Grace Communion International (GCI), formerly the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, United States.
Founded in 1934 by Herbert W. Armstrong as a religious broadcasting radio ministry named Radio Church of God, the Worldwide Church of God had a significant, and often controversial, influence on 20th century religious broadcasting and publishing in the United States and Europe, especially in the field of interpreting biblical end-time prophecies. Within a few years after Armstrong's death in 1986, the succeeding church administration modified the denomination's doctrines and teachings to be compatible with mainstream evangelical Christianity, while many members and ministers left and formed other churches that conformed to most, if not all, of Armstrong's teachings. In 2009, the church adopted its current name.
The GCI is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and, as of April 2009, has 42,000 members in 900 congregations in about 90 countries.
Read more about Grace Communion International: Finances, Related Denominations
Famous quotes containing the words grace and/or communion:
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus...”
—Bible: New Testament, 1 Corinthians 1:4.
“There is a communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine drunk.”
—M.F.K. Fisher (1908–1992)