In the midst of health struggles, Bishop Ronald Carpenter has resigned as general superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). His resignation is effective July 19, 2012.
In his resignation letter to the Council of Bishops, Carpenter cited side effects from chemotherapy for melanoma, as well as uncertainty about future side effects of his cancer treatments, as reasons for his resignation. He will continue his ministry through other service areas.
“I intended to finish this term, and I would if I felt remaining in office were best,” Carpenter said. “However, I am confident this is the right decision for the IPHC and the right decision for my family and me.”
Carpenter was elected in 2009 to serve as general superintendent. He was raised in the Pentecostal Holiness Church and called into the ministry at 16.
After 16 years of pastoring and 11 years as conference superintendent in the Upper South Carolina Conference, he was elected executive director of Evangelism USA. In August 2005, he was elected vice chairman of the IPHC. He served as the executive director of Evangelism USA for 12 years and has also served as chairman of the board of Chaplains Ministries.
Under IPHC bylaws, Doug Beacham, the current vice chairman of the denomination, will become general superintendent on July 19 and serve out the remainder of Carpenter’s term, which was scheduled to end in July 2013.
Beacham is serving his second term as executive director of World Missions Ministries. Previously he served four years as executive director of Church Education (now Discipleship) Ministries. Earlier he pastored the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church in Franklin Springs, Ga., and served as superintendent of the Georgia Conference.
A historical Pentecostal denomination formed in 1898, the IPHC has more than 2 million members and affiliates in 103 countries. The denomination is also connected to the 19th century’s Holiness movement, with its emphasis on God’s power to enable His followers to live victoriously over sin.
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