The Church of God General Conference: Our History, Beliefs, and Mission

Our History

The COGGC is a vibrant, Bible-centered movement that has spent over a century looking forward to the literal establishment of God’s Kingdom on the earth. 

Most religious movements have a great founder who was a charismatic leader. The COGGC, however, is a bit unique in this regard. Our history is different because it didn’t originate under a single individual or a specific divine moment. Instead, it began with independent seekers of truth scattered across many states during the post-Civil War years. These people started dusting off their Bibles after feeling “fenced in” by the rigid creeds of the big denominations of the early 1800s and wanting to study for themselves.

They became convinced that every believer could study Scripture personally rather than relying solely on established church traditions. They realized that every believer was a “priest in his own right” (1 Peter 2:5, 2:9; Revelation 1:6). These small groups of truth-seekers, often unaware that others were doing the same thing, began forming “Churches of God” based solely on their own study of the Bible. It was a grassroots movement in the truest sense, with small churches popping up all over the United States and Canada.

Growing Together

Organizing these independently minded folks into a national body was a momentous undertaking. There were noble, yet unsuccessful, attempts to form a national conference in 1858, 1869, 1888, and 1910.

The 1910 meeting in Waterloo, Iowa, proved to be a pivotal moment. Described as a “watershed” moment, it forced the group to finally decide what they actually agreed on, even if they weren’t quite ready to sign the official paperwork yet.

Finally, in 1921, they headed back to the campgrounds in Waterloo, and this time, it stuck. They adopted a constitution, a “declaration of understanding,” and set up a headquarters in Oregon, Illinois.

Why Oregon? Because it was centrally located and was already home to their favorite newspaper, The Restitution Herald. For the next 70 years, this small Illinois town was the movement’s headquarters, hosting summer conferences where people pitched family tents and spent weeks studying prophecy under the trees.

In the past, the name “Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith” was used. After the meeting in Waterloo, the conference became known as the Church of God General Conference. While small in size, its contribution to the study and teaching of Scripture has been significant. In many ways, our leaders have pioneered a reawakening in the understanding of biblical truths that had often been overshadowed by longstanding traditions.

Related: A Brief History of the Church of God General Conference

What We Believe

While we are anti-creedal—meaning we believe Scripture itself should be the final authority for faith and practice rather than relying on man-made creeds or confessions—we do have some “distinctive doctrines” that make us stand out in the crowd.

1. We believe God is One: We hold a non-trinitarian view. (Is the Trinity Biblical?) To us, the Father alone is God. He created the world. Jesus is His only begotten Son—our Savior, the Messiah, and our Mediator—not a coequal part of a three-way mystery. The Holy Spirit is the power of God at work in the world. (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:3)
2. We believe Jesus will establish God’s Kingdom: We believe that the “good news” (gospel) Jesus preached wasn’t just about being a nice person. It was about the literal, visible return of Christ to earth to establish a righteous government on the throne of David, which he called the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:10; Acts 1:6; Revelation 11:15)
3. We believe immortality is God’s gift: We don’t believe the Bible teaches that humans have an “immortal soul” that goes to heaven or hell immediately at death. Instead, we recognize that as humans, we are wholly mortal. Death is a “sleep” in the grave. (Link to Michael’s Article on Death.) Immortality is a gift that you only “put on” at the literal resurrection when Jesus returns. (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4)
4. We believe in a believer’s baptism: We believe the Bible teaches that baptism is a response to God when a person believes. It’s a conscious choice a person makes to respond to the good news of the Bible. We baptize people by full immersion in water, following the example of Jesus. (Acts 2:38)
5. We believe in the restoration of Israel: We believe the Jewish people will be restored to their homeland as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, a belief that gained massive momentum after Israel became a state in 1948. (Romans 11)
6. We believe in the abrahamic faith: We believe that by following Christ, believers are “grafted in” to the promises God made to Abraham thousands of years ago. (Galatians 3)

True to its roots, the COGGC does not agree on every point of doctrine and encourages truth-seeking in love and cooperation with one another. Within those shared convictions, we encourage thoughtful Bible study and gracious discussion as we continue growing together in truth.

We are united by our hope: God will send His Son, Jesus, to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth. We are united in proclaiming that salvation is found through Jesus, the Messiah. (Link to Jake’s Article on Jesus), and expressed through faith and believer’s baptism as we await God’s coming Kingdom. 

How the COGGC Works

The Church of God General Conference is a network of independent churches. Each local church is locally governed and autonomous. We believe that Christ is the head of the Church, not an organization.

These independent churches collectively join forces and share resources to accomplish larger efforts nationally and globally in addition to their local ministries. By sharing resources, ministries, and events, we believe we are better together than we could be alone.

The COGGC is structured to provide support rather than control and to encourage rather than to manipulate. Participation in any Church of God General Conference event, program, or organization is entirely voluntary.

Through numerous events, programs, and resources created by the COGGC, churches are equipped and supported to spread the Kingdom message in their local communities. There is so much encouragement to be found in the connections that come from our international network of like-minded believers.

Related: How COGGC Events are Preparing the Way for God’s Kingdom

Looking Ahead

Today, that cooperative spirit continues through ministries that equip churches around the world. If you’re looking for the COGGC today, you won’t find them in that little limestone church in Oregon, Illinois. In 1991, the Church of God General Conference and its college packed up the station wagons and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. This move was about expanding our reach and connecting with a more global audience.

Today, the COGGC isn’t just a group of people waiting for the end of the world. We are busy doing the work through several ministry departments. 

Preparing Leaders

We operate Atlanta Bible College, which trains pastors and lay workers for ministries all over the globe. In 2010, the Bible College started a Korean campus on the north side of Atlanta, and in 2013, another branch campus was opened in South Korea.

We are taking another step forward in 2027 by moving our college and headquarters to Ohio, where we will be closer to more churches and have a traditional campus for our Bible College.

Reaching the World

We have a mission department called Lord’s Harvest International that supports churches and ministries in countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, and Uganda. Previous work was done in India, Peru, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Investing in the Next Generation

Our youth department supports small church youth groups through several regional and national events. FUEL is our national youth conference for high school and college students each summer. Additionally, two regional events called reFUEL happen in November and February, one in Louisiana and the other in Indiana.

A Place to Seek Truth

In a world that often feels chaotic and unmoored, the COGGC offers a clear, Bible-only anchor. We are a group that values “free inquiry” and encourages people to “examine the Scriptures every day” to see if what they are being told is true. We invite you to join us.

Whether you’re exploring the Bible for the first time or looking for a church rooted in Scripture and the hope of God’s coming Kingdom, we’d love to help you take the next step. Fine a local church, learn more about our beliefs, or explore more resources.