Church of the Living God (Motto, Christian Workers for Fellowship)

Church of the Living God (Motto, Christian Workers for Fellowship)

430 Forest Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
United States


Media Contact
Chief Bishop, Robert Tyler

39.1464766, -84.4980916


The Church of the Living God was founded by William Christian in April 1889 at Caine Creek, Arkansas. It was the first black church in America without Anglo-Saxon roots and not founded by white missionaries.
Chief Christian, as he is now referred, was born a slave in Mississippi on Nov. 10, 1856 and grew up uneducated. In 1875, he united with the Missionary Baptist Church and began to preach. In 1888, he left the Baptist Church and began what was known as Christian Friendship Work. Believing himself to have been inspired by the Spirit of God through divine revelation and close study of the Scriptures, he was led to the truth that the Bible refers to the church as The Church of the Living God (I Timothy. Ch.3 vs.15). In 1889, he established the Church of the Living God organization.
The organization is nondenominational, nonsectarian and Trinitarian and believers in the infallibility of the Scriptures. It emphasizes believer's baptism by immersion, the use of water and unleavened bread element in the Lord's Supper and the washing of feet that is required only when one unites with the church.
The local organizations are know as "Temple" rather than as "Churches" and are subject to the authority of the general assembly. The presiding officer is styled as "chief bishop." The ministry includes bishops, overseers, evangelists, pastors, missionaries and local preachers. The Executive Board is in charge of the operation of the entire organization, in the absence of the Annual Assembly. Synod, Annual, General Assembly meets quadrennial.
The Church of the Living God, now headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been in existence for more than 114 years. It is represented by approximately 10,000 members throughout 25 states within the U.S. The presiding officer, Chief Bishop W. E. Crumes, has led the organization for more than 30 years.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
1957
11,594
223
1952
65
5
1951
50
5
1944
120
120
6
1942
110
0
110
8
1938
611
9
620
30
1936
4,525
0
4,525
96
1923
5,021
5,021
175
1922
5,000
5,000
166
1921
3,000
3,000
150
1919
13,050
13,050
169
1917
9,626
9,626
155
1916
9,598
9,598
154
1906
2,676
2,676
44
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2006
105
5
104
214
2002
105
5
104
214
1985
170
1964
332
376
1962
324
362
1961
287
375
1960
262
317
1959
205
262
1958
187
247
1957
121
235
1952
7
10
1951
5
7
1944
1942
176
1938
176
1936
176
1923
158
1922
125
1921
93
1919
400
1917
300
1916
300
1906
51
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2006
65
2002
65
1962
272
1,560
14,960
16,520
1961
268
1,560
14,092
15,652
1960
256
1,560
13,440
15,000
1959
244
1,332
10,668
12,000
1958
236
1,561
7,010
8,571
1957
223
1,561
6,197
7,758
1951
5
10
26
36
1944
4
0
0
36
1923
63
600
1922
58
570
1921
50
500
1919
80
1,800
1917
99
296
2,328
1916
98
294
2,311
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
1923
$14,000
1922
$15,000
1921
$10,000
1919
$18,812
1917
$18,812