Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
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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.
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 | 1994 |
Separated from | National Baptist Convention |
Separations | Global United Fellowship |
Congregations | 10,000 |
Members | 2,000,000 |
Official website | fullgospelbaptist |
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 Presiding Bishop, who was appointed to succeed Bishop Morton upon his retirement.[8]