Polity: Topics

Question 1

self-described as the founder of the Apostolic Faith Movement

Answer 1

Charles F Parham
(1873-1929)

Question 2

the first to teach that speaking in tongues provides the initial “Bible evidence” of baptism in the Holy Spirit

Answer 2

Charles F Parham

Question 3

key people & events in Charles F Parham’s life

Answer 3

born in Iowa
Methodist.
1895 left Methodism.
married Sarah Thistlethwaite.
opened Beth-El healing home in 1898 & started periodical Apostolic Faith.

heard story of Jennie Glassey in 1899 and found evidence for the third experience of sanctification for empowerment (tongues)

Question 4

Parham’s preaching characteristics

Answer 4

belief in divine healing, radical fire-baptized preaching, and expectancy of the Lord’s return

believed the Lord would raise up an elite band of end-time missionaries entrusted to carry out the Great Commission; they alone would be exempted from the 7 years of tribulation

Question 5

who opened Bethel Bible school and when?

What was a primary teaching?

Answer 5

Parham in 1900

when seekers are baptized in the Holy Spirit, they would speak in (unlearned) human languages for the purpose of missionary preaching

Question 6

What did the students of Parham’s school study and learn?

Answer 6

they studied Acts and agreed that believers spoke in tongues when baptized in the Holy Spirit

Question 7

Who was the first to speak in tongues at Bethel Bible School? When?

Answer 7

Agnes N Ozman
1901

Question 8

What did Parham author after his Bible School?

Answer 8

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness, the first defense of the Pentecostal movement

Question 9

After the Bible school, where did Parham eventually find success?
Why?
What movement did this launch?

Answer 9

in El Dorado Springs, MO
He prayed for the healing of Mary A Arthur and her healing in her eyes and elsewhere caused him to be invited to preach. He held meetings with over 800 converts, 1000 healings, and several hundred Spirit-baptized.
This was the apostolic Faith Movement arisen.

Question 10

Which happened first: the Topeka Revival or the Azusa Street Revival? Who was associated with each?

Answer 10

first, the Topeka Revival (Charles F Parham)
then, the Azusa Street Revival (William J Seymour)

Question 11

When did AG start?
Where?

Answer 11

1914
Hot Springs, Arkansas

Question 12

When were the Statement of Fundamental Truths adopted?
Why?

Answer 12

1916
due to Trinitarian-Oneness debate

Question 13

When was the Foreign Missions Committee organized?

Answer 13

1917

Question 14

When were the Constitution and bylaws adopted?

Answer 14

1927

Question 15

What did the Statement of Fundamental Truths do?

Answer 15

assured members and outside observers of the soundness of Assemblies of God doctrine

Question 16

How many people gathered for the first Council of AG in 1914?

Answer 16

over 300 Pentecostal believers

Question 17

What was the purpose of the first Council in 1914?

Answer 17

hoped that organizational unity would do a number of things:

• greater unity among churches
• conserve the work at home and abroad
• better system for supporting missionaries
• encourage local congregations to charter with a biblical name
• start a new Bible training school

Question 18

What did Daniel C O Opperman do?

Answer 18

started short-term schools for workers, 4-5 weeks, Bible studies, prayer, fasting, practical ministry experience

Question 19

When was the first General Council?

Answer 19

April 1-12, 1914

Question 20

How many of the 300 at the first General Council were ministers/missionaries?

Answer 20

128

Question 21

What did the first General Council start with?

Answer 21

4 days of prayer and fellowship

Question 22

What was approved at the first General Council?

Answer 22

the Preamble and Resolution on Constitution

Question 23

Where did the name “Assemblies of God” come from and what does it denote?

Answer 23

Hebrews 12:23 KJV
familiar term in the holiness tradition that emphasized Christian unity

Question 24

What group was elected during the First General Council?

Answer 24

12 member Executive Presbytery to conduct the business of the Council between meetings

Question 25

first general chairman

Answer 25

EN Bell

Question 26

first secretary-treasurer

Answer 26

J Roswell Flower

Question 27

role of women after first General Council

Answer 27

restricted to that of “helpers in the gospel”

Question 28

When was ordination of women as missionaries and evangelists approved?
As pastors?

Answer 28

1914
2 decades later

Question 29

What group was established in 1916? Why?

Answer 29

the General Presbytery ; provide a more representative body than the Executive Presbytery to handle the judicial and executive needs of the organization between gatherings of the General Council
comprised of leaders from each district

Question 30

Where & when did the AG begin?

Answer 30

Hot Springs, AK
April 1914

Question 31

What was the doctrinal crisis in the second year of AG? What was it’s “” name? What did it lead to?

Answer 31

the biblical understanding of the Trinity
- arose from the strong Jesus-centered piety of the fourfold gospel, or “full gospel”: Jesus Christ as Savior, Healer, Baptizer, and Coming King
- also from some Pentecostals insisting in water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ only

a serious departure from biblical teachings and historic Christian doctrine

“New Issue”

led to a major division in the General Council in 1916
- 25% of the ministers who embraced “Jesus Name” or “oneness” teachings withdrew over the Trinitarian creedal declaration

led to the Statement of Fundamental Truths
- affirmed soundness of doctrine
- affirmed historic Trinitarian doctrine

Question 32

What controversy arose in 1918? What were the results?

Answer 32

questions over the necessity of tongues as evidence of Spirit baptism

they reaffirmed the doctrine of initial evidence as the “distinctive testimony of the AG”

Question 33

What are the 3 character traits needed?

Answer 33

humility, hunger, heart (compassion)