Assemblies of God affirms speaking in tongues, elects leaders

(RNS) The Assemblies of God reaffirmed its doctrine of speaking in tongues during its biennial General Council meeting and declared that showing God’s compassion for the world is their “fourth reason for being.” Speaking in tongues is the sole doctrine that separates members of the Pentecostal denomination from other evangelicals, said Juleen Turnage, spokeswoman for […]

(RNS) The Assemblies of God reaffirmed its doctrine of speaking in tongues during its biennial General Council meeting and declared that showing God’s compassion for the world is their “fourth reason for being.”

Speaking in tongues is the sole doctrine that separates members of the Pentecostal denomination from other evangelicals, said Juleen Turnage, spokeswoman for the denomination whose meeting in Orlando, Fla., concluded Friday (Aug. 7).

The resolution notes that the validity of speaking in tongues has “come under certain scrutiny” and asks that members continue to require credentialed ministers to experience and “actively preach and teach this doctrine as well.”


The resolution on the “fourth reason for being” — which was rejected and then brought back for a second vote — places ministering with compassion as a key purpose of the denomination, after evangelizing the world, worshipping God and enhancing the spiritual growth of believers.

Turnage said thousands of Assemblies of God churches are involved in compassion ministries, such as providing food and clothing to the needy. But some members had been concerned that adding a fourth principle might prompt a de-emphasis on evangelism and cause a drift into “social do-goodism.”

After General Superintendent George O. Wood spoke from the floor of the convention and urged its passage, the resolution was adopted.

Delegates also re-elected Wood as their top leader and expanded the leadership of the denomination’s Executive Presbytery, which functions as a board of directors, by electing a woman minister, a minister under age 40 and a second representative of Hispanic churches.

Hispanic congregations have contributed significantly to the denomination’s growth in the last two decades. The denomination reports a net growth of congregations since 1991 of 12,775, of which 691 were Hispanic.

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