Daniel Sidney Warner

Daniel Sidney Warner was an American minister who was instrumental in the development of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). He left the General Eldership of the Churches of God in North America in 1881 to establish a new movement based on the idea of an open fellowship of believers, free from creeds and formal organizations, aiming to reestablish the conditions of early Christianity.1

Warner and his associates followed the theological principles of John Wesley and early Methodists, emphasizing sanctification and a sinless life. They also prohibited the use of tobacco and alcohol, as well as participation in activities like dancing and theater. The movement, though initially resistant to organization, eventually recognized the need for structure to carry out its work, leading to its headquarters in Anderson, Indiana.1