United Pentecostal Church International

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The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a multi cultural United States based Christian organization and is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, Missouri.^[1] The UPCI was formed in 1945 by a merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. The UPCI states the following about itself:^[2]

• since its formation in 1945, the UPCI has been one of the fastest growing denominations in North America, growing from 617 member churches in 1946, to 4,358 churches in 2007 (which includes 4099 autonomous and 258 daughter works),.
• the UPCI in North America has 9,085 ministers.
• the UPCI in North America reports a Sunday School attendance circa 650,000.
• the UPCI has a presence in 175 other nations with 22,881 licensed ministers, 28,351 churches and meeting places, 652 missionaries, and a foreign constituency of over 3 million.
• total worldwide constituency, including North America, is listed at 4,036,945.

Contents 1 History 2 UPCI doctrine 2.1 Theological Overview 2.1.1 Repentance 2.1.2 Baptism 2.1.3 Speaking in tongues 2.2 Godhead 2.3 Holiness 2.3.1 Holiness and modern society 3 Notable churches within the UPCI 4 UPCI-affiliated educational institutions 5 Notable people within the UPCI 6 External links 7 Notes and references

[edit] History

When the Assemblies of God adopted the doctrine of the Trinity at its Fourth General Council in October 1916, the Oneness Pentecostals withdrew from the organization. Two months later, beginning in late December, Oneness ministers met in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and on January 2, 1917, they formed a Oneness Pentecostal organization called The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies.

In late 1917 or early 1918 The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and held its first meeting in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, later the same year. This organization adopted the name of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. During 1925 three new organizations formed: The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, and Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ (which still exists today).

In 1927 two of the new organizations merged. Meeting in a joint convention in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ and The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ joined under the name The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This merger, which united about 400 ministers, was celebrated at the next General Convention held in Port Arthur, Texas, in October of 1928.

In 1931, a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. This attempt was partially successful. The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. Ministers from the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World withdrew from their respective organizations and formed a new organization in November of 1931. They adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC). ^[3]

In 1932, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, to better reflect its organizational structure. Neither of the two remaining organizations attempted another merger until 1936, when The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward a union with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Negotiations were unsuccessful. Eight years later, in 1944, the two organizations reopened negotiations which would eventually lead the to the formation of the present United Pentecostal Church International in 1945.

The first General Board of the UPCI, was as follows: A.D. Gurley, Southern District; Wynn T. Stairs, Foreign Missionary Secretary;Stanley W. Chambers, General Secretary-Treasurer; Howard A. Goss, General Superintendent; W.T. Witherspoon, Assistant General Superintendent; B.H. Hite, Missouri; G.B. Rowe, Indiana; G.H. Brown, Arkansas; S.L. Wise, Louisiana; T.R. Dungan, Assistant General Secretary-Treasurer; J.A. Johnson, Western; Jack Scott, East Central; L.J. Hosch, Texas; Ellis Scism, Northwestern; Ralph G. Cook, Ohio; Mack D. Abgot, Texico; M.W. Howard, Oklahoma; S.G. Norris, North Central; W.A. Sherrill, Southeastern; M.J. Wolff, Illinois ^[4]

In 1945, a merger of two predominantly white Oneness Pentecostal organizations (the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ) resulted in the formation of the United Pentecostal Church ^[5] Presently they are called United Pentecostal Church, International (UPCI), adding the word "International" in 1972.

The UPCI has suffered several splinters since its inception in 1945.

• In 1955, a group of ministers led by Bishop C. B. Gillespie (Fairmont, WV), Bishop Ray Cornell (Cleveland, OH), and Bishop Carl Angle (Nashville, TN) rechartered the PAJC using the original charter.^{[citation needed]}

• 1968 a number of ministers organized the Apostolic Ministerial Fellowship - AMF, citing the UPCI as 'liberal'. Central issues were holiness and local church government.

• In 1986, Pastor L. H. Hardwick, a UPCI pastor in Nashville, Tennessee, broke away from what he called "legalists" (referring to the issue of dress code and standards), and formed Global Christian Ministries (now Global Network of Christian Ministries).^{[citation needed]}

• In 2001, Bishop Teklemarim Gezahagne and the more than 2 million members of the Apostolic Church of Ethiopia broke their 45 year alignment with the UPCI. The division was over Christology. Interesting accusations since most Pentecostals differ with the UPCI on Christology issues.

• In Jan. 2008 the UPCI faced another split over the issue of television. 2007 General Conference a vote was taken concerning the use of TV for broadcasting and advertisment. A large number of ministers in opposition to the use of TV left and formed the "Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship"(http://www.worldwidepf.com/page.php) Jonny Godair is the Presiding Chairman and the organization is base out of Tulsa, Ok.

[edit] UPCI doctrine

[edit] Theological Overview

The UPCI's doctrinal view derives its central theology of salvation from Acts 2:38. They believe order to fulfill the Biblical plan of salvation, a person must be spiritually "born again" by dying to sin through repentance, being buried with Christ in baptism, and being resurrected when receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. A scholarly work, Our God is One, by Talmadge French, has received a good deal of attention from non-Oneness groups.

