Bethel Ministerial Association

The Bethel Ministerial Association is an organization of Christian ministers.[1]

It was founded in 1934 by Reverend Albert Franklin Varnell as a way to allow Christian ministers of similar doctrine to come together. Membership in the association is open to ministers only. The specific doctrine of the Association is nontrinitarian. They believe that there is only one God, who manifests himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The association accepts the Bible as the Word of God, and practices baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus.[1]

The churches with which the individual members of the association are associated are all independent of the Association and self-governing. The Association maintains a publishing arm in Evansville, Indiana, whose publications include the periodical Bethel Link and other works. The Association also maintains a missionary program supporting over 50 missions worldwide. It also maintains a youth camp in southern Indiana called the Circle J Ranch and the Bethel Ministerial Academy.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lewis, James R. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-222-6.

The Bethel Ministerial Association is a fellowship of Christian ministers, churches and ministries all independent in their organization but sharing similar doctrinal beliefs.[1]

The BMA was founded in 1934 by Reverend Albert Franklin Varnell as a fellowship to allow Christian ministers of similar doctrinal views to come together. Membership in the association is open to ministers, missionaries and churches of similar beliefs. The main doctrine of the Association is nontrinitarian. They believe that there is only one God, who manifests himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The association accepts the Bible as the Word of God, and practices baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus.[1]

Churches with which the individual members of the association are attached are all independent of the Association and self-governing. The Association maintains a publishing arm, Bethel Publishing House, whose publications include the Doctrinal Manual, "It Does Make a Difference What You Believe", the association's website [www.bmaministries.com] and other works. The Association also supports a missionary program supporting over 50 missions worldwide. It also maintains a youth camp in southern Indiana called the Bethel Youth Camp which ministers to over 300 young people for two weeks in the summer each year.

The BMA is registered in Indiana although its member churches come from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and other mostly midwest churches. BMA is organized with a Board of Directors. The current chairman is Rev Don Horath from Decatur, IL.

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