The Foursquare Church is an international Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1923 by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. It lies within the evangelical tradition. Its headquarters are in Los Angeles, California, United States. The legal name of the organization is "the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel"
History
The church has its origins in a vision of "Foursquare Gospel" (or "Full Gospel") during a sermon in October 1922 in Oakland, California, by the evangelist Aimee Semple McPhersonMatthew Avery Sutton, Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, Harvard University Press, USA, 2007, p. 44 who was originally an ordained evangelist of the Assemblies of God where she once exerted a large influence until the split. According to chapter 1 of Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel had a vision of God as revealed to be four different aspects: a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. It also represents the four aspects of Christ: "Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer and Soon and Coming King." This was the vision and name she gave at Foursquare Church, founded in January 1923 in Los Angeles, during the dedication of the Angelus Temple in Echo Park, seating 5,300 people.Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 295Edith Waldvogel Blumhofer, Aimee Semple McPherson: everybody's sister, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 1993, p. 246–247 Despite some affinities with Pentecostals, her beliefs are interdenominational.Edith Waldvogel Blumhofer, Aimee Semple McPherson: everybody's sister, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 1993, p. 250 The attendance has become a megachurch with 10,000 people.Thomas, Lately Storming Heaven: The Lives and Turmoils of Minnie Kennedy and Aimee Semple McPherson, Ballantine Books, USA, 1970) page 32 McPherson was a flamboyant celebrity in her day, participating in publicity events, such as weekly Sunday parades through the streets of Los Angeles, along with the mayor and movie stars, directly to Angelus Temple. She built the temple, as well as what is now known as Life Pacific University adjacent to it, on the northwest corner of land that she owned in the middle of the city.
McPherson's celebrity status continued after her death, with biopics such as the 1976 Hallmark Hall of Fame drama The Disappearance of Aimee depicting her life, as well as the 2006 independent film Aimee Semple McPherson, which particularly focused on her month-long disappearance in May–June 1926 and the legal controversy that followed.Epstein, Daniel Mark, Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson (Orlando: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1993) pp. 296, chapter "Kidnapped"Matthew Avery Sutton, Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007)p90, chapters "Kidnapping the Bride of Christ and p119, "Unraveling the Mystery"Cox, Raymond L. The Verdict is In, ( R.L. Cox and Heritage Committee, California, 1983) entire book focuses on the reported kidnapping
After Aimee Semple McPherson's death in 1944, her son Rolf K. McPherson became president and leader of the church, a position he held for 44 years.J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, page 1461 The Foursquare Church formed the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America in 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa, in an alliance with the Assemblies of God, the Church of God, the Open Bible Standard Churches, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and others. In 1994, 46 years after the founding of the Pentecostal Fellowship, it was reorganized as the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America after combining with African-American organizations, most significantly the Church of God in Christ.
In 1968, the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa congregation of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (under pastor Chuck Smith) broke from the denomination and later formed an association of autonomous Charismatic Evangelical churches, today making up the Charismatic but non-Pentecostal denomination, Calvary Chapel.Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations: Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences, Harvest House Publishers, USA, 2015, p. 340Douglas A. Sweeney, The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement, Baker Academic, USA, 2005, page 1
Wayman Mitchell was formerly a pastor of the Foursquare church in Prescott, Arizona. During his time as a pastor at Foursquare, Mitchell planted multiple churches who called themselves The Door. The practices of this group of churches began to differ from other churches within Foursquare, such as the rejection of formal Bible college education for pastors. In 1983, after complaints from other Foursquare pastors about the methods, attitudes, and tactics used by Mitchell's churches, Mitchell split from Foursquare and took his churches with himVan Cleave, Nathaniel (September 2, 2014). The Vine and the Branches: A History of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel Foursquare Media. pp. 150–153. . Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2026.. Mitchell's churches would later become known the Potter's House Christian Fellowship.
On May 31, 1988, John R. Holland became the Church's third president and held the position until July 1997.
Harold Helms served as interim president from July 1997 to July 1998 and was followed by Paul C. Risser, who became the president on April 16, 1998, at the church's 75th annual convention.
In October 2003, under Risser's tenure, the church sold the Los Angeles radio station KFSG-FM to the Spanish Broadcasting System for $250 million. Risser's leadership led to another high-profile controversy for the church, when, without the involvement of the denomination's board of directors and finance council, church funds were invested in firms that targeted the "close-knit evangelical community" but turned out to be Ponzi schemes. Risser resigned his leadership position under fire in March 2004. Jared Roth became interim president for a few months.
