Apostolic Assemblies of Christ explained

The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ, Inc.
Headquarters:	Detroit, MI, USA
Main Classification:	Protestant
Orientation:	Oneness Pentecostal
Polity:	Episcopal
Founder:	George Marshall Boone
Founded Date:	1970, Detroit
Founded Place:	Detroit, MI
Branched From:	Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith
Area:	United States of America
Congregations:	est. 259
Members:	est. 50,000
Website:	http://www.apostolicassembliesofchrist.com

The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ, Inc., Incorporated (AAofC), is a Christian Church in the Oneness Pentecostal tradition. The Church is episcopal in governance. The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ was founded as an ecclesiastical corporation under the statutes of the non-profit corporation laws of the United States. The purpose of the founding of the corporation was to provide an ecclesiastical body where all churches could feel free to worship God and where all churches would have representations on all levels. The founder and presiding bishop (emeritus) G. M. Boone started with 7 churches and currently there are 259 churches worldwide. From the beginning, the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ had a set goal and purpose to its very existence in order to exalt the name of Jesus Christ. The organization's headquarters is located in Detroit, Michigan.

History

The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ, Inc.(AAofC) is a predominantly African-American Pentecostal Christian denomination. Founded on March 20, 1970, by Presiding Bishop G.M. Boone.^[1] The meeting was held at the New Liberty Apostolic Faith Church in Detroit, Michigan.

When founded, The A. A. of C. had 7 Churches & 3 States namely:

• Bishop G.M. Boone - Michigan
• Bishop Virgil H. Oates - Michigan
• Elder Fred Majors - Ohio
• Elder Willie J. Duncan - Michigan
• Pastor Parilee Mitchell - Michigan
• Elder James Ward - Tennessee
• Elder Nebraska Edmond - Michigan
• 1st Secretary - Evangelist Lovora J. Walker
• 1st Treasurer - Bishop Virgil H. Oates

• • The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ was named by Pastor Parilee Mitchell.

Doctrine

The Apostolic Assemblies of Christ teaches and preaches the baptism by both water and fire: the baptism is in the name of Jesus and the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Presiding bishops

• 1970-2012: Bishop G. M. Boone of Detroit, MI (Emeritus)
• 2012–2017: Bishop Donald Sorrells of Lockland, OH

Executive structure

The church has corporate officers, which include the president, vice president, general secretary and treasurer.

• BISHOP G.M. BOONE, D.D. ~ Establishmentarian
• THE LATE, BISHOP DONALD SORRELLS, D.D. ~ Presiding Bishop
• ~ Asst. Presiding Bishop
• BISHOP RICHARD W. MAHONE ~ Executive Secretary
• BISHOP NATHANIEL D. JORDAN, D.D. ~ Financial Secretary
• BISHOP MARVIN D. MITCHELL ~ Treasurer

Ecclesiastical structure

The leadership of the AAofC consists of a presiding bishop and a board of bishops. The board also includes emeritus bishops who once served but are either semi or fully retired.

Under the oversight of the board of bishops are geographical units called councils. Councils correspond to state or national boundaries and each council is headed by a diocesan bishop, who is appointed by the board of bishops. A diocesan bishop can have assistants, called jurisdictional bishops. These jurisdictional bishops hold only the authority given them by the diocesan bishop. Typically they will have authority over a region or part of a state. Reporting under the jurisdictional bishop are district elders, who oversee and assist the elders (pastors and their churches) in his district.

Current councils

• Michigan State Council (organized July 1970)/Bishop Marvin D. Mitchell – Diocesan Bishop
• Central District Council (organized May 1975)/Bishop Nathaniel D. Jordan, D.D. – Diocesan Bishop
• Southern District Council (organized November 1980)/Bishop W.T. Walton Jr. – Diocesan Bishop
• Illinois-Indiana District Council (organized April 1981)/Bishop William L. Harris Sr., D.D. – Diocesan Bishop
• Eastern District Council (organized November 1990)/Bishop Ernest Clay, D. Min. - Diocesan Bishop
• Gulf State Council (organized October 2000/Bishop Richard L. Brown – Diocesan Bishop
• California State Council (organized August 2006)/Bishop Arthur Earl Newman, B. Th. – Diocesan Bishop
• Tennessee Carolina Council (organized October 2008)/Bishop Isaac Williams, D. Min. – Diocesan Bishop
• Texas State Council (organized March 2013)/Bishop Paul Bell – Diocesan Bishop

Women in ministry

Women in ministry are recognized and widely accepted. Women are given liberty to function as licensed ministers, ordained evangelist, and pastors. They can also hold council and national offices. However, according to the by-laws they cannot hold the episcopal ranks of district elder, suffragan bishop, or bishop.

Auxiliary departments

• INTERNATIONAL APOSTOLIC WOMEN - Dr. Thelma Sorrells, Chairlady
• NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD - District Elder Dr. Olgen Williams, Chairman
• NATIONAL FOREIGN MISSIONS - Sister C. Jeanette Carter, Chairlady
• NATIONAL HOME MISSIONS - Pastor Dr. Christine Grant, Chairlady
• NATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL - District Elder Terrance Mickens, Superintendent
• NATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE’S AUXILIARY - Elder Mark Moore Jr., President

Auxiliary bishops

• Bishop Arthur Earl Newman, B. Th. - National Home Mission
• Bishop Nathaniel D. Jordan, D.D. - International Apostolic Women
• Bishop Arthur Cohens - National Brotherhood
• Bishop Richard L. Brown - National Missionary
• Bishop Johnny L. Davis - National Sunday School
• Bishop Isaac Williams, D. Min. - National Young People

A. A. of C. calendar of events

• March- Mid-Winter Pastors & Workers Convention (National Meeting)
• April- National Youth Convention (National Meeting)
• July- Annual National Convention (National Meeting) Normally held in various cities across the United States

Related organizations

• Pentecostal Assemblies of the World - The grandmother denomination of the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ.
• Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith - Mother denomination of the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ. Bishop Boone was ordained elder by Bishop S. N. Hancock, served as district elder and chairman of the Michigan State Council, and was elevated to the office of bishop against his own objections.

Notes and References

1. Book: Kurian . George Thomas . Day . Sarah Claudine . The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries . 14 March 2017 . Baker Books . 978-1-4934-0640-1 . en . In 1970, G. M. Boone exited the PCAF over administrative differences and confusion surrounding the organization's charter to found the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ in Detroit, Michigan..