How many of you attend Churches that were split?

[Pastor Keith]

The church we pastor came from a church split that happened in the early 1970's. It is unfortunate that this happens, it seems that OP is filled with examples of this. Can these situations be redeemed or should they all close down and people return to the group they split from with heads bowed and begging for forgiveness. Like to hear your thoughts.

By the way, it is my intention to have the original Pastor that was split against to come back and preach and pray a blessing over us. I have good relationship with him currently.

[ChTatum]

Awesome. Healing is a wonderful thing. Problem is, most people always think it is the other side that needs healing.

[Ferd]

Keith, my home church has suffered terribly from church splits. My own family has been torn from being on different sides.

It is a sad deal where virtually no one wins. In a lot of cases, I think that where possible, splits should find a way to heal and return to one but that rarely is possible.

I do think it is a great thing to try to bring healing.

The thing that few in the middle of these things fail to undersand is the reproach it brings on the church as a whole in that community. the reputation of all those involved is dammaged when christians cannot work out their differences as christians.

[Timmy]

Not now, but a couple of churches ago, we had a split. The pastor quit and a third of the people left with him. Started a new church in the same town.

[mizpeh]

The church we pastor came from a church split that happened in the early 1970's. It is unfortunate that this happens, it seems that OP is filled with examples of this. Can these situations be redeemed or should they all close down and people return to the group they split from with heads bowed and begging for forgiveness. Like to hear your thoughts.

By the way, it is my intention to have the original Pastor that was split against to come back and preach and pray a blessing over us. I have good relationship with him currently.Sometimes there is too much water under the bridge for the splits to merge back together again but reconcilation among those who were hurt is never out of the question.

[Sarah]

The church we attend has had several splits over the years. Weird thing is, almost all of the ones who left have returned. But we've had wonderful pastors who love unconditionally. That makes a difference.

[Elizabeth]

To me it's a miracle our church is still there after all these years. I am grateful, forgive me if this offends anyone, but I am glad that after all these years we still baptize in Jesus name and believe in the infilling of the spirit.

I know that they have changed on other things, but they have kept the primary doctrine thank God.

[Elizabeth]

The church we attend has had several splits over the years. Weird thing is, almost all of the ones who left have returned. But we've had wonderful pastors who love unconditionally. That makes a difference.

That is awesome!

[mizpeh]

To me it's a miracle our church is still there after all these years. I am grateful, forgive me if this offends anyone, but I am glad that after all these years we still baptize in Jesus name and believe in the infilling of the spirit.

I know that they have changed on other things, but they have kept the primary doctrine thank God.

What church are you talking about? The one you attend now?

I'm glad you baptize in Jesus name and believe in the baptism of the Spirit as well.:thumbsup

[Digging4Truth]

I do believe that there is much power in brethren broken before one another. There are fewer forces stronger than that of humility.

[MawMaw]

Haven't most, if not all churches, had splits of one form or another?

[Elizabeth]

What church are you talking about? The one you attend now?

I'm glad you baptize in Jesus name and believe in the baptism of the Spirit as well.:thumbsup

Yes the one Keith is talking about.

[Elizabeth]

I do believe that there is much power in brethren broken before one another. There are fewer forces stronger than that of humility.

Amen!

[Sam]

My wife has often said, "The only way Oneness people start new churches is to split from another." I think that is a little overstated but there is some truth to it.

[Elizabeth]

Haven't most, if not all churches, had splits of one form or another?

Yes, and many are started FROM splits, like ours.

[Sam]

I live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
Right now there are 3 UPC churches in this city and more in the surrounding area.

I don't know a lot about the history of Oneness Pentecostalism but from my understanding there was at least one Jesus' name church in the nineteen twenties. My father-in-law, who has been dead now for several years, spoke of going to services and to baptisms in the Ohio River when he was a child.

I'm not sure who pastored here years ago. I think it was a man named Brother Washington. There may have been several churches (Colored --as the term was back then and white).

In 1925 Bro. Frank Curts came to Cincinnati from Indiana. He started with a group of 13 people who were a split off a church that was here. His church was called Bethlehem Tabernacle and later First Apostolic. He was affiliated with Bishop Haywood, later PAJC, and later UPC. I went to that church in the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties.

