Why take this action?
Unfortunately, the decisions and processes of the UCA have not helped to uphold and strengthen classical Christian teaching. We therefore believe that it is imperative to continue to work within the UCA, but in a different way. We have taken this action for the sake of the Gospel and in order to better fulfil the purposes for which the UCA was established.
Why the name: Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC)?
The word ‘Assembly’ has been chosen with the following in mind:In the past we have had an Alliance of congregations. Words such as ‘alliance’, ‘association’ or ‘movement’ suggest a loose fellowship of like minded people within a larger whole. But the ACC goes further than previous initiatives because of the seriousness of the situation within the Uniting Church. We believe that it is the Assembly which has acted in an apostate manner and has violated its own processes of decision making. Therefore we use the word ‘Assembly’, to call the Uniting Church Assembly to account for its apostasy. We have avoided any words which are used in the UCA to denote a component part of the Church under its National Assembly. E.g. synod, presbytery, mission network, congress, council, or conference. The Assembly of Confessing Congregations does not fit tidily into the UCA as one component in its diversity. This is because orthodoxy that ‘fits in’ as one option among many is not true orthodoxy.‘Confessing’, as the Basis of Union rightly says, means confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. This was necessary, at the time of union, so that the basis of faith in Christ was clearly articulated for the sake of the ministry and mission of the Uniting Church.
Confessing movements have a long and honourable tradition of protest within the Churches. Since the 16th century Reformation, confessional churches have affirmed their faith in opposition to what they regarded as false teaching of one kind or another. Today throughout the Western world many confessing movements have sprung up within mainline denominations. For example, membership of the Confessing Movement in the United Methodist Church of the USA is 643,223 individuals, 1,471 congregations and 4,377 clergy. In the Presbyterian Church of the USA more than 1,500 congregations representing 15% of all members belong to the confessing movement. The source of this information is a recently publish book by Thomas Oden, Turning around the Mainline: How Renewal Movements are Changing the Church (2006) which we strongly recommend.Confessing Christ never takes place in a vacuum. It is made in the midst of a concrete threat to his lordship. A truly Confessing movement does not strive to carve out an evangelical niche within the Church but calls the whole Church to reaffirm the ‘evangelical’ substance’ of her classical Christian faith. In acknowledging what God has done for humanity in Christ, and standing against heresy, a Confessing movement also acknowledges the complicity of her members in the situation. Thus, confessing the lordship of Christ also involves confessing one’s own sin. A confessing movement, therefore, must be both bold and humble.
The failure of the 11th Assembly to affirm the teachings of Jesus Christ as attested in scripture drives us to strengthen our “confession” by gathering into an Assembly. We confess from within an “assembly of confessing congregations”. Efforts to make our confession heard within the established councils of the Uniting Church have fallen on deaf ears. So we resolve to strengthen our confession from within The Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church so that the whole UCA may again hear the clear word of Jesus Christ.
Why use a term like ‘apostasy’?
The word apostasy is derived from the Greek word aphistémi, and is used in the New Testament in the sense of ‘to draw away from’, ‘to depart from’ (Hebrews 3:12.). Apostasy is used here to describe the failure of the Assembly to correct false teaching on sexuality and the decision to enshrine that false teaching in the Church’s understanding of what is right and good. We reject any attempt to link the use of the word ‘apostasy’ with violent, hateful or bigoted behaviour which demeans other people, including those with whom we must disagree on this matter.
- It is often misquoted in official church statements to support the idea that the UCA is ‘united by diversity.’ Nowhere is that said in the Basis of Union! In fact, it insists that diversity arises from our unity ‘in Christ.’
