The Wesleyan Holiness Church, also known as the Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches, is a Methodist Christian denomination in the conservative holiness movement. It has congregations throughout Canada, the United States and missions in other parts of the world.
| Wesleyan Holiness Church | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Methodism |
| Orientation | Conservative holiness movement |
| Polity | Connexionalism |
| Associations | Interchurch Holiness Convention |
| Separated from | Bible Missionary Church |
| Congregations | 24[1] |
History
editThe formation of the Wesleyan Holiness Church is a part of the history of Methodism in the United States and Canada; it sits within the Holiness movement which emerged in Methodism during the nineteenth century.[2] The church is a schism from the Bible Missionary Church that happened in 1959, the result of perceived overly-lenient views on divorce and remarriage within that group.[3][4] Congregations that belong to the Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches joined it, such as that in Portage, which held its first service of worship was held on 18 March 1956.[5]
General Conference, Annual conferences and Camp meetings
editThe Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches holds a General Conference.[1]
The Central District of Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches holds its annual conference and camp meeting at the Orleans Wesleyan Campgrounds in Orleans, Indiana.[6]
The Northeast District of Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches holds its annual conference and camp meeting at the Orleans Wesleyan Campgrounds in Clinton, Pennsylvania.[6]
Publications
editThe official organ of the Wesleyan Association of Churches is the Eleventh Hour Messenger.[7]
United Kingdom
editIn the UK, the British Isles District has 16 churches. The head office is at New Life Wesleyan Church in Handsworth, Birmingham. This District is associated with the Wesleyan Church and not the same as the denomination which left the Bible Missionary Church.
References
edit- ^ a b Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches Thirty-First General Conference Journal. West Harrison: Wesleyan Holiness Association of Churches. 15 June 2019. pp. 4–9.
- ^ Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (21 September 2010). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 303. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.
- ^ Moyer, Ina: The Way It Really Was, pp 15-18
- ^ Bainbridge, William Sims (1997). The Sociology of Religious Movements. Psychology Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-415-91202-0.
- ^ Portrait of a Town: Portage, Pennsylvania, 1890-1990. The Committee. 1990. p. 59.
On March 18, 1956, the first service of what is now the Wesleyan Holiness Church was held in the Miner's Hall under the leadership of Rev. Alvin Cottle.
- ^ a b Manley, Stevan; Myers, Bryon G. (2021). "Building on the Foundation". Eleventh Hour Messenger. LXII (2): 7.
- ^ Eric Jude (2019). "Troy Lighthouse Advances to Established Church Status". Eleventh Hour Messenger. LX (1): 1.
External links
edit- http://www.wesleyanchurch.co.uk (Official website)
- http://www.wesleyan.net/churches/uk/ Archived 2016-12-26 at the Wayback Machine (Unofficial website)