The History of Associated Gospel Churches
Organized and recognized by the Department of Defense since 1939, the Associated Gospel Churches (AGC) endorses Chaplains from Independent Evangelical Fundamental churches to the U.S. Armed Forces. A long time defender of the historic Christian faith, Dr. W.O.H. Garman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the Founder.
The Associated Gospel Churches rose to national prominence shortly before WWII and is an ecclesiastical endorsing agency recognized by the Department of Defense. The AGC was born in the midst of theological controversy of the early and mid-20th century, as liberalism and biblical Christianity were in mortal combat. The theological liberalism of first Europe and then in America infected the Protestant denominations with liberal skepticism, a presupposition against the inerrancy of the Bible, a passion for ecumenicity, a degradation of the deity of Christ and a rabid anti-supernaturalism. In essence, this so-called “Christian liberalism” resulted in a new religion with the name of Christian still accepted but with the fundamental core doctrines of the Christian faith rejected or compromised.
It was in this climate of theological turmoil that the AGC rose to prominence. Having begun as a small local ministerial fellowship in Michigan, the AGC gained national recognition through the efforts of its long-time president, Dr. W.O.H. Garman (1899-1983). Dr. Garman served as President of the AGC from 1938 until his retirement in 1981, a long tenure of forty-three years. His elevation to national recognition came about as he fought against the liberal Protestant denominations, which sought to remove chaplains from the military. In many ways, Garman’s extensive efforts against pacifistic liberalism and in support of the fundamentals of the Christian faith against the new and unreliable doctrines of the liberals were the foundational tenets of the AGC, which are still supported by the organization today.
Dr. W.O.H. (Bill) Garman was an energetic minister of the gospel who was involved in senior leadership, outside of the Associated Gospel Churches, in the following organizations: the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (1942-1963); the American Council of Christian Churches (1940-1960); the International Council of Christian Churches (1950’s); Immanuel College of the Bible (1953-1958); and the American Association of Christian Schools of Higher Learning (1967-1971). On a more local level, Bill Garman served as a pastor in various churches in Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1981.
A large part of Bill Garman’s ministry was focused on the United States military chaplaincy. Before Dr. Garman’s time, with minor exceptions, all Protestant pastors who desired to join the military chaplaincy had to do so through membership in the Federal Council of Churches (FCC), later renamed the National Council of Churches (NCC) in 1950. This theologically liberal group maintained a monopoly on the Protestant military chaplaincies. Conservative or Fundamental Christian men could not in good conscience join such a group, thus excluding them from military ministry in uniform. His pioneer efforts resulted in breaking the monopoly of the FCC over the military chaplaincies, thus allowing conservative evangelical men who preached the historic fundamentals of the faith into the military chaplaincies during World War II.
The Associated Gospel Churches has endorsed military chaplains in every major United States military conflict since World War II. Chaplains from the AGC have ministered to troops who fought the Japanese and the Nazis in World War II; the North Koreans and Chinese in the Korean War; and served as pastors in uniform to service members in the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, multiple peacekeeping and nation building deployments to such places as Panama, Haiti, and the Balkans; the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan; and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the over sixty years since the AGC rose to national attention, the theological foundation of the group has not wavered or compromised with the changing theological trends of fads of our culture. The AGC remains today what it always has been: a group of committed Christians, separated unto the Lord, dedicated to the Bible as the Word of God, seeking to win military men and women and others to Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
AGC provides support for Fundamental Churches with the military chaplaincy as its primary focus. AGC endorses men for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as Civil Air Patrol, Veteran’s Affairs Chaplaincy, Police, Prison, and Hospital chaplain services.
Every chaplain must be a member in good standing with a Bible-believing, local church. AGC, with its Chaplains’ Commission, represents the chaplain’s local church in matters of theology and practice.
AGC truly honors the purpose of the local church. With a constituency of 1.5 million Independent Baptists, Bible Churches and other Bible-believing churches, AGC provides a united voice in chaplain affairs in Washington, DC. It is the largest and oldest truly independent, fundamental group in America endorsing chaplains.
AGC supports the local church by keeping up with the ever-changing, complex military regulations, procedures, and issues. Whereas, the local church is not in the position to give detailed attention to such matters, AGC is. AGC represents Fundamental Churches to the DOD and meets annually in Washington DC with the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers (ICECE) to discuss relevant issues pertaining to the military chaplaincy. AGC provides professional and pastoral insight to chaplains who need guidance when they must stand on issues.
AGC chaplains provide excellent ministry in preaching, teaching and counseling for military members and families and in other related ministries. In addition to serving as Godly pastors in uniform, AGC chaplains are among the nation’s finest officers. Our chaplains are spiritual advisors to the Command and sometimes serve in difficult assignments. Like the soldiers they serve, they sometimes are separated from their families at home and abroad. AGC chaplains serve with soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as providing chaplains for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Moreover, we have chaplains serving in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, State Correctional Systems, with police districts, and fire departments. They also serve as hospital chaplains and with VA Chaplaincy Affairs. Thousands of military personnel come to know the Lord through AGC chaplain ministry. In short, AGC has been serving God and country in many venues of chaplain service to include Special Forces/Operations, Airborne, Command chaplains, troop chaplains, and chapel pastors. Since WWII, AGC chaplains have been bringing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to men and women in uniform or in other related ministries. The sun never sets on AGC ministry.
Dr. Billy Baugham retired from active duty from the Army in 1985, and was awarded the Legion of Merit. He also serves as the Executive Director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers (ICECE). Dr. Baugham was elected President of AGC and Chairman of its’ Commission on Chaplains upon his retirement.