- Second, it is often criticised for having a ‘liberal’ approach to the Bible. This is not so! Paragraph 5 of the Basis of Union doesn’t compromise the authority of Scripture. It strengthens the connection between Christ who is the Word of God and the testimony to the Word in the unity of the Old and New Testaments. It insists that Scripture is ‘unique prophetic and apostolic testimony’ and that faith must be ‘nourished and regulated’ and preaching ‘controlled by the Biblical witnesses.’ It challenges both liberalism and fundamentalism. The ACC is committed to confessing the faith of Christ as affirmed in the Basis of Union.
Why does the Charter of the ACC speak of ‘adherence tothe Basis of Union’?
Our complaint is not with the Basis of Union itself. It is a fine Reformed and Evangelical confession of faith which affirms the centrality of Christ. But, sometimes, it has been blamed for the present crisis in the UCA. There are two reasons for this: First, it is often misquoted in official church statements to support the idea that the UCA is ‘united by diversity.’ Nowhere is that said in the Basis of Union! In fact, it insists that diversity arises from our unity ‘in Christ.’ Second, it is often criticised for having a ‘liberal’ approach to the Bible. This is not so! Paragraph 5 of the Basis of Union doesn’t compromise the authority of Scripture. It strengthens the connection between Christ who is the Word of God and the testimony to the Word in the unity of the Old and New Testaments. It insists that Scripture is ‘unique prophetic and apostolic testimony’ and that faith must be ‘nourished and regulated’ and preaching ‘controlled by the Biblical witnesses.’ It challenges both liberalism and fundamentalism. The ACC is committed to confessing the faith of Christ as affirmed in the Basis of Union.
How does the Assembly of Confessing Congregations fit within theUniting Church Structures?
The Assembly of Confessing Congregations does not fit tidily into the UCA as one component in its diversity. This is because orthodoxy that ‘fits in’ as one option among many is not true orthodoxy. On the other hand we are persuaded that Christ’s cause is best served by confessing the Truth from within the Uniting Church, so we encourage our members to remain within the Uniting Church and to work for its reform under the Word of God. To this end we encourage our members to support everything about our Synods and Presbyteries that serves the gospel and the wellbeing of the church.Our gathering into an ‘Assembly of Confessing Congregations’ and the organisation of the congregations into supportive networks will give us a place within the Uniting Church to bear a witness that is unconfused by the diversity of opinions and beliefs that beset our church.
How is the ACC structured?
The ACC has been structured with a National Council, and specialist networks and boards.
Is the Assembly of Confessing Congregations Schismatic?
It is those who introduce apostate views and decisions into the life of the Church who create schism. The ACC states its commitment to the Basis of Union, and expresses its desire to preserve the faith and unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church. Our concern is that the drift in the UCA towards the normalisation of homosexual intercourse and its tolerance of other non-Christian beliefs will finalize its departure from the historic and ecumenical church. Our aim is to strengthen its unity with the church by encouraging it to confess Christ’s teaching about the expression of our sexuality.
Has the ACC rejected the authority of Presbyteries, Synods and Assembly?
The ACC is not a rejection of the legitimate authority of Presbyteries and Synods. It is the Assembly which has chosen to abrogate its responsibility and its moral authority by its own decisions after numerous clear warnings and protests by RA and EMU and many other concerned members. The ACC will set an example to the Assembly of the UCA by openly sharing our intentions and vision with the grass roots members of the church. The ACC recognizes the important practical relationship that all ACC congregations have with their Synod in the areas of finance, property, insurance and administration, etc, and affirms that relationship.
- Faith in Jesus Christ is by nature a personal and public confession. When apostasy and unbelief abound, if is meaningful for individual Christians to publicly and personally identify with the confessing movement.
- When you are an individual member all ACC communications come to you directly, e.g. the ACC Newsletter and the monthly ACC Prayer Diary. You also receive the quarterly magazine, ACCatalyst.
- Through your individual membership subscription you are giving vital financial support to the ACC. Additional personal donations are also an important part of the ACC budget.
- Congregations and individuals can request formal membership using the special membership forms.
How can a congregation or individual join the ACC?
