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D.C., Delaware & Maryland District Council
4417 Dix Street, Northeast
Washington, D.C. 20019
202 398-7114
22nd Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
Bishop Charles E. Johnson, Diocesan
Suffragan Bishop Earnest L. Pendleton, Council Chairman
Memorandum
April 26, 2006
Subject: Call to Action on the Issue of Allowing Non-Apostolic Preachers to Minister at P.A.W., Inc. Sponsored Events
To: The Executive Board of Bishops, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Incorporated
From: Bishop Charles E. Johnson, Diocesan and the Pastors of the D.C., Delaware & Maryland District Council 22nd Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Incorporated
Greetings in the Matchless Name of Jesus!
It is with a heavy heart, that we—Bishop Charles E. Johnson, Diocesan, and the Pastors of the D.C., Delaware and Maryland District Council (22nd Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (P.A.W.))—feel compelled to write to you concerning the matter of the Organization’s spiritual move away from P.A.W.’s foundational beliefs and tenets. Our primary concern lies with the decision to allow Non-Apostolic speakers to minister the Spoken Word at our National Conferences, seminars and meetings. We believe that the P.A.W. must stand firmly on the Apostolic doctrine and the spiritual convictions as set forth by the Word of God, our Constitution, By-laws, and Procedures of the 2005 P.A.W. Organizational Manual (Minute Book). For nearly seventy years, our Council has stood firmly upon and passionately embraced these beliefs, mandates and principles.
These present times call to mind the words of Apostle Paul in his second epistle to Timothy:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears . . . and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.” (
II Timothy 4:3-4)
As Apostle Paul charged the young pastor, Timothy, each Pastor must guard against such apostasy. Our work as under-shepherds over God’s flock has eternal implications. We must answer directly to God regarding the discharge of our duties:
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
(
II Timothy 4:1, 2)
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (I
Timothy 4:1, 2, 16)
Attached for your review is a position paper, which comprehensively sets forth our convictions on this matter. I presented this document to the P.A.W.’s Board of Bishops during its March 2006 meeting in Detroit, Michigan. The following statements identify specific areas of our discontent and trepidation.
Statement I – Violation of P.A.W. Bylaws We direct your attention to Section III of the 2005 Minute Book, Bylaws on Directors over Auxiliaries,
titled “Young People,” section 3(d) (page 80): “Each participant on their program must be baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy
Ghost.”
This directive was reaffirmed by the Executive Board of our Organization. Further, the Bylaws on Councils, section 24 (page 98) state: “Any one who has not been baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the Holy Ghost shall not be eligible to hold office in any Council”.
These are policies that are directives from our Leadership to its membership but are not adhered to by them.
Statement II –Taxation without Representation
The Organization is increasing the financial obligations of affiliated Pastors while decreasing the affirmation of the doctrine and tenets of our faith at our National Conventions such as the recent decision to allow participation by Non-Apostolic ministers in the ministry of the spoken word. As a result, the whole body is suffering from spiritual malnutrition. Our stated P.A.W. guidelines and biblical mandates on separation from the world and guardianship of the flock from heresy, seducers, and evil men are a protective shield.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (
II John 9-11)
Without it, we are denied the spiritual enrichment of our seasoned fathers in the gospel—a benefit eagerly anticipated at our Annual Conventions by the majority of P.A.W. membership. Our directive to the Organization is to afford an opportunity for open discussion with the Pastors and Leadership and to further place this matter on the agenda of the General Body Business Session of the 2006 National Convention in Anaheim, California. This will enable all Pastors to address this matter with Leadership. Furthermore, taxation of the Pastors is increasing while their influence in deciding critical issues is decreasing. The P.A.W. is not a local church but rather an organized Ministerial Affiliation. We believe that all of the Pastors of our Organization should be able to participate with Leadership in a business setting to discuss this urgent matter.
Statement III—Retention of “Jesus Only” in the P.A.W. Logo
We understand that there has been discussion among Leadership regarding altering the official P.A.W. logo by removing the phrase “Jesus Only.” We strongly oppose any changes to the official logo as it is symbolic of the aforementioned protective shield. For the record, our Council will hold on to Jesus.
The truth is that Jesus is the all-sufficient Saviour. No other Saviour is needed beside Him or with Him. It’s Just Jesus. We believe inclusion of “Jesus Only” on the logo emphasizes this critical tenet of our faith and is essential to our identity as an Oneness organization.
Statement IV –Responsibility to Preserve Doctrinal Integrity
In conclusion, we submit to you an excerpt from the Ordination vows taken directly from Section VI of the 2005 Minute Book, Ordination Procedures, titled “Ordination of Elders, The Epistle –
Ephesians 4:7-13” (page 132). It reads as follows:
“BISHOP Reads: Will you be ready always, faithful and diligent to oppose and drive from your midst all erroneous, strange and false doctrine, contrary to the Word of God and the practice of the Apostles and are you willing to do this publicly and privately?
ANSWER: I will, the Lord being my Helper.”
On the authority of this vow, the D.C., Delaware and Maryland District Council must submit a “cease and desist” order regarding the Organization’s direction on the matter of allowing Non-Apostolic persons to minister the spoken Word at our National Conventions and P.A.W. sponsored events. It is our responsibility to preserve doctrinal integrity. Thus, in response to this discord, we must and will suspend our finances until a resolution is reached on this matter.
Our charge remains to earnestly contend for the faith and remain steadfastly and firmly committed to the Apostolic Faith and its foundational core. We must join together in setting forth a mandate to maintain our biblically based foundational truths and to uphold the standard of Holiness and doctrinal beliefs. Let us continue to Earnestly Contend for the Faith!
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