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The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a Pentecostal denomination formed by a 1945 merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. The UPCI is headquartered in Hazelwood, Missouri.
It dates back to October 1916, when a large group of ministers withdrew from the Assemblies of God over the doctrinal issues of the oneness of God and water baptism in the name of Jesus. Specifically, the UPCI holds most of the beliefs of the Holiness-Pentecostal movement, including the Pentecostal view that speaking in tongues is the initial sign of receiving the Holy Spirit, but rejects the doctrine of the Trinity (see Oneness_Pentecostals) and the traditional Trinitarian formula in water baptism.
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A young man being baptized in Jesus'Name
Followers of the denomination believe in modesty in dress and a distinction between male and female dress. Women typically dress in long skirts and long-sleeved shirts (although some wear short sleeves), do not cut their hair, and generally wear their hair pinned up close to the head, although most younger ladies wear their hair down or up, whichever they prefer. Men generally are clean-shaven, wear their hair short, and wear long sleeves (although, like women, some wear short sleeves), and long slacks. Both men and women wear only functional accessories such as a plain wristwatch and a wedding band, although some choose to wear none of these. These beliefs are often followed to the extent that followers do not participate in secular community or public school activities such as physical education classes or corporate outings. Members also often refrain from watching any television programs (although most own a TV and a VCR, without reception or antenna, when can be used to watch religious or spiritually uplifting tapes without exposure to the contamination of mass popular culture) or general-relase films, including forgoing them when included as part of work or school curriculum.
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