Church of God and Saints of Christ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Church of God and Saints of Christ is a Hebrew Israelite religious congregation organized in 1896 by William Saunders Crowdy. This organization is the oldest living African American congregation started in the United States that follows the tenets of Judaism and adheres to the Ten Commandments. Its base operations are at Temple Beth El in Virginia.[1] The doctrine also includes observance of the Sabbath and other biblical holy days, and the belief in the medium of prophecy.
The members of this congregation believe they are descendants of the “lost tribes of Israel.” In 1906, William Saunders Crowdy passed his mantle of leadership to three successors: Chief Joseph W. Crowdy, Bishop William H. Plummer, and Counselor Calvin S. Skinner. Counselor Skinner consecrated for leadership Rabbi Howard Z. Plummer, who prior to his demise ordained Rabbi Levi S. Plummer. Currently, the congregation is led by Rabbi Jehu August Crowdy, Jr. The Church of God and Saints of Christ has its headquarters in “Belleville” (Suffolk), Virginia with tabernacles across the United States, Jamaica, and Africa.
Despite their name, members of the Church of God and Saints of Christ adhere to Judaism as their religion, and do not believe in Christianity.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Fox, Andrew. Sons of Abraham. The College Hill Independent. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ Church of God and Saints of Christ - Frequently asked Questions page
