Editing Restored Church of God

{{Short description|Church formed in response to major doctrinal changes in the Worldwide Church of God}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
|main_classification = Church of God
|leader = David C. Pack
|headquarters = [[Wadsworth, Ohio]]
|founder = David C. Pack
|founded_date = 1999
|separated_from = [[Worldwide Church of God]], [[Global Church of God]]
|area = International
|separations =
|congregations =
}}

'''The Restored Church of God''' (RCG) is one of many churches which were formed in response to major doctrinal changes which were made within the [[Worldwide Church of God]] (WCG) in 1995. The RCG claims to retain the tenets, style, and structure which existed in the earlier WCG before church leader [[Herbert W. Armstrong]]'s death in 1986.

==Foundation==
{{Only primary sources|section|date=May 2023}}
The RCG was formed in May 1999, in the midst of an ongoing upheaval in the wake of a departure from the WCG's established beliefs.<ref>[https://rcg.org/dcp-bio.html Who Is David C. Pack?]</ref> It is based in [[Wadsworth, Ohio]].

The RCG's founder and leader is David C. Pack (born 1948). As Pastor General of the Restored Church of God, Pack oversees the operations of the church. He attended [[Ambassador College]] and entered WCG's ministry in 1971. Following the 1995 schism in WCG, Pack became a minister in the [[Global Church of God]], but he was fired on May 3, 1999, and established his own church. Since then, he has established over 50 congregations, authored more than 20 books, written hundreds of booklets and articles,<ref>{{cite web|title=Who is David C. Pack?|url=http://rcg.org/dcp-bio.html|work=David C. Pack|publisher=The Restored Church of God|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> and appeared on [[History (U.S. TV network)|The History Channel]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pack|first=David C.|title=David C. Pack Appears on the History Channel|url=http://www.thercg.org/releases/091119-pr.html|work=RCG|publisher=The Restored Church of God|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> 

The church claims to have thousands of members,<ref>{{cite web|title=RCG Fruits — Obvious Fingerprints of God!|url=http://rcg.org/sep/rcg_fruits_2012.html|work=David C. Pack|publisher=The Restored Church of God|accessdate=30 November 2012}}</ref> but no reliable numbers have been published.

==Doctrines==
The RCG asserts that its doctrines are very similar to those of its predecessor, and <blockquote>"...it claims to be 'the only true extension of The [[Worldwide Church of God]]' as it was before [[Herbert W Armstrong|Armstrong’s]] death."</blockquote> adhering to what is often referred to as [[Armstrongism]], which includes the belief in the impending [[Apocalypse]] followed by the [[millennialism|millennial]] reign of [[Jesus Christ]] on Earth, along with [[Old Testament]] [[kashrut|dietary laws]], [[tithing]], observance of [[seventh-day Sabbath]], bans on holidays and festivals with pagan roots like [[Christmas]] and [[Easter]], and most of Herbert W. Armstrong's other teachings.<ref>[https://rcg.org/hwa.html Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong?]</ref><ref>[https://www.equip.org/article/the-price-of-change/ The Price of Change.] [[Christian Research Institute]]</ref> The church has been noted by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' for its strong stance against the [[Halloween]] tradition of [[Trick-or-treating]].<ref>[http://time.com/4087352/halloween-trick-or-treating/ "Trick-or-Treating Can Make Kids Selfish and Entitled". Time Magazine.]</ref>

== Church funding and the common doctrine ==
The Restored Church of God adheres to the laws of tithing as explained in the Old Testament{{fact|date=January 2022}}. This has allowed a relatively small organization to reach people around the world. Non-members, called co-workers, freely give offerings to show their support of the work of the Restored Church of God. Another doctrine cited, called "Common" comes from the New Testament understanding that Christians should avoid excess and contribute out of their excess to support the work of the Church reaching millions around the world. This doctrine was first explained to the Church by Pack in 2011, in a four-part sermon series titled “Christ’s Sayings—One Great Theme.” It was then revisited in his early 2014 two-part series, “How a Small Church Does Such Big Things.” RCG members are told to "sell all" and give their excess to support the work of RCG.{{fact|date=January 2022}} 

==Publications==
{{Only primary sources|section|date=May 2023}}
The RCG's flagship magazine is ''The Real Truth'', of which Pack is editor-in-chief. Pack hosts the program ''The World to Come'', and he has also written a two-volume ''Biography'', and a booklet titled ''Here Is The Restored Church of God'', which contains more descriptions of his church's doctrines and practices. The RCG's literature and programs are offered to the public free of charge.

*''The World to Come'': video and audio programs that preach the church's doctrines
*Hundreds of free books and booklets, articles, lessons, and magazines (also in Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Afrikaans, Italian, Polish, Swahili, Tahitian and Serbian)<ref>{{cite web|title=A Look Inside the Restored Church of God|url=http://rcg.org/landing/inside_rcg.html|work=David C. Pack|publisher=The Restored Church of God|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref>
*''The Real Truth'': a bi-monthly flagship magazine which analyzes world news in the light of Bible prophecy—is styled as a continuation of ''[[The Plain Truth]]'' magazine, as it was produced from 1934 through the mid-1980s
*Bible Introduction Course: 30 lessons which introduce the basic RCG doctrines
*The Splinter Explanation Packet: a series of ten books, as well as sermons, written for former WCG members
*''The Pillar'': a bi-monthly magazine which is published for the church's members
*''Ambassador Youth'': a bi-monthly magazine which is published for the church's teenagers

==Schools and camps==
The RCG runs Ambassador Center, a two-year institution to train RCG's future ministers and leaders, modeled after the WCG's Ambassador College. The church also runs Ambassador Youth Camp, an annual summer camp for its teenage members.

The church discourages conventional two-person romantic [[dating]] among teenagers, preferring group-based social activities.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122117802738725995 "All Together Now". The Wall Street Journal.]</ref> It also discourages participation in [[blogs]], especially among youth, citing concerns over victimization.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/technology/some-bloggers-have-no-shame-20070214-gdph8p.html "Some bloggers have no shame".] The [[Sydney Morning Herald]].</ref>

==Wadsworth headquarters==
The RCG started constructing its world headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, and it was partially modeled after Armstrong's Ambassador College campus in [[Pasadena, California]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Church plans world headquarters in Wadsworth |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2012/01/25/church-plans-world-headquarters-in/10684269007/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=Akron Beacon Journal}}</ref> The project broke ground on May 10, 2012,<ref>{{cite web|title=Restored Church of God holds groundbreaking for new complex|url=http://thepostnewspapers.com/wadsworth/restored-church-groundbreaking-W-6-2--submit-|work=The Post|publisher=wadsworthpost.com|accessdate=15 September 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and the administration building officially opened on June 21, 2013.<ref name="AB_open">{{cite news |title=Restored Church of God's new world headquarters is open in Wadsworth |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2013/06/23/restored-church-god-s-new/10459320007/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=Akron Beacon Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=CANNING-DEAN |first1=EMILY |title=Restored Church of God opens new headquarters |url=https://www.thepostnewspapers.com/wadsworth/local_news/restored-church-of-god-opens-new-headquarters/article_2e9d4718-8b86-5267-8571-d2490ba70129.html |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=The Post Newspapers |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Christian observances of Jewish holidays]]
* [[Christian views on the Old Covenant]]
* [[Grace Communion International]] formerly the Worldwide Church of God
* [[Restorationism]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.rcg.org/}}

{{Sabbath-keeping denominations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Church of God (Armstrong)]]
[[Category:Wadsworth, Ohio]]
[[Category:Protestant denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Christian denominations founded in the United States]]