Should you be wary of United Church of God? Are they an authoritarian, high demand group? Do they use mind control? Where does their belief system really originate from? This article will provide info on UCG with additional links at bottom to more information on possible reasons why they were founded. If you have exited UCG, you will find helpful links at bottom.

United Church of God, An International Association, is one of the major breakoffs from the Worldwide Church of God. It was founded in 1995, within six weeks of the WCG changes, by Bob Dick and David Hulme in Arcadia, CA.  The new president of UCG is Klyde Kilough (former Ambassador College graduate). In December 2007 UCG-AIA announced that their headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio will be moved to property near the town of Denton, Texas that they they purchased for $1.6 million dollars.1 (Note: UCG-AIA is not the same as United Church of God, Birmingham,2 which was founded in 1995 by Ray Wooten; however, the initials "UCG" will be used throughout this article.)

UCG teaches that they are the "continuation of the one and only true church of God" (tracing their origins to "the church that Jesus founded in the early first century" and following "the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then."3 ). What they actually follow are the teachings, doctrines and practices of Herbert W. Armstrong who founded the Worldwide Church of God in 1934. They believe they are "God's true church" evidenced by their "obedience to God's Laws" and being a "small flock."

UCG has an array of glossy and slick "free" literature; e. g., World News and Prophecy (to "discern the times in light of Bible prophecy"); The Good News ("a magazine of understanding"); Vertical Thought ("magazine of understanding for tomorrow's leaders") and Virtual Christian Magazine ("Hope and Encouragement For the Real World"). The United News is the church-wide newsletter for members4 and their radio program is called Good News Radio Program. They even have a "Ambassador Bible Center" (ABC) which teaches the same "theology" classes that were formerly taught at Ambassador College (founded by HWA in 1947).

UCG is eager to introduce people to their "free Bible Study Course" (which is also online), including "Sabbath School Lessons" and a "Teen Bible Study Guide" for the youth. This Bible course (which emphasizes that "obedience brings understanding" and presents several other "keys" to Bible understanding that Herbert Armstrong taught) is one of the first steps to getting people to believe their teachings are truly Bible-based and, as a result, end up joining. (HWA also made use of these same tactics.)

If one carefully examines UCG's "free" literature (including their free 12-lesson Bible Study Course), they can clearly discern that it is filled with mind control methods of guilt, striving for perfection, fear and "only true church" dogma. Notice quotes below from one of UCG's booklets which reveal "buzzwords" that all mind-manipulating groups use: (All emphasis ours) 

From UCG booklet: "The Road to Eternal Life" 

"We must recognize the sin within us and comprehend our deep-rooted hostility to God."

"We see that the Holy Spirit is given to us by the prayer of and laying on of hands by God's ordained ministers, serving as His representatives."

"Overcoming our habitual sins and selfish nature does not happen instantly. It is a lifelong process, often involving great effort."

"As long as we actively seek God's will and allow His Holy Spirit to work in our lives, our eventual salvation is guaranteed."

"Will you let this precious calling from God go unheeded?"

"We trace our origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century." 

"We believe that this fundamental spiritual law [Ten Commandments] reveals the only way to true life and the only possible way of happiness, peace and joy."

"This is the only road to eternal life."

UCG's belief system is said to be the "only road" to eternal life. Members are to submit to "the government of God" (which includes submitting to their leaders over them) in order to be "God's faithful servants," and "attain to perfection." They must be "duly baptized" (immersion and laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit) and they are to "strive to obey God's Laws." This includes adherence to the O.T. law of clean and unclean meats (Leviticus 11), observance of the Ten Commandments (especially resting on the Sabbath from evening to evening) and all the feast days listed in Leviticus 23 (known as "the festivals of God" and "God's Holy Day Plan."). These O.T. annual Sabbaths are "commanded assemblies" and members are expected to take off from work in order to be at services. Passover in the spring (with foot washing) and Day of Atonement (fasting without food or water) are two days out of the year that, if not observed, can cause them to be "cut off" from the assembly.

While UCG boldly claims: "no one is ever asked for donations"; "no offering is collected at services" and "we do not solicit the general public for funds," these are the exact same words HWA used for years through his "free" Plain Truth, World Tomorrow and Bible Correspondence program. However, once ensnared within Herbert Armstrong's totalistic group,  members were commanded to save more than a first tithe. There was a second and third tithe to be paid, plus seven holy day offerings a year, as well as numerous other "needs" such as a building fund and emergencies. UCG members likewise are told it is biblical to pay headquarters a first tithe on their net income (along with offerings) for the "furtherance of the Work." To fail to do so is considered "stealing from God." Yet, in the same breath they go on to say that they are "free to tithe on gross income if they so choose" and can even "give contributions above their tithes."5  (This is nothing more than manipulation.) A 2nd tithe is saved for the purpose of spending it during the Feast days (most specifically the Feast of Tabernacles). A third tithe is paid every 3rd and 6th year out of seven, and while they will give a lengthy explanation about who is ineligible to pay this tithe, members are still "encouraged" to give a third tithe to the "Church's Assistance Fund." (Ministers claim they are part of the Levitical priesthood and do not have to pay 2nd or 3rd tithes.) In addition, generous offerings are taken up on all the feast days.

We Put the "Give Way" to the Test (shows why the blessings Herbert Armstrong promised through tithing don't materialize)

Members do not observe Christmas or Easter, calling them "pagan" (similar to the Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings, which is one group that HWA have plagiarized from). They frown on marrying someone who is not a member of UCG.

