Category: United Pentecostal Church | Page 55

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 1

Since many have never seen or even heard of the United Pentecostal Church Manual for their licensed ministers, I thought I would share some of the rules they have. Perhaps you will discover that a minister has not followed a rule or maybe will understand why some things happened the way they did. The majority of the UPCI Manual consists of non-interesting material that explains the various departments in the organization and the leadership roles and duties. David Bernard, their current General Superintendent, announced in January 2017 that they were in the works of updating the Manual. [2023 note: This has been completed.]

If a resolution is passed at their annual fall General Conference, it will be added to the Manual the following January. Because of this and other possible changes, it usually is somewhat different from one year to the next. At times the changes are minor and other times they are major, such as rules excluding from fellowship those who believe certain teachings.

You cannot purchase a copy from the UPCI unless you hold license. [NOTE: This briefly changed in 2018 when their Publishing House started to sell copies on their website in error. This was soon corrected.] However, sometimes older copies are found for sale through Amazon, ebay and other places. They mostly produce these digitally now, making it difficult to obtain more recent physical editions. Sometimes the prices online are listed at ridiculously high amounts. If you wait awhile, they will lower. Don’t spend more than $20.00 unless it’s an old version and be sure to ask what year is being sold as often all are advertised as the same year.

What is shared below is the same as from at least 2005, with the exception of #3 where the second sentence was added in 2006 and ‘us’ in the first sentence was changed to ‘the UPCI’.

Below are some of the ministerial rules as found in Article VII, section 7: Obligations and Rules. [2023 Edit: All of the below appeared the same through the 2020 UPCI Manual. In 2021, revisions were made in how the rules were listed and worded and these have been added to bring readers up to date through 2023.]

1. Ministers should not accept the invitation of a member or members of any assembly to hold a meeting in any church where there is a pastor without first obtaining said pastor’s consent. Where there is no pastor, the consent of the church officials in charge must be obtained.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (a).” The wording has changed to: “Credentialed UPCI ministers shall not accept the invitation of a member
or members of any UPCI assembly to hold a service/meeting in that church
without first obtaining consent from the pastor. If there is no pastor, the
consent of the District Board official(s) who has/have oversight must be
obtained.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

2. Any minister affiliated with us, desiring to hold a meeting in a town or community where there is an affiliated church or pastor shall first consult and obtain the consent of the pastor before conducting a revival or crusade on his or her own or for another assembly that is not in fellowship. He or she may appeal the pastor’s decision to the nearest District Presbyter.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (b).” The wording has changed to: “Any credentialed UPCI minister desiring to hold a service/meeting in a town or community where there is church pastored by a UPCI minister shall first consult with and obtain the consent of the pastor before conducting such on his or her own or for another assembly that is not in the UPCI. He or she may appeal the pastor’s decision to the Presbyter of the applicable section, or if the pastor is the Presbyter, to the District Superintendent.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. No minister affiliated with the UPCI shall endeavor to start a new work without the written consent of the District Board. Furthermore, any minister wishing to establish a preaching point, begin a daughter work, or start a church in a district other than the one in which he or she resides or holds license, must comply with all policies governing such activities in said district.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (c).” The wording has changed to: “No credentialed UPCI minister shall endeavor to start a new work without the written consent of the applicable District Board. Furthermore, any minister wishing to establish a preaching point, daughter work, or church in a district other than the one in which he or she holds credentials, must comply with all applicable policies in that district.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

4. No minister, or church congregation pastored by one of our ministers, shall relocate or move an existing church into a city or neighborhood where there is another United Pentecostal Church, without written permission from the District Board. All applications for permission to relocate or move an existing church congregation in a city or neighborhood where there is another United Pentecostal Church must be submitted in writing thirty (30) days prior to the Board meeting. The District Secretary shall notify the Sectional Presbyter of the application at least twenty (20) days prior to the Board meeting. The presbyter shall notify the neighboring pastors, if needed and necessary, at least ten (10) days before the Board meeting.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (d).” The wording has changed to: “No credentialed UPCI minister shall relocate or move an existing church
into a city or neighborhood where there is another church pastored by
a UPCI minister without written permission from the District Board.
All applications for permission to relocate or move an existing church
congregation into a city or neighborhood where there is another church
pastored by a UPCI minister must be submitted in writing at least thirty (30)
days prior to a District Board meeting. The District Secretary shall notify
the Sectional Presbyter of the application at least twenty (20) days prior
to said District Board meeting. The presbyter shall notify the neighboring
pastors, if deemed necessary, at least ten (10) days before the District Board
meeting.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