Jack W. Hayford, the founder of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California, served as the president of the Foursquare Church from 2004 to 2009. Hayford, along with Pastors Roy Hicks Jr. in Eugene, Oregon, Jerry Cook in Gresham, Oregon, Ronald D. Mehl of the Beaverton Foursquare Church in Beaverton, Oregon, and John Holland in Vancouver, British Columbia, have been credited by the church with setting a plan for the denomination's continued survival despite its staggering financial losses estimated at $15 million under the failed leadership of Paul Risser.
Glenn Burris, Jr. served as president from 2009 to 2020. In 2020, Randy Remington became the 10th president of The Foursquare Church.The Foursquare Church, FoursquareLeader, foursquare.org, USA, retrieved May 30, 2020
Statistics According to a census published by the association in 2022, it had 67,500 churches, with 8.8 million members in 150 countries.The Foursquare Church, History, foursquare.org, USA, retrieved November 5, 2022.
According to the 2010 US Religion Census, there are over 320,000 members in the United States and 1,823 churches.
Beliefs The beliefs of the Foursquare Church are expressed in its Declaration of Faith, compiled by its founder, Aimee Semple McPherson.Declaration of Faith of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Accessed January 11, 2013. McPherson also authored a shorter, more concise creedal statement.Creedal Statements of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Accessed January 11, 2013.
The church believes in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the deity of Jesus Christ.ICFG Creedal Statements 1–3 It believes that human beings were created in the image of God but, because of the Fall, are naturally depraved and sinful.III. The Fall of Man, ICFG Declaration of Faith. The church believes in the substitutionary atonement, accomplished by the death of Christ, and teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not by good works.ICFG Creedal Statements 9. Believers are justified by faith and born again upon repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and king.VI. Repentance and Acceptance and VII. The New Birth, ICFG Declaration of Faith. Consistent with its belief in human free will, the Foursquare Church also teaches that it is possible for a believer to backslide or commit apostasy.ICFG Creedal Statements 24.
The Foursquare Church, a Finished Work Pentecostal denomination, teaches that sanctification is a continual process of spiritual growth.VIII. Daily Christian Life, ICFG Declaration of Faith. Spiritual growth is believed to be promoted by Bible study and prayer.ICFG Creedal Statements 25–27. The Foursquare Church believes in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as an event separate from conversion that empowers the individual and the wider church to fulfill the church's mission of evangelization. The Foursquare Church believes Holy Spirit baptism is received in the same manner as recorded in the Book of Acts: the believer can expect to speak in tongues.X. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, ICFG Declaration of Faith. The church believes that spiritual gifts continue in operation for the edification of the church.XII. The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit, ICFG Declaration of Faith.
The Foursquare Church believes that divine healing is a part of Christ's atonement and teaches that the sick can be healed in response to prayer.XIV. Divine Healing, ICFG Declaration of Faith. The Foursquare Church anticipates a premillennial return of Christ to earth.ICFG Creedal Statements 36. It believes that there will be a future final judgment where the righteous will receive everlasting life and the wicked everlasting punishment. The Foursquare Church observes believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, as ordinances.IX. Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper, ICFG Declaration of Faith. Open communion is practiced.ICFG Creedal Statements 14 and 23. Anointing of the sick and tithing are practiced as well.ICFG Creedal Statements 10, 11, 21.
Structure The denomination's church government has an "episcopal character" that dates back to its founder. McPherson had veto power over church decisions, appointed all officers, and hired all employees.
The Foursquare Convention is the chief decision-making body of the Foursquare Church. Meeting regularly every year, the convention's voting membership includes international officers and licensed ministers. Each Foursquare church located in the United States has the right to send one voting delegate per every 50 church members.Foursquare Church Bylaws 2012 edition, Article V 5.5, p. 7. National Foursquare Churches outside of the United States may send one official delegate to the convention.Foursquare Church Bylaws, Article XVIIII, p. 46.
A board of 12 to 24 directors manages the Foursquare Church. In addition to overseeing the Church's activities, the board of directors appoints officers and is responsible for licensing and ordaining ministers. Members of the board include the president, vice presidents, and at least nine ministers representing geographic regions. Church members in good standing may also be appointed to the board.Foursquare Church Bylaws, Article VI, pp. 9–12.