Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America

The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (PFNA). PCCNA headquarters are in Los Angeles, California.

Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Founded1948
TypePentecostal and Charismatic fellowship
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Area served
North America
Membership
48 Christian denominations and associations
AffiliationsPentecostal World Fellowship
Websitepccna.org

History

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Pentecostal Fellowship of North America

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was formed by eight Pentecostal denominations in 1948 at Des Moines, Iowa. Before the Des Moines meeting, a rally was held in Washington, D.C., and plans for a constitution were formulated. Two of the leading figures of the Washington meeting were Bishop Joseph A. Synan and Oral Roberts.

The following were charter members of the PFNA:

Racial reconciliation and inclusion of charismatics

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The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America was formed as part of a unification of charismatic and Pentecostal bodies and a movement toward racial reconciliation. Whereas the PFNA was formed to help bridge doctrinal divisions, the PCCNA set a broader goal of also the racial and cultural gaps. At a meeting in 1994 in Memphis, Tennessee, the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America was dissolved, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America was formed.

We are gathered here in Memphis, Tennessee, to return to our roots and to recapture the initiative of the Spirit. This will be a time of repentance for the sins of the past. This will be a time of forgiveness as we rely upon the wonderful grace of our loving Heavenly Father and mirror that grace in our relationships with one another. The time has come for reconciliation! The time has come to recapture our heritage! We gather here as the children of God and heirs of the twentieth century Pentecostal/charismatic renewal of the church. Our Father has called us to unity. - from an address of Bishop B. E. Underwood, Chairman of the PFNA, October, 1994

Purposes

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  1. To relate to one another as members of the body of Christ.
  2. To demonstrate the essential unity of Spirit-filled believers in answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21, “That they all may be one.”
  3. To foster the evangelization of the world through the preaching of the gospel, with signs and wonders and the demonstration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, by presenting Jesus Christ as the only Savior, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Coming King. (Mark 16:10-20)
  4. To promote and encourage the Pentecostal/Charismatic revival and renewal in North America and throughout the world.
  5. To serve as a forum of spiritual unity, dialogue, and fellowship for all Pentecostal and Charismatic believers in North America, crossing all cultural and racial lines based on mutual equality, love, respect, and sound doctrine. (Acts 2:42)
  6. To preserve mutual love and respect for each member group, maintaining “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1)

Recent Dialogue

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As of 2023, the PCCNA has been in ecumenical discussion with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), as well as discussing the possibility of future theological dialogue between Pentecostalism and Catholicism.[1][2]

In April of 2024, the PCCNA sent several delegates to the World Christian Forum in Ghana to represent Pentecostalism.[3]

The PCCNA is also involved with the Somos Um (We are One) initiative in Brazil, which seeks to unite Brazilian Catholics, Evangelicals and Pentecostals.[3]

Members

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With 48 denominations and associations as members, the PCCNA merges tens of millions of Christians in North America.[4] Besides for Church networks and Denominations, the PCCNA also has the Wesleyan Holiness Connection, a separate association of 17 denominations, as a member. Several denominations are found in both associations and have dual membership. The below membership statistics are only for congregants in North America and are not indicative of total denominational or church network statistics.

List of church members
Denomination: Membership: Category:
Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada 24,000 Pentecostal
Assemblies of God USA 3,233,385 Pentecostal
Calvary Ministries, Inc., International Charismatic
Canadian Assemblies of God Pentecostal
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) 1,074,047 [5] Pentecostal
Church of God in Christ 3,800,000 Pentecostal
Church of God of the Apostolic Faith Charismatic
Church of God Mountain Assembly 11,000 Pentecostal
Church of God of Prophecy 415,000 Pentecostal
Coastal Church Charismatic
Congregational Holiness Church 25,000 Pentecostal
Deeper Christian Life Ministry Pentecostal
Elim Fellowship 21,000 Charismatic
Empowered21 Charismatic
Faith Christian Fellowship International Apostolic-Prophetic
The Fellowship Network Charismatic
Fountain Gate Church Charismatic
Foursquare Church 350,000 Pentecostal
Foursquare Church Canada 3,300 Pentecostal
Full Gospel Fellowship 432,632 [6] Pentecostal
Grupo de Unidad Cristiana de Mexico AR Charismatic
The Helper Connection Church Network
Hilo Pentecostal Church Pentecostal
Independent Assemblies of God International Pentecostal
Independent Assemblies of God International (Canada) 24,000 Pentecostal
International Center for Spiritual Renewal Charismatic
International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies 7,200 Pentecostal
International Pentecostal Church of Christ 4,961 Pentecostal
International Pentecostal Holiness Church 2,600,000 Pentecostal
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Charismatic
Open Bible Churches 150,000 Pentecostal
Open Bible Faith Fellowship Charismatic
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada 234,385 Pentecostal
Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland Pentecostal
Pentecostal Church of God 620,000 Pentecostal
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church 28,000[7] Pentecostal Baptist
Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada Pentecostal
United Evangelical Churches Pentecostal
United Holy Church of America 50,000 Pentecostal
Rehoboth Pentecostal church of Delaware Valley - An Indian Malayalee Pentecostal Church Charismatic
Wesleyan Holiness Connection Interdenominational Fellowship

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "USCCB News - Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians and Roman Catholics Engage in Exploratory Ecumenical Dialogue".
  2. ^ "PCCNA- Documents- Representatives from Catholic and Pentecostal Churches Meet for Ecumenical Dialogue September 22, 2022 - (PDF)" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b "PCCNA Christian Unity Commission Report of Activities 2024" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America member list".
  5. ^ "Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)| Religious Groups | the Association of Religion Data Archives".
  6. ^ "Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International| Religious Groups | the Association of Religion Data Archives".
  7. ^ "Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc.| Religious Groups | the Association of Religion Data Archives".
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