Church of God Scotland
of Faith
Doctrinal Commitments
Leadership and organisation
The Church of God Scotland is a member of the Church of God, with International headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee USA. The Church of God, since its beginning has been a movement, a moving church with a mission of ministry to the world. The Church of God Scotland is Christian, Protestant, Pentecostal denomination Evangelistic in outreach and Charismatic in worship. The Church of God has a presence in 184 countries with a worldwide of membership of over 7 million. The Church of God in Scotland consists of people just like you, from many different nations, languages, and age groups.
If after visiting this site you should have any questions or inquiries about the Church of God or its programs and ministries, please don't hesitate to contact the Church of God.
Committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Scotland in the power of the Spirit and with the love of God
In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Mark 1:15 / Luke 13:3 / Acts 3:19
Romans 5:1 / Titus 3:7
Titus 3:5
John 3:3 / 1 Peter 1:23 / 1 John 3:9
Sanctification subsequent to justification
Romans 5:2 / 1 Corinthians 1:30 / 1 Thessalonians 4:3 / Hebrews 13:12
Luke 1:75 / 1 Thessalonians 4:7 / Hebrews 12:14
Matthew 28:19 / Mark 1:9, 10 / John 3:22, 23 / Acts 8:36, 38
Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to cleansing
Matthew 3:11 / Luke 24:49, 53 / Acts 1:4-8
The speaking in tongues
As the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. John 15:26 / Acts 2:4 / Acts 10:44-46 / Acts 19:1-7
Exodus 19:5, 6 / Psalm 22:22 / Matthew 16:13-19 / 28:19,20 / Acts 1:8 / Acts 2:42-47 / Acts 7:38 / Acts 20:28 / Romans 8:14-17 / 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 / 12:12-31 / 2 Corinthians 6:6-18 / Ephesians 2:19-22; 3:9, 21 / Philipians 3:10 / Hebrews 2:12 / 1 Peter 2:9 / 1 John 1:6, 7 / Revelation 21:2, 9 / Revelation 22:17
1 Corinthians 12:1, 7, 10, 28, 31 / 1 Corinthians 14:1
Signs following believers
Mark 16:17-20 / Romans 15:18, 19 / Hebrews 2:4
Romans 6:22 / Galatians 5:22, 23 / Ephesians 5:9 / Philippians 1:11
Divine healing provided for all in the Atonement
Psalm 103:3 / Isaiah 53:4, 5 / Matthew 8:17 / James 5:14-16 / 1 Peter 2:24
Luke 22:17-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23 – 26
Washing the saints' feet
John 13:4-17 / 1 Timothy 5:9, 10
Tithing and giving
Genesis 14:18-20 / Genesis 28:20-22 / Malachi 3:10 / Luke 11:42 / 1 Corinthians 16:2 / 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 / Hebrews 7:1-21
Restitution where possible
Matthew 3:8 / Luke 19:8, 9
Premillennial second coming of Jesus
First, to resurrect the dead saints and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
John 5:28, 29 / Acts 24:15 / Revelation 20:5, 6
Eternal life for the righteous
Matthew 25:46 / Luke 18:30 / John 10:28 / Romans 6:22 / 1 John 5:11-13
Eternal punishment for the wicked
No liberation nor annihilation. Matthew 25:41-46 / Mark 3:29 / 2 Thessalonians 1: 8, 9 / Revelation 20:10-15 / Revelation 21:8
Brief History of the Church
In the 1970s, Mike McKerracher came from the USA to Scotland to work for the Church of God in Dunoon as the Christian Servicemen's Director. He came in contact with Jim McLaughlin and David Lawson who were part of an open-air ministry team in Glasgow. A church was started in Partick and David Lawson became the first pastor of that church. In 1978 Paul and Sheila McLaughlan moved their family from England (Lancaster) and started a church in Inverness.
In 1980 the Church of God was formally established in Scotland. US Missionary Jake Popejoy was appointed the first National Overseer for the country. Jim McLaughlin and David Lawson were holding an evangelism campaign in Glasgow. It was during this time that Neil and Lesley Morrison converted to Christianity and received a call to the Ministry.
The Morrisons were invited to the USA where they completed their Master of Divinity degrees (1981-84). They returned to Scotland in 1984 and started a church in the village of Auchinloch. Neil and Lesley also pioneered the Institute of Counseling (IoC) in the city of Glasgow. Both of these works are still active and viable today. It is noteworthy that the IoC has trained over 30,000 students.
1983 Paul McLaughlan, Sr. became the National Overseer of the country when Jake Popejoy returned to the U.S.A.
1990 Jim Hytte came from the U. S. A. and started a church in Elgin.
1995 Tony Summerfield became the National Overseer while Paul and Sheila McLaughlan went to the U. S. A. to further their education.
1996 Jim McLaughlin started a mission work in the village of Bargeddie.
1999 Billy McLaughlan became the National Overseer when Tony Summerfield returned to England.
2001 a work was started by Billy McLaughlan in Dingwall.
2004 David Lawson pastored a work in the Gorbals area of Glasgow which is now the Gorbals Church of God with Pastor Ambakisye Mufala.
2007 Dereck and Gabi Grant planted a church in Nairn.
2009 Dennis Tanner became the National Overseer of the country after having been a missionary in Belgium.
2012 Rev. Manuel Martín-Arroyo is appointed as Senior Pastor at Elgin Community Church of God.
Today The Church of God Scotland has 13 churches throughout the country, which include ethnic groups from countries outside the United Kingdom. The primary ministerial goals of Bishop Tanner have been to establish new churches, develop spiritual leaders within the local church, and to train men and women for the ministry.
Bishop Dennis Tanner
National Overseer
Dennis and Vanna Tanner have served as National Overseer and National Women's director in Scotland since 2008. The Tanners feel that they are working and have worked with some of the greatest and hardest working group of ministers who share their vision and heart for a multi-cultural church in Scotland. The Tanners began their ministry in Scotland with 5 churches and 7 ministers. Currently the Church of God in Scotland rejoices in having 14 churches and 28 licensed ministers.
Dennis Tanner began ministry as an associate pastor in the Assembly of God in 1974 and became a senior pastor in 1976. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Missions and graduated from the Assembly of God Seminary in 2001 with a Master's Degree in Cross Cultural Communications. Tanner is a 35-year veteran of cross cultural ministry having begun missionary work with the Assemblies of God in 1982. After having served in Zaire in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanner transferred to the Church of God in 2001 and served as a full-time missionary in Belgium. In 2008 he accepted an appointment as the national overseer of Scotland where he and Vanna continue to faithfully serve.
Tanner has recently partnered with Bob Duncan to write a book on the ministry in Scotland. "Bridging the Gap" is now available through Amazon.
Dereck Grant
Northern-District Overseer
Francis Alao
Central Belt Distrcit Overseer
Vanna Tanner
Andrew Akilan
Manuel M-Arroyo
Dr Gabriel Kaifala
Stephen Prem
© 2019 • COG Scotland | Design by Nightingweb
This site uses cookies to offer you a better experience. Find out more about it HERE.