Who was the first general overseer of the Church of God?

• A. J.C. Murphy
• B. W.F. Bryant
• C. Richard Spurling
• D. A.J. Tomlinson

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is who first established a centralized leadership role for the Church of God by creating the office of General Overseer. In the early Church of God movement, leaders laid the groundwork and preached holiness, but the formal position of General Overseer was created to provide unified governance for the growing network of churches. A.J. Tomlinson emerged as the key figure who was elected to this new role, becoming the first General Overseer and setting the pattern for how the denomination would be led and organized going forward. His leadership helped shape the church’s structure, outreach, and doctrinal direction as it expanded. The other named individuals were important early leaders within the movement, but they did not hold the inaugural General Overseer position.