P.A.W. History part 4

PAW History

(Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc)

A Brief Historical Treatise of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
by
Elder Keith C. Braddy

Part IV

The Modern Era 1967 to the Present

After the death of Bishop Samuel Grimes, the office of the presiding bishopric was succeeded by a white clergymen and long time member of the PAW, the late Bishop R. Perry Paddock of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Bishop Paddock was assisted by the late Bishop Frank R. Bowden, Assistant Presiding Prelate of the PAW, of Los Angeles, California. Unlike the former presiding prelate, Bishop Paddock's Episcopal administration lasted in two terms of three years (1967-1974). Bishop Paddock is remembered as great Bible teacher, author, former Diocesan of the Northern District Council Of The PAW, and one that genuinely love the denomination in which he served. Then the Paddock administration was succeeded by the late Bishop Francis L. Smith, of Akron, Ohio, with Bishop Lawrence E. Brisbin serving as Assistant Presiding Prelate during the years of 1974-1980. After the end of the Smith Episcopal administration , the presiding bishopric was handed to the late Bishop Lawrence E. Brisbin of Michigan, assisted by Bishop James A. Johnson.

Bishop Ross Perry Paddock, third Presiding Prelate Of The PAW, was noted as a great Bible teacher, PAW historian, and parliamentarian. When Bishop Paddock discovered that racial practices where continuing in the failed merger of the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies Of The World, Inc., Bishop Paddock resigned from the former organization and stayed with the PAW until his death. He was the author of several publications which was centered around confessional theology and PAW history. He lived to see the PAW National Convention grow to record numbers.

In 1986, Bishop James A. Johnson, DD, of Saint Louis, Missouri became the fifth presiding prelate of the PAW, with Bishop Paul A. Bowers, DD, as his assistant. The former Presiding Bishop Johnson was, in my opinion a scholar, that was able to articulate Apostolic-Pentecostalism, unlike any in my generation. The Johnson administration existed to seed the PAW reach an estimate membership of 500,000 with 1,005 churches. Bishop Johnson strove to make the PAW a more recognized denomination. In 1993, the six presiding prelate of the PAW took office by the name of the Honorable Bishop, Paul A. Bowers, DD, of Cincinnati, Ohio, assisted by the late Bishop David L. Ellis, LL.D., DD.

The following is a listing of the Bishops which have served as head of the organization and includes their race (countering those who have attempted to state that the PAW has continued to be a "black-only" organization since the split of 1924):.

• Garfield Thomas Haywood-black (1925-1931)
• Samuel Joshua Grimes-black (1932-1967)
• Ross Perry Paddock-white (1967-1974)
• Francis L. Smith-black (1974-1980)
• Lawrence E. Brisbin-white (1980-1986)
• James Archie Johnson-black (1986-1992)
• Paul A. Bowers-black (1992-1998)
• Norman L. Wagner-black (1998-2004)
• Horace E. Smith, M.D.-black (2004-Present)
  
  

Organizational Structure is currently divided by state or country, called a council, which is headed by a Diocesan Bishop, who is appointed by the Bishop's Board. A Diocesan Bishop can have as many as three assistants, called Suffragan Bishops. These Suffragan Bishops hold only the authority given them by the Diocesan Bishop. Typically they will have authority over a region or part of a state. Reporting under the Suffragan Bishop is the office of District Elder, who oversees and assists the Elders (Pastors and their churches) in his district. This could be as few as three churches and with no limit on maximum number, but typically less than 25.

The PAW has an estimated membership of 1,500,000 in 1,650 churches in the US, and 900 in foreign countries. The PAW to many people surprise is no longer a ministerial fellowship, but an established denomination. As a result, the PAW is currently has eight auxiliaries:

The International Pentecostal Young Peoples' Union
The International Ministers' Wives Auxiliary
The International Christian Education Auxiliary
The International Men's Ministry
The International Missionary And Christian Workers
The International Health Professionals
The International Usher Board
The International Missions
The Wayfarers,

Bishop Paul Alexander Bowers, D.D. Founding pastor of Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Temple, PAW., Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the sixth Presiding Prelate Of The PAW, who is credited with remodeling and expanding the PAW headquarters and official theological institute.

The PAW has its own publication department, "The Apostolic Light Publications," which publishes the official organ "The Christian Outlook" (the oldest continuing publication of Apostolic-Pentecostalism), and the official Sunday School literature of the PAW, "The Apostolic Light."

In addition, the PAW also has a great theological institution called "Aenon Bible College," of Indianapolis, Indiana. This institution was founded by the late Bishop Karl F. Smith in Columbus, Ohio, and Elder LaBaugh H. Standsburry in 1941. Since then Aenon has expanded to a branch campus in Los Angeles, California, Aenon Bible College-West Coast, with several other affiliated institutions. The International Headquarters Of The PAW is 3939 meadows Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana USA.