5. Ministers shall not accept the invitation of a member or members, or the pastor of any assembly, to preach in any church that is held in question without first getting the consent of the District Superintendent.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (e).” The wording has changed to: “Credentialed UPCI ministers shall not accept the invitation of a member(s)
or the pastor of any assembly, to preach in any church that is held in
question without first getting the consent of the applicable District
Superintendent within 30 days of the proposed speaking engagement. The
status of the church being formally ‘held in question’ must have been
determined by the District Board prior to the minister’s seeking consent to
speak there. Any UPCI minister seeking such consent to speak or merely
inquiring as to whether a church is ‘held in question’ shall be informed of
its status immediately.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

6. In interpersonal relationships of ministers and saints of different congregations, in the matter of volunteer services or religious activities, the pastor of local church saints will be first contacted for approval. In the event of rejection, the decision shall be held in confidence. This applies on the national, district, or sectional level.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (f).” The wording has changed to: “Any credentialed UPCI minister who desires any type of relationship with
members from a different congregation or who desires to request volunteer
or religious services from such individuals will first contact their pastor for
approval. This applies on the global, general, district, sectional, or local level.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

7. Any minister holding license or credentials who resigns the pastorate of a church, shall be expected to sever all connection with the said church and shall have no fellowship or visitation with any members who are held in question by his or her successor without his or her consent.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section, but is listed under “2. Ethics (g).” The wording has changed to: “Any credentialed UPCI minister who resigns the pastorate of a church,
shall sever all connection with the church and shall have no fellowship, intentional contact, or visitation with any of its members without his or her
successor’s consent, unless the departing minister is related to the church
member(s) by blood or marriage.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

To be continued….

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 6
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 5
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 4
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 3
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 2
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 1

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When the miracle doesn’t come

How many souls are living tortured existences due to the fact that they have some physical or mental malady and they have been told – If you truly believe, or forgive, or have enough faith God will heal you? Many televangelists, radio preachers, and name it and claim it types teach that if you are a Christian – God will heal you.

My United Pentecostal Church taught that if you were ill, God would heal you or there is sin in your life. They took the scriptures “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, I Peter 2:24) out of context and applied it as a blanket fixer for all physical maladies. Is there a Biblical basis for this? Isaiah 53:5 and I Peter 2:24 both texts, when read in context, make it clear that the true meaning is healing of our souls (salvation) not bodies.

I will be the first to say that I believe in an all-powerful God who can do anything but He does not heal everyone and all sickness is not a result of sin. (John 9:1-3) Yes, there is healing in the Bible. Jesus performed miraculous healing signs as He was establishing Himself as Messiah (John 7:31) as He was ushering in the New Covenant. He gave the Apostles gifts of healing to use as they were bringing the Gospel first to Israel and then to the Gentiles to validate their message but there was never wholesale healing of everyone who believes. Some examples from the New Testament of illness that was not healed miraculously are Paul (II Corinthians 12:7-9), Trophimus (II Timothy 4:20), and Timothy (I Timothy 5:23).

What about those who go home from these faith healing services without being healed? There was a time in my life when I desperately needed a miracle. I went through prayer line after prayer line. People stopped me in the grocery store and asked if they could pray. They would tell me if you take her here and let them pray, she will be healed. I did, she wasn’t. One day, I waited in line for hours to get into one of the colosseum style healing services by a well-known “faith healer.” Thoughts ran through my mind – if they see us surely we’ll get in – this would be the one of those miracles that would draw in the masses and their dollars. Unfortunately, as we slowly wound our way around the building, we were stopped. The auditorium was full and we would not get our miracle that day.

