A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

Trinitarian Pentecostal Organizations
is by far the largest Holiness Pentecostal denomination in
the United States. Indeed it is the largest Pentecostal
denomination in the country, one of the largest black
denominations, and one of the most rapidly growing
denominations. In the U.S. it grew from a reported 733
churches and 30,263 adherents in 1926 to 15,300
churches and 5,499,875 adherents in 1991. We should
note, however, that church growth researcher C. Peter
Wagner and others believe that its currently reported
constituency is considerably overstated—it is over 350
per church—and should be reduced by about one-half for
comparison with other denominations. 153
The church officially emphasizes seven major doctrines:
the Bible, the trinity, the Rapture, salvation, healing,
the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and sanctification.
The statement on salvation stresses the importance of
repentance, faith, water baptism, and the Holy Ghost:
“We believe that the only means of being cleansed from
sin is through repentance, faith in the precious Blood of
Jesus Christ and being baptized in water. We believe that
regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for
personal salvation.” The church emphasizes sanctification,
but its official statement does not clearly define it as
a second work: “The doctrine of sanctification or holiness
is emphasized, as being essential to the salvation of
mankind. . . . We believe in the sanctifying power of the
Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled
to live a Holy and separated life in this present world.” 154
Originally COGIC “held to strict standards of dress
and personal conduct,” but after the death of the founder,
C. H. Mason, in 1961, there was a “blurring of doctrinal
and disciplinary distinctives.” 155 Unlike other black
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