We encourage congregations to prayerfully consider the information the ACC provides with an open mind. We believe that this is a matter of discernment in which congregations need to make decisions they believe honour God. Any congregation wishing to join the ACC needs to go through an appropriate decision making process which considers what the ACC stands for and whether the congregation believes it is called to be a part of this confessing movement.
Individuals can also join the ACC. There are three important reasons for becoming an individual member of the ACC, even if your congregation has joined:
(a) Faith in Jesus Christ is by nature a personal and public confession.
When apostasy and unbelief abound, if is meaningful for individual Christians to publicly and personally identify with the confessing movement.
(b)Supporting Members receive all ACC communications directly to their
nominated address and e-mail, e.g. the ACC Newsletter and the monthly ACC Prayer Diary. You also receive the quarterly magazine, ACCatalyst.
(c) Through your Supporting Membership subscription you are giving vital
financial support to the ACC. Additional personal donations are also an important part of the ACC budget.
Why form another Group?
The ACC has replaced EMU and RA. Both groups were formed in protest to the direction of the UCA and focused their energy in trying to bring about change using the existing structures of the church.
Unlike the RA and EMU, with which congregations were affiliated, The Assembly of Confessing Congregations is about these congregations gathering together—nationally as an Assembly and in each state as a Network of congregations—to make their confession in a way that is clear within the Uniting Church and that is up-building to the congregations themselves.
Why get involved in church politics?
Many in the Uniting Church are weary and wary of ‘church politics’. The Assembly of Confessing Congregations is not a political strategy, but rather a theological and moral act of service to the whole Church. As such we are not adversarial towards Uniting Church leaders and councils, but are their servants, faithfully and humbly bearing witness to the truth of God. In the end, divisive political strategies can never prevail in the church of God, while faithful servanthood in confessing the truth cannot but prevail.
In times of apostasy many are heard to say ‘I do not want to have anything to do with all of this—it is too confusing, it will never happen here. Why can’t we ignore all of this and just meet and worship like we have always done’. We need to understand that apostasy and confessing are part of the regular life of the Christian church. God allows apostasy because it creates the occasion where the true faith can be boldly and clearly confessed by fearless and true believers.
These answers to frequently asked questions wereprepared by the ACC Steering Committee in August 2006, and updated in July 2007, April 2018 and August 2020.
FAQs
What is the Assembly of confessing Christians? ›
The Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC) is an evangelical or conservative Christian group, an expression of the Confessing Movement, within the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) that formed after the 11th Assembly, on 13–14 October 2006 following a joint summit on 12 July 2006 between the Evangelical Members ...
What religion is Assemblies of God? ›The Assemblies of God USA (AG), officially the General Council of the Assemblies of God, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in the United States. The Assemblies of God is the U.S. branch of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the world's largest Pentecostal body.
What denomination is Assemblies of God? ›Assemblies of God, Pentecostal denomination of the Protestant church, generally considered the largest such denomination in the United States. It was formed by a union of several small Pentecostal groups at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914.
What are the beliefs of the AOG? ›We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of Christ in the Church today. We believe in holiness of life and conduct in obedience to the command of God. We believe that deliverance from sickness, by Divine Healing is provided for in the Atonement.
Do Assembly of God churches speak in tongues? ›As a Pentecostal fellowship, the Assemblies of God believes in the Pentecostal distinctive of baptism with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
What are the three parts of confession? ›The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three "acts" on the part of the penitent: contrition (sorrow of the soul for the sins committed), disclosure of the sins (the 'confession'), and satisfaction (the 'penance', i.e. doing something to make amends for the sins).
How is Pentecostal different from Christianity? ›Pentecostalism is a form of Christianity that emphasises the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer. Pentecostals believe that faith must be powerfully experiential, and not something found merely through ritual or thinking. Pentecostalism is energetic and dynamic.