I remember one particular Wednesday evening after the service at my United Pentecostal church, several of the women took my baby up to the front of the church; I could only watch from a distance because I truly believe I was having a nervous breakdown. I did not feel loved by these women; little by little I was somewhat ostracized, no one was cooing with my baby or wanted to hold her. I felt that they were only trying to get a better look.

As a mother, I would do anything to protect this child. This fierce protection would drive my life for years to come. This protection would prove to be my undoing and salvation from a group of people who were more in love with their rules than a hurting mom trying to protect her child. As time went by with no miracle, the initial care and concern fading, I became more and more isolated, not only from them but also in my cocoon of pain but it would only be a matter of time before I would sprout wings and fly free.

God works through our pain and the greater miracle that I needed would come soon:

“So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.” Ephesians 2:5 NIRV

Informational post on speaking in tongues #11

This is just a little ‘did you know’ informational post on the subject of speaking in tongues, shared as some food for thought. Those reading may also be interested in looking at another article which also partially addresses the subject.

With the emphasis and push for speaking in tongues in Pentecostal churches, my personal experience is that rarely was it pointed out, if ever, something which Paul told those who spoke in tongues to do. Do you know what it is?

At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul admonishes those at Corinth to “covet earnestly the best gifts” and then picks this thought up again two chapters later. In verse 1 of chapter 14, Paul states, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

Surprised? When was the last time you heard a Pentecostal preacher teach that you should desire to prophesy? It is interesting how little this is taught and emphasized. The emphasis is usually placed on speaking in tongues. Yet the apostle Paul taught otherwise. Why was this?

When we look at this chapter, Paul very clearly explains why he would rather have them prophesy than speak in tongues. Paul wanted everyone to be edified when believers gathered together. Speaking in tongues never accomplishes this unless they are interpreted or unless someone present knows the language being spoken. With no interpretation, the speaker was in a way being selfish, only edifying himself. (Remember Paul shared that the believers in Corinth were carnal.) Yet if they prophesied, all in attendance would gain something. Paul was so convinced of the difference between these gifts that he proclaimed that “greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.” So why is it that in Pentecostal type churches the same is not taught? Why instead are many speaking in tongues during services with no interpretation and it is often encouraged by leadership?

Surely this is something to ponder and question. Below are some of the points Paul made in 1 Corinthians 14:

Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
He that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
I would …rather that ye prophesied.
Greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues.
As you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
He that prophesies edifies the church.
Prophesying serves for them which believe.
For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy.

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Leaving An Unhealthy Church #13: A Warped View of God

I swear on my soul, that if these men are speaking for God, I would rather spend eternity in hell than serve him. How are you supposed to love the God they represent? Unconditional Love? yet contradicted… Grace? yet contradicted…

Because all of that junk had completely clouded my view of Jesus, and I didn’t even know who he was anymore. Was he the harsh judge that was just waiting for me to show I wasn’t “holy” enough so he could smite me? Was he the one that demanded absolute perfection? The one for whom nothing was ever enough?

These are the feelings of two people who left their separate churches. Some find it hard to break from the erroneous view of God that they encountered in an unhealthy church. This can be especially difficult for those raised in one. Every time they see someone from their former group write about the group’s beliefs or they read Bible passages that were distorted in their church, they wrestle with trying to break away from the harsh taskmaster they came to know. But this isn’t the same Jesus portrayed in the Bible, but rather a false view that arises from erroneous teachings and how these are taught and applied.

Erroneous teachings can indeed cloud your view of God. They can give one a very different and distorted view. The tragic aspect of this, and one I have seen all too often, are people who can see the error of at least some of the teachings and yet have not yet been able to break from this distorted view.

This is what happens in a performance based church and while things vary from one unhealthy church to another, the teachings lead to performance based religion. While many will not say, for instance, that following outward standards is a matter of salvation, they will believe one is lost or at the least backslid if they don’t adhere. Many will say ‘it is better to be safe than sorry.’ These actually make them matters of salvation, whether or not it is specifically stated as such.

