Archief - Alberta and Northwest Territories District fonds

The Alberta District of the PAOC was established in 1929. John McAlister was elected District Superintendent at the first District Conference which was held in Killam. Before 1929 Alberta was part of the Western Canadian District Council of the Assemblies of the God in the United States. In 1922 the assemblies of western Canada joined the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and amicably separated from the Assemblies of God. The PAOC, at that time consisting mostly of assemblies in Eastern Canada, was the Eastern Canadian District Council of the Assemblies of God. They too parted with the Assemblies of God and the PAOC became a truly national denomination. The western Canadian provinces retained their Western District status within the PAOC until growth demanded that each province be recognized as their own district. In 1978 it became known as the Alberta and Northwest Territories District Conference. The current organizational structure of the PAOC divides Canada into eight districts: British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta and Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, Western Ontario, Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. A District Conference is composed of all the credential holders in the district and lay delegates from local congregations. Under the authority of the General Conference, the District Conferences through the District offices serve the autonomous assemblies (local churches) and credential holders in their region. Their responsibilities include examining and ordaining ministers. Each district elects its own officers and committees, establishes departments and institutions as needed, and holds property in trust as required. There is an elected District Superintendent and in most cases, other officers such as an Assistant Superintendent and a District Secretary/Treasurer. The districts are divided into Sections or Zones which elect a credential holder to serve as a Presbyter and member of the District Executive. Either appointed district staff or pastors serving local assemblies are selected to facilitate a variety of ministries in the district such as youth ministries, men's ministries, evangelism, church ministries, and so forth. The District Executive gives oversight to the general business and work of the district. It is exercises discipline over its credential holders when written allegations have been received.