.png)
About Us
Who We Are
The Congregational Holiness Church is people. We are people whose lives have been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are people who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. We are people from all walks of life who have accepted the Bible as our guide for daily life. We are individuals who love God. We are families who love God. We are churches who love God. We are small churches, large churches, and medium size churches. We are urban churches and rural churches. We are a church family of open hearts and open arms. We are a family oriented organization called the Congregational Holiness Church
Our Story
The Congregational Holiness Church traces its doctrinal and historical roots to the Protestant Reformation, the Wesleyan Holiness Revival, and the Pentecostal movement of the early 20th Century. Our movement was organized in 1921 in High Shoals, Georgia. We have grown from 12 churches in 1921 to approximately 10,000 churches worldwide today in 14 states and 30 countries. Our International Headquarters is located in Griffin, Georgia.
We are evangelical and embrace the cardinal Biblical doctrines of salvation by faith, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, divine healing, the divine Trinity, inspiration of the Bible, the incarnation of Jesus Christ through the virgin birth, the perfect sinless life of Jesus Christ, the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the rapture of the church, and the imminent, personal pre-millennial second coming of Jesus Christ. As a denomination, we are categorized as Wesleyan Pentecostal.
In relationship with other denominations, we have always practiced and taught an open door policy of fellowship. In relationship with other believers, we practice and teach open communion, welcoming all Christians to partake. Our 12th Article of Faith states, “We believe the Bride of Christ is composed of the entire Spiritual Church.”
How We Operate
The Congregational Holiness Church’s form of government is congregational. Our Articles of Faith, form of government, and conditions of membership cannot be changed except by a majority vote of the local churches.
At each quadrennial General Conference, we elect a full-time General Superintendent with the lifetime, honorary title of Bishop. This spiritual leader administers and directs the affairs and functions of the Congregational Holiness Church. The same General Conference also elects a 1st and a 2nd Assistant General Superintendent. These three superintendents along with an elected General Secretary and General Treasurer comprise the General Executive Board. Members of the General Executive Board serve four-year terms. In the USA, we are divided into districts with each district electing a five-member presbytery. The District Presbytery is made up of a Superintendent, a 1st and 2nd Assistant Superintendent, a Secretary/Treasurer and an Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. District officials also serve four-year terms.
The General Executive Board, District Presbyteries, World Missions Executive Director, Mission USA Administrator, Brotherhood Executive Director, and Women’s Ministries Executive Director make up our General Committee. The General Committee transacts our church business between General Conferences. The General Conference of the Congregational Holiness Church is the highest governing body with full authority to designate teachings, principles, and practices of the local churches.