The Church of God, with U.S. offices in Anderson, Indiana; began in 1881 as a movement emphasizing the unity of God’s people and holy living. Daniel S. Warner and several associates sought to forsake denominational hierarchies and formal creeds, trusting solely in the Holy Spirit as their overseer and the Bible as their statement of belief. These individuals saw themselves at the forefront of a movement to restore unity and holiness to the church. Their aim was not to establish another denomination but to promote primary allegiance to Jesus Christ so as to transcend denominational loyalties. This movement is not historically related to the several Church of God bodies rooted in the holiness revival of Tennessee and the Carolinas in the late nineteenth century. Although it shares their holiness commitment, it does not emphasize the charismatic gift of speaking in tongues generally associated with Pentecostal churches. In 1995, 120 Church of God leaders from across North America gathered for a Visioning Retreat. After much prayer and dialogue, they embraced six vision statements to guide the movement in the twenty-first century. The Church of God reformation movement exists to:
- Worship the Lord
- Reach the Lost
- Disciple Believers
- Equip for Ministry
- Celebrate Unity
- Live Out the Love of Christ