In 1945 there was a split. A group left the church pastored by Bro. Curts and formed a new congregation which was called the Full Gospel Church. Later the name changed to Carthage Apostolic Church and then later to Covenant Apostolic Church. This was considered a UPC church briefly but that was not allowed for long. The first pastor was named Bro. E.G. Lowe. He was replaced in 1947 by Bro. James Verdier. Then in January 1953, Bro. Joe David Sizemore came as pastor. I attended this church in the nineteen sixties and seventies. At that time Bro. Sizemore was in the ALJC. I don't know what organizations the other pastors were with. I left that church in the 1978/1979 period.

In 1968 or so, the church pastored by Bro. Curts had another split. The assistant pastor, Bro. Norman Paslay, was replaced by Bro. Leroy Buller, so Bro. Paslay and a group left and formed Covenant Church which was UPC. For a while there were two competing UPC churches in Cincinnati plus the ALJC church. These 3 churches were all made up of family members from the same families. Soon, there was fellowship between the UPC church pastored by Bro. Paslay and the ALJC church pastored by Bro. Sizemore but neither fellowshipped the church pastored by Bro. Buller. People came and went and switched membership in the different churches. These 3 churches were predominantly white. There have been and still are several churches in the area which are considered to be African American churches.

Bro. Sizemore appointed his son as pastor in the ALJC church and retired to position of Bishop. Several families left the church and formed another church in a neighboring city which became a UPC church. Bro. Sizemore's son later resigned as pastor and Bro. Sizemore died. That church is now pastored by Bro. Hendricks as a UPC church.

So, now there are 4 UPC churches, predominantly white, made up of people from the same families and 3 of those churches are splits off the original split church established by Bro. Curts in 1925.

[Elizabeth]

Wow Sam how do you remember all that?

[Sam]

Wow Sam how do you remember all that?

When I came here in 1957, the group that had split from our UPC church in 1945 were referred to as "the church on the hill" and we had nothing but contempt for them. There was no fellowship, however, families were split with members in both churches.

We had left that UPC church in the early sixties (1963/64) and started attending the ALJC church but heard some about their (UPC) split in 1968 and there was even fellowship between our ALJC church and the newly formed UPC church. Also, several families started coming to our ALJC church from those two UPC churches that were battling each other.

My limited knowledge of the split in 1925 is based on information from my father-in-law, some stuff I heard from his family (all dead now) and a minister named Bro. Bostick. He was known to my father-in-law's family. I don't know what church he went to. One time I saw his license/credential and it had the name "Church of Jesus Christ Our God" on it.

Back in the nineteen sixties and seventies I did some preaching in the Cincinnati area in some African American and some white churches. The African American ones were PAW and Church of Jesus Christ Pentecostal Faith. Other white churches I preached at were Church of Jesus Christ, Church of Jesus Christ Pentecostal Faith, Church of God Our Savior, Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, plus some that I don't know what organization they were in or if they were independent.

I was not involved in any of those splits.

[GraceAmazing]

I live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
Right now there are 3 UPC churches in this city and more in the surrounding area.

I don't know a lot about the history of Oneness Pentecostalism but from my understanding there was at least one Jesus' name church in the nineteen twenties. My father-in-law, who has been dead now for several years, spoke of going to services and to baptisms in the Ohio River when he was a child.

I'm not sure who pastored here years ago. I think it was a man named Brother Washington. There may have been several churches (Colored --as the term was back then and white).

In 1925 Bro. Frank Curts came to Cincinnati from Indiana. He started with a group of 13 people who were a split off a church that was here. His church was called Bethlehem Tabernacle and later First Apostolic. He was affiliated with Bishop Haywood, later PAJC, and later UPC. I went to that church in the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties.

In 1945 there was a split. A group left the church pastored by Bro. Curts and formed a new congregation which was called the Full Gospel Church. Later the name changed to Carthage Apostolic Church and then later to Covenant Apostolic Church. This was considered a UPC church briefly but that was not allowed for long. The first pastor was named Bro. E.G. Lowe. He was replaced in 1947 by Bro. James Verdier. Then in January 1953, Bro. Joe David Sizemore came as pastor. I attended this church in the nineteen sixties and seventies. At that time Bro. Sizemore was in the ALJC. I don't know what organizations the other pastors were with. I left that church in the 1978/1979 period.

