FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
The Spiritual Head of The Church
In all creation, where can one go to find any churches like the Peace Mission churches? Where else can one go to find a church that has the living reality of the Lamb and the Bride as spoken of in the Scripture? Where?
Peace Mission churches are independent self-governing religious bodies incorporated, set forth and adopted, with a Church Discipline, Constitution and By-Laws composed chiefly of practices and precepts which have been voluntarily in effect among followers of FATHER DIVINE for many years.
FATHER DIVINE is known nationally and internationally as the Founder, Bishop and Pastor of all Peace Mission churches.
The Church believes in GOD'S Son, JESUS CHRIST, as the Sample and the Example for mankind, the Way shower back to the FATHER from whence HE came, and
'as the First-born among many brethren".
Therefore, members accept as their guide, the Life and Teachings of JESUS the CHRIST as recorded in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and especially the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew wherein Jesus gave direct instruction to His disciples. Members firmly resolve to live exactly as Jesus lived and as HE taught His disciples to live with the words out of His mouth. They willingly lay aside the versions of all others, both Scriptural and otherwise, except insofar as they agree with the direct Life and Teachings of Jesus.
The churches recognize and declare FATHER DIVINE to be the Person of the Perfect One. The FATHER Who moved out upon the face of the deep before the world was; the Son who said,
'I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life",
and the Holy Ghost, the Comforter who was to come, all three in One, the same
with or without a Body but dwelling with mankind, a Body in this last dispensation
known as FATHER DIVINE.
There is healing from every ill that flesh is heir to, and a complete new birth of freedom under GOD for all mankind in this recognition and declaration. It applies not only to individuals but to the nations at large, for as with an individual so with a nation and as with a nation so with all nations universally.
The churches declare FATHER DIVINE to be the Head of the Church. HE is always with them in Spirit, as members declare, guiding and directing their affairs. HE is not hindered by His Bodily Form, they say, but they feel it is an incomparable privilege to walk and talk with FATHER DIVINE in Person whenever the occasion may permit, and receive His advice and instruction as the disciples did with Jesus.
Members feel that the promise of Jesus,
'I and My Father will come and make our abode with you",
has been fulfilled. They recognize and declare that the Kingdom of Heaven is
here and now, and not somewhere above the sky, to be reached only after death.
Jesus never taught the Kingdom of Heaven above the sky, they say, but affirm
that He said,
'Behold, the Kingdom of GOD is within you,'
according to Luke 17:21 in the Holy Bible. As FATHER DIVINE has said:
'Where a king reigns, there is where his kingdom is",
and since GOD has been enthroned in their hearts and minds and in all things
that concern them as LORD of Lords and KING of Kings, and all others have been
dethroned, GOD'S Kingdom, they feel, has actually come among them and they now
have a Righteous Government under which to live.
All Peace Mission churches are as a Sanctuary where GOD'S Name is hallowed and where GOD consecrates His children.
Church services are conducted much as the Spirit moves. There is volitional reading of the Words of Spirit and Life spoken by FATHER DIVINE in sermons, lectures and letters. Sermons by FATHER DIVINE when HE is Personally Present and moved to speak are always eagerly looked forward to. Sermons by other ministers, lectures and addresses by other speakers are not at all unusual, as well as volitional testimonies from the audience.
Church services are held every Sunday throughout the year, and as many evenings during the week as may be possible or convenient. Services which last all day and far into the night are not uncommon. Church doors are never closed to worshipers. Followers of FATHER DIVINE consider their churches as a place where the Word of the LORD endures forever.
Public singing and inspirational hymns and songs are sung as the Spirit moves. A Bible of the King James version, containing both the Old and the New Testaments, is at all times kept as the fundamental for the doctrine of these churches and is accessible for all persons for reading. Also bound volumes of FATHER DIVINE'S own Words are accessible for interesting reading. An American flag is always displayed in all the church auditoriums and dining rooms, for FATHER DIVINE says that Christianity and Americanism are synonymous.
The invitation and opportunity to speak according to their own individual conviction is especially extended to visiting friends and strangers and suitable introductions are made if they wish it at all church meetings. According to FATHER DIVINE'S Teaching followers are mindful how they entertain strangers, for some have entertained angels unaware, FATHER DIVINE has said.
The services and meetings conducted under the auspices of Peace Mission churches are conducted as in a great spiritual democracy, and as a democracy this Movement stands. It is free from all orthodoxy and free from all tradition. By living in the recognition of GOD'S actual Presence with the freedom of speech and the freedom of assemblage, the churches do not run anything into carnality. They feel that if it runs into formality it will develop into carnality, and
'to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'
In the history of the early Christian Church it is recorded that communion was served every day, more as a love feast or fraternal meal, rejoicing in the Presence of the LORD. Peace Mission churches believe in serving communion daily after the manner of the Lord's Supper, as a practical service for the sustenance of the bodies and for the benefit of the soul, for both spiritual and moral improvement with thanksgiving.
Members and visitors of other faiths and denominations are invited to participate in the communion services if they wish to do so, although they do not necessarily have to participate whole-heartedly in the conviction of church members. Many guests come because they are benefited greatly from the beauty and inspiration of the occasions.
FATHER DIVINE Personally, along with MOTHER DIVINE and members of His staff, serves daily Holy Communion at His estate, Woodmont, on Philadelphia's Main Line.
