Encounter Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Inherited from denomination
What Church of God in Christ teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Affirms
- Believer's BaptismSTRONGBaptist confessions; Pentecostal fundamentals; Anabaptist tradition
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriagestandardMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
Denies
- Apostolic SuccessionstandardCongregational and presbyterian polity reject the necessity of tactile episcopal succession.
- Assumption of MarystandardUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Infant BaptismSTRONGBaptist confessions (New Hampshire; BFM 2000 VII); Anabaptist / Schleitheim; Pentecostal fundamentals
- Perpetual Virginity of MarystandardNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- Real PresencestandardMemorialist / Zwinglian view; typical Baptist and Free Church position
- TransubstantiationSTRONGOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
Wrestles with
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeweakACNA no unified position (some dioceses ordain women, others not). GMC restricts by role. COGIC restricts bishop role but ordains women to other ministries.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!DOCTYPE html> What We Believe | Encounter Church top of page ncounter Church Home What to Expect What We Believe About Us Events Our Pastor Contact Giving Ministries Media Youth Live Stream We are Encounter Church of Royal Oak and the Royal Oak Church of God of Prophecy. COGOP is a Pentecostal Christian movement present in 133 countries and counting. We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. We hold the Trinity in reverence and maintain the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a spiritual gift that is still prevalent today. In order to be saved, we encourage new believersSource ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> What to Expect | Encounter Church top of page ncounter Church Home What to Expect What We Believe About Us Events Our Pastor Contact Giving Ministries Media Youth Live Stream What Should I Wear? Our dress code? Come as you are. As a multiethnic & diverse congregation, we welcome people from all walks of life. Our goal is to get you through the door--we pay attention to the condition of your soul, not your clothing. Feel free to dress as casually or as formally as you wish, so long as you are comfortable while we fellowship. Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdSource ↗
about
--> What to Expect | Encounter Church top of page ncounter Church Home What to Expect What We Believe About Us Events Our Pastor Contact Giving Ministries Media Youth Live Stream What Should I Wear? Our dress code? Come as you are. As a multiethnic & diverse congregation, we welcome people from all walks of life. Our goal is to get you through the door--we pay attention to the condition of your soul, not your clothing. Feel free to dress as casually or as formally as you wish, so long as you are comfortable while we fellowship. Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I willSource ↗
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