Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
The Pentecostal Assemblies of The World, Inc. is one of the world's largest Apostolic Pentecostal Christian denominations, and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The P.A.W. adheres to the non-trinitarian theology of Oneness. While it began in 1906 with Trinitarian beliefs, it was re-organized in 1916 as Oneness Pentecostal, thus making it the oldest organization of this type.
History
The origin of the P.A.W. can be traced to the teachings of Charles Parham in Topeka, Kansas, and the Azusa Street Revival led by William Joseph Seymour in Los Angeles, California. During this time it was a loose fellowship of churches that were united by the infilling of the believer with the Holy Ghost, and adherence to the doctrine of holiness.For the next few years, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World focused upon general meetings and the development of its organizational structure. The late Bishop Morris E. Golder wrote: "The original organization bearing the name of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World came into existence in the year of 1906 in the city of Los Angeles, State of California." This was also the position asserted by former Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Ross Paddock. He declared that after one year of being organized, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World had its first annual business meeting and that, at the same time, it was Trinitarian in its doctrine and liturgy of water baptism.
According to Dr. David D. Bundy, a Pentecostal historian at the Christian Theological Seminary, as early as 1907, a white Baptist minister in Los Angeles, was preaching non-Trinitarian water baptism in the Name of Jesus. According to Dr. Deborah Sims LeBlanc, William and Maggie Bowdan, the parents of former Assistant Presiding Bishop Frank Bowdan, were baptized in the Name of Jesus after the Azusa Street Mission Revival.
As an outgrowth of the Asuza Street movement, a fellowship of "pentecostal assemblies" met in October 1907 in Los Angeles, and followed-up with similar meetings in subsequent years. This fellowship was known as the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. J. J. Frazee and G. T. Haywood participated in these meetings.
In 1913, hundreds of preachers attended a camp meeting in Arroyo Seco, California. Evangelist R.E. McAlister was selected to preach on the subject of water baptism at a baptismal service. He began speaking on the different modes of baptism, mentioning triune immersion by which the candidate was immersed three times face forward. He summed it up by “they justify their method, by saying that baptism is in the likeness of Christ's death, and make a point from scripture that Christ bowed his head when he died.” and to them, it was necessary to baptize once for each person in the Godhead. He concluded his message abruptly by saying that the scriptural answer to this was that the Apostles invariably baptized all their converts a single time in "the name of the Lord Jesus Christ", and the words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost were never used by the early church in Christian baptism. McAlister was taken aside at the time and told not to preach this new theory about the “baptismal formula.” However, many hearing McAlister speak received the new revelation of the name Jesus. Three important men who attended and were influenced by this new revelation; were Frank J. Ewart, G. T. Haywood, and Glenn A. Cook.
For an entire year, intense and bitter debate raged within the Association regarding the Godhead and the "new issue." Essentially, there were two questions around which the debate was centered:
"Is there one God, or are there three distinct persons in the Godhead? and
How then, should an individual be baptized - "in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost", or in "the Name of Jesus?"
By the spring of 1914, Ewart accepted the newfound truth regarding this formula and became one of its leading advocates. He reached the conclusion that the singular “name” in Matthew 28:19 was Jesus Christ, and that the one true God who had revealed himself as Father, in the Son, and as the Holy Spirit was none other than Jesus Christ. To support this view, he pointed to Colossians 2:9, which states that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Ewart explained his discovery to other Pentecostal ministers, some of whom rejected his teaching, but others enthusiastically embraced it.
On April 15, 1914, Ewart re-baptized Glenn A. Cook, his assistant and a veteran evangelist of the Azusa Street Mission, in the name of Jesus Christ, and Cook re-baptized Ewart. This would set in motion an issue that would divide the Pentecostal movement between the Trinitarians and the Jesus Name only, or "Oneness" believers. Afterward, they began re-baptizing thousands of Pentecostals with the shorter formula “in the name of Jesus”, claiming those baptisms performed with the citation of Matthew 28:19 were invalid, and that baptism must be performed “in the name of Jesus”. Additionally, those who had been baptized in the threefold titles of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, must renounce that baptism and be re-baptized with "the Name of Jesus" pronounced over them, before they can be regarded as biblically baptized.
Consequently, in 1914, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World experienced its first split. Those leaders and individuals who embraced the Trinitarian concept pulled out from the Association. Many of the whites who left the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World at this time would eventually form the Assemblies of God organization. During this transition period, they received their ministerial credentials from the Church of God in Christ organization.
In 1915, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was reorganized in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Christ Temple Assembly of the Apostolic Faith, where Bishop G. T. Haywood was the pastor. At that meeting, Bishop Haywood was appointed as the organization's first General Overseer and their headquarters were moved from Los Angeles, California to Portland, Oregon.
