What Happened to RE McAllister's Church: Is it still Oneness???

[SDG]

Most familiar with the history of Oneness History know that R.E. McAllister's sermon on Jesus name baptism at a camp meeting in Arroyo Seco,CA in 1913 was one of the sparks that initiated the Oneness movement of the 20th century.

In doing some research I came across a church he pastored in Canada, Bethel Pentecostal in Ottawa. Their history reflects their association w/ the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and McAllister .... However their statement of faith is interesting.

I will post their statement of beliefs ... and the church's history.

Maybe someone can fill me in on the evolution of this church and the PAOC.

Bethel's Statement of Beliefs
http://www.bethel.ca/ourChurch/ourMission.cfm

...the Holy Scriptures to be the divinely inbreathed, infallible, inerrant and authoritative Word of God. ...that there is one God, eternally existent in the Persons of the Holy Trinity.

...in the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, His deity, His sinless humanity and perfect life, the eternal all-sufficiency of His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the Father's right hand, and His personal coming again at His second advent.

...that justification is a judicial act of God on the believer's behalf solely on the merits of Christ, and that regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.

...in holy living, the present day reality of the baptism in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord's supernatural healing of the human body.

...in Christ's Lordship of the Church, the observance of the ordinances of Christian baptism by immersion for believers and the Lord's supper. ...in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed in heaven and the eternal doom of the unregenerate in the lake of fire.

Bethel's Church History
http://www.bethel.ca/ourChurch/history.cfm

For over ninety fruitful years in the nation's capital , Ottawa, here is how it all began:

The first Pentecostal services in Ottawa were conducted in the fall of 1908, when a number of cottage prayer meetings were held. However, no permanent work was established.

In February and March of 1911, a number of full-gospel ministers and workers gathered in Ottawa to hold a convention. The services were held in Queen's Hall, at the corner of Bank and Somerset streets. Large crowds gathered for these services, many attending from the surrounding Ottawa Valley. The Pentecostal message was new and it attracted wide interest. Mighty miracles of divine healing, which accompanied these services, had a great influence on the surrounding area. Following the convention, Rev. R.E. McAlister remained in the city to shepherd the new flock. A smaller hall was obtained and regular services were held.

In June 1912, a revival campaign was held in the Howick Pavilion, on the exhibition grounds. The guest speaker was Rev. Daniel Awrey, from the United States. Other early pioneers of the Pentecostal movement were also present.

In the fall of 1912, Rev. R.E. McAllister resigned from the pastorate and was followed by Rev. J.L. Hart, who ministered until 1913. Rev. Charles Baker then took charge of the assembly. The services were held at 312-314 Lisgar Street. Rev. A.M. Otto, who had been publishing a gospel paper, became an active worker with Rev. Baker.

In 1915, Rev. Baker left Ottawa, and Rev. R.E. McAlister returned to minister for a brief period, until Rev. George A. Chambers was called to be the permanent pastor.

Rev. Chambers felt led to call a convention. A large hall in the centre of the city was obtained. Special speakers were Rev. A.H. Argue and the noted Persian evangelist, Andrew Urshan. A great revival broke out, stirring many of the surrounding churches. The congregation was forced to vacate the hall on Lisgar Street so they secured an upstairs hall over the Fern theatre at 411 Bank Street for their regular services.

Because of the phenomenal growth of the Pentecostal movement across the country, it became evident that some form of organization was necessary. It was decided to organize a co-operative fellowship, and to obtain a charter from the Canadian government, recognizing the Pentecostal work and authorizing its ministers to perform marriage ceremonies. In the fall of 1917, the Pentecostal ministers of eastern Canada met in Montreal and named the new corporation "The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. (P.A.O.C.)". Charter members were W.L. Draffin, R.E. Sternall, Harvey McAlister, C.E. Baker, H. Goss, R.E. McAlister, and George Chambers. In 1919, the federal parliament granted The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (P.A.O.C.) a charter and they became an incorporated body.

In 1919, Rev. George Chambers resigned the Ottawa pastorate and Rev. Harvey McAlister served as interim pastor until Rev. R.E. McAlister returned to assume the pastorate in the fall of that year.

Since R.E. McAlister was appointed General Secretary Treasurer of the new organization, with Rev. George Chambers as General Superintendent, the first national office of the P.A.O.C. was situated in Ottawa.

It was decided that the official voice of the P.A.O.C. should be Canadian Pentecostal Testimony (later renamed The Pentecostal Testimony). Rev. R.E. McAlister was named editor of the paper. Thus, in December, 1920, in a second-story mission hall, over a movie theatre, in the national capital, on a table made from a storm door and wooden boxes, the first issue of The Pentecostal Testimony rolled off the press. The magazine was published bimonthly for many years before becoming a monthly publication.