[edit] Repentance

The UPCI believes that repentance is essential to salvation, as found in Luke 13:5. Repentance is defined as turning away from sin and turning toward God. According to the UPCI, true repentance requires forgiveness and cleansing of sins found in 1 John 1:9. Members of the UPCI believe that repentance must be accompanied by "Godly sorrow." Repentance is also a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Spirit. Lastly, the ability to repent is temporary and may only be accomplished while one is alive^[6]

[edit] Baptism

Baptism is a second essential component of UPCI doctrine. Members of the UPCI affirm a need for baptism as shown in Matthew 28:19 and point to Matthew 3:13-16 as evidence that even Jesus was baptized. The UPCI mode of baptism is complete immersion in water, completed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. This method of water baptism is a point at issue between Trinitarians and Oneness Pentecostals. Both sides include Matthew 28:19 to support their claims, with Oneness believers supporting 'Jesus Christ' and Trinitarian believers supporting "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," as it appears in Matthew 28:19. The UPCI believes that the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is 'Jesus', making a distinction that the word name in the scripture is singular, thus all three titles refer to Jesus. Furthermore, the UPCI believes that salvation cannot be complete without baptism, specifically without the pronouncement of the name of Jesus Christ over the proceeding. This interpretation originates from Acts 2:38 and is substantiated by Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, and Acts 19:5 as these are the only scriptures actually showing what was done in the early church as far as baptism is concerned.

[edit] Speaking in tongues

The UPCI embraces the view that speaking in tongues is the immediate, outward, observable, and audible evidence of the initial infilling of the Holy Spirit. The UPCI holds that speaking in tongues (i.e., speaking in languages that one has never learned before) can be given to all, regardless of race, culture, or language. This is interpreted from Acts 2:4, 17, 38-39; 10:46; 19:6; and I Corinthians 12:13. The tongue becomes the vehicle of expression for the Holy Spirit (James 3), and to a member of the UPCI, the Pentecostal person says it symbolizes God's complete control over the believer. According to the UPCI, the "Fruit of the Spirit" as mentioned in Gal. 5:22-23, should not be confused as the initial sign of receiving the Holy Spirit, but as the abiding "sign" of the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit takes time to develop or cultivate and therefore would not qualify as an immediate, outward and identifiable sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. Speaking in other tongues, on the other hand, does serve as an immediate, outward and identifiable/discernable sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. Tongues in Acts, while the same in essence, is different in operation and purpose than the tongues I Corinthians 12-14. They are not one and the same experience. Tongues in Acts serve as the evidential sign of receiving the Holy Spirit; whereas, the gift of divers (different) kinds of tongues in I Corinthians 12-14, is a subsequent gift of the Spirit that is given to selected believers as the Spirit (God) decides. The UPCI does not recognize 'All who believe on me shall receive eternal life' as an acceptable form of 'receiving Christ'. One receives Christ when they initially receive the Holy Ghost.

[edit] Godhead

The UPCI teaches that the one God who revealed Himself in the Old Testament as Jehovah revealed himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus Christ was and is God. For the UPCI, Jesus is the one true God manifested in flesh, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9).

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God and one person, rather than one God in three persons as in the doctrine of the Trinity. The UPCI believes their conception of the Godhead is true to early Christianity's strict monotheism, and views the trinitarian concept of God as scripturally incorrect, compromising the biblical teaching of God as one.

The UPC's understanding of God corresponds to Modalism, although it cannot be exactly characterized as such, and this is thus the most serious difference between it and other Pentecostals and evangelicals, such as the Assemblies of God.

[edit] Holiness

The UPCI holds that salvation is accomplished by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works (Titus 3:5). The UPCI teaches a code of conduct based upon what it believes to be scriptural teaching, although detractors allege that many of these beliefs are mandated by church officials. Inner holiness such as the demonstration of the fruits of the Spirit in the christian's life are accompanied by outer signs of holiness. This includes beliefs that women should not cut their hair and should wear dresses or skirts, not pants, according to a scriptural mandate to "Not wear that which pertaineth to a man" (Deuteronomy 22:5) and "adorn [yourself] in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety" (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Men and women alike are discouraged from wearing jewelry, scripturally "gold, or pearls, or costly array" (1 Timothy 2:8-10).

[edit] Holiness and modern society

One contested holiness viewpoint in the UPCI involves ownership of a television set. Licensed UPCI ministers are not allowed to have televisions in their homes. This view has been passed down to the local congregations through the ministers, who frown on their membership possessing televisions. In the same vein, many ministers do not want their constituency attending movies or going to movie theaters. These teachings, as the other above mentioned holiness standards, vary from church to church. During the 2006 and 2007 UPCI General Conference Business Meetings, there was debate over a resolution to allow local churches to broadcast and advertise on television. A decision was postponed during the 2006 meeting. During the 2007 Business Meeting at the UPCI General Conference, the resolution was passed by a vote of the licensed ministers present.This in affect led to the 2008 split led by Jonny Godair, Floyd Odom, Larry Booker, Nathanial Wilson and many other ministers.

