Air Church

Air Church, formerly Metro Church (registered as Metro Church Australia), located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, is a Pentecostal church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches.

Air Church
Location1/492 Scottsdale Dr, Varsity Lakes, Queensland 4226
CountryAustralia
DenominationAustralian Christian Churches
TraditionPentecostal
Websiteairchurch.org.au
History
Founded22 March 2006
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)James & Sally Foord

History

The church was started by Garry and Kasey McDonald in 2006 after finishing their duties at SurfCity Christian Church to start a new church. Metro had its official launch in March 2006 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.[1][2] After the launch, the church began to host weekly meetings in a rented cinema.

In 2008, Metro received an old church facility at 116 Ridgeway Avenue Southport as a freehold gift. This was renovated and re-opened in August of that year. In late 2018 the Southport building was sold and became a mosque,[3] and Metro Church relocated to its current Varsity Lakes venue on Scottsdale Drive in December the same year.[4]

In June 2020 allegations about Garry McDonald were taken to the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) from outside of METRO Church. Following an investigation at a state level, and then national level, the ACC decided Pastor Garry had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct, and as a result, removed his pastors‘ credential. This meant he was immediately stood down from his role as Senior Pastor of METRO Church in line with the church constitution.

Senior pastors Dave and Jenny Gilpin were appointed on 28 November 2020, after the McDonalds had completed their term.[5]

"Breakfast at the Palace" was Metro's annual reach out event to bless women on the Gold Coast in December. It started at Versace Palazzo in 2011 and was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition from 2013. The event was cancelled in 2020.

The church was renamed to Air Church in August 2021, with its business name changed to Air Church Australia on 17 September 2021.[6] The Gilpin's resigned as senior pastors in May 2022 to do itinerant ministry.[7] Pastors James & Sally Foord[8] were commissioned as the new Senior Pastors on Sunday 29th May.[9]

The board has sued its founder and former director, Garry McDonald claiming he owes nearly $500,000 in unpaid loans and interest.[10]

Description

Air Church is a Pentecostal church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches (the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God).[11] The senior pastors as of May 2022 are James & Sally Foord.[12]

The business entity remains incorporated as Metro Church Australia,[13] and it is still registered as a charitable organisation under this name.[14]

References
  1. Laura Nelson, Metro Christian Church founder says understanding grace the key to finding peace and freedom, goldcoastbulletin.com.au, Australia, 12 December 2018
  2. E. Haynes, Church shines light on big plans, sunshinecoastdaily.com.au, Australia, 17 September 2012
  3. Potts, Andrew; Morris-Grant, Brianna (27 June 2019). "Mosque set to open inside former Gold Coast Christian church welcomed by neighbours". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 24 March 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. Potts, Andrew (3 February 2019). "Gold Coast industrial estates home to churches as congregations rapidly expand". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 24 March 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Dave & Jenny Gilpin Interview". METRO TV. 28 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Current details for ABN 32 126 516 612". ABN Lookup. November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  7. "Church Consultation THE HIT FACTORY CONSULTANCY". 20 October 2022.
  8. "Air Team". 20 October 2022.
  9. "Air Church Gold Coast Instagram". 29 May 2022.
  10. "Church's founding father now on receiving end of $455k claim". The Courier Mail. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  11. "A Breath of Fresh AIR". AIR Church. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  12. "Your Pastors". AIR Church. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  13. "Historical details for ABN 32 126 516 612". ABN Lookup. November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  14. "Metro Church Australia Ltd". ACNC.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.