Among those who accepted the Oneness doctrine and played a tremendous role in the early days of the Pentecostal movement was Garfield Thomas Haywood, an African American minister, who was pastor of a very successful Pentecostal Church called "Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Assembly" in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1915, the racial make up of the congregation was about 50% African American and 50% white. It instantly became one of the largest Pentecostal congregations in the world when Bishop Haywood was re-baptized in the Name of Jesus, and together, the two men re-baptized the entire congregation of 465 members.
In 1918, J.J. Frazee chaired a business meeting in St. Louis that produced a merger between the P.A.W. and the General Assembly of Apostolic Assemblies. The newly merged-group retained the name Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Later that year, E. W. Doak became Chairman and W. E. Booth-Clibborn, grandson of the Booths who founded the Salvation Army in London, became Secretary. This interracial organization was the only Oneness Pentecostal organization until late 1924, when a separation occurred, mainly along racial lines, by the splitting off of most of the whites into the Pentecostal Church, Inc.
On January 25, 1919, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was formally incorporated in the state of Indiana and the headquarters were moved from Portland, Oregon to Indianapolis, Indiana. The incorporators were E. W. Doak, G. T. Haywood, and D. C. O. Opperman.
In 1925, the organization established a Board of Bishops consisting of five members. One of these five members, G. T. Haywood, was then elected as the "Presiding Bishop".
In 1932, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was reorganized. They elevated Elder Samuel Grimes of New York to the office of Bishop, and elected him as the new Presiding Bishop. Bishop Grimes was born in Barbados, British West Indies. He was saved under the ministry of Elder W. W. Rue. He was also greatly influenced by Bishop G. T. Haywood. Bishop Grimes served as a missionary to Liberia, West Africa, along with his wife. He also founded and established the Eastern District Conferences, which consists of 13 Conferences. He also became the second editor of The Christian Outlook, which is the official magazine of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. He served in the office Presiding Bishop for 35 years which is longer than any other individual to date. It was during the time that he served in that capacity that the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World's also established procedures regarding the filling of pastoral vacancies.
In 1945, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Churches, Inc. merged and formed the United Pentecostal Church. This Oneness group is the largest numerically of all the Oneness groups. Historically, it has been predominantly white. Racial issues are one of the main causes of their split from the PAW. The two organizations have since embraced each other condemning discrimination and hatred on the basis of race.
Leadership and Organizational Structure
While William Joseph Seymour is considered the initial founder, D.C.O. Opperman, E. W. Doak, and Garfield Thomas Haywood were the initial incorporators. J. J. Frazee was elected the first head and was titled "General Overseer".The head of the organization held the title of "General Elder" or "General Overseer" until 1925, when it was changed to Presiding Bishop. At the same time they established an executive board consisting of five members. G. T. Haywood, one of the five members, was elected as the first "Presiding Bishop". This is in slight contrast to the current Board of Bishops which now consists of 12 formal members, and also includes Lay-Directors from various regions of the United States, and Emeritus Bishops who once served, but are either semi or fully retired.
While the original intent for replacing "Overseer" with the word "Bishop" for this role may not have been to signify an additional tier of leadership above that of a Pastor, this tradition has become sanctioned organizational doctrine. In essence it has served to redefine the meaning of the word, by making it distinct from Shepherd/Pastor/Overseer, which is contrary to New Testament doctrine where bishop is used as a synonymous term. Conversely, there are no formally acknowledged Apostles and only rarely is the title Prophet used by those in the ministerial ranks in this day, and both titles are absent from the current leadership structure. The caveat is that Apostles are acknowledged in their original role of establishment of the church and the commitment of the body to follow their epistles governing our Christian conduct. Additionally, since the change in 1925, other levels/titles have subsequently been added/amended to the organizational structure which include: District Elder and Suffragan Bishop continuing the adoption of a more Episcopalian Polity approach.
The following is a listing of the Bishops which have served as head of the organization since 1925 and includes their race :
| Presiding Bishop | Years Served | Race | Status |
| 1. Bishop Garfield Thomas Haywood | - Black | Deceased | |
| 2. Bishop Samuel Joshua Grimes | - Black | Deceased | |
| 3. Bishop Ross Perry Paddock | - White | Deceased | |
| 4. Bishop Francis Leonard Smith | - Black | Deceased | |
| 5. Bishop Lawrence E. Brisbin | - White | Deceased | |
| 6. Bishop James Archie Johnson | - Black | Deceased | |
| 7. Bishop Paul Alexander Bowers | - Black | Deceased | |
| 8. Bishop Norman L. Wagner | - Black | Deceased | |
| 9. Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. | - Black | Current Diocesan District 6 | |
| 10. Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III | - Black | Current Diocesan District 24 | |
| 11. Bishop Theodore L. Brooks, Sr. | - Black | Current Presiding Bishop |
Women in leadership roles has been a point of contention within Christian groups since prior to the organizing of the P.A.W.. The organizations evolving stance moving toward total inclusion of women in the bishoprick led many assemblies to part ways by leaving the organization and in some cases prior assemblies or organizations responding by limiting or ceasing fellowship with P.A.W. member assemblies altogether.
