United Pentecostal Church

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a United States -based international Christian denomination of the Pentecostal movement, and is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, Missouri .
The UPCI is the largest and most influential Oneness Pentecostal organization in the world, and is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in North America , as well as Africa and the South Pacific Region of Asia . The UPCI has seen explosive growth in Northern Africa , specifically in the nation of Ethiopia , where it has become the second largest church, behind only the Ethiopian Orthodox Church . {Link without Title}
The UPCI was formed in 1945 by a merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated , and the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Jesus Christ . The idea of a merger was suggested by Harry Branding of the PCI to Oliver F. Fauss of the PAJC. Numerous church officials from both groups were involved in the development of the merger, but no single individual is generally credited as the founder. {Link without Title}
Since it's formation in 1945, the UPCI has been one of the fastest growing denominations in has 9,085 ministers, and reports a Sunday School attendance of 646,304. Moreover, it is also located 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, making a total worldwide constituency of more than 4,036,945.

HISTORY

When the Assemblies Of God formally adopted the doctrine of the Trinity at its Fourth General Council in October 1916, the Oneness Pentecostals chose to withdraw from the organization. Two months later, in late December and early January, 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 , The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance , and Emmanuel's Church In Jesus Christ .

This organizational division among Oneness people was not desired, however, and in 1927 the first step was taken toward bringing them back together. Meeting in a joint convention in Guthrie , Oklahoma , Emmanuel's Church In Jesus Christ and The Apostolic Churches Of Jesus Christ merged under the name The Apostolic Church Of Jesus Christ . This merger, which united about 400 ministers, was consummated at the next General Convention held in Port Arthur, Texas , in October 1928.

In 1931, a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness organizations met in Columbus, Ohio , in an attempt to bring all Oneness people together. Unfortunately, this attempt was only partially successful. The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church Of Jesus Christ , but the terms of the proposed merger was not accepted by the ministers in The Apostolic Church Of Jesus Christ . However, a merger between The Apostolic Church Of Jesus Christ and The Pentecostal Assemblies Of The World was consummated in November 1931. The merger adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies Of Jesus Christ .

In 1932, The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated , reflecting its organizational structure. But no further attempt was made for a merger with The Pentecostal Assemblies Of Jesus Christ until 1936, when The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward an amalgamation of the two bodies. Once again no agreement could be found.

The desire to be united remained alive and growing, and eight years later, in 1944, the first step was taken that led to the successful merger in 1945 of these two Oneness Pentecostal organizations to form the United Pentecostal Church International.

UPCI DOCTRINAL BELIEFS

Overview

Most of the UPCI's doctrinal views are reflective of the Holiness-Pentecostal movement, with the exception of the "second work of grace" and the trinitarian formula in water baptism. The doctrine of the United Pentecostal Church embraces a more literal Apostolic interpretation of the baptismal accounts in the book of the Acts Of The Apostles in the Bible , where the Apostle's were recorded as perfoming baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, "in the name of the Lord Jesus," or "in the name of the Lord."

Salvation

Repentance

The UPCI teaches that repentance is essential to salvation, as found in Luke 13:5 "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise persih." Repentance is simply turning away from sin. But repentance is also turning to God, in believing prayer, for forgiveness and cleasning from all sin. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9). Peter put this in plain language for the early church in Acts 2:38 - "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".

Baptism

The UPCI teaching interprets Jesus' instruction in Matthew 28:19 to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" as a commandment that was fulfilled by the apostles as demonstrated in the book of the Acts of the Apostles when they baptized converts using a Christological baptismal formula. The commandment in Matthew 28:19 was to baptize in "the name." The word name is used here in the singular, and it is the focal point of the baptismal command. The titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God's relationships to humanity and are not the supreme, saving name described here, which is Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12)
Peter was present when Jesus had commanded this, and a few days later he was inspired to preach on the Day of Pentecost. Those who were present at Peter's sermon felt condemned, and they emphatically asked Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

Speaking in Tongues

The UPCI embraces the classical Pentecostal view that speaking in tongues is the outward, external, instantly observable and audible evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. By contrast, peace, joy, righteousness, and spiritual fruit are inward, internal results of the infilling that become evident with the passing of time. Additionally, speaking in tongues is a uniform evidence. It applies to everyone, regardless of race, culture, or language.
The tongue becomes the vehicle of expression for the spirit (James chapter 3), and speaking in tongues symbolizes God's complete control of the believer. In the baptism of the Holy Ghost, His Spirit and our spirit become one. He uses our tongue and voice to express this union.

