The Faith Tabernacle Congregation is a fundamentalist Christian sect founded in Philadelphia around the turn of the 20th century. In its early years, the church’s rejection of modern medicine was viewed by some observers as a practical response to the economic realities faced by working-class families. Early church publications, including “Sword of the Spirit,” featured testimonies from members who described conventional medical care as either too expensive or ineffective. For many early adherents, the church’s emphasis on divine healing offered a spiritually supportive and financially accessible alternative to the limited healthcare available at the time.
As the movement developed, its opposition to medical treatment became a central doctrine of the faith. The church teaches that members should rely exclusively on God for healing and avoid doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical drugs. This belief is tied to the idea that obedience to God protects individuals from illness and disease, while sickness may reflect spiritual weakness or failure. Over time, the group became increasingly reclusive and largely avoided engagement with the media or outside organizations.
The congregation’s rejection of medical care led to growing public attention and legal conflict, particularly in Pennsylvania. Advocates and legal experts documented numerous deaths among children in the church from treatable illnesses including pneumonia, leukemia, and other infectious diseases. One of the most widely publicized incidents occurred in 1991, when a measles outbreak within the congregation resulted in the deaths of several children whose parents had declined vaccinations and medical treatment.
Former members and child advocacy organizations later raised broader concerns about the church’s internal culture and structure. Critics described the group as insular and argued that members were discouraged from questioning church teachings, particularly regarding health and medical care. Former members also alleged that individuals who left the congregation were subjected to forms of shunning or social isolation.
Around 1997, several sets of parents affiliated with the congregation faced charges including involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment following the deaths of children suffering from conditions such as hemophilia and untreated tumors. These prosecutions highlighted ongoing legal debates over the balance between religious freedom and the state’s responsibility to protect children.
A major legal development occurred in 2016 after the death of two-year-old Ella Foster from pneumonia. Unlike earlier cases that focused primarily on parents, authorities in Berks County expanded the investigation to include church leadership. Ella’s grandfather, Rowland Foster, was charged with a felony on the grounds that, as a pastor, he qualified as a mandated reporter and should have reported suspected medical neglect. Prosecutors argued that this legal responsibility applied regardless of his family relationship to the child. Although a judge later dismissed the charges against Foster, the case drew national attention and led some advocates to argue that holding church leaders accountable could encourage institutional reform.
Ella Foster’s parents, Jonathan Foster and Grace Foster, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Court testimony showed that the couple had requested a religious anointing from church leadership for their daughter rather than seeking medical treatment. Medical experts testified that a standard course of antibiotics would likely have saved the child’s life. During sentencing, the couple publicly acknowledged that they had been wrong to “follow a set of rules blindly,” marking a rare public departure from church teachings. The court did not impose jail sentences after the parents pledged to obtain health insurance and medical care for their six remaining children.
Key Sources:
The Associated Press. (1999, February 19). Faith-healing parents get probation.
Caruso, D. B. (2003, February 4). Autopsy: Cancer Killed Philadelphia Boy. Newsday.
DeJesus, I. (2017, February 15). Faith-healing parents surrender custody of 6 children after toddler’s death. Penn Live.
Lattanzio, V. (2013, May 24). Faith-Healing churches linked to 2 dozen child deaths. NBC Philadelphia.