THE ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS
                            Lesson Nineteen

                       UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH
                                (1945)

  I. ITS BEGINNING:

         "The first meeting of the United Pentecostal Church, a new
     organization, occurred on September 25, 1945, but the roots of
     its beginning go back to a Pentecostal camp meeting in 1913
     located just outside Los Angeles, California. Although the UPC
     claims that 'a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit' came on
     January 1, 1901, it was not until the Arroyo Seco camp meeting
     that the distinctive 'oneness' identity began to take shape.

         "During the camp meeting a man named R. E. McAlister spoke on
     the subject of water baptism and at the conclusion of his address
     he remarked that the apostles always baptized in the name of
     Jesus Christ, and never with the words Father, Son, and Holy
     Spirit. One of those who listened to McAlister, John G. Scheppe,
     spent the night in prayer and in the early morning hours ran
     through the camp, shouting that God had revealed to him the truth
     on baptism in Jesus' name. Frank J. Ewart, one of those present
     in the camp meeting, later met and studied with McAlester and he
     became one of the early leaders of the oneness movement. He first
     publicly declared his position in a sermon on April 15, 1914. The
     UPC Manual states, 'In the year 1914 came the revelation on the
     name of the Lord Jesus Christ.'

         "The 'New Issue' (oneness doctrine - jt) threatened to divide
     the Assemblies of God and the Pentecostal movement. The council
     met in 1915 and issued a rather mild statement on the issue, but
     in the Fourth General Council of the Assemblies of God, meeting
     in St. Louis in October 1916, the lines were drawn and the 'Jesus
     only' people were forced out of the fellowship.

         "Following their exclusion from the fellowship of the
     assemblies of God the oneness adherents soon formed their own
     organization in 1917 at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, known as the
     'General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies.' In 1918, there
     was a merger with an organization called the 'Pentecostal
     Assemblies of the World,' which name was retained by the merger.
     In 1914 it was decided to separate along racial lines, and the
     white contingent took the name 'Pentecostal Ministerial
     Alliance.' In 1932 the name 'The Pentecostal Church,
     Incorporated' was taken by the group. In 1945 'The Pentecostal
     Church, Incorporated' effected a merger with the 'Pentecostal
     Assemblies of Jesus Christ,' which had seceded somewhat from the
     old 'Pentecostal Assemblies of the World,' and the new
     organization became the 'United Pentecostal Church.'

         "It is noteworthy how the United Pentecostal Church was
     named, It was decided in the 1945 meeting that the word
     'Pentecostal' must remain in the name; then someone mentioned the
     word 'Unite.' B. H. Hite, one of the leaders, stood and waving
     his arm, repeated over and over, 'Unite! Unite! Unite!' This is
     how the organization came to be called the 'United Pentecostal
     Church.' W. T. Witherspoon sat down at the typewriter and wrote
     out a statement of the 'Fundamental Doctrine' of the
     organization, which still appears, exactly as he wrote it, in the
     'Articles of Faith' in the UPC Manual. Clanton observed, 'Surely
     he was inspired of God that day.'

         "The United Pentecostal Church is today a very militant
     organization in promoting its view of 'baptism only in the name
     of Jesus' and only one person in the Godhead.'"
          (Alan Highers, The Spiritual Sword, Vol. 12, No. 3, p.1-3)

 II. ITS ORGANIZATION:

         "The United Pentecostal Churches International is located in
     Hazelwood, Mo. The general superintendent is the highest officer.
     There are various other officers and a Board of General
     Presbyters. On the next level, there are districts which are
     usually separated by state. Each district is divided into
     sections and the sections are made up of local churches."
                                   (One Way, Lilla Ross, page 64.)

III. SOME OF THE MAJOR DOCTRINES OF THE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH:

     1. That there is only one person in the Godhead, namely Jesus
        Christ.

     2. That one is to be baptized only in the name of Jesus Christ,
        and it is not scriptural when the words "Father, Son, and Holy
        Spirit," are used.

     3. That all believers have the promise of receiving Holy Spirit
        baptism, confirmed by the speaking in tongues.

     4. That miracles and gifts of healing are for the church today.

     5. That, based upon their history, must believe in latter-day
        revelations. The UPC Manual says in the foreword, "In the year
        1914 came the revelation on the name of the Lord Jesus
        Christ."

     6. That women may participate in prayer, teaching, and preaching
        in public.

     7. That mechanical instruments of music may be used to "glorify"
        God in worship today.

     8. The Lord's Supper is not observed regularly.

Return to Index
Home