It is against the religious convictions of followers of FATHER DIVINE either to pay or receive remuneration in any way for volitional or spiritual services. FATHER DIVINE has often stressed that Judas sold the Body of Christ for thirty pieces of silver. It is their conviction that they would be committing a worse offense by selling the inspiration of the Spirit, which is the CHRIST, for money. Therefore, members of Peace Mission churches do not pay a pastor, assistant pastor or any other officer of the church for spiritual services rendered, neither will the officers accept any payment.
FATHER DIVINE has shown to the world conclusively that Jesus' method can be re-established and carried out. For more than half a century HE has been known to have preached the Gospel without purse or scrip and has never taken up a collection or received compensation for His Spiritual Work and Service among men.
Even today as HE travels from place to place followed by multitudes, there is always an abundance and they lack for nothing. Upon this foundation that HE has laid, followers are continually building, for they say FATHER DIVINE shall have a church "without spot or wrinkle", and they do not deviate from the standard set forth by Jesus and exemplified by FATHER DIVINE Himself.
Members of Peace Mission churches will not receive tips, gratuities, bribes, or gifts for services rendered. They will not serve with the hope of receiving more than the charge agreed upon with their employer for their services. They will serve whole-heartedly in whatsoever they are doing, and will not seek to get something for nothing. Such payments or gifts tend to express a sense of the spirit of coercion, they feel, a sense of the spirit of invasion, and the sense of the spirit of forgery. They cause so much dishonesty and the evil effects of giving and taking tips.
Followers steadfastly refuse to accept Christmas gifts of any kind according to FATHER DIVINE'S Teaching as taken from the Holy Bible.
No member in good standing will purchase anything on the installment plan or on credit. They pay cash or C.O.D. for all purchases, and owe no man. This applies to purchases of real property as well as personal. If they do not have the means to pay cash for any article they will consider that it is not time for them to have it.
It is a violation of the Discipline of Peace Mission churches for any member to smoke, chew tobacco, gamble, use profane language, indulge in intoxicating liquors, indulge in the lusts of the flesh, or participate in any of the vices, fancies, tendencies and unwholesome pleasures of the world.
It is also a violation of the Discipline of the Church for members to excessively use cosmetics, or to use beauty preparations or other devices unnecessarily to make themselves to appear what they are not. Since they have been redeemed from the world, all falsity and deception have been dispelled from their consciousness.
Military service of any kind is contrary to their religious conviction. Though they uphold the Constitution of the United States and its Amendments and the Declaration of Independence, and believe them to be Divinely inspired; though they are real true Americans and appreciate their religious freedom and other freedoms guaranteed to them, the use of force is strictly against their religious conviction.
Church members do not take out life insurance, accident insurance, workmen's compensation, liability insurance, fire insurance, plate glass insurance, or any other kind of insurance for protection against disasters and other hazards. As true followers of FATHER DIVINE they feel it is a violation of their religious conviction to take out insurance. The United States Constitution and its Amendments protect them in their religious conviction, so that compulsory insurance cannot be forced upon them. They do not believe in accepting old age pension, widow's pensions, sick benefits, or any other compensation which they have not earned. They believe that preparing to meet accidents, sickness, death and disaster tends to bring about such conditions.
Anything that tends to deprive them of their unadulterated faith in GOD, they say, or that will cause them to depend or lean on any prospect of uncertain riches, is in violation to their religious conviction. They feel that they would rather have their faith than to sacrifice it to avoid loss by not having insurance. GOD can make good the loss any time, they say, but faith is the great essential.
They declare it to be contrary to their religious conviction to comply with any insurance law, old age compensation or pension security for the future, in the act of mistrusting GOD for the future, by depending on some uncertain riches and security. Many have sacrificed their occupation for their religious conviction, so as not to come under the Social Security Law.
If for any cause, by deviation a member of FATHER DIVINE'S churches is injured or sick; if after having sought deliverance through faith and their faith is not sufficient to reach the condition and they need medical treatment or medical aid, skilled or professional assistance, they absolutely and unequivocally advise having such treatment. FATHER DIVINE has instructed His followers to seek medical aid if after three days their faith is not sufficient to meet the condition.
It is against their religious conviction to designate themselves as of any race, creed or color, since "of one blood God formed all nations", they say. They feel it is contrary to the spirit of true Americanism which they have imbibed and which has become a part of their religious experience.
FATHER DIVINE has said that all should be just American citizens; that races, creeds and colors have no place in America.
No membership roll is maintained for any of these churches. Church membership is entirely voluntary and there are no obligations imposed upon any member other than to live the life of CHRIST.
Peace Mission Churches are by name: Circle Mission, Palace Mission, Peace Center, Unity Mission and Nazareth Mission. Names of these churches and their many connections are varied according to their purpose.
For instance, the Unity Mission Church, Home and Training School, Inc., Bible Institute in Philadelphia has varied in name according to its use.
There are branches and connections of these five mother churches all over this country and throughout the world.
It is not required that every follower of FATHER DIVINE become a church member any more than it is required that every follower become a member of the Rosebud, Lily-bud or Crusader choirs of the church. Neither does a church member hold any more prestige among adherents of FATHER DIVINE than any other follower. But it is from these established churches that FATHER DIVINE has set forth His laws and commandments that will make the world a better neighborhood in which to live.
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