The Difference between PCI, PAJC and the New Heritage False Claiming Posers

[Firewind]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

You know Bishop Haywood wrote a paper against eternal security I always wondered about that? This must have been the reason. I did know that eternal security became more the rallying cry for Small's group than the basic Apostolic doctrine it predetermined their isolation thus defection in my opinion.

Yes, when Small founded the ACOP, the emphasis on eternal security certainly put it at odds with the rest of the Oneness movement, and was a definite hindrance to its expansion in eastern Canada, where the eternal security doctrine was generally rejected.

In the west, the doctrine grew deep roots in both the ACOP and the Evangelical Churches of Pentecost, which were both strongly influenced early on by William Booth-Clibborn's teachings on the grace of God.

The ECOP baptized in Jesus' name, and there were some Oneness preachers in the group, but most adhered to what they called a "tri-unity" view.

After the 1953 merger of the ECOP with the ACOP (which Small opposed), the Oneness view of the Godhead gradually waned. Today, most of the ACOP's staunch Oneness advocates in the west have passed from the scene, so the strongest remaining pockets of Oneness influence would be mostly in Ontario and the Maritimes, where many of the ministers came from the UPC.

Given how closely the ACOP is identified with eternal security, it's interesting that the doctrine has never actually been a requirement for ministry, nor is it specifically included in the statement of faith.

John Paterson, who had no use for Calvinism, told me that he received assurance from Small and other ACOP leaders that they "would never disrupt fellowship" over differing views on eternal security.

On the other hand, some found the emphasis on the doctrine overbearing. When the last of the Oneness ministers in the PAOC, including Ralph Reynolds, were finally forced out in the early 1940s, they initially joined the ACOP. But they soon departed and eventually joined the UPC, due in no small part to the zealous promotion of eternal security by western ACOP ministers.

In his history of the Canadian movement, Reynolds firmly rejected unconditional eternal security, but expressed gratitude to the ACOP for giving this little group of ousted ministers a home during a time of turmoil.