United Pentecostal Church International Overview
Group Name: United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI)
Founder: The UPCI was formed through a merger of two earlier Pentecostal organizations: the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Church, Inc.
Current Leader: The UPCI is overseen by a General Superintendent. The current General Superintendent is David K. Bernard.
Date Founded: 1945
Locations: The UPCI has congregations in the United States and around the world, with a significant international presence in over 200 countries.
Characteristics:
• Group endorses non-orthodox theology: Yes, the UPCI is known for its Oneness theology, which rejects the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Instead, it teaches that God is a singular spirit who manifests himself in various ways, including as Jesus Christ.
• The Leader is an infallible authority: No, the UPCI does not typically describe any individual leader as infallible. However, the teachings and directives of its leaders are highly influential within the organization.
• Leadership seeks control over members’ activities, behaviors, and finances: Yes, the UPCI has strict guidelines governing the behavior, dress, and financial contributions of its members, often requiring adherence to specific lifestyle standards and significant tithing.
• Requires unquestioning faith and allegiance to the leader or group: Yes, members are often expected to show strong allegiance to the group’s doctrines and leadership, with questioning or dissent discouraged.
• Suppression of Critical Thinking: Yes, critical thinking that challenges the group’s doctrines or practices is often discouraged, with an emphasis on maintaining doctrinal purity and unity.
• Intimidation, fear, and shame are used to control members: There are reports of the use of intimidation, fear, and shame to enforce conformity to the group’s beliefs and behaviors, including threats of spiritual consequences for disobedience.
• Isolates or shuns former members, leading to loss of family connections and support: Yes, former members often experience shunning and isolation, leading to the loss of family connections and social support within the community.
• Allegations of financial abuse and lack of transparency: There have been allegations of financial exploitation within the UPCI, including pressure on members to give significant portions of their income and a lack of transparency regarding the use of funds.
• Allegations of sexual misconduct: While there have been individual cases of sexual misconduct reported within the UPCI, these are not typically described as systemic. However, the handling of such cases has been a point of criticism.
Narrative:
The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) was established in 1945 through the merger of two earlier Pentecostal organizations. It is known for its distinctive Oneness theology, which rejects the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity, asserting instead that God is a single entity who manifests in different forms, including Jesus Christ.
The UPCI maintains strict guidelines for its members’ behavior, dress, and financial contributions. Members are expected to adhere to specific lifestyle standards, including modest attire and significant tithing. The group’s leaders wield considerable influence, and questioning or dissent is often discouraged, promoting a culture of conformity and allegiance to the group’s doctrines.
Reports indicate that the UPCI may use intimidation, fear, and shame to enforce compliance, and former members frequently experience shunning and isolation, resulting in the loss of family connections and social support. Financial practices within the UPCI have faced criticism, with allegations of pressure to give substantial portions of income and concerns about financial transparency.
While individual cases of sexual misconduct have been reported, these are not typically seen as systemic issues within the UPCI. However, the handling of such cases has been criticized, contributing to the group’s controversial reputation.
Despite these issues, the UPCI continues to grow, with a significant presence in over 200 countries worldwide. The group’s emphasis on doctrinal purity and strict adherence to its interpretation of Christianity remains a defining characteristic.