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First baptizing tours of men trained at Radio Church of God's Ambassador College occurs. |
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1951 |
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Two of the first four students attending Ambassador College, Herman Hoeh and Betty Bates, graduate. |
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1953 |
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CG7 begins national radio program called "Faith For Our Time."
HWA goes on national radio (American Broadcasting Corporation or ABC). |
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1954 |
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Ambassador College begins 58 lesson Bible Correspondence Course. |
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1955 |
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GTA - 1950's |
HWA's Radio Church of God sponsors first television programs.
Garner Ted Armstrong is ordained.
On the first day of the Feast of
Tabernacles (Oct. 1), HWA announces that from June 1954 to June 1955 it cost $394,328.66 to operate the Radio Church of God and $630,323 to operate Ambassador College. This is the church's
first million dollar budget. |
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1957 |
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CG7 begins the "Searchlight Bible Correspondence Course." |
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1958 |
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HWA's oldest son Richard David dies July 30, 1958 due to injuries sustained the previous week in an automobile accident. |
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1959 |
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CG7 begins Free Literature Distribution Program. Previously tracts were not free. |
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1961 |
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CG7 establishes youth camps. |
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1963 |
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Robert Coulter is selected as chairman of CG7's General Conference. CG7's "Faith For Our Time" is broadcast on 24 radio stations and
Faithful Youth Challengers (national youth organization) manual is published. |
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1967 |
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Herbert Armstrong's wife Loma dies. |
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1968 |
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The Radio Church of God changes its name to Worldwide Church of God (WCG). |
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1969 |
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WCG publishes "Tomorrow's World" magazine. |
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1973 |
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WCG starts personal appearance campaigns. |
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1974 |
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* CG7's Ministerial Council adopts a revised doctrinal statement on Divorce and Remarriage.
* Youth Opportunities United is formed
by WCG.
* The dedication of WCG's Ambassador Auditorium occurs. In order to help pay for the building, the church had set up a special Building Fund
to collect donations from members. However, when the auditorium is built, it is announced that it was 100% financed by a special bank loan. It is not stated where the fund money went or
what it paid for.
Ken Westby
2004 |
Due to disagreements over, and the church's unwillingness to, change doctrines such as divorce & remarriage, makeup, the date of
Pentecost, church government (and other issues), several ministers and members leave the WCG. This exodus of people from the WCG is known by some as the "East Coast Rebellion," since many
of those who left resided near the east coast of the United States.
Ministers leaving include Earnest Martin, Ken Westby, Al Portune and George Kemnitz. Earnest Martin will go on to help found the Foundational of Biblical
Research in 1974, and in 1984 he starts the Associates for Scriptural Knowledge. Ken Westby, George Kemnitz and others form
the Associated Churches of God / Association for Christian Development in 1974.
The "East Coast Rebellion" was fueled by what was perceived as the church's unwillingness to change. Ironically, some ministers/members left the WCG as well
when beliefs such as divorce & remarriage WERE changed. Of these, a minister who had been one of the first four students to attend Ambassador College, Raymond C. Cole, goes on to form
Church of God, The Eternal in 1975. Bryce Clark, a recently departed WCG minister, joins Cole's group the year it is
started. |
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1975 |
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CG7 gives autonomy to other national conferences.
Andrew N. Dugger dies in Jerusalem |
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1976 |
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A group of Ambassador College alumni publish Ambassador Review in June. Later in the year the newsletter is renamed
Ambassador Report (AR). The purpose of the publication, as stated in an early 1976 introductory letter, is
that it " . . . is a journal by and for the students, alumni, and friends of Ambassador College. Its purpose is to provide an open forum for those who have shared in the "Ambassador
Experience". " From the early 1980's to his death in September 1999, one of AR's initial publishers/editors named John Trechak would be its sole driving force. |
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1977 |
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At the age of 85 HWA marries divorcee Ramona Martin, who was 39. They divorce in 1981. |
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1978 |
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GTA around 1974
Ronald Dart - 1977 |
Garner Ted Armstrong (GTA) is marked and disfellowshipped from the WCG on June 26th. Several reasons are given for his ouster, including allegedly trying to
divert church mail in attempt to steal funds for his personal use and giving the media misleading and distorted information about his father (HWA). On August 5th he gives his first message
after leaving the WCG, where he discusses his expulsion and explains "his side" of the story.
GTA quickly forms the Church of God, International (CGI), with headquarters in Tyler, Texas. The CGI
soon becomes the largest split of the WCG and reaches a peak income of around 5 million. Other WCG splits around the early to mid-1990's, however, begin to surpass CGI in members and money.
Ronald Dart, an evangelist in the WCG, voluntarily leaves them and joins the CGI. He would become CGI's vice-president. His first message in CGI, given
September 23rd, discusses his departure from the WCG. |
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1979 |
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CG7 adopts a resolution which makes it a member of the International Ministerial Congress.
A civil suit is launched against the WCG. Some of the allegations against the church are that money has been siphoned off for personal use,
a failure to provide adequate accounting of the church's financial position has occurred, and that there has been a massive liquidation of church-owned properties. The suit calls for an
accounting of all funds and financial transactions. In January a temporary restraining order puts the assets and financial records of the church and related corporations under the control
of a receiver. The church and the state of California fight a legal battle for several months. In October 1980 the California Attorney General drops the case against the
WCG. |
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