Historical Perspective
The United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) traces its origins to key events and movements in Church History. The events of the Day of Pentecost and the doctrines and practices of the Apostles are intricately woven into the fabric of the United Church. Thus, we have our Pentecostal roots in the Early Church established in Jerusalem in A.D. 33 as recorded in the Book of Acts when the one hundred and twenty disciples of Jesus Christ experienced the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28. Further, according to Ephesians 2:20, the United Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
The Apostles of Jesus Christ were great contenders of the faith, and all the Apostles, except John, were martyred for the cause of Christ. Other post-Apostolic Church Fathers, such as Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna, preached and taught within two generations of the Apostles.
Religious men of the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries from Europe, such as Martin Luther, George Whitefield, John Wesley and Edward Irving, came to the forefront of the Protestant Church Movement and influenced American spirituality.
The American Methodist and Holiness Movements of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century had a significant influence on and helped usher in the Pentecostal Movement which began in Topeka, Kansas in 1900 by Charles F. Parham. The United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) traces its theological and spiritual roots to the Pentecostal Revival Movement.
The Pentecostal Movement gained momentum in 1906 when 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California became the spiritual headquarters of American Pentecostalism under the leadership of African-American preacher William J. Seymour. The Azusa Street Revival spread throughout the United States and abroad, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit (with the evidence of speaking in tongues) and the gifts of the Spirit were freely manifested in persons of all races, ethnicities, and social classes.
The Oneness Movement, which originated in 1913 from a camp meeting held at Arroyo Seco, California, further defined us as Apostolic. At the heart of the Oneness Movement was the belief in the Jesus Name baptismal formula and the oneness of God in Christ Jesus. Rev. R. E. McAlister, a Canadian Pentecostal, proclaimed at a baptismal service that the Apostles of Jesus Christ never invoked the titles of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost when they baptized converts but rather baptized in the name, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church of God in Christ (Bishop Charles L. Mason), Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (Bishop Garfield T. Haywood), Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Bishop Robert C. Lawson), The Way of the Cross Church of Christ (Bishop Henry C. Brooks), The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World-Wide (Bishop Smallwood E. Williams), and the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), and many other Pentecostal/Apostolic churches are the offspring of the twentieth century revival.
In 1934, the Church of God in Christ #6 was established in Baltimore where Monroe R. Saunders became an elder. Out of this church, the Rehoboth Church of God in Christ Jesus (Apostolic) was established in 1947 by the late Bishop Randolph A. Carr, to whom God had revealed baptism in the name, Lord Jesus Christ. In 1957, Elder Saunders was consecrated as Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. and was a member of the Board of Bishops until 1965.
In September 1965, Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. (Baltimore, Maryland); Bishop Sydney A. Dunn (Birmingham, England); Bishop John S. Watson (Jamaica, West Indies); and Bishop Raymond Murray (Boston, Massachusetts) established the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) and served as its first Board of Bishops. The Church was incorporated and remains incorporated in Washington, D.C., and as a corporation, it is directed by a Board of Bishops with the Presiding Bishop as its leader. These four anointed men of God laid the foundation for the vibrant organization that exists today with churches across the United States and in Canada, England, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, and Liberia, West Africa.
Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. founded the First United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in November 1965 at 3400 Copley Road in Baltimore. In the late 1970’s, the church moved to 5150 Baltimore National Pike, which became the new headquarters of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic).
As a gifted leader in preaching, teaching, evangelism, church planting, and prophecy, Bishop Saunders, Sr. served the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) as its spiritual leader and Presiding Bishop from 1965 until 2004. During the 38th International Convocation, he was honored and affirmed as the Chief Apostle in perpetuity of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), and Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Jr. (D. Min.), his eldest son, was elected and installed as the Presiding Prelate.
No significant changes have been made in the doctrinal operation of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) since its beginning in September 1965.
Just as the Early Church Fathers and leaders “earnestly contended for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude v. 3), so the United Church maintains the same call to worship which exalts God through His Son, Jesus Christ. As a body of believers, as lights in a dark and dying world, its members fulfill their calling as sons of God walking according to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. United Church members purpose to live according to Philippians 2:15: “That you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (NASV).
