The PCG produces an array of print, online, television, radio, and streaming programs, including the print and web publication "Philadelphia Trumpet". According to its website, "the Trumpet—and all literature offered to you free on this site—is paid for by the tithes and offerings of members of the Philadelphia Church of God and their co-workers."[2]
The PCG is one of several offshoot groups of the WCG. Since its incorporation, members have left the PCG to form splinter groups of their own.[7]
History
American preacher Herbert W. Armstrong (1892–1986) started the "Worldwide Church of God" (WCG) during the Great Depression. At the time of Armstrong's death in 1986, the WCG was headquartered in California.[5][8]
In 1986, the WCG minister Joseph Tkach succeeded Armstrong.[1][5] Upon assuming leadership, Tkach began to disavow key aspects of Armstrongism including nontrinitarianism; these disavowals moved the denomination closer to traditional Evangelicalism.[1][5] The moves were controversial within the church and many members left, some forming new offshoot churches.[1]
A turning point in the conflict occurred when the church, under Tkach, sought to discontinue Armstrong’s book Mystery of the Ages.[1] Many who saw Armstrong’s doctrine as life law became disillusioned with Tkach. In response to Tkach's changes, Gerald Flurry (1935-[when?],[10] a minister of a WCG church in Oklahoma, wrote a polemic that he called Malachi’s Message. In his polemic, which he distributed to WCG members and leaders, Flurry denounced Tkach's rejections of Armstrongism.[1]
Flurry and co-minister John Amos eventually left the WCG and incorporated the "Philadelphia Church of God" in Edmond in 1989 with the stated purpose of continuing Armstrong's teachings. The PCG claims to have members[as of?] in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[1][5][11]
In 1997, the Philadelphia Church of God published Armstrong's Mystery of the Ages and a six-year legal battle with the Worldwide Church of God over the book's copyright ensued.[16] The WCG won the initial lawsuit, but the PCG filed a countersuit for the right to reproduce 18 other Armstrong works. WCG said it fought the countersuit because it didn’t want to see the "heretical" works re-published.[17]
In a 2003 settlement, the WCG agreed to sell the rights to 19 books by Armstrong to the PCG for $3 million. The settlement also allows the PCG to reproduce Armstrong’s teachings.[17]
Tucker, Ruth A. (2004). Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement. HarperCollins Christian Publishing. ISBN978-0-310-25937-4.