The organization currently has women in every leadership position with the only exception being that of the office of Presiding Bishop. Aletha J. Cushinberry was the first woman who was elevated to Honorary Bishop in 2015. Then in 2017 the organization elevated two women to diocesan bishop.
Organizational structure is currently divided into Episcopal Districts, commonly called councils or diocese. Each of these are headed by a Diocesan Bishop, who is appointed by the Bishop's Board. A Diocesan Bishop can have as many as three assistants, called Suffragan Bishops. These Suffragan Bishops hold only the authority given them by the Diocesan Bishop. Typically they will have authority over a region or part of a state. Reporting under the Suffragan Bishop is the office of District Elder, who oversees and assists the Elders in his district.
The following table contains the listing of Current Episcopal Districts/Dioceses for the organization.
| Episcopal District | Diocesan | Race |
| Bishop Carl E. Lewis | -Black | |
| Bishop Ronald L. Young | -Black | |
| Bishop James W. Gaiters, Sr. | -Black | |
| Bishop Charles A. Sims | -Black | |
| Bishop Ira Combs, Jr. | -Black | |
| Bishop Horace E. Smith, MD | -Black | |
| Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr. | -Black | |
| Bishop Lance R. Foster | -Black | |
| Bishop George F. Austin | -Black | |
| 10 – Mississippi & West Tennessee District Council | Bishop Clifton Jones | -Black |
| Bishop Sherman L. Merritt | -Black | |
| Bishop Larry O. Jones | -Black | |
| Bishop Richard E. Young | -Black | |
| 1st Asst Presiding Bishop Mark C. Tolbert | -Black | |
| Bishop Gregory W. Newman | -Black | |
| Bishop Noel Jones | -Black | |
| Bishop Roland E. Hairston, Ph.D. | -Black | |
| Bishop Alfonso Madden | -Black | |
| 2nd Asst Presiding Bishop Michael Hannah, Sr. | -Black | |
| Presiding Bishop Theodore L. Brooks, Sr. | -Black | |
| Bishop Edgar Robinson | -Black | |
| Bishop Ernest Pendleton | -Black | |
| Bishop Samuel R. Moore | -Black | |
| Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III | -Black | |
| Bishop Donald L. Golder | -Black | |
| Bishop Jeffery Davis Goldsmith | -Black | |
| Bishop James E. Daniel | -Black | |
| Bishop Clarence E. Moore | -Black | |
| Bishop Billy G. Newton | -Black | |
| Bishop Joseph D. Guthrie | -Black | |
| Bishop Michael D. Franklin | -Black | |
| Bishop C. Wayne Brantley | -Black | |
| Vacant | TBD | |
| Bishop Immanuel Paul | TBD | |
| Bishop Samuel Nice Nkanang | -Black | |
| Bishop Mona Reide | -Black | |
| Bishop Leo Massaboi Simpson | -Black | |
| Bishop Leo C. Smith, Jr. | -Black | |
| Bishop John Thorpe | -Black | |
| Bishop Joseph S. Montinor | -Black | |
| Bishop Ellis J. Farrington | -Black | |
| Vacant | TBD | |
| Bishop Gary Harper | -Black | |
| Bishop Rufus G. W. Sanders | -Black | |
| Bishop Tutai Pere | TBD | |
| Bishop Robert Baker | -Black | |
| Bishop Robert B. Thomas | -Black | |
| Bishop A. Glenn Brady | -Black | |
| Bishop Carl Turner | -Black | |
| Bishop Lourenco Vieira | TBD | |
| Bishop Isaac Tum’o Mtimkulu | -Black | |
| Bishop Charles Finnell | -Black | |
| Bishop James G. Rodges | -Black | |
| Bishop Lawrence Robertson | -Black | |
| Vacant | TBD | |
| Bishop Moses E. Butler | -Black | |
| Bishop Barrington Smith | -Black | |
| Bishop Thomas Davis | -Black | |
| Bishop Leroy Horne | -Black | |
| Bishop Marion E. Wright, Sr. | -Black | |
| Bishop Edgar Posey | -Black | |
| Bishop Harry S. Grayson | -Black | |
| Bishop Jones Foote | -Black | |
| Bishop Bruce Shaw | -Black | |
| Bishop Melvin Brown | -Black | |
| Bishop Gwendolyn Weeks | -Black | |
| Bishop Fredrick Jackson | -Black | |
| Bishop Robert T. Douglas | -Black | |
| Bishop Donnie N. McGriff | -Black | |
| Unassigned | Bishop William A. Ellis | -Black |
Current Emeritus / Honorary Bishops with Race and gender indicated.
