UNITY OF ONENESS BELIEVERS

Adopted by the General Conference in 1975

Inasmuch as the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is so near at hand and the church called by His name who are the elect of Christ, known as His bride, shall all, both the dead in Christ and those who remain and are alive, be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and shall forever be with Him, and

Inasmuch as the Lord Himself prayed that we all be one (John 17:11, 15, 20-23), and the apostle Paul emphatically told us [that] the body is one and further [that] "there should be no schism [division] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another" (I Corinthians 12:12-13,25), and in I Corinthians 1:13 he asked, "Is Christ divided?" thus admonishing us that as Christ prayed we be one and that we are one in spirit and body, and God is not the author of confusion and division, and we have knowledge of forty, fifty, or more different factions, organizations, and/or groups who believe the same gospel; also realizing [that] we the United Pentecostal Church International are one of these and probably the largest group of this number, thus making our position the "big brother" in the family and thus laying upon us the burden and responsibility of concern about this ill which violates the prayer, plan, and purpose of our Lord and the teachings of the apostle Paul and all of heaven and the Bible, our eternal road map, and

Inasmuch as we are taught to "do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10) and "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (I Timothy 5:8); and be it further acknowledged that there does exist among the people of God such ills as jealousy, pride, lack of brotherly love, disrespect, undue criticism, possibly hatred, slander, and numerous other such ills which should have no place in the body of true Christians believers, and which shall have no place in heaven,

Be it resolved that the United Pentecostal Church in this conference take steps to endeavor to eliminate the division that is among brethren of like precious faith: first by humbling our hearts before God asking His forgiveness and mercy and help that we might have the right attitude toward all clean, holy Oneness people of God; [and second] by extending an open-door invitation to any who desire to meet any of our boards, officials, or ministers to discuss and consider grounds of fellowship; [and third] in the event of mutual agreement for basis of fellowship with the consent of the District Board each fellowship be approved.

Be it further resolved that we request our General Board to call a General Conference of Oneness Pentecostal ministers regardless of organization or independent persuasion for the purpose of striving together for true Christian fellowship with closer and more peaceful relationship, and if possible a reunion of oneness in body and effort toward preaching the gospel to the whole world as one united people with the same spirit [so] that we might wipe away the reproach of division and all its ills which our Lord is not pleased with and which brings due criticism from the world and religious denominations and which shall have no place in heaven; thus with one accord, one mind, and one spirit, [and] with boldness and real love, present one solid front against the devil and sin, and with the power of God and strength of unity reach arms around the world to help save the lost before the soon and certain coming of our Lord.

The above is a position paper of the United Pentecostal Church International and is provided for informational purposes.

Page Added October 6, 2005

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