The Church of God, International (CGI) is a Binitarian Christian denomination based in the United States, an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. It is one of many Sabbatarian Churches of God to separate from WCG.

Foundation CGI was founded in 1978 by four former members of the Worldwide Church of God, including evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong (1930–2003)"Garner Ted Armstrong", National Obituary Archive after his father, Herbert W. Armstrong, excommunicated him from the WCG and fired him from all roles in the church over disagreements about operations and certain doctrinal positions. CGI established its headquarters in Tyler, Texas, and also founded the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The church logo features a breastplate, helmet, crossed swords, and a banner inscribed with Ephesians 6:11-17. It is based on a wall hanging Garner Ted assembled from a suit of armor presented to him as a gift from his father.Armstrong, Garner Ted, Feast of Trumpets, sermon delivered Sept. 9, 1991

Governance

CGI was led by Armstrong until 1998."Garner Ted Armstrong and CGI Parting", The Journal - News of the Churches of God, Issue No. 12 (Jan. 30, 1998) Armstrong and the ministerial leadership aimed to develop a "servant-leadership type of ministry" in contrast to the "one man, top down leadership", of the WCG—this was an important point of departure for the founders after what was perceived to be years of ministerial abuse of power within the WCG, even though Ted himself continued to be very authoritarian.

In 1995, amid accusations of sexual assault involving an incident at a massage parlor, Armstrong was asked to resign. No charges were ever filed. Armstrong left CGI and founded the Intercontinental Church of God. Citing health reasons, prominent church leader Ronald L. Dart had previously left CGI to found his own religious service organization, Christian Educational Ministries, in 1995. After significant ministerial reorganization, the church made an effort to put the incident behind them and focus on continuing "the work". Currently, there is a sharing of administration and leadership among church pastors through a board of directors. The chairman's position is subject to re-election every three years. Charles Groce was chief executive officer for the church until June 2015, when he announced his retirement. Vance Stinson was elected to replace him as CEO.

The Ministerial Council has also developed a mentoring program called MAP (Ministerial Apprentice Program) for training new church leaders, replacing Imperial Academy, which had been established in the fall of 1994.Ellis, William H. & Alcorn, Shari, Imperial Academy, Twentieth Century Watch Magazine, March 1995, p. 25-26.

CGI has actively sought to maintain a positive relationship with many of the offshoots of the Worldwide Church of God whenever possible, and is in "Ministry Partnership" with a number of them, including Life Resource Ministries, The Living God Ministries, Church of God Big Sandy, United Christian Ministries, Common Ground Christian Ministries, Church of God Cincinnati, Church of God in Miami, Dynamic Christian Ministries, and Haggai 1:14 Ministries. Retrieved 2013-11-10.

Doctrine The CGI follows and believes in many of the basic doctrinal principles shared by other Christian churches such as the inspiration of the scriptures, Christ's bodily resurrection, and the three ordinances of baptism. The church agrees with Protestant theology regarding the tenets of sola scriptura, the priesthood of all believers, and that Justification is a gift given freely by God. Like many Christian churches, it also expresses a belief in the resurrection of the dead, millennialism, baptism by immersion, Gap creationism, and continuationism.Stinson, Vance, Miracles In The Last Days, Sermon delivered in 2014. However, some of its teachings differ significantly from Catholic and Protestant doctrine in a number of key areas:

Restorationism Like many churches in the Restorationist movement, CGI believes that a number of today's traditional Christian teachings stem from doctrinal corruption under the influence of Greco-Roman philosophy, Gnosticism, anti-Semitism and mistranslation which occurred early in the history of the church, and believes that the major Christian churches, under the weight of tradition, now teach various pagan ideas and practices that have been synchronized or "syncretised" with Christianity. CGI equates paganism with demonolatry, and teaches that God forbids syncretism with the occult.Armstrong, Garner Ted, They Might As Well Say: O, How Despise We Thy Law, Twentieth Century Watch Magazine, September/October 1995, p. 2-6, 24-27. Much of CGI doctrine that is distinct from mainstream Christianity is the outgrowth of an effort to separate these influences and traditions from what is believed to be the beliefs and practices of the original Apostolic church. For example, CGI teaches that the ancient pagan origins of Christmas, Halloween, and Easter render them inappropriate for Christians because they are offensive to God.(1998) Should Christians Observe Easter?, The Church of God, International, pp. 1-8.Cary, Lloyd W., (1998) Is Christmas Christian?, The Church of God, International, p. 4-22.(2000) Trick or Treat?, The Church of God, International, pp. 1-2. This also applies to Valentine's DayMarmero, John Jr., Valentine's Day: Where Did It Originate?, Twentieth Century Watch Magazine, Feb. 1995, p. 11 & 30. and New Year's Day celebrations.Ellis, Willam H., Is There Anything Christian About New Year's Celebrations?, Twentieth Century Watch Magazine, Dec. 1994, p. 19-21, 27-28.