| Current Emeritus or Honorary Bishops | Race |
| Bishop Emeritus Paul A. Bowers | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Vanuel C. Little | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus William R. Jones | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Enebong E. Ephraim | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Alphonso Scott | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Frank Cuomo | -White |
| Bishop Emeritus Samuel Wright, Sr. | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Harry L. Herman | -White |
| Bishop Emeritus Joseph Guthrie | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Ronnie Amos, Jr. | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr. | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Nealon Guthrie | -Black |
| Bishop Emeritus Charles Davis | -Black |
| Honorary Bishop Eulah M. Nelson | -Black |
| Honorary Bishop Ernest J. Miller | -Black |
| Honorary Bishop Marvin Donaldson | -Black |
| Honorary Bishop Stewart Reese Jr. | -Black |
The organization also has structural segments whose general purpose is to ensure specific focus and attention is given to key areas of service to the body. These are called Departments and Auxiliaries with leadership elected by the organization membership some of which also have individual directors appointed by the board of bishops as their representatives to the organization's executive board.
| Auxiliary/Department | Purpose | History | Current Elected Leader | Current Appointed Director |
| International Missionary & Christian Women's Auxiliary | Purpose: To inspire women of all ages and backgrounds to maintain the worship of God, develop a passion for righteousness, live a life of holiness and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to those in need. | IMCWA Est. 1934 | President: Dr. Charlotte Parker | Bishop Charles Finnell |
| Est. 1926 | President: Dr. Barbara Payne | Bishop Alfonso Madden | ||
| International Minister's Wives & Minister's Widows | Purpose:To unite wives and widows of our Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. ministers into a common fellowship for support, encouragement and personal growth. | History | President: Evangelist Barbara Scott Golder | Bishop Sherman Merritt |
| Purpose:To foster the spirit of brotherhood throughout the membership of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and to assist the International Organization in any profitable way to spread the Gospel of Christ more effectively. | History | President: District Elder Tommie R. Hughes | Bishop Mark C. Tolbert | |
| International Usher Board | Purpose:To provide supportive services to the Presiding Bishop, the Board of Bishops and the Convention Coordinators in carrying out the various phases of each program scheduled for the night sessions; to render ushering service every night of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World General Session; to minimize distractions during the sacred moments of delivery of the Word and the Call to Discipleship. | History | President: Sister Hazel Lucas | N/A? |
| Purpose | President: Evangelist Cherlyn Williams | Bishop Jeffery Goldsmith | ||
| International Deaf Ministry | Purpose:Sharing the gospel with Deaf people. There are two ways in which we seek to do this, providing on site teaching for Deaf people in order to inspire them to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, and to train interpreters in Deaf ministry and interpreting. Our goal is to assist churches who have or who are interested in having a Deaf ministry. | History | President: Evangelist Bertha Brown | N/A? |
| Est. 1919 | President: Dr. Kandy Morrell | N/A? | ||
| International Wayfarers Auxiliary | Purpose:To involve the laity, and other interested persons in the work of the Lord for our international organization | History | President: Dr. Olivia Burkett, Ph.D. | N/A? |
| Convention Evangelism & Outreach Services | Purpose:Go into all the world to reach souls for Christ Jesus; teach souls about the ways of God; preach to souls the word of God; bind up the brokenhearted; set at liberty those who are bound; speak deliverance, peace, hope, joy, and faith to all mankind; and offer salvation according to the word of God | History | President: Pastor Julian Johnson | N/A? |
| Purpose | History | President: Evangelist Freda Morrison | Bishop Lance R. Foster | |
| International Music & Sacred Arts | Purpose:To usher in the presence of God, to achieve UNITY in oneness of worship; to uplift the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc; and to strategically attract the International community. | History | International Minister of Music: Suffragan Bishop Michael Bender | N/A? |
| International Health Professionals | Purpose | History | President: Sister Margaret Kongi | N/A? |
| Youth In Action | Purpose | History | President: Sister Nicole Gaithers | N/A? |
| Purpose:“Equipping Christian Leaders for 21st Century Ministry” through developing the character, scholarship, and service of each student. | Est. 1941 | Executive President: Bishop Michael D. Hannah Sr., D.D. | N/A? |
Contact
- International Headquarters - Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. 3939 North Meadows Drive Indianapolis, IN 46205, U.S.A. Phone: 317-547-9541
- Official Periodicals & Publications - The Christian Outlook and "Minute Book"
- Official Bible College/Seminary - Aenon Bible College, 3919 North Meadows Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205, U.S.A. Phone: 317-549-0255