Toward the Trinity: Transforming Theology and Lives of the Ministers in the Worldwide Church of God/Grace Communion International
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TOWARD THE TRINITY: TRANSFORMING THEOLOGY AND LIVES OF THE MINISTERS IN THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD/GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL by Eric Tracy Wilding A thesis submitted to Wycliffe College and the Faculties of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry awarded by Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto © Copyright by Eric Tracy Wilding 2012 Toward the Trinity: Transforming Theology and Lives of the Ministers in the Worldwide Church of God/Grace Communion International Eric Tracy Wilding Doctor of Ministry Wycliffe College of the University of Toronto 2012 ABSTRACT The Worldwide Church of God (WCG) was a sect founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. It held a wide array of heterodox doctrines and practices. This started to change in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Among the key changes was the shift from a bitheistic theology to a trinitarian theology. This dissertation explores the effects of this shift on the lives of twelve ministers in the WCG, which is now called Grace Communion International. Specifically it examines the impact that the doctrinal change had on their understanding of and relationship with God, self and congregation. Chapter one gives an introduction the research. It presents a historical, theological, theoretical, biographical and ministerial context for the study. It also gives a general introduction to the participants in the research. ii Chapter two provides and analysis and integration of the historical context of Herbert W. Armstrong, the founder of the WCG, and the denomination. It sets the context in which Armstrong’s religious beliefs grew and were transformed. It also traces the movement in the WCG away from orthodoxy toward heterodoxy and later back toward orthodoxy again. It examines the context and influences of the doctrinal changes and developments regarding the nature of God in the WCG/GCI. Chapter three discusses the ministry-in-action portion of the dissertation. This includes research methodologies and the process of the research. Chapters four through seven presents the research concerning twelve ministers in the WCG/GCI who have been in the WCG/GCI from the Armstrong years, through the changes and remain in the GCI. It offers their experience concerning the doctrine of God in their understanding of and relationship to Him, themselves and their congregations. Specifically the research inquires how the understanding of and relationship with each Person in the Godhead has developed and impacted the participants’ ministries and lives. Chapter eight gives the contributions of the research and the conclusions. The dissertation ends with some issues for consideration in GCI and the larger body of Christ. iii AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT Eric Tracy Wilding was ordained by Grace Communion International (GCI) in 2009. Since then, he has served as a local elder in the Toronto East congregation of this denomination. He has spoken to GCI and inter-denominational congregations and conferences in the Canada and the United States. He has also published articles in both countries in Christian publications. Since 2010, he has had a community/market place ministry, reaching out to people with the love of the Father, Son and Spirit. Eric is a graduate from Toronto School of Theology (MA Theology), the University of Ottawa (MEd Philosophical Foundations, BEd Teaching) and Ambassador University (BA English, BA Theology). He has taught at Centennial College in Toronto since 1995 and at Grace Communion Seminary since 2011. Eric is married to Kareena Ruth Wilding, his beloved friend and partner. They share life and love with two children, Lily Maria Kristiana and Evangeline Hope. iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to Abba, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Thank you for including all humanity in your love. All glory, praise and honour to You, our Triune God. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves….On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you….[ T]he Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14: 10-11, 20, 26) But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2: 9-11) And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Galatians 4:6) But now the swarm of testimonies shall burst upon you from which the Deity of the Holy Ghost shall be shewn to all who are not excessively stupid, or else altogether enemies to the Spirit, to be most clearly recognized in Scripture. Look at these v facts:—Christ is born; the Spirit is His Forerunner. He is baptized; the Spirit bears witness. He is tempted; the Spirit leads Him up. He works miracles; the Spirit accompanies them. He ascends; the Spirit takes His place. What great things are there in the idea of God which are not in His power? What titles which belong to God are not applied to Him, except only Unbegotten and Begotten? For it was needful that the distinctive properties of the Father and the Son should remain peculiar to Them, lest there should be confusion in the Godhead Which brings all things, even disorder Yea, even disorder itself, into due arrangement and good order. Indeed I tremble when I think of the abundance of the titles, and how many Names they outrage who fall foul of the Spirit. (Gregory Nazianzen)1 What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing 2 about us. (A.W. Tozer) 1 Gregory Nazianzen, The Fifth Oration on the Holy Spirit, 29. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.iii.xvii.html (accessed January 13, 2012). 2 A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (London: James Clarke, 1965), 9. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge my wife, Kareena Wilding, for all of her support through the process of studying for this degree. She and our children, Lily and Evangeline, are very patient and loving in their support of my ministry and studies. I am thankful to Dr. David Reed for his kind supervision and encouragement. His wealth of knowledge and experience has added wonderful aspects to this dissertation. I would like to acknowledge my parents, Richard and Janet Wilding, and their decades of service to God and the Worldwide Church of God/Grace Communion International. They are a great inspiration to me. Finally, I am grateful to the participants in this research, which would not have been possible without their cooperation. I also would like to express my thanks to the leadership of Grace Communion International, and especially the ministers in my Ministerial Base Group and the people in my local congregation. They have been of great assistance and inspiration to me. My hope is that this dissertation will be of encouragement and service to these people and others, who may learn from the experiences recounted here. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1 CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATION — HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE WCG 24 CHAPTER THREE: MINISTRY-IN-ACTION 84 CHAPTER FOUR: MINISTERS’ FORMATIONS (1940s - EARLY 1990s) 98 CHAPTER FIVE: DOCTRINAL REFORMATION (EARLY - MID 1990s) 141 CHAPTER SIX: THE EVANGELICAL WCG (MID 1990s - MID 2000s) 170 CHAPTER SEVEN: THE TRINITARIAN GCI (MID 2000s AND BEYOND) 188 CHAPTER EIGHT: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY AND CONCLUSIONS 222 BIBLIOGRAPHY 227 APPENDICES 243 viii 1 CHAPTER ONE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1. Introduction In the history of the Christianity, there are few examples of doctrinal change that have been as rapid and extensive as those that occurred in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in the 1990s. During this decade, the WCG moved from being a heterodox sect into an orthodox evangelical denomination. This thesis primarily explores the central doctrinal change, regarding the nature of God, along with some concomitant issues. It provides a diachronic study of the development of the doctrine through the experience of the founder of the WCG, Herbert W. Armstrong, and his church, during and after his life time. The research examines the effect of the doctrine and its change through the experiences of twelve ministers in the denomination. The central assertion to this study is that their understanding of and relationship with God, self and congregation has been transformed through various key phases in their lives. First, it is essential that a brief historical introduction be given, which will be developed in full in chapter two. 1.1 The Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986) founded the Radio Church of God in the 19343 and held a wide array of esoteric, heterodox doctrines, including some key beliefs such as the 3 In 1968, the name of the denomination changed its name from the Radio Church of God to the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in order to reflect its global membership and its being the true Church of God.