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. while also holding to traditional Baptist doctrine.

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), Full Gospel Baptists developed a presbyteral-episcopal polity not found in the historic black Baptist denominations while maintaining congregationalist distinctives.

The FGBCF was reported to have over 10,000 active members in 1993 and 20,000 in 1995; As of 2020, they reported having approximately 2 million members; in 2023, Full Gospel Baptists had approximately 10,000 churches. Churches aligned with Full Gospel Baptists may affiliate with other Christian denomination, and aren't required to change their names.

History

The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship was established by Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr. in 1994 within New Orleans, Louisiana, From 25,000 to 30,000 attended the first conference of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship in 1994.

Exploring the gifts of the Holy Spirit against traditionally cessationist Baptist pastors and laymen within the National Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention of America, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Convention's then-president, Rev. Henry J. Lyons, disapproved of the movement's belief in tongues and divine healing. Eddie Long was consecrated a bishop by Paul Morton in the 1994.

In 2013, Bishop Morton announced his intent to resign as Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. He appointed Bishop Joseph W. Walker III in Nashville, Tennessee as successor.

Organization

Embracing a mixture of congregationalist, presbyterian, and episcopal polity, Full Gospel Baptists as a collective are governed by the Full Gospel Baptist Council of Bishops. The presiding bishop is the head clerical and executive leader of the fellowship, exercising authority along with other episcopates to provide administration. Full Gospel Baptists ordain and consecrate a significant number of female pastors and bishops as well, although the majority of their clergy is still male. Its women clergy operate an organization called the Daughters of the Promise, or Full Gospel International Women's Fellowship.

Doctrine

Like most Baptist denominations, Full Gospel Baptists uphold Trinitarianism, biblical infallibility, believer's baptism; and congregational autonomy. However, in addition to traditional Baptist doctrine, the fellowship also believes in Pentecostal-Charismatic doctrines such as speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, divine healing, and prophecy. Relieved of religious duties within the Roman Catholic Church, the concept of "valid but illicit" ordinations guaranteed Stallings episcopacy and historic claims remaining valid to whoever recognized it as such. Additionally, the Roman Catholic Church—considering the sacraments descending from Independent Catholics and Old Catholics as valid but illicit dependent upon the doctrine of ex opere operato—does not recognize the sacrament of holy orders for women into the presbyterate or episcopacy; thereby rendering women as invalidly ordained and consecrated along with Full Gospel Baptists' lack of a sacrificial priesthood.

References

  • Official website