Associated Gospel Churches of Canada
| Associated Gospel Churches | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Evangelical |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Leader | Bill Allan |
| Region | Canada |
| Headquarters | Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
| Origin | c. 1890 Ontario, Canada |
| Separated from | Salvation Army[1] (1892) |
| Congregations | 142 |
| Official website | agcofcanada.com |
The Associated Gospel Churches, commonly known as AGC, is a Canadian evangelical Christian denomination. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The national headquarters are located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
History
[edit | edit source]The Associated Gospel Churches began in the 1890s as a group of independent churches made up almost entirely of former Salvationists, in Ontario, Canada, that was joined together by a charter under the leadership of Dr. P. W. Philpott.[2][3] In 1922, the group was named the Christian Workers' Church of Canada. To differentiate itself from similarly named, but theological differing groups, the denomination was renamed Associated Gospel Churches in 1925.[4] It was federally incorporated March 18, 1925.[5]
The AGC began its first expansion outside of Ontario in 1940, when a group of churches based in Western Canada sought to affiliate themselves with AGC. This group of churches eventually became what is now known as AGC West Region.
In 1944, the AGC began expanding its English language ministries into the Canadian province of Quebec, and began its first French language ministries in 1972.
In 2023, it had 142 churches.
Leadership
[edit | edit source]In June 2018, a vote was taken at the AGC National Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with a 99 per cent approval for Bill Allan to become the association's fifth full-time President.
Previous Presidents:
- Bill Fietje (2008-2018)
- Bud Penner (2000-2008)
- Don Hamilton (1989-1998)
- Bill Sifft (1981-1989)
AGC leadership
[edit | edit source]- Bill Allan - President of AGC
- Tom Lambshead - AGC East Regional Director
- Rob Cochrane - AGC West Regional Director
- Del Gibbons - AGC Quebec Regional Director
- Lorne Meisner - AGC West Associate Regional Director
- John Garner - AGC East Associate Regional Director
- Paul Brittain - National Coordinator of Doctrine & Credentials
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 39
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ James H. Marsh, The Canadian Encyclopedia, McClelland & Stewart, Canada, 1999, p. 798
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