Can a female be a pastor? ›All Christian women are called to ministry, and God grants some Christian women the unique ability to teach, but that doesn't mean God is calling them to violate His Word. When a woman discerns a desire to serve the church with her teaching abilities, she should do so within the boundaries created by God's Word.
Do Assemblies of God baptize? ›Yes, the Assembly of God baptisms are generally considered valid. Care must be taken to ensure sure that an actual baptism took place if it was when a person was younger than thirteen, because they usually do not baptize children under that age and instead have a dedication ceremony.
Is Hillsong church affiliated with Assemblies of God? ›Hillsong was formerly affiliated with Australian Christian Churches (the Assemblies of God in Australia), part of Pentecostal Christianity. The church's beliefs are Evangelical and Pentecostal.
What denominations are similar to Assembly of God? ›
Pentecostal denominations include the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ.
Are Pentecostals and evangelicals the same? ›Pentecostalism refers to Christian denominations who prioritize the spirit and whose worship services may include speaking in tongues, faith healings, and other charismatic expressions. Evangelicalism today is a protean movement that includes Christians on both the left and right of the political spectrum.
Who is the founder of AOG church? ›OUR HISTORY. The beginnings of the Assemblies of God (AOG) date back to 1908 when Charles Chawner from Canada and Henry Turney from the USA, both Pentecostal in experience, arrived in South Africa to work among the African population.
Do Seventh-Day Adventists believe in the cross? ›Seventh-day Adventists have always believed in a complete atonement that is not completed. Venden points out that the atonement must have been complete at the cross—the sacrifice was sufficient. For when Jesus died for man's sin, it was enough to purchase man's salvation and man cannot add anything to it.
Why do Seventh-Day Adventists believe? ›Evangelicals and Adventists believe in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and many of their original members came from other related denominations, like Methodism, or even some from Roman Catholic traditions. The current Seventh-day Adventist Church considers itself to be Protestant.
Why do Baptist not believe in speaking in tongues? ›First, Southern Baptists cannot permit its missionaries to pray in tongues because what the latter claim is the biblical gift is not. The biblical gift of tongues was always “a legitimate language of some people group,” so the policy declares.
What is the difference between speaking in tongues and praying in tongues? ›When you pray in tongues, your spirit is in direct contact with God, Who is Spirit. When you speak in tongues, you are talking to Him by divine supernatural means.
Who was the first person to speak in tongues in the Bible? ›...
| Agnes Ozman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1870 |
| Died | 1937 |
The essential parts are that you confess your sins (especially any serious, grave or mortal sins) and the priest speaks the words of absolution over you. Next, the penitent makes the sign of the cross, which the priest may make also. For some reason, it seems many people don't know to make the sign of the cross.
What are the 4 mortal sins? ›These sins are vices and are defined as contrary to the Christian virtues of holiness. They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth (acedia).
What is the first thing you say in confession? ›
Confession begins with the (1) Sign of the Cross and the penitent greeting the priest with the words, (2) “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was ….” (weeks, months, years). The penitent (3) confesses sins to the priest, who stands in the name of Christ and the Church.
What religion is Pentecostal closest to? ›Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Do Pentecostal speak in tongues? ›Speaking in tongues do play an important role in the Pentecostal Movement in order to sensitise the believer to the promptings of the Spirit, to give confidence to witness, and provide power to live a holy life (in the language of pioneers like Taylor [1907:128] and Haywood [1908:3]).
Why do Pentecostals not believe in the Trinity? ›View of the Trinity
Oneness Pentecostals believe that the Trinitarian doctrine is a "tradition of men" and is neither scriptural nor a teaching of God, citing the absence of the word "Trinity" from the Bible as one evidence of this.
pastoress (plural pastoresses) A female pastor (person who tends to a flock) quotations ▼ A female pastor (minister or priest of a Christian church)
What denominations do not allow female pastors? ›Many of the nation's largest denominations, including Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons (Latter-day Saints), and the Orthodox Church in America, do not ordain women or allow them to lead congregations. Other religious groups have taken small steps in the direction of female ordination.
