Different OP Organizations

Sam · #1 07-20-2012, 10:04 AM

I guess most of us here are currently in the UPC or have been part of the UPC. I don't know how many different OP organizations exist or how large they are but I assume the UPC is the largest. A recent thread talked about the ALJC (Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ) and in it I mentioned a couple of organizations that merged to form the ALJC in 1952 and I mentioned some OP organizations over the years that have split off others and some who have merged with others over the years.

I have never been licensed or ordained with the UPC. I was baptized in Elim Tabernacle (UPC) in Milwaukee, WI on October 27, 1955. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at Bethel Tabernacle (UPC) in Racine Wisconsin on May 20, 1956. I attended the Apostolic Bible Institute (UPC) in St. Paul, MN for the 1956/1957 year. I attended the First Apostolic Church (UPC) in Cincinnati from 1957 until 1963 or 1964 when we left there and started going to an ALJC church. Even though I taught Sunday School at FAC and did some preaching/teaching there and other places for the 6 or 7 years I attended there I was never licensed by the UPC.

Over the years I have been licensed/ordained by the following groups:
Church of Jesus Christ (1959)
Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal Faith (early 1960's)
Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ (during the 1970's)
Churches of Jesus Christ International (currently ordained)
Hamilton Dream Center (currently ordained)

The old group known as The Church of Jesus Christ which was chartered by Bishop Mark Lawson in 1927 is still active and operating under that charter. Their headquarters are in Kingsport, TN. There are other groups using various names similar to the Church of Jesus Christ operating in different areas such as the one chaired by Bishop James Trull http://thechurchofjesuschrist-pillowville.com/
and one in Indiana http://www.thechurchofjesuschrist-ac...m/Churches.htm
and others.

I used to have fellowship with some ministers who belonged to a group called AMA (Apostolic Ministerial Alliance) which was organized in 1941 by L.R. Ooton and others but I don't know if this group still exists or not.

In 1954, Bro. W.E. Kidson and some others left the UPC and formed the IMA http://interma.net/index.html which is still in operation.

in 1968 some left the UPC and forme the AMF which is also known as the ACI.

In 1992 some left the UPC and formed Global Network http://interma.net/index.html which still seems to be growing

The PAJC is still active. Some ministers who did not want to merge in 1945 reactivated the PAJC charter. Their HQ is about an hour from where I live. Their web site is http://www.pajc.org/ I get their magazine in the mail every so often

When the UPC voted to allow tv advertising a few years ago a group left and formed the WWPF (World Wide Pentecostal Fellowship)

Two other OP organizations that I am aware of are
ICOF http://www.icof.net/index.php/home
and
AWCF http://awcf.org/component/option,com...ge/Itemid,127/

There may be other OP groups/organizations which are active but this is what I know about right now.

Jay · #2 07-20-2012, 10:25 AM

Most recently (as of four years ago) the WPF was formed.

(me being cheeky)

I believe that there are more than 1000 organizations in the OP movement. The UPCI is by far the largest, but I believe that China and Columbia (if memory serves) both have enough people that they could rival the UPCI in size.

Sam · #3 07-20-2012, 01:05 PM

The group in Ethiopia that used to be part of the UPC is pretty big. They and the UPC mutually disfellowshipped (don't know how to spell that) each other a few years ago. I think they are now part of Bishop Samuel Smith's group or of Bishop Bernie Wade's group.

Esaias · #4 07-20-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

The old group known as The Church of Jesus Christ which was chartered by Bishop Mark Lawson in 1927 is still active and operating under that charter. Their headquarters are in Kingsport, TN. There are other groups using various names similar to the Church of Jesus Christ operating in different areas such as the one chaired by Bishop James Trull http://thechurchofjesuschrist-pillowville.com/
and one in Indiana http://www.thechurchofjesuschrist-ac...m/Churches.htm
and others.

Couple years ago our house church had a small 'campmeeting' and some Church of Jesus Christ folks from Tennessee came down. Good people. Oh, there were a contingent of Oneness Pentecostal Baptists that showed up too, from Louisiana, I think.

Titus2woman · #5 07-20-2012, 01:48 PM

The True Jesus Church claims about 2.5 million members world wide. They now have several churches in Texas and are building a very large center near Dallas.

Sam · #6 07-20-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

The True Jesus Church claims about 2.5 million members world wide. They now have several churches in Texas and are building a very large center near Dallas.

I had forgotten about the True Jesus Church

There is a listing of OP churches at
http://www.apostolic-churches.com/organizations.html

They do not list the Churches of Jesus Christ International with which I am ordained and they only list one Church of Jesus Christ which is a local church in Tennessee, although there are several organizations which use that name.

Bro. Robbins · #7 07-20-2012, 02:37 PM

that list doesn't have us, but there again, we don't have a Web Site ....

Emmanuel Churches of Christ - Pentecostal, headquarters in Donelson, TN (suburb of Nashville), and churches in TN, KY, AL, and some international fellowships.

Esaias · #8 07-20-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

They do not list the Churches of Jesus Christ International with which I am ordained and they only list one Church of Jesus Christ which is a local church in Tennessee, although there are several organizations which use that name.

Sam, is the COJCI that you are ordained through one of the COJC groups that refuse to say 'Jesus' without saying 'Christ' as well?

Just wondering, because the brethren I met from Tennessee at our campmeeting held that view. They also believed that baptism should be done 'in the name of Jesus Christ' as opposed to 'Lord Jesus Christ' which they viewed as a compromise with trinitarianism, and as opposed to 'Jesus only' or 'Jesus name' which they viewed as being in error.

I'm sure a lot of people reading this will probably be thinking 'HUH???' but if you move in COJC circles then you probably know exactly what I am trying to get at.

Esaias · #9 07-20-2012, 03:48 PM

Don't forget the Apostolic Assemblies (Asambleas Apostolicas), a large OP (largely Spanish-speaking) denomination.

http://www.apostolicassembly.org/apostolic_who.aspx

houston · #10 07-20-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

The group in Ethiopia that used to be part of the UPC is pretty big. They and the UPC mutually disfellowshipped (don't know how to spell that) each other a few years ago. I think they are now part of Bishop Samuel Smith's group or of Bishop Bernie Wade's group.

That wasn't mutual.