World christian ministries association

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World Christian Ministries Association (WCMA-listed under Oneness Pentecostalism)[[1]] was incorporated in 1993 in the State of Maine as a non-profit church organization ([2]) by Rev. Daniel A Briggs, Ph.D.

Rev. Daniel Briggs ([3]) was first ordained by the UPCI ([4]) when he was in his early twenties and the First Apostolic Church of Biddeford was WCMA's first affiliated church in 1993, which he started in the early 1980's ([5]).

1 Mission statement
2 Early history
3 Growth
4 Universities and institutes
5 Resources

[edit] Mission statement

WCMA's mission is to encourage, mediate, and orchestrate the distribution of spiritual and non-spiritual wealth of the Body of Christ to less fortunate Christians around the world. WCMA plans to accomplish this by promoting and developing Apostolic Pentecostal Christianity, Peace, Justice, and improved Health and Welfare around the world via the following objectives:

Develop International WCMA Centers and affiliated WCMA Cooperatives ([6]) networked with local churches irrespective of their Apostolic Pentecostal Organizational affiliation.

Establish WCMA Cooperatives: Primary and secondary Schools [7], Housing, Agribusiness ([8]), Commerce, Health Clinics ([9]), Orphanages [10], and Hospitals.

Promote Visiting Programs (Missionary Tours) ([11])via an international Volunteer Human Resources data bank for: Ministers, Health Professionals, Teachers, and a milieu of other Professionals and paraprofessionals ([12]).

Expand Virtual Campus Education for: Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctorate Programs ([[13]]).

Expand Training/Internship Scholarships.

Expand Global Evangelism ([14]).

[edit] Early history

WCMA’s roots can be traced back in history to when the Assemblies of God adopted the doctrine of the Trinity at its Fourth General Council in October 1916. At that time ministers who embraced the "Oneness" doctrine withdrew from the organization. Two months later, beginning in late December, Oneness ministers met in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and again on January 2, 1917, when they formed a Oneness Pentecostal organization called The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies ([[15]]).

Around (late) 1917 or (early) 1918 the General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and held its first meeting in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in 1918. This newly formed organization adopted the name of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. However, in late 1924, the organization split over racial concerns. As a result, during 1925, three new organizations formed: The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, and Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ (ibid).

In 1927 Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ and The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ merged in a joint convention in Guthrie, Oklahoma under the name The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This merger, which united about 400 ministers, was celebrated at General Convention held in Port Arthur, Texas, in October of 1928 (ibid).

In 1931, a conference with representatives from four Oneness organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. A four organizational merger was not successful. The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. A merger between The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was completed in November of 1931 (ibid).

The ministers who did merge from these two organizations adopted the name of Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. However, the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World did not fully merge since non-merging ministers from both organizations maintained their respective organizations and are still active to this day (ibid).

In 1932, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, to better reflect its organizational and ecclessiastical polity. Neither of the two remaining organizations attempted another merger until 1936, when The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward a merger with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Negotiations were not successful. Eight years later, in 1944, the two organizations reopened negotiations which would eventually lead the to the formation of the present United Pentecostal Church International ([[16]]) in 1945 (ibid).

In 1983, Daniel A Briggs was ordained by the UPCI. He later left the UPCI in 1993 and incorporated World Christian Ministries Association (WCMA) that same year as an alternative for ministers desiring a less hierachical ecclessiastical polity and a more horizontal ministerial fellowship. WCMA's beliefs are delineated in Disciples of Christ Vol 3([17]), authored by Rev. Daniel A. Briggs, Ph.D.

[edit] Growth

Since 1993, WCMA has grown from one church and three ministers to over 850 churches, 1,200 ministers and 83,000 constituents as of March 2007. WCMA has grown to Africa, India and Asia [18] and around the world.