Nontrinitarianism Doctrinally, CGI is binitarian, believing that the Holy Spirit is the spirit/power of God and of Jesus Christ, rather than a separate entity within the Godhead. God "the Father" and Jesus Christ are viewed as distinct "God beings" in the "God family".(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 1, No. 4.Stinson, Vance A. (1993) Who, What Is God?, The Church of God, International, p. 3-63.

Purpose of man CGI teaches that Christians are begotten into the family of God, and at their resurrection will experience theosis, being "changed into spirit as a son of God", in the process of God reproducing Himself after His own likeness.(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 1, No. 1; p. 4, No. 22Stinson, Vance A. (1993) Who, What Is God?, The Church of God, International, p. 43-45.

Mortality of the soul CGI rejects the doctrine of the immortality of the soul as is taught by Catholicism and most major Protestant denominations, in that the soul is not believed to remain conscious after death (until resurrection). CGI believes that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul resulted from doctrinal corruption early in the history of the church.(2002) Do You Have An Immortal Soul?, The Church of God, International, p.1-4.

Kingdom of God CGI maintains that the core of Jesus Christ's message concerned the coming of a literal earthly kingdom, and that the saved will not go on to heaven,(1998) Is Elijah In Heaven?, The Church of God, International, p.1-8. but will live and rule with Jesus on earth during the Millennium after his Second Coming, and will eventually share ruler-ship over the entire universe as part of the "God Family".(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 2, No. 13

Grace, Law and Justification CGI believes Justification is a free gift given by God after repentance and baptism, but holds that obedience to God's law is necessary even after Justification, because Jesus Christ is said to have come to relieve mankind from sin and the penalty of the law, not from the law itself. It is taught basic Old Testament law carries over into the New Covenant and applies to Christians today, because the Tanakh describes them as "God's laws", not "Jewish laws", and because they are upheld by New Testament scripture and practice. This includes the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset),(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 4, No. 23.(1992) The New Covenant - Does It Do Away With God's Law?, The Church of God, International, pp. 3-20.(1998) Sunday, Saturday - What Difference Does It Make?, The Church of God, International, pp.1-4. abstaining from unclean meats,(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 5, No. 27. and observing Holy Day festivals, including removing leavening and eating unleavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and living in "temporary dwellings" during the Feast of Tabernacles.(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 4, No. 24.(2002) The Fall Festivals, The Church of God, International, pp. 1-4. and condemnation of all sexual sins. This does not include observance of ancient Israelite civil laws, the necessity for physical circumcision, and parts of the law that have to do with approach to God, i.e., sacrificial, temple, and priesthood laws which are believed to have been brought to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.(2002) Paul And The Law - Understanding The "Hard Sayings", The Church of God, International, p. 4 The church observes these laws mostly apart from Jewish tradition (except Jewish calendar calculations, which it views as authoritative) and maintains that this interpretation of law to be historically in agreement with the practice and beliefs of the early Apostolic church. The church rejects replacement theology (supersessionism), i.e., the doctrine that God has rejected the Jewish people and replaced them with the New Testament church.White, Wes, Hebrew Roots Vs. Church of God, Sermon delivered in 2015 CGI believes that in matters of law and justification, mainstream Christian doctrine misinterprets Pauline theology and is essentially antinomian, and is the result of doctrinal corruption and anti-Semitism which occurred in the early history of the church following the apostolic era.

Christ's sacrifice is viewed as being able to cover any inevitable failed attempts at obedience, except the Unpardonable Sin, i.e., willful impenitence. God's law is not viewed as being of itself punitive, but as having educative value,(2002) Paul And The Law - Understanding The "Hard Sayings", The Church of God, International, p.2 and it is believed that Jesus magnified the law and its value by applying its spiritual intent,(1992) The New Covenant - Does It Do Away With God's Law?, The Church of God, International, p. 19-20. and that Jesus showed how the commandments are far more binding in their spiritual application than in their mere physical application.Armstrong, Garner Ted (1996), Christ In The Old Testament, Church of God, International, p. 30. Obedience to God's law is also seen as being able to build moral character and to significantly improve one's quality of life and to improve society at large, because it is seen as an expression of the mind and character of God. Despite criticism of legalism, CGI staunchly maintains that obedience is not viewed as a "work" to "earn" salvation, but that salvation is a freely given gift from God.(2001) Statement of Beliefs, The Church of God, International, p. 2, No. 8.

Pre-Siniatic Decalogue CGI teaches that the Ten Commandments were in force long before Moses, and predated the Flood by centuries, and that this is proven circumstantially in the Old Testament,(1998) Was Moses The Lawgiver?, The Church of God, International, p. 1-6. (though not in precisely the same form as those given at Sinai)(2002) Paul And The Law - Understanding The "Hard Sayings", The Church of God, International, p. 4. thus nullifying arguments that God intended them for Israel only.

Doctrine of Hell