Global Council Meets in St. Louis

Delegates from around the world will convene at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri, for the November 15-17 meeting of the Global Council of the United Pentecostal Church. Approximately 300 guests, including international church leaders and ministry officials, are expected to be in attendance.

Global Council delegates represent the United Pentecostal Church International’s 5.5 million constituents who worship in 43,000 churches in 238 nations and territories. The three-day event will include business meetings, a tour of the UPCI’s world headquarters facility in nearby Weldon Spring, a visit to the campus of Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology in Wentzville, and a special Wednesday evening worship service in the Urshan College chapel.

Global Council Chairman Dr. David K. Bernard, who also serves as the general superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International, explained that the Global Council exists to facilitate unity and collaboration among churches and leaders around the world and to coordinate the UPCI’s international efforts.

“It has proven very helpful in creating international fellowship and fostering collaboration while maintaining doctrinal integrity,” Bernard said. “When challenges arise in one nation, leaders from other nations can offer encouragement, support, and assistance. The Global Council also plays an important role in establishing international standards for ministers.”

The Global Council meets every five years. This is the first time since its inception in 1998 that the council has met in the United States. The meeting originally was scheduled to be held in 2020 but was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Global Council was established to fulfill the following objectives:

• To strengthen our unity through closer fellowship worldwide
• To uphold the International Articles of Faith and standards of righteousness
• To unite our missionary endeavor worldwide
• To develop plans for worldwide evangelism
• To promote the World Network of Prayer

In addition to Dr. Bernard, the council is led by co-chair Bruce Howell, the director of UPCI Global Missions. Marco Tulio Oviedo, the general superintendent of the UPC in Colombia, serves as secretary. A complete list of Global Council representatives from each member nation is available at upci.org/global-council.