The Advent Christian Church, also known as the Advent Christian General Conference (ACGC), is a "first-day" body of Adventist Christians founded on the teachings of William Miller in 1860. The organization's Executive Director is Reverend Justin Nash, and its President is Reverend John Gallagher. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the functions of its central offices include global missions, leadership development, church planting and management of organizational publications and media. These ministries are under the leadership of the organization's Executive Director, Rev. Justin Nash, who is accountable to the organization's executive council. This council, a governing board made up of elected representatives from Advent Christian Churches, is chaired by the organization's president, Rev. John Gallagher. In addition to the work of the central offices, more localized work is done in five regions of the U.S. and Canada under the direction of five regional superintendents, as well as in several state conference bodies and in 30 countries around the world. The organization holds to a congregational structure, in which each of its member churches and their members has input into the overall direction of the organization.

Early history

William Miller

The first Advent Christian Association was founded in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1860. The church's formation is rooted in the Adventist teachings begun by Baptist preacher William Miller of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. For many years, Miller studied the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament, especially the book of Daniel, and the book of Revelation from the New Testament. After many calculations, he announced in 1831 that the Second Advent would occur in 1844. Thousands of people believed him and sold their possessions. His followers, called Millerites, waited for the coming of Christ and the end of the world and were greatly disappointed when his predictions proved incorrect.

Jonathan Cummings

Jonathan Cummings (1817–1894), a disciple of Miller who reset Miller's prediction of Christ's coming to 1854, also influenced individuals who founded the Advent Christian Association. A third root of the Advent Christians is found in the rise of the doctrine of conditional immortality among Adventist preachers such as Charles F. Hudson (1795–1881) and George Storrs (1796–1879). Rejecting what they believed was a component of Greek philosophy (immortality of the soul), they taught that though man was created for immortality, that immortality had been forfeited in the fall of Adam. They believed that only the redeemed would receive eternal life; the dead unconsciously would await the resurrection and final judgement. At the time of judgement, the wicked would suffer extinction. These teachings separated them from some within the Millerite movement.

Beliefs

Statement of faith

The Advent Christian statement of faith is as follows: "We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19) We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:9; Matthew 26:64) We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. (Titus 3:4-7) We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (John 14:15-18; John 16:13; John 16:7-11) We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and them that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. (1 Corinthians 15:10-23; John 5:28-29) We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:41-47)"

Declaration of principles

The Advent Christian declaration of principles is as follows:

Statistics

In 2006, the Advent Christian Church had about 25,600 members in 293 churches across the United States─a number not radically different from the 28,300 it had in 1925, with relatively stable membership during the intervening years. The largest concentration of churches is along the eastern coast of the United States, where they have a strong concentration of churches in most states. Additionally, they claim approximately 100,000 members internationally, spread out over work in 30 countries.

Memberships and partnerships

The Advent Christian Church is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. They also have working partnerships with several other evangelical ministries.