The Australian Christian Churches (ACC), formerly Assemblies of God in Australia, is a network of Pentecostal churches in Australia affiliated with the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, which is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world.
The ACC grew out of the Assemblies of God in Australia, which was founded in 1937 with the merger of Assemblies of God Queensland (AGQ) and the Pentecostal Church of Australia. In 2007, at which time it had over 375,000 members, it assumed "Australian Christian Churches" as its public name, but remained registered as the incorporated Assemblies of God in Australia until 2013. Hillsong Church, the largest church in ACC, separated from the ACC in 2018.
Beliefs
The Doctrinal Basis of Australian Christian Churches contains the central beliefs of the denomination. Its 20 articles are summarized below:
There is only one true God who exists as a Trinity. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and, as the second person of the Trinity, is God. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He convicts and regenerates the sinner and guides the believer into all truth. The Bible is inspired by God and is "the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct". The devil is a real being who "seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ". Man was created good by God but, because of voluntary transgression, fell. As a result, men are "separated from original righteousness" (see original sin). Christ's death on the cross has made full atonement for the world's sins. Salvation "is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ". In this "new birth", the believer is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God. The Church is the Body of Christ and consists of all people who accept Christ, regardless of Christian denomination. It is to work to fulfill the Great Commission. Believer's baptism by single immersion as a declaration to the world of the believer's identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Observance of the Lord's Supper as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death. Sanctification, "an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God". Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate and subsequent experience following conversion which brings empowerment to be an effective witness for Christ. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of this experience. The nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, continue to operate in the present day. The Assemblies of God also believes in the ministry gifts (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers), as recorded in Epistle to the Ephesians 4:11–13. Divine healing of the sick is provided for in the atonement. The Second Coming of Christ will be a premillennial, imminent and personal return. Christ will return to establish his millennial reign on the earth. The wicked "who wilfully reject and despise the love of God" will face "everlasting punishment". There will be new heavens and a new earth "in which righteousness dwells". The heavens and earth and all original life forms "were made by the specific immediate creative acts of God as described in the account of origins presented in Genesis".
At the end of the 20th century, there was a decrease in emphasis on speaking in tongues as the initial evidence as well as the Second Coming of Christ as traditionally understood by Pentecostals. At the same time, the church growth movement and the prosperity gospel became important parts of the denomination's identity.
Worship
ACC churches follow Pentecostal style services which involve contemporary praise and worship, speaking in tongues, lifting of hands in worship and preaching. While the ACC use a wide range of worship styles, generally churches use contemporary praise and worship music for services. From using hymns in the 1930s to 1950s, music from the Jesus movement in the 1960s and 1970s and the contemporary praise and worship of the 1980s to today, ACC churches have continually adapted to new styles of praise and worship.
In recent decades, churches affiliated with the ACC have revolutionised church praise and worship. The largest driving force for this change was the popularity of the Hillsong Music label, featuring the bands Hillsong United, Hillsong Worship and Hillsong Young & Free, of Hillsong Church (since 2018 no longer a member of ACC). Other influences have been bands such as Planetshakers and Planetboom, and Influencers Church in Adelaide.