This is an excerpt of an email I received from a visitor to the spiritualabuse.org website. They are from the United Pentecostal Church and wrote:

WE strive to live Christ. Do we error? YES! But we try. There are some Pastor’s who goes over board, but for the majority, it is just about trying to make heaven our home. Yes, some things seem extreme, but in comparison to eternity, it is the least we can do. Our dress and appearance is simple a safety protocol we take to assure our success in making heaven our home. I hope you give this some thought.

Take note of what was actually said. It’s about trying to make it to heaven. It’s about safety measures. It is not at all about trusting in the finished work at Calvary. I don’t know how many posts I’ve read through the years where someone has written something like, “I’d rather be safe than sorry” concerning a teaching. And remember hearing church testimonies that said something like, “Pray for me that I will make it in?” They have no lasting assurance of salvation. In their mind, though they probably do not recognize it, salvation is based upon their performance and not on the completed work of Jesus on the cross.

There is a vast difference in being obedient to God and in obeying rules so one will be saved. The latter removes us from living in God’s grace and places the emphasis on us and our actions in order to make us acceptable. The good news from Jesus is that He paid the FULL penalty for all of our sins. He took away our unrighteousness and clothed us in His righteousness. We either accept this by faith or we will somehow try to earn our salvation.

And that’s what the performance based teachings lead people to. Many start out OK, but as time goes on, that initial joy of coming to Christ is replaced by an undercurrent of fear and worry…. that we will mess up and be rejected…. that God is almost anxiously waiting for us to err so He can zap us into oblivion.

What a horrid, horrible and unfair characterization of a loving Savior!

Do you struggle in this area? You may realize that the standards teachings or some other teaching is not a matter of salvation and many are not even biblical. You may know that through the teachings you developed a warped view of God. You need not remain in the position where the warped view continues to taint your perception. Your former church is still having influence over you and you are believing lies that will hinder you in your relationship with God. May your mind be set free to see Him as He is.

You do not have to live with a warped view of God. A good place to go for help is in the Gospels. That’s where we have the most information about Jesus. Just read them to read and not to study. I strongly suggest you use a different Bible than the one you have used in your former church, as yours might be filled with notes from sermons. Using another version other than the one you used should be helpful as well.

Culture Shock

Most of you know I recently joined a mainstream church. Going there has been interesting at times… They can quote a verse and understand it completely differently than me, can use a Bible term I’ve thought I understood and mean something else by it, and sometimes have a very different perspective than I do on things. This week there’s been more of that…

Two weeks ago there was a business meeting. There are some major changes being considered, and a few that already took place (someone resigned a position). I missed the meeting, but two days ago in class the meeting was discussed. Emotionally. In front of everyone. And the door of the class wasn’t even shut or guarded! Eek! hee hee

Seriously, though, at my former church people got in big trouble for much less than was said in class. People only disagreed with the pastor’s decisions in very private places with very close and trusted friends… if they even did that much. When I left, there were two women who called me begging me to come back… and begging me not to tell their husbands or the pastor that they’d even called me. They didn’t trust their husbands to “reach out to a backslider.” There were some things that were only discussed in a car or in the privacy of a member’s house, just between two people. And even then in hushed voices.

He seemed very open and honest with me. He gave me some information about how the church operates, briefly explained what was discussed in the meeting, offered information about the doctrinal point that led to the resignation, and apologized if that was too much information.

I’m finding myself in a very nice place. Different language, different culture. New “foods” (Bible teachings), different clothes, whole different outlook. It’s weird sometimes. We live in the same country, in the same town, but I feel like I’m from a different planet. I like their culture. But sometimes something about it still surprises me. From now on I don’t think I’ll need to explain “due to past experiences.” I can just say, “Well, I think I’m experiencing a little culture shock right now. Could you explain…?” And as I look back over the last year and a half, trying to find a church, I realize there may have been several times my hesitation or concerns might have been culture shock.

This is a good culture. It’s a healthy culture. Maybe the difference between Siberia and small town US… or more. There are no travel guides I could read to prepare for this journey, no Pentecostalese-Christianese dictionaries… so there has been some culture shock to deal with. But it’s worth it.