Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
The Church of God General Conference (COGC), associated with the Abrahamic Faith tradition, is a small non-Trinitarian body that emphasizes a return to the plain teaching of Scripture on the nature of God, human mortality, and the coming kingdom of God on earth. It holds that God is one person (the Father), that Jesus is the Son of God (not a pre-existent divine being), and that humans do not possess an immortal soul — the dead are unconscious until the resurrection. The COGC's eschatological vision centers on a literal, earthly kingdom of God inaugurated by the return of Christ.
Theology
Christology
Nature of Jesus
Nuanced
Son of God; fully human; not co-equal with Father; exalted after resurrection
Virgin Birth
Affirms
Jesus conceived by God's power in the Virgin Mary; literal miracle affirmed
Pre-existence of Christ
Denies
Christ did not pre-exist; he began at conception; existed in God's plan before
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
Salvation by faith in Christ; baptism by immersion practiced; kingdom hope central
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Christ's death atones for sin and provides basis for forgiveness and resurrection
Predestination
Nuanced
Arminian; God foreknew but did not unconditionally predetermine; free will real
Original Sin
Nuanced
Adam's sin brought mortality and tendency to sin; inherited guilt broadly rejected
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Denies
Soul sleep affirmed; no immortal soul; dead are unconscious until resurrection
Hell
Denies
Eternal conscious hell denied; the wicked are destroyed, not tormented forever
Heaven
Nuanced
Immortality on earth in God's kingdom; resurrection to life, not going to heaven now
Second Coming
Affirms
Christ returns bodily to establish God's kingdom; raises the dead and judges all
Millennium
Affirms
Premillennial earthly kingdom; Christ reigns on earth with resurrected saints
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Nuanced
General Conference structure; congregational autonomy; Scripture supreme
Clergy & Priesthood
Nuanced
Ordained pastors and deacons; priesthood of believers; women's roles vary
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
Believer's baptism by immersion; weekly or regular breaking of bread as memorial
Scripture
Scripture Interpretation
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Nuanced
Baptism in Christ's name; non-Trinitarian understanding of the formula
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Denies
Questions application to Christ; psalm address not necessarily to Christ originally
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Future earthly kingdom and restoration; interpretation varies on millennium metaphysics
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Affirms
God created all things; literal beginning; non-Trinitarian understanding of creation
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Affirms content but acknowledges scholarly questions about authenticity and ending
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Affirms content; acknowledges textual-critical questions about earliest manuscripts
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Denies
Rejects the longer ending as late interpolation; not used in non-Trinitarian argument
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; adherence to Hebrew Scripture canon
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Not canonical Scripture; early Christian document but sub-apostolic
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Denies
Rejects traditional reading; Word is divine power of God, not a distinct person
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Nuanced
Affirms virgin birth but questions almah translation; contextual interpretation cautious
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Affirms
Faith in Christ, not Peter, is the church's foundation; anti-papal interpretation
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Affirms
God's sovereign choice affirmed; Romans 9 supports conditional election not double predestination
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Affirms
Works demonstrate faith and obedience; justified by faith expressed in conduct
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Nuanced
Sunday worship as Lord's Day; Mosaic Sabbath not binding; early church pattern followed
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are medically acceptable within COGC teaching
Military Service
Nuanced
No official pacifist mandate; individual conscience guides; some peace-church influence
Holidays
Nuanced
Christmas and Easter observed by most; focus on Sunday breaking of bread weekly