Assemblies of God: Polity and History
1.
2. Affiliated churches are amenable to the general council while being sovereign,
autonomous, self-governing, and self-determining - ANS-Nature. General Council
affiliated churches are deemed to be sovereign, autonomous, self-governing, and
self-determining bodies which have, by their sovereign, self-determining action in
making application for and receiving recognition as a General Council affiliated
church, entered into an agreement with the Fellowship to be amenable to the
General Council and district council in matters of doctrine and polity. (See
Constitution, Article XI, Section 1, paragraph d.)
3. amenability of credentialed ministers to both the district council and the general
council - ANS-BL: Article VII, Section 3, Paragraph e
4. Assemblies of God world missions and the indigenous principle - ANS-The Pauline
example shall be followed as far as possible by seeking out neglected regions where
the gospel has not been preached and by establishing self-supporting,
self-governing, self-propagating national churches in all regions.
5. Baptism in the holy spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues and the parham
school. (Bethel Bible School) - ANS-PS: Pages 48-51
6. Basic education requirements for credentialed ministers - ANS-Basic education
requirements. Any level of formal academic achievement (diploma or degree) shall
not be a requirement for credentials; however, credential applicants shall meet the
following criteria: (1) All applicants are required to be interviewed by the district
credentials committee and, in preparation for the interview, pass a standard exam
approved by the General Presbytery whereby they demonstrate knowledge of the
Bible, Assemblies of God doctrines, and ministerial practices, unless an exception is
granted by the General Council Credentials Committee or permitted by General
Presbytery policy; and either (2) Successfully complete equivalent training to that
indicated in paragraph (3) below, preferably, in an endorsed Assemblies of God
postsecondary school; or in a seminary, college, Bible college, or school approved by
the district credentials committee consistent with criteria established by the General
Council Credentials Committee; or (3) Successfully complete courses, prescribed by
the General Presbytery, offered in correspondence through Global University of the
Assemblies of God, or pass the final examinations in the prescribed courses; or (4)
Be recommended by a district credentials committee as qualifying for credentials
through self-study and ministerial experience. Such candidates shall have a proven
and fruitful ministry of substantial duration. Requests from a district for such a
candidate shall be presented to the General Council Credentials Committee and may
be granted on a case-by-case basis.
7. Chi Alpha Campus Ministries - ANS-Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A. provides
campus ministry to evangelize and disciple American and international college and
university students.
8. Christian marriage is between a man and a woman - ANS-Marriage was established
by God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:18, 21-25) and confirmed by Jesus Christ
to be a permanent relationship between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6).
, Because marriage is not only a commitment to a spouse, but also to God (Genesis
2:24; Mark 10:9; Ephesians 5:31), a believer should marry only another believer (2
Corinthians 6:14). Christian marriage is a reflection of the love, purity, and
permanence between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:23-33). Even though
some marriages may fall short of the biblical ideal (see Bylaws Article IX, B, Section
5), husbands and wives who devote themselves to God (Ephesians 5:21) and find
nurture and instruction in the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:25) can realize the strength
and blessing of God in their relationship.
9. Credential holders who transfer between language/ethnic districts and geographic
districts - ANS-Credential holders from language/ethnic districts may transfer to
geographical districts and credential holders from geographical districts may transfer
to language/ethnic districts provided the credential holder is serving as a pastor or
staff member of a church in the district that the credential holder desires to transfer
to. In instances where the credential holder is not a pastor or staff member of a
church in the district to which the credential holder is transferring, both districts shall
agree to the transfer. Credential holders must settle their district financial obligations
before transfers are granted. The credential holder shall have a right of appeal to the
General Council Credentials Committee in the event either district recommends
denial of the transfer.
10. Disapproved doctrine and practices as it pertains to eschatological errors - ANS-The
restitution of all things. The Assemblies of God understands the teaching of Acts 3:21
to limit the restoration to that of which the prophets have spoken, thus denying the
universal redemption theory. We are opposed to all forms of universalism (Matthew
25:46; Revelation 20:10). b. Setting a date for the Lord's return. It is unwise to teach
that the Lord will come at some specified time, thereby setting a date for His
appearing (Mark 13:32-33; Luke 12:37-40; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is also unwise to
give out from the platform, or publish, visions of numbers and dates fixing the time of
the second coming of the Lord.
11. Disapproved doctrine: legalism - ANS-The restitution of all things. The Assemblies of
God understands the teaching of Acts 3:21 to limit the restoration to that of which the
prophets have spoken, thus denying the universal redemption theory. We are
opposed to all forms of universalism (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10). b. Setting a
date for the Lord's return. It is unwise to teach that the Lord will come at some
specified time, thereby setting a date for His appearing (Mark 13:32-33; Luke
12:37-40; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is also unwise to give out from the platform, or
publish, visions of numbers and dates fixing the time of the second coming of the
Lord.Post-Tribulation Rapture. The General Council of the Assemblies of God has
declared itself in the Statement of Fundamental Truths that it holds to the belief in the
imminent coming of the Lord as the blessed hope of the Church; and since the
teaching that the Church must go through the Tribulation tends to bring confusion
and division among the saints, it is recommended that all our ministers teach the
imminent coming of Christ, warning all to be prepared for that coming, which may
occur at any time, and not lull their minds into complacency by any teaching that
would cause them to feel that specific Tribulation events must occur before the
rapture of the saints. d. Amillennialism. The General Council of the Assemblies of
God disapproves of the amillennial teaching and its attendant erroneous philosophy
which denies the fact of a literal one thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth, and
substitutes for it the theory that this Christian or Church dispensation is the spiritual