Here are some quotations taken from the UPCI minsters manual, 1995 revision:

"We wholeheartedly disapprove of our people indulging in any activities which are not conducive to good Christianity and Godly living, such as theaters, dances, mixed bathing, women cutting their hair, make-up, any apparel that immodestly exposes the body, all worldly sports and amusements, and unwholesome radio programs and music. Furthermore, because of the display of all these evils on television, we disapprove of any of our people having television sets in their homes. We admonish all of our people to refrain from any of these practices in the interest of spiritual progress and the soon coming of the Lord for His church."^[7]

"We disapprove of school students attending shows, dances, dancing classes, theatres, engaging in school activities against their religious scruples, and wearing gymnasium clothes which immodestly expose the body. We disapprove of school students being forced to take coeducational classes which involve boys and girls being mixed together in swimming, calisthenics, baseball, and other mixed athletics while clothed in ungodly attire which immodestly exposes the body. We disapprove of school students being forced to take any classes in which, under the guise of health classes, sex education is taught coeducationally or films or lectures are given that promote amoral or unnatural behavior. We disapprove of school students being forced to be taught by or listen to those who promote or advocate sexual activity of any kind other than that within the bonds of the marriage relationship of husband and wife."^[8]

[edit] Notable churches within the UPCI

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Listed in alphabetical order. These are notable churches within the UPCI, typically with an average congregation of 1,000 or more.

• Calvary Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana
• Capital Community Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick
• Christian Life Center in Stockton, California
• Christian Life Center East in Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Dallas First Church in Dallas, Texas
• Eastwood Pentecostal Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana
• East Valley Pentecostal Church in San Jose, California
• Faith Sanctuary in Toronto, Ontario
• First Church San Jose in San Jose, California
• First Pentecostal Church of Denham Springs in Denham Springs, Louisiana
• Landmark Tabernacle in Denver, Colorado
• Life Tabernacle in Houston, Texas
• New Life Tabernacle in New York, New York
• Revival Center in Modesto, California
• The Apostolic Church in Auburn Hills, Michigan
• The Pentecostals of Alexandria in Alexandria, Louisiana
• Woodlawn Church in Columbia, Mississippi

[edit] UPCI-affiliated educational institutions

At the national level, the UPCI supports seven educational institutions:

• Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Christian Life College in Stockton, California
• Gateway College of Evangelism in Florissant, Missouri
• Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis, Indiana
• Northeast Christian College in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Texas Bible College in Lufkin, Texas
• Urshan Graduate School of Theology in Hazelwood, Missouri

Many districts and churches also support educational institutions in their cities and states. These efforts are often administered by local churches.

[edit] Notable people within the UPCI

Listed in alphabetical order:

• Rev. Dr. David K. Bernard, author, and president of Urshan Graduate School of Theology.
• Rev. Kenneth Haney, author, and General Superintendent of the UPCI.
• Rev. Randy Keyes, pastor, and Assistant General Superintendent of the UPCI.
• Rev. Anthony Mangun, Pastor of The Pentecostals of Alexandria in Louisiana.
• Rev. Paul D. Mooney, pastor, and Assistant General Superintendent of the UPCI.
• Rev. Mark Morgan, Evangelist and Pastor based in San Francisco, California.
• Rev. J.T. Pugh, Author, Honorary General Presbyter Odessa, Texas.
• Rev. Dr. Daniel Segraves, Ed. D., author, and Retired President of Christian Life College.
• Rev. Lee Stoneking, Evangelist based in New York.

[edit] External links

• Official website of the UPCI

[edit] Notes and references

v • d • e Apostolic (Oneness Pentecostal) Christianity
Denominations	AAFCJ • ALJC • AM • AWCF • Bible Way COOLJC • CJCI • CLJC • COOLJC • IAFCJ • ICOF •OGCOE • PAW • TJC • UPCI • ICJC
Historical Leaders	Antonio C. Nava • Felipe Rivas • G.T. Haywood • Nathaniel A. Urshan • Murray Burr • Ben Hawthorne • Mark Lawson • R.C. Lawson • S.C. Johnson • Ralph R. Robertson • Frank Ewart • Andrew Urshan • Howard Goss •
Modern Leaders	Kenneth Haney • Nathaniel Wilson • Dr. Bernie L. Wade • T.D. Jakes • Daniel G. Sanchez • Gilsen Levi • Robert Martin • Teklemariam Gezahagne • Horace E. Smith • Yared Mengistu; • Brad Lambeth • Wilde E Almeda • Tommy Tenny • Dr. Curtis D. Ward • Bishop John W. McCann
Other Pages of Interest	Oneness Pentecostalism • Oneness Pentecostalism (doctrine) •Oneness vs Trinity • Jesus-Name doctrine

es:Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Internacional

no:United Pentecostal Church International sv:United Pentecostal Church