Where in the Bible does it say a woman can't preach? ›1 Timothy 2:12 is the twelfth verse of the second chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy. It is often quoted using the King James Version translation: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Does the Assembly of God allow female pastors? ›The Assemblies of God has ordained women in ministry since its founding in 1914 and they have played many roles.
What type of Christianity is Assembly of God? ›The Assemblies of God is the world's largest Pentecostal denomination, with over 67 million adherents and members worldwide.
What age do you get baptized in the Assembly of God? ›He said, “And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:27). This detail about gospel administration is an example of how God reveals things “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30).
Is Jimmy Swaggart part of the Assemblies of God? ›
Jimmy Swaggart, in full Jimmy Lee Swaggart, (born March 15, 1935, Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S.), American televangelist and gospel music performer. He was defrocked by the Assemblies of God in 1988 after a sex scandal involving prostitutes.
What is the biggest Assemblies of God church? ›- Dream Center, Los Angeles, California – 46,901.
- Timberline Church, Fort Collins, Colorado – 16,604.
- First Assembly of God, North Little Rock, Arkansas – 16,553.
- New Life Covenant Assemblies of God, Chicago, Illinois – 15,375.
- Dream City Church (formerly First Assembly of God), Phoenix, Arizona – 15,000.
After making it clear at the beginning of the year that he is no longer a member of Hillsong Church, Justin Bieber called out pastors who use organized religion and the devotion of their partitioners to bolster their own fame and name recognition.
What are the 3 main denominations? ›Three of the world's major religions -- the monotheist traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- were all born in the Middle East and are all inextricably linked to one another. Christianity was born from within the Jewish tradition, and Islam developed from both Christianity and Judaism.
What are the 3 types of churches? ›But in the end, most congregations self-select into one of three categories. There are memorial churches, maintenance churches, and movement churches.
What are the largest Pentecostal denominations? ›- Assemblies of God – 53.7 million.
- Apostolic Church – 15 million.
- Fangcheng Fellowship – 10 million (estimated)
- China Gospel Fellowship - 10 million (estimated)
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel - 8.8 million.
Speaking in tongues is when an individual speaks a language that he or she does not know. These tongues can include human languages with which the speaker is unfamiliar (Acts 2:8-11) or non-human, holy languages with which no person is familiar (1 Corinthians 14:2).
What religion does not believe in the Trinity? ›Oneness Pentecostals reject the Trinity doctrine, viewing it as pagan and unscriptural, and hold to the Jesus' Name doctrine with respect to baptisms. Oneness Pentecostals are often referred to as "Modalists" or "Sabellians" or "Jesus Only".
Is speaking in tongues a real language? ›The "sign of tongues" refers to xenoglossia, wherein followers believe someone is speaking a language they have never learned. The "gift of tongues" refers to a glossolalic utterance spoken by an individual and addressed to a congregation of, typically, other believers.
Does Assembly of God believe in the Trinity? ›The central beliefs of the Assemblies of God are summarized in its Statement of Fundamental Truths. The following is a summary of these 16 non-negotiable Truths: The Bible is inspired by God and is "the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct". There is only one true God who exists as a Trinity.
Which pastor started the Pentecostal movement? ›
Where did pentecostalism actually start? Historians trace the movement back to Topeka, Kansas, in 1901, when student Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues during a prayer meeting at Charles Fox Parham's Bethel Bible College.
Who was the first Pentecostal pastor? ›...
Charles F. Parham (June 4, 1873 – January 29, 1929) was an American preacher and evangelist.
| Charles Fox Parham | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Evangelist |
Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God's law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment.
How do Seventh-day Adventists differ from other Christians? ›Seventh-day Adventists differ in only four areas of beliefs from the mainstream Trinitarian Christian denominations. These are the Sabbath day, the doctrine of the heavenly sanctuary, the status of the writings of Ellen White, and their doctrine of the second coming and millennium.
