Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army
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The Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army (SICIA) is a Christian spiritual church that emerged from the Church of God in David, a denomination that was founded in the mid-1920s in Alabama (and later moved to Michigan) by Bishop Derks Field. Upon Field's death, W. D. Dickson led the congregation and changed its name to the current title, against the wishes of Field's brother.
With a largely African-American congregation, it promotes the belief that as Christians are children of God and are spiritual children of Israel, Israel is God, and to find God in oneself is to find Israel spiritually in oneself. Members refer to themselves as Israelites, not to be confused with Israelis. Though not separatist, the church is somewhat political, believing that Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus were all black men. Through its fellowship, this black church seeks to free the African-American community from dependence on white America.
The church bases its theology heavily on Old Testament scriptures, and believes that because God must be taught, every generation a great teacher is sent to Earth to lead God's people. The church's current head is Bishop Bobby J. Davis, whose title within the church is King of Israel.
The church is currently based out of Detroit, but has over twenty-five temples in the United States, mostly in urban areas. Its emblem is the Star of David, though the retains few, if any, traditional Jewish customs.
[edit] References:
- Baer, Hans A, Yvonne Jones. African Americans in the South: issues of race, class, and gender. University of Georgia Press, 1992. pp. 132-33