The Bible

The UPCI claims to hold a fundamental view of the is the Word Of God , and therefore inerrant and infallible. The UPCI rejects many extrabiblical writings (such as The Book Of Mormon and the New World Translation Of The Holy Scriptures ), and views church creeds and articles of faith only as typically the thinking of men, and therefore fallable in comparison to the Bible .

While the UPCI holds that Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ , not by works, it also teaches a code of conduct based upon scriptural teaching that many detractors falsely allege is mandated by church officials. The UPCI teaches adherence to Biblical teachings and commandments - it is steadfastly believed by adherents that it is not, in fact, a sacrifice to do so but rather a privilege, since obedience to those commandments are for the ultimate benefit of the individual.

Godhead

In distinction to the doctrine of the Trinity , which was made mainstream by the early catholic church, the UPCI holds to the original Oneness view of God. It views the Trinitarian concept of God, that of God eternally existing as three distinctive persons, as scripturally incorrect, inadequate and a departure from the consistent and emphatic biblical revelation of God being one.

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. In other words, 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).

While fully God, Jesus was also fully man, possessing a full and true humanity. He was both God and man. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is God with us and in us. Thus God is manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration.

Holiness

The UPCI further encourages individuals to subscribe to an objective "holiness" standard, as led to do so by the Holy Spirit, (the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus). This includes the belief that women are discouraged from cutting their hair and are encouraged to wear dresses or skirts, rather than pants, according to the scriptural mandate to "Not wear that which pertaineth to a man" (Deuteronomy 22:5) and "adorn {Link without Title} in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety" (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Men and women alike are discouraged from wearing excessive jewelry, scripturally "gold, or pearls, or costly array" (1 Timothy 2:8-10).

UPCI ORGANIZATION

The basic governmental structure of the UPCI is congregational with local churches being autonomous: the congregation elects its pastor and its leaders, owns its property, decides its budget, establishes its membership, and conducts all necessary business.
The central organization embraces a modified presbyterian system in that ministers meet in sectional, district, and general conferences to elect officials and to conduct business of the organization. Districts are typically broken into individual states, however some include multiple states and some states have multiple districts.
The UPCI headquarters building, located in Hazelwood, Missouri, houses offices for its general officials, the Pentecostal Publishing House, and a Christian bookstore. Among its endorsed institutions are eight Bible colleges, a children's home, a residency for troubled young men, ministries to those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, a chaplaincy for prisoners, and it endorses chaplains to the military.

UPCI-AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

The UPCI at the national level supports eight educational institutions devoted to Apostolic instruction:

Many districts and churches also support educational institutions in their states and cities.
The UPCI also operates the Pentecostal Publishing House , which is one of the largest Pentecostal publishers in the world.
Ladies Ministry UPCI, founded in 1916, is an auxiliary to the United Pentecostal Church.
Note: See the links at the end of this article for more information on these institutions.

PROMINENT PEOPLE WITHIN UPC

Rev. Kenneth Haney , author and General Superintendent of the UPCI

Former San Antonio Spurs center, and NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson

Rev. Nathaniel Haney , pastor of the 3,000 member Christian Life Center of Stockton, California

Rev. Anthony Mangun , pastor of the 2,000 member Pentecostals Of Alexandria church in Alexandria, Louisiana

Karen Harding , singer and songwriter. Winner of McDonald’s 2003 GospelFest.

Daniel Seagraves Ed. D. author, college professor.

Dr. David K. Bernard author, president of Urshan Graduate School of Theology, and one of the foremost experts on Oneness Pentecostalism.

Rev. Irving Baxter, Jr. , author, pastor and founder of Endtime Ministries which include a magazine and radio program dealing with Biblical endtime prophecies.