwell White; Pillar of Fire Church Leader, Son of Late Bishop, Dies.", The New York Times, November 6, 1946; p. 22.
- ^ a b c Promoted to Glory: Donald Justin Wolfram, 83, Bishop
- ^ Donald Wolfram moved souls copy of obituary from The Denver Post, dated August 29, 2003
[edit] Further reading
- Cyril Edwin Mitchinson; The Babbitt Warren (1927)
- Charles Wright Ferguson; The New Books of Revelations: The Inside Story of America's Astounding Religious Cults 1929
- Alma White's Evangelism Press Reports, compiled by C. R. Paige and C.K. Ingler (1939)
- Alma Bridwell White. (2005). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 12, 2005, from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium
- Susie Cunningham Stanley; Feminist Pillar of Fire: The Life of Alma White; Cleveland, Ohio; The Pilgrim Press, (1993) ISBN 0-8298-0950-3
- Kristin E. Kandt; Historical Essay: In the Name of God; An American Story of Feminism, Racism, and Religious Intolerance: The Story of Alma Bridwell White, 8 Am. U. J. Gender, Soc. Pol. & L 753 (2000)
- Randall Balmer; Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism (2004) ISBN 1-932792-04-X
[edit] Selected coverage in periodicals
- New York Times; August 18, 1907; pg. SM2. "How They Jump, Where They Jump, When They Jump, Why They Jump, and Who They Are"
- New York Times; December 11, 1910; p. SM7. "Holy Jumpers An Old Religion Headed By A Woman"
- Christian Science Monitor; May 21, 1920; "The Pillar of Fire Mission. London, England. Mrs. Alma White, president of the American organization 'The Pillar of Fire,' which aims at curbing present tendencies in women's dress, and supports a 'dry' program, recently opened her ..."
- New York Times; June 15, 1922; Letters to the Editor; p. 15. Letter from A. Stevens "May I suggest among the twelve greatest American women: Mother Lathrop of the Home for Sufferers and Bishop Alma White of the Pillar of Fire Church."
- New York Times; May 2, 1923; p. 1. "Bound Brook Mob Raids Klan Meeting: Thousand Hostile Citizens Surround Church and Lock In 100 Holy Rollers."
- New York Times; May 7, 1923; p. 15. "Armed Men Guard Services At Church: State Troopers at Pillar of Fire Temple While Bishop Alma White Preaches."
- New York Times; April 16, 1926; p. 21. "Woman Bishop Calls For Fashion Revolt: Head of Pillar of Fire Church, on Mission to England, Blames Men for 'Cruel' Styles."
- New York Times; August 25, 1928; p. 20. "Pillar of Fire Church in Camp."
- Chicago Tribune; October 10, 1928; p. 21. "Bishop Alma And Aimee May Do Some Spiritual Sparring"
- New York Times; August 16, 1930; p. 13. "Pillar of Fire Bishop Back."
- New York Times; August 24, 1936; p. 10. "Revival Sect Hails Depression As Boon: Pillar of Fire Group's Founder, 74, Reports Peak of Prosperity to 1,200 at Meeting."
- Time; November 22, 1937; Legalists & Charismatics. "A woman, Mrs. Alma White, is bishop of the pentecostal Pillar of Fire church, in Zarephath, New Jersey"
- Time magazine; December 18, 1939; Bishop v. Drink. "'We've been over to Alma Temple and signed the pledge and joined the Dry Legion Crusaders. We shall never drink a drop, and when we're old enough we are going to vote the wicked stuff out of existence.' Author of these plays, written for radio and church performance, and acted last week on the platform in a church in Boulder, Colorado, was a masterful, mannish-voiced gynotheocrat, Bishop Alma White, 77."
- New York Times; June 27, 1946; p. 21. "Bishop Alma White, Preacher, Author: Founder of Pillar of Fire Dies at 84 - Established Several Schools and Colleges", "Bound Brook, New Jersey, June 26 (AP) Bishop Alma White, founder of the Pillar of Fire Church and author of thirty-five religious tracts and some 200 hymns, died here today at the headquarters of the religious group at near-by Zarephath. Her age was 84."
- Time magazine; July 8, 1946; Fundamentalist Pillar. "'Political parties yell themselves hoarse when the name of a nominee is mentioned. Why not shout in ecstasy when the name of the Lord is called? If you are happy, let the whole world know it. Do not keep your joy bottled up.' Fundamentalist ecstasy and hallelujah-shouting were a vital part of masterful, deep-voiced Alma White's faith. On it she built a sect called Pillar of Fire — with 4,000 followers, 61 churches, seven schools, ten periodicals and two broadcasting stations. Last week, as it must even to 'the only woman bishop in the world,' Death came to the Pillar of Fire's 84-year-old founder."
- New York Times; November 6, 1946; p. 22. "Ray Bridwell White; Pillar of Fire Church Leader, Son of Late Bishop, Dies."
- New York Times; August 23, 1950; p. 33. "2,000 Revivalists Gather in New Jersey As Pillar of Fire Meeting Nears Climax."
- New York Times; March 16, 1964; p. 24. "Pillar of Fire Bishop Marks 75th Birthday in Jersey."
- New York Times; August 24, 1975; p. 60. "Faithful Savor Rural Life"
- New York Times; September 18, 1981; p. D15. "Bishop Arthur White, 92, Dies; Headed Pillar of Fire Church. Bishop Arthur K. White, president and general superintendent of the Pillar of Fire Church in Zarephath, New Jersey, died Monday at his home in Zarephath. He was 92 years old.
