A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

The Jesus Name Controversy
form an organization and chose as their official name The
General Council of the Assemblies of God. Bell was elected
as general chairman, a title later renamed general superintendent.
J. Roswell Flower (1888-1970) became the first
secretary-treasurer. Born in Canada, he was a convert from
the Christian and Missionary Alliance who pastored a small
church in Indianapolis and published a weekly, The
Christian Evangel. The two papers of Bell and Flower
became the official organs, with Bell as the editor.
The first executive presbyters—some elected and
some later appointed by those elected—were Bell,
Collins, R. L. Erickson, Flower, Cyrus B. Fockler, Goss,
Daniel W. Kerr, Thomas K. Leonard, Opperman, Pinson,
John C. Sinclair, and John W. Welch. The assembled ministers
agreed not to have any creed but the Bible, but their
purpose was to create an organization for Finished Work
Pentecostals.
In the fall of 1914, the new organization conducted its
first regular meeting, which was its second general council.
Collins replaced Bell as chairman, Opperman became
the first assistant chairman, and Bennett F. Lawrence
(1890-?) became the first assistant secretary.
Rebaptism of Leaders
Almost immediately, the new organization faced the
issue of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. Many
prominent ministers were being baptized in Jesus’ name.
At first, the leaders of the Assemblies of God opposed this
teaching, notably Bell, Goss, and Flower.
In July 1915, a dramatic event occurred at the third
interstate encampment of the Assemblies of God in
Jackson, Tennessee. The host pastor was H. G. Rodgers,
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