The United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) firmly believes that its faith must be accompanied by works. Therefore, believers use every opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s image: they lift the fallen; they visit the sick; they strengthen the weak; and they comfort the feeble-minded. Further, they share the compelling message of the Gospel with the lost of this world, and they place urgency on being Spirit-filled, mission-conscious, and purpose-driven while awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Apostles of Jesus Christ were great contenders of the faith, and all the Apostles, except John, were martyred for the cause of Christ. Other post-Apostolic Church Fathers, such as Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna, preached and taught within two generations of the Apostles.
Religious men of the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries from Europe, such as Martin Luther, George Whitefield, John Wesley and Edward Irving, came to the forefront of the Protestant Church Movement and influenced American spirituality.
The American Methodist and Holiness Movements of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century had a significant influence on and helped usher in the Pentecostal Movement which began in Topeka, Kansas in 1900 by Charles F. Parham. The United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) traces its theological and spiritual roots to the Pentecostal Revival Movement.
The Pentecostal Movement gained momentum in 1906 when 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California became the spiritual headquarters of American Pentecostalism under the leadership of African-American preacher William J. Seymour. The Azusa Street Revival spread throughout the United States and abroad, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit (with the evidence of speaking in tongues) and the gifts of the Spirit were freely manifested in persons of all races, ethnicities, and social classes.
The Oneness Movement, which originated in 1913 from a camp meeting held at Arroyo Seco, California, further defined us as Apostolic. At the heart of the Oneness Movement was the belief in the Jesus Name baptismal formula and the oneness of God in Christ Jesus. Rev. R. E. McAlister, a Canadian Pentecostal, proclaimed at a baptismal service that the Apostles of Jesus Christ never invoked the titles of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost when they baptized converts but rather baptized in the name, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church of God in Christ (Bishop Charles L. Mason), Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (Bishop Garfield T. Haywood), Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Bishop Robert C. Lawson), The Way of the Cross Church of Christ (Bishop Henry C. Brooks), The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World-Wide (Bishop Smallwood E. Williams), and the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), and many other Pentecostal/Apostolic churches are the offspring of the twentieth century revival.
In 1934, the Church of God in Christ #6 was established in Baltimore where Monroe R. Saunders became an elder. Out of this church, the Rehoboth Church of God in Christ Jesus (Apostolic) was established in 1947 by the late Bishop Randolph A. Carr, to whom God had revealed baptism in the name, Lord Jesus Christ. In 1957, Elder Saunders was consecrated as Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. and was a member of the Board of Bishops until 1965.
In September 1965, Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. (Baltimore, Maryland); Bishop Sydney A. Dunn (Birmingham, England); Bishop John S. Watson (Jamaica, West Indies); and Bishop Raymond Murray (Boston, Massachusetts) established the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) and served as its first Board of Bishops. The Church was incorporated and remains incorporated in Washington, D.C., and as a corporation, it is directed by a Board of Bishops with the Presiding Bishop as its leader. These four anointed men of God laid the foundation for the vibrant organization that exists today with churches across the United States and in Canada, England, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, and Liberia, West Africa.
Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. founded the First United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in November 1965 at 3400 Copley Road in Baltimore. In the late 1970’s, the church moved to 5150 Baltimore National Pike, which became the new headquarters of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic).
As a gifted leader in preaching, teaching, evangelism, church planting, and prophecy, Bishop Saunders, Sr. served the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) as its spiritual leader and Presiding Bishop from 1965 until 2004. During the 38th International Convocation, he was honored and affirmed as the Chief Apostle in perpetuity of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), and Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Jr. (D. Min.), his eldest son, was elected and installed as the Presiding Prelate.
No significant changes have been made in the doctrinal operation of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) since its beginning in September 1965.
Just as the Early Church Fathers and leaders “earnestly contended for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude v. 3), so the United Church maintains the same call to worship which exalts God through His Son, Jesus Christ. As a body of believers, as lights in a dark and dying world, its members fulfill their calling as sons of God walking according to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. United Church members purpose to live according to Philippians 2:15: “That you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (NASV).
The United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) firmly believes that its faith must be accompanied by works. Therefore, believers use every opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s image: they lift the fallen; they visit the sick; they strengthen the weak; and they comfort the feeble-minded. Further, they share the compelling message of the Gospel with the lost of this world, and they place urgency on being Spirit-filled, mission-conscious, and purpose-driven while awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!