The February, 1921, edition of the Testimony, a folded single sheet, contained these interesting reports: A real revival seems to be on in the Ottawa assembly. Evangelist Walter McAlister is with us. Souls are being saved, people receiving the baptism in the Spirit, also young people's meetings are being held Friday evenings and Sunday School on Sunday afternoons. A second item appears as follows: Ottawa assembly making steady progress. Attendance at Sunday School 126.

In January 1921, Mrs. R.E. McAlister passed away. Shortly after this bereavement, Rev. McAlister resigned and Rev. William Pocock came to pastor the assembly until 1923, when Rev. A.S. McCready assumed the pastorate.

continued here

[Barb]

I love history, Daniel...this is an interesting subject...

[SDG]

Barb ....

I'm just a bit confused ... Oneness Historians have placed RE in the Oneness camp ... he along w/ Howard Goss and McAllister were founding charter members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in 1919....

Yet today ... the statement of beliefs of a church McAllister pastored and the PAOC ... indicate doctrine that seems in direct contradiction of the Oneness movement here in America. It is undoubtedly Trinitarian.

The PAOC's Statement of Fundamental & Essential Truths
reads as follows:

II. THE GODHEAD
The Godhead exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature
and attributes and are worthy of the same homage, confidence, and obedience.6

V. SALVATION
Salvation has been provided for all men through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.6 It is the only perfect redemption and
substitutionary atonement for all the sins of the world, both original and actual. His atoning work has been proven by His resurrection
from the dead.7 Those who repent and believe in Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and receive eternal life.8 Furthermore, in the
atonement, divine healing was provided for all believers.9

2. REPENTANCE AND FAITH
Man can be born again only through faith in Christ. Repentance, a vital part of believing, is a complete change of mind wrought by the
Holy Spirit,10 turning a person to God from sin.

3. REGENERATION
Regeneration is a creative work of the Holy Spirit by which man is born again and receives spiritual life.11

4. JUSTIFICATION
Justification is a judicial act of God by which the sinner is declared righteous solely on the basis of his acceptance of Christ as Saviour.12

THE LOCAL CHURCH
A. Purpose
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who have joined together to function as a part of the universal church.2 The local church
is ordained by God and provides a context in which believers corporately worship God,3 observe the ordinances of the church, are
instructed in the faith and are equipped for the evangelization of the world.4

(a) The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is a symbol, memorial and proclamation of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. This ordinance of
communion is to be participated in by believers until Christ's return.5

(b) Water Baptism
Water baptism signifies the believer's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection and is practised by immersion.6

-----------------------

Was the PAOC ever truly Oneness ... did it de-evolve? Did McCallister and Goss form this org w/ Trinitarians?

When did this "apostasy" happen and how?

RE McAllister obviously taught Jesus name baptism but was he really a W&S guy?

Can someone fill in the blanks here?

[SDG]

Okay ... have some answers. Looks like the PAOC, early on, was a brief experiment in Oneness and Trinitarian preachers trying to co-exist ... but it looks like the AOG got involved and the Trinitarians in the PAOC won out ...

Wiki:

Later in 1919, pentecostals in Saskatchewan and Alberta, who were not part of any broader organization, were invited to join the Assemblies of God, the PAOC's American counterpart. In 1920 the decision was made for the PAOC itself to join the Assemblies of God. In doing so, the PAOC had to repudiate the doctrine of Oneness Pentecostalism which had previously been held, and adopt the AG's Trinitarian position. This brought most of Canada's pentecostals into the AG fold, but also resulted in the splitting away of the Apostolic Church of Pentecost in 1921.


In 1925, the PAOC asked to be released from the Assemblies of God over differences in missionary vision. This was granted, and was an amiable parting, and the two groups have worked together informally ever since.

[Jack Shephard]

I would be interested in knowing this too. It seems as if the oneness and the trinitarians have been fellowshipping alot longer than then people woud have us believe.

[SDG]

So ... in 1921 ... RE McAllister's wife dies ... Robert resigns the church.
Meanwhile there appears to be turmoil between Oneness and Trinitarians in the PAOC ... the org he helped found.

Rev. William Pocock came to pastor the assembly until 1923, when Rev. A.S. McCready assumed the pastorate. One may assume these men were Trinitarians and hence taking Bethel down the Trinitarian path.

Did McAllister join up w/ the Apostolic Church of Pentecost when the Oneness guys left the PAOC?

I'll be back.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I would be interested in knowing this too. It seems as if the oneness and the trinitarians have been fellowshipping alot longer than then people woud have us believe.