Do Seventh-day Adventists pray to Jesus? ›It is to pray in the mind and spirit of Jesus, while we believe His promises, rely upon His grace, and work His works. How should we then pray: Pray to God the Father in the power of God the Spirit, in the name or by the authority and the merit of God the Son.
Who changed Sabbath to Sunday? ›A Church Father, Eusebius, who became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima about AD 314, stated that for Christians, "the sabbath had been transferred to Sunday".
Do 7th day Adventists celebrate Christmas? ›The Seventh-day Adventist Christmas worship service is much the same as any other Sabbath day service, with traditional hymns, Scripture reading, testimonial and a sermon.
What is unique about Seventh-day Adventists? ›The practice of Saturday worship gave the denomination (established in 1863) a new name, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Seventh-day Adventists also believed that Ellen White had the gift of prophecy, and her lectures and writings shaped the later beliefs and practices of the church.
What is confession in Christianity? ›confession, also called reconciliation or penance, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the acknowledgment of sinfulness in public or private, regarded as necessary to obtain divine forgiveness.
What is the main point of the Barmen Declaration? ›One of the main purposes of the Declaration was to establish a three-church confessional consensus opposing pro-Nazi "German Christianity". These three churches were Lutheran, Reformed, and United.
What are the steps of confession for church? ›
- The priest gives a blessing or greeting.
- Make the Sign of the Cross and say, “Bless me father, for I have sinned. ...
- Confess all your sins to the priest. ...
- Say, “I am sorry for these and all my sins.”
- The priest gives a penance and offers advice to help you become a better Catholic Christian.
The Catholic Church teaches that a person conscious of having committed a mortal sin must confess it before he or she receives Holy Communion (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1457).
Can I confess my sins directly to God? ›You can confess your sins directly to God. You do not need to confess to a pastor, priest, or spiritual leader to be forgiven.
Why is confession important to God? ›When we confess our sins to God, he cleanses us from all unrighteousness through the blood of the lamb. God reminds us that we have the imputed righteousness of Christ. Confession is a time to remember that we stand before God in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Why was the confession of 1967 written? ›The Confession of 1967
The purpose of the Confession "is to call the church to that unity in confession and mission which is required of disciples today." In 1958 a drafting committee had been appointed to prepare "Brief Contemporary Statement of Faith." The committee worked for six years.
At Barmen, this emerging "Confessing Church" adopted a declaration drafted by Reformed theologian Karl Barth and Lutheran theologian Hans Asmussen, which expressly repudiated the claim that other powers apart from Christ could be sources of God's revelation.
What is the theological doctrine of Barmen? ›Barmen Synod
Declaration of Barmen, or the Barmen Declaration, that defined the Christian opposition to any interpretation of Christianity based on racial theories.
- Examine your conscience.
- Be sincerely sorry for your sins.
- Confess your sins to a priest.
- Resolve to amend your life.
- After your confession, do the penance the priest assigns.
- Examination of Conscious.
- Sorrow for sin.
- Firm Purpose of amendment.
- Confess sins to the priest.
- Carry out the penance.
I sincerely desire to leave all my evil ways and to confess my sins with all sincerity to you and to your priest. I am a sinner, have mercy on me, O Lord. Give me a lively faith and a firm hope in the Passion of my Redeemer. Give me, for your mercy´s sake a sorrow for having offended so good a God.
Can divorced Catholic go to confession? ›
Answer: No. For starters, divorce is not always a sin. But even in instances where it is a sin, absolution for the truly repentant can be attained through confession.
How often must a Catholic go to confession? ›Catholics are required to receive the Sacrament at least once per year. However, if you are aware of having committed any mortal (serious) sin, you should receive the Sacrament. That being said, all are encouraged to take advantage of the Sacrament on a regular and frequent basis.