Children of God

The Children of God (COG), later known as the Family of Love, the Family and now the Family International, is a new religious movement that started in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, USA. It was part of the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s, with many of its early converts drawn from the hippie movement. Due to its unusual emphasis on total commitment it triggered the first organized anticult group (FREECOG) and was among the movements prompting the cult controversy of the 1970s and 1980s in the United States and Europe.

Leadership, Regional Offices, and Management

:Main article: Leadership and Management of the Children Of God.

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The leadership of The Family International is headed by:

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• Karen Elva Zerby

: - spiritual leader of The Family International

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: - American

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: - legally changed her name to Katherine Rianna Smith, 4-Nov-1997

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: - Aliases: Maria, Mama, Maria Fontaine, Maria David, Maria Berg, or Queen Maria

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• Steven Douglas Kelly

: - head-leader of The Family International

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: - American

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: - legally changed his name to Chris Smith

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: - Aliases: Peter Amsterdam or King Peter

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Under them, management is divided into World Services, Creations, and Family Care Foundation.

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Each region is managed by a team of Continental Officers (COs), each team typically having five to seven members. The management structures beneath the CO team are more variable and their members are changed frequently.

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