Okay this is what I've gathered so far:

In the fall of 1917, the Pentecostal ministers of eastern Canada met in Montreal and named the new corporation "The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. (P.A.O.C.)". Charter members were W.L. Draffin, R.E. Sternall, Harvey McAlister, C.E. Baker, H. Goss, R.E. McAlister, and George Chambers. In 1919, the federal parliament granted The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (P.A.O.C.) a charter and they became an incorporated body.

I am also surmising that not all of these men on the charter were Oneness ... McAllister? and Goss were.

The PAOC was officially chartered on May 17, 1919, and the intent was to join the PAOW ... Haywood's Pentecostal Assemblies of the World [Oneness]. Ultimately the effort was never made to join the PAOW, and briefly the PAOC remained an independent organization with no formal U.S. ties. Until it briefly joined the umbrella of AOG from 1921 to 1925.

I am also surmising from the wiki article that Trinitarian pastors in the new PAOC were not very sold out on fellowshipping w/ other Canadian Oneness Pentecostals and began talks w/ the AOG.

Hence ....

Later in 1919, pentecostals in Saskatchewan and Alberta, who were not part of any broader organization, were invited to join the Assemblies of God, the PAOC's American counterpart. In 1920 the decision was made for the PAOC itself to join the Assemblies of God. In doing so, the PAOC had to repudiate the doctrine of Oneness Pentecostalism which had previously been held, and adopt the AG's Trinitarian position. This brought most of Canada's pentecostals into the AG fold, but also resulted in the splitting away of the Apostolic Church of Pentecost in 1921.

Meanwhile, in 1921, RE McAllister who was pastoring Bethel Pentecostal at the time resigns his church because his wife dies ... also his decision to resign Bethel might be affected at seeing his PAOC in talks with merging with the AOG.

I am also assuming he and possibly Goss help found the Canadian Apostolic Church of Pentecost ... although not sure.

man ... it would be interesting to read the statement of beliefs ... if any ... of the PAOC when it was a Trinitarian/Oneness org [1917-1921]

[Steve Epley]

Dan I think McAllister rejoined the PAOC? Not the ACOP. He went back into the Trinity camp.

[SDG]

It would appear to me that McAllister was good friends w/ George A Chambers, also a founding member of the PAOC ... Chambers also pastored the Bethel Church in Ottawa.

In 1915, Rev. Baker left Ottawa, and Rev. R.E. McAlister returned to minister for a brief period, until Rev. George A. Chambers was called to be the permanent pastor.

Rev. Chambers felt led to call a convention. A large hall in the centre of the city was obtained. Special speakers were Rev. A.H. Argue and the noted Persian evangelist, Andrew Urshan. A great revival broke out, stirring many of the surrounding churches. The congregation was forced to vacate the hall on Lisgar Street so they secured an upstairs hall over the Fern theatre at 411 Bank Street for their regular services.

Because of the phenomenal growth of the Pentecostal movement across the country, it became evident that some form of organization was necessary.

Interestingly it is Chambers that has Andrew Urshan, Oneness, preaching the revival that stirred the Pentecostal revival circa 1915.

It's also fairly obvious the McAllister's friend and co-founder, Chambers was a Trinitarian as he stays and serves in the post 1921 Trinitarian PAOC.

"
At the beginning, the denomination was divided into two districts for all of Canada—Eastern and Western. From the minutes of September 10, 1929 of the conference held at Evangel Temple, Toronto, we learn that Rev. G. A. Chambers was named General Chairman.
On August 26, 1932 the following resolution was presented and passed:

"Whereas our Eastern District Conference, composed of Ontario and Quebec, has become so large that it is difficult to handle the delegates in one Conference, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS TERRITORY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CONFERENCES, THE BOUNDARY LINE OF SAID CONFERENCES BE DETERMINED BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE."

It would appear that Rev. W. L. Draffin served as the Superintendent of Western Ontario District from 1929 until 1933. On September 5, 1933 the Western Ontario District Conference was held at Central Tabernacle in Hamilton, Ontario. At this time Rev. J. H. Blair was elected Superintendent, a position he held for more than 33 years."

http://www.wod.paoc.org/History.aspx



This would also mean the another co-founding member of the PAOC, W.L. Draffin, was Trinitarian.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Dan I think McAllister rejoined the PAOC? Not the ACOP. He went back into the Trinity camp.

I would like to find some evidence of this ... it would be interesting to see that the man, McAllister, who sparked the revelations of Ewart, Cook and Haywood .. with his famous Jesus name baptism sermon in Arroyo Seco... dabbled w/ the Oneness movement but ultimately stayed Trinitarian.

I know Bell ... the first AOG chairman ... was baptized in Jesus name but stayed w/ the Trinnies.

What was Goss thinking when he helped found the PAOC if he was already squarely in the Oneness camp?