Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship | |
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Abbreviation | FGBCF, FGBCFI |
Classification | Evangelical Christianity |
Orientation | Full Gospel Baptist |
Theology | Baptist beliefs, charismatic |
Polity | Episcopal |
Governance | Council of Bishops |
Presiding Bishop | Joseph W. Walker III |
Founder | Paul S. Morton |
Origin | 1992 |
Separated from | National Baptist Convention |
Separations | Global United Fellowship |
Congregations | 10,000 |
Members | 2,000,000 |
Official website | fullgospelbaptist |
The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship (FGBCF) or Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBCFI) is a predominantly African-American, Charismatic Baptist denomination established by Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton—a Gospel singer and former National Baptist pastor.[1] Founded as a response to traditional black Baptists upholding cessationism, Full Gospel Baptists advocate for the operation of Charismatic Christian spiritual gifts,[2] while also holding to some traditional Baptist doctrine.
Reminiscing early Baptist Christianity's acceptance of the bishopric being synonymous with the pastorate within congregationalist tenets per the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (as Baptists originated in 1609 from the Church of England, which schismed with the Roman Church—both upholding the historic episcopacy),[3] Full Gospel Baptists developed a presbyteral-episcopal polity not found in the historic black Baptist denominations while maintaining congregationalist distinctives.[4]
The FGBCF was reported to have over 10,000 active members in 1993 and 20,000 in 1995;[5] in 1997 it claimed 1 million members and 5,000 churches throughout the United States.[1] As of 2020, they reported having approximately 2 million members;[6] in 2023, Full Gospel Baptists had approximately 10,000 churches.[7] Churches aligned with Full Gospel Baptists may affiliate with other Christian denominations, and aren't required to change their names.[4] Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship is led by Bishop Joseph W. Walker III, of Nashville, Tennessee as the Full Gospel Presiding Bishop, who was appointed to succeed Bishop Morton upon his retirement.[8]
Established in 1994, our essence is best captured by the phrase "The Right to Choose", that freedom is based on the belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be promoted by recognizing the free expression of the gifts of the Spirit as a viable part of the Body of Christ. The Fellowship is convinced that the choice to exercise these spiritual gifts is imperative for the local New Testament Church to fully function as the dynamic organism God has intended.
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A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons. ( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )
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Bishop Walker currently serves as the International Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, International. In July 2013, he was chosen to succeed the founding International Presiding Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr.