Guide to the Worldwide Church of God Collection

Finding Aid Authors: Adam Gossman.

135 N. Oakland Avenue

Pasadena, CA, 91182-0002

URL: http://library.fuller.edu/archives/

Email: archives@fuller.edu

Phone: (626) 584-5311

Fax: (626) 584-5613

Guide to the Worldwide Church of God Collection 1920/2008

David Allan Hubbard Library Archives

Overview of the Collection

Collection Title: Worldwide Church of God Collection

Dates: 1920-2008

Bulk Dates: 1973-1993

Identification: CFT00110

Creator: Denzler, Brenda, 1953-

Physical Description: 20.00

Repository: David Allan Hubbard Library Archives

135 N. Oakland Avenue

Pasadena, CA, 91182-0002

URL: http://library.fuller.edu/archives/

Email: archives@fuller.edu

Phone: (626) 584-5311

Fax: (626) 584-5613

Administrative History:

The Worldwide Church of God (WCG), with headquarters in Pasadena, California, was officially begun in Oregon in 1934 by Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986). It was originally called "The Radio Church of God" but changed its name to Worldwide Church of God in 1968.

In 1978, Garner Ted Armstrong, son of the founder, was disfellowshipped and moved to Tyler, Texas, where he founded a splinter group, the Church of God International. Just prior to H.W. Armstrong's death in 1986 Joseph W Tkach, Sr., assumed the title of "Pastor General" of the WCG. Tkach died in September 1995, at the age of 68 and was succeeded by his son, Joseph Tkach Jr.

Since the 1986 leadership change, observers of WCG affairs can list up to 40 changes in doctrine, as well as a withdrawal from circulation of a number of Armstrong's written works. The leadership of the WCG issued a new statement of faith with more authority given to Biblical teachings than prior to the leadership change. From the late ‘70’s doctrinal questions had been raised by members of the WCG. In the 1990’s some sought pastoral training at Fuller Theological Seminary and found there answers that helped transition the WCG to its current more Biblical teachings. In 2009 the name was changed once again, to Grace Communion International. It is now headquartered in Glendora, CA. and is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Corporate Name:

Worldwide Church of God

Personal Name:

Armstrong, Garner Ted.

Armstrong, Herbert W.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Scholarly use within parameters of copyright law

Conditions Governing Access:

Supervised use only

Arrangement of Materials:

The collection is arranged in the original order and folders. A list of the periodicals separated to Archived Periodicals of the David Allan Hubbard Library follows the Box Inventory.

Series 1: History

Series 2: People and Events

Series 3: “Ambassador Report” and “Pastor’s Report”

Series 4: Miscellaneous, including Letters and Cassette tapes

Scope and Contents

Brenda Denzler was a member of the Worldwide Church of God. She was among those who began to question both doctrine and leadership and was in correspondence with others of a like mind. The collection documents her own journey and that of other dissident groups from the late seventies until the dissolution of the WCG. The materials in this collection were used in the writing of The lure of the edge: scientific passions, religious beliefs, and the pursuit of UFOs by Brenda Denzler. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001; ISBN: 9780520224322

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