Professional Documents
Culture Documents
group that is closely linked with the Christadelphians. The group first
came into existence in the 1860's, when fourteen "obedient ones," as
they termed themselves, established a congregation in Cleveland,
Ohio. This initial body of believers came into existence under the
leadership of Mark Allen, originally from Woburn, Massachusetts. Allen
had previously spent some time in Geneva, Illinois working with
Benjamin Wilson, who was baptized by Christadelphian founder John
Thomas.
Wilson was the founder of the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith
Oregon Conference, which was based in Oregon, Illinois (Today this
group is known as the Church of God General Conference and is
based in Atlanta, Georgia). Allen's group, while having the same name
and believing many of the same doctrines, evolved into a separate
group and has no affiliation with the COGAF Oregon Conference. The
COGAF congregation based in Cleveland, after much discussion and
examination of the scriptures, decided not to embrace the doctrine of
a literal devil, a universal resurrection, and decided to practice
membership communion. The Oregon Conference did not crystalize
their thinking on many issues, leaving them open to individual
churches whereas Cleveland did.
1
"Now this is eternal life, that they may know thee, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
--------------------