Editing Grace Communion International (section)

==Contemporary beliefs and practices==

===Teachings===
Much of GCI's current doctrine follows [[mainstream Protestant]] beliefs that faith in [[Jesus]] is the only way to receive [[salvation]] and that the [[Bible]] is the divinely inspired and the [[Biblical infallibility|infallible]] word of God.<ref>{{cite web|title=The GCI Statement of Beliefs|url=https://www.gci.org/aboutus/beliefs|access-date=15 September 2012|work=Grace Communion International|publisher=Worldwide Church of God}}</ref>

===Women's ordination===
In 2007, the WCG decided to allow women to serve as pastors and elders. This decision was reached after several years of study.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/femclrg13.htm |title=When churches started to ordain women|publisher=Religioustolerance.org|access-date=2010-11-19 |archive-date=2006-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215210430/http://www.religioustolerance.org/femclrg13.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In [[Pikeville, Kentucky]] that same year, Debby Bailey became the first female elder in the WCG.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cogwriter.com/1036news.htm|title=News of The Churches of God|access-date=April 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== Name change to Grace Communion International ===
According to the organization's press release regarding their name change, the name Grace Communion International was chosen to "precisely describe" the denomination as "an international community, bound together by God's grace.”

The name change was revealed in 2009 during a conference of over a thousand ministers and their spouses that had gathered from around the world. The theme of the conference was “Renewed in Christ” and reflected the importance of the changes that had occurred within the church. The new name for the church was seen to truly reflect the nature of the church as it had been transformed in past years. GCI felt that these changes had come about by pastors being led by the [[Holy Spirit]] with a close examination of scripture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What's in a Name?|url=https://www.gci.org/articles/whats-in-a-name/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Grace Communion International|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Grace Communion Seminary ===
Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) originated from Ambassador College. Classes are delivered in an online format. Accredited graduate programs include courses on the Bible, theology, church history, and ministry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mission – Grace Communion Seminary|url=https://www.gcs.edu/about/mission/|access-date=2021-06-07|language=en-US}}</ref>