The Radio Church of God began as a religious radio program during 1934 on station KORE in Eugene, Oregon presented by Herbert W. Armstrong and supported by an unincorporated voluntary association of members meeting as the Church of God. When Herbert W. Armstrong left Oregon for Pasadena, California he incorporated his church for the first time on March 3, 1946, under the name Radio Church of God. This article is about the history of the original church created by Herbert W. Armstrong until the time of his death on January 16, 1986.

Background history

For a background history of the Radio Church of God and its basic beliefs, see the article about the life of Herbert W. Armstrong.

1968 change of name

On January 5, 1968 the corporate name of the church was changed to Worldwide Church of God. In 2005 the church announced it was considering another name change, after more than a decade of controversy and upheaval in the wake of doctrinal changes made following the death of Herbert Armstrong.