In 1968 or so, the church pastored by Bro. Curts had another split. The assistant pastor, Bro. Norman Paslay, was replaced by Bro. Leroy Buller, so Bro. Paslay and a group left and formed Covenant Church which was UPC. For a while there were two competing UPC churches in Cincinnati plus the ALJC church. These 3 churches were all made up of family members from the same families. Soon, there was fellowship between the UPC church pastored by Bro. Paslay and the ALJC church pastored by Bro. Sizemore but neither fellowshipped the church pastored by Bro. Buller. People came and went and switched membership in the different churches. These 3 churches were predominantly white. There have been and still are several churches in the area which are considered to be African American churches.

Bro. Sizemore appointed his son as pastor in the ALJC church and retired to position of Bishop. Several families left the church and formed another church in a neighboring city which became a UPC church. Bro. Sizemore's son later resigned as pastor and Bro. Sizemore died. That church is now pastored by Bro. Hendricks as a UPC church.

So, now there are 4 UPC churches, predominantly white, made up of people from the same families and 3 of those churches are splits off the original split church established by Bro. Curts in 1925.


I think I remember Bro. Sizemore's son from Bible College...do you know why he resigned the church?

[missourimary]

The church we pastor came from a church split that happened in the early 1970's. It is unfortunate that this happens, it seems that OP is filled with examples of this. Can these situations be redeemed or should they all close down and people return to the group they split from with heads bowed and begging for forgiveness. Like to hear your thoughts.

By the way, it is my intention to have the original Pastor that was split against to come back and preach and pray a blessing over us. I have good relationship with him currently.

Depends on the reason for the split, the length of time since the split, and current circumstances. Also depends on what you call a "split".

If people were disfellowshipped wrongfully, tried to be reconciled and were rejected, and they sought each other out and became a new fellowship, no, I don't agree that they should go back.

If people left, either by their own will or by being disfellowshipped, due to wrongdoing on their part, they should seek forgiveness. They do not necessarily need to rejoin as one group.

If it has been years ago and both churches are doing well, why recombine into one?

If people are still wounded from the rift, on either side (left or were left), it is most likely better for everyone to stay in their own churches but begin to slowly reconcile through a joint meeting or activity now and then (with other Apostolic churches in the local area). Don't make attendance mandatory.

Remember what you or your church believes happened may not be what saints there believe happened. There's more than one side to a story, especially one as emotionally tense as a split can be.

[Sam]

I think I remember Bro. Sizemore's son from Bible College...do you know why he resigned the church?

No, I don't know.
He's in Florida now pastoring a church.
He is a good man, very sincere.

[GraceAmazing]

Yes, he's a good man!! I always liked him!

Florida, huh? Sounds like the Lord led him in a more perfect way...from cold Ohio/Kentucky to warm, sunny Florida!!! LOL!

[Falla39]

The church the Father planted in our city has endured the storms of life for
51 yrs. yesterday, Nov. 12. My earthly father and mother together planted
this "Plant", beginning with an humble storefront in 1958. To an existing bldg,
in 1964 (former 11 yr old First Christian Church). Dad went home in 1989, Mom
in 1999. Three generations of my family worship today in a beautiful facility just
outside the city limits of our city. Situated on approx. six acres.

Though there have been many storms, etc., trials and tests, yet this church has
never split in 51 yrs. I can witness that this is true, having been there from day one.
To God be the Glory for HE alone is worthy to received honor. HE is the one who has
kept this church intact, in spite of the storms. If the Father didn't plant it,
it will be rooted up. Matt. 15:13

This church was begun with an humble man, his wife and eleven children. I am the
eldest daughter. The words above the fountain in front of the church says, "His
children shall have a place of refuge". This place is affectionately called "The Rufuge".
Dad and Mom never saw this facility.

Not only did Noah's ark save his own household, but provided a place for those two
by two's who would come later. Namely the gentiles. Remember the unclean animals
in the sheet vision Peter had. Jesus also told his disciples to go out two by
two. Out of the Old (darkness) Covenant (law) of sin and death, into the New
(glorious Light of the gospel of Jesus Christ). Covenant (Grace, mercy).

1Peter 2:9,10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Blessings,

Falla39