Radio Church of God

Grace Communion International (GCI), formerly the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) (though still registered as Worldwide church of God in the UK and some other regions) and the Radio Church of God, is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, U.S., with the former organizations having had an often controversial influence on 20th century religious broadcasting and publishing in the United States and Europe. In the years after founder Herbert W. Armstrong's death in 1986, church leaders (though not the congregations) came to the conclusion that many of his doctrines were not biblical. These doctrines were subsequently rejected by the leadership, but still practiced by a number of church members and the church is now split on doctrine. The leadership is in full agreement with the statement of faith of the National Association of Evangelicals so that they could join, but not all members agree with the current teaching. In light of these doctrinal changes, in April 2009, the denomination changed its name to Grace Communion International in the USA to better reflect its new teaching.

Originally based in Eugene, Oregon and named The Radio Church of God, the parent organization was founded in 1934 by radio- and televangelist Herbert Armstrong as a radio ministry that promoted a strict, minimalist doctrine. Armstrong prophesied that the world would end in 1975, observed a Saturday Sabbath, forbade medical interventions, and often required three tithes. The radio ministry initially spread Armstrong's prophecies and interpretations of the Bible via its national radio broadcast, The World Tomorrow, which later became a television program as well. After a few years on the air, Armstrong had developed a small following, so the church started publishing a free magazine, The Plain Truth, to supplement Armstrong's message in print for its radio audience. In 1947, the church relocated its headquarters to Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, also founded by Armstrong, and in 1968, the movement was renamed the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Under its WCG incarnation, the church developed a reputation as a "doomsday cult".

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