A little denominational confusion?

Question

Are United Pentacostal, and Apostolic the same denomination? I've heard people say they are UPC, and some say they are Apostolic, and some say Apostolic UCP. If they are not the same denomination, what are the differences? To me, they seem to teach the same doctrines.

Sorry.. I mean Apostolic UPC not UCP

Answer 1

The UPCI was founded in September, 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri. Today the world headquarters is still in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood.
Generally speaking UPCI churches...United Pentecostal Churches .... are also called Apostolic Pentecostal churches as well. see. http://apostolic-pentecostal-churches.net/

History: The United Pentecostal Church International broke from other Pentecostal churches because of its beliefs in Oneness. The UPCI was formed from a merger of two Oneness Pentecostal Churches. This Oneness belief originated from a sermon given by R. E. McAlister in 1913 on Acts 2:38. Men such as Frank J. Ewart and Glenn A. Cook took the Oneness sermon a step further by re-baptizing themselves in the name of Jesus. (Burgess, p.644) As the Oneness doctrine spread throughout the Pentecostal groups, the need for a split between Oneness believers and Trinity believers became evident.
Between 1916 and 1945 Oneness Churches went through a transitional period where many mergers and splits took place within many different churches. It was not until 1945 when the two largest predominantly white Oneness Churches, the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated (PCI) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC), merged to form the United Pentecostal Church. (the word, International, did not appear in the title until later in their career). The two churches had been preaching the same doctrines; however, some of the steps to salvation were different. This problem was alleviated when W. T. Witherspoon added a statement to the church's Fundamental Doctrine stating the importance of unity. The first general superintendent of the UPCI was Howard A. Goss, who had been an earlier member of the PCI, and the first assistant general superintendent was W.T. Witherspoon, who had been a former member of the PAJC. When looking back on how smoothly the formation of the UPCI went, its leaders use the phrase, "What hath God Wrought!"

Answer 2

They are very similar. Both believe that one has to be saved, then baptised in water, and baptised by the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. All three of those conditions must exist for salvation to be valid, so they say.

However, the United Pentecostals (sometimes known as First Pentecostals or "Jesus Name" Pentecostals or "Oneness" Pentecostals) don't believe in the trinity the way that other churches do. They claim it is wrong to believe in three beings in the trinity because that would be worshipping false gods. They believe there is ONE God. Also, there is something about how things should be done in Jesus name -- more so than traditional Pentecostal churches.

I am not sure if the Apostolics have the same "oneness" doctrines.

I knew someone who was United Pentecostal and he lived in a small village. The local church had no baptism tank. The river was frozen during the winter, and he was paranoid that since he could not get baptised before the thaw, he was afraid that he would go to hell. He literally spent all winter worrying until he could get baptised.

One of my teachers was United Pentecostal, and she was very strict about these things. Generally, they are a strict bunch. Women normally do not cut their hair or wear any makeup, follow fashions, etc.

Answer 3

i heard earlier in my life that there was a name change, of the same denomination, from one to the other,

i see a lot of people who answered before me say its the same thing and the preference of who is talking, so, my preconceived notion is held true by the other answers

its a good question, a good follow up might be how is this denomination different from mainstream prodestantism, my intuition from my little knowledge, was is not at all a formal study, just reading magazines or other religous literature, is that it has to do with the return of jesus

if you do ask it send me an email with the link so i can read the answers, appreciated

Answer 4

United Pentecostal Church is apostolic.

Answer 5

The so-called Apostolic churches, also called “United Pentecostal” churches (not to be confused with other Pentecostal churches) together with their independent church break-offs form the cult known as “Jesus Only”. This "Jesus Only Movement", which is in fact not of Jesus, has been making its move to infiltrate and lead astray and away the flocks of other churches with a false spirit renewal, legalistic teaching and a call to pseudo-holiness.

This is a religion which denies the Scriptural doctrine of the Holy Trinity by claiming that the three persons of the one true God are merely one person. In essence, these so-called Apostolics adhere to a false belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are Jesus. They profess a false formula about the "oneness" of God. God truly is one, however, He is eternally expressed in three persons, namely speaking, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The true essential doctrine of God’s triune nature is departed from in their beliefs, resulting in their worship of a false god.


At first glance the UPC seems orthodox. Members believe that only one God exists, Jesus rose bodily from the dead, and there is a literal heaven and hell. Additionally, they hold views about the Bible, eschatology, and standards of outward holiness (for example, loving your neighbor as yourself, honesty, not swearing) that are common to many evangelicals.

What separates United Pentecostals from orthodox Christians are their concepts of God and their belief that to be saved one must be baptized in Jesus' name only and speak in tongues. The group also enforces stricter standards of holiness than those found in most evangelical churches, including the length of one's hair (men's short, women's long), abstinence from watching television, and a prohibition against women wearing makeup or jewelry.



They seem close enough.

Answer 6

I am Pentacostal and I have read several of your answers here on yahoo and we do believe alot a like.

But i am not for sure

Answer 7

As far as I can gather one is a branch of the other.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_pent.htm
This link should help.

Blessings )O(

Answer 8

they are the same thing

in the end it is the preferance of who is saying it.

Answer 9

i've no idea either, but if Don can troll for 2 points, so can I

Answer 10

Man, I don't know. I'm watching this question.