They teach that voting in public elections, while not in itself considered a "sin," nevertheless, should not be done. (More double-talk.)

UCG believes God is a "family" composed of only Father and Son, and members in "God's Church" who "endure to the end" will, in the first resurrection, become part of this "God family" (a doctrine HWA copied from the Mormons). At that time, they will rule with Christ as spirit beings ("kings and priests") in the Kingdom ("Government") of God on earth in order to teach mankind "God's way of life" which is to bring worldwide peace. Their training in UCG (listening to sermons, attending Bible studies, etc.) is preparing them now for that task that lies ahead.

They also believe in a second resurrection to mortal life for "all those who died and never had a chance to receive an opportunity for salvation" and a third resurrection for those who have "willfully rejected the truth." These last ones are to be thrown in the Lake of Fire and cease to exist (annihilation). They do not believe man has an immortal soul that lives on after death; neither do they believe anyone goes to heaven or hell after dying, but that everyone "sleeps"  in the grave until their time to come up in the resurrections. (This, again, is identical to Jehovah's Witnesses' and other religious cults' teaching.)

UCG teaches about end time prophecies and end time events and hold to Herbert Armstrong's "United States and Britain in prophecy" theory (see our article: British-Israelism--True or False?). They expect that they (who have been obedient to the Law) will be "forced to flee (to a place of safety) from persecutions from their enemies before the return of Jesus Christ."

They believe they are commissioned by God to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God (which they say is "not only about Christ" but is about the "government of God") to all the world before the return of Christ. Herbert Armstrong stated that the Kingdom of God was the "born family of God" which would "restore the government of God earth wide."6 (Mystery of the Ages by Herbert W. Armstrong, p. 171) The "gospel" UCG preaches is a false gospel and is nowhere close to the gospel of grace taught in the New Testament. Instead, the grace of Christ is replaced with Mosaic laws, rituals and government given to the nation Israel under the old covenant. UCG believes (as HWA taught) that the church is "spiritual Israel"7 but members must be obedient to the Law. It is almost ironic that UCG should tell others to "beware of false teachers."

"United Youth Corps" and "United Youth Camps" are set up for the youths in UCG, who participate in "various international service projects" and are to be committed to "the way of give instead of get" and to "form character." (More buzzwords of HWA's.) This is just another way UCG causes the youth in their congregations to sacrifice their lives by spreading UCG's teachings in other countries in order in order to recruit more vulnerable people into their group. It also ensures that they will be more submissive to their leaders in UCG.

UCG meets in rented halls, schools, churches, recreation centers, lodges, etc. They have no church buildings (especially in the U. S.) of their own. Members take copious notes during services as they listen to sermonettes and long sermons, which are more like college classes. There is no nursery for the children; parents are to bring something to occupy them with, or they lie on the floor by their parents on a blanket or pad.

UCG says they merely want everyone to have a chance to know "the truth." But this "truth" is merely the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong (a known hypocrite who plagiarized from other cults and aberrant groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Church of God 7th Day, Seventh-day Adventism, Pentecostalism, etc., and who knowingly lied about what he taught.8 Members in UCG still believe that HWA was used of God to "restore the true gospel," which they say has been "lost" since the first century. Totalistic groups claim to have a monopoly on "truth" and say their founder (who claimed to be "Christ's apostle, prophet, messenger, Elijah," etc.) supposedly had this knowledge revealed to them by God.  They teach that this "truth" cannot be found outside their particular belief system (and many times outside their own group). (All Or Nothing Statements (from those that have "the truth"). They furnish "black and white" answers to life, as did Herbert Armstrong and his Worldwide Church of God. 

While UCG outwardly gives the appearance of a "nice, friendly, laid back, non-controlling church," they still use propaganda and psychological manipulation to cause others to come to the conclusion that in order to be "fully committed to God" and to enter into eternal life they must believe and put into practice all that "God's Church" teaches (i. e., commands), and that they must not ever depart from these teachings ("truths"). Those who join UCG have cut themselves off from former friends and family members (those "in the world") who do not espouse the same beliefs. Members' entire lives revolve around "the Church."

Attendance in  UCG dropped from 20,000 to 12,000 as of 2004, and they continue to experience slow growth. Most of their new members have been from those who have exited other "churches of God" (i. e., offshoots or splinter groups from Worldwide Church of God).

Former members and exiters of UCG, along with maintaining that the group shows a lack of love and venerates Herbert W. Armstrong, have testified of spiritual abuse and exploitation,9 and of having to go through a very difficult exiting process and recovery.10

Before considering that the UCG might be a good "church" to join, and before giving away your time, your money and your life, thoroughly check out the history of the group (Worldwide Church of God), investigate the religious roots of Herbert W. Armstrong, along with his background, and educate yourself on mind control and exploitive groups in society.

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
January 6, 2001
Last updated December 14, 2007

IMPORTANT: UCG was the largest group that formed after the WCG changes. Were they uniquely orchestrated and contrived to catch the exiters from WCG? Be sure and read our Outsider's Inside Update Newsletters: Volume 3, Pt. 1, Volume 3, Pt. 2 and OIU 4, Pt. 2, which discusses this and other exposé information about David Hulme and United Church of God-AIA.

Read: February 19, 2006 letter to ESN, which exposed United Church of God / WCG connections with Dynamics Resource Group.

Also this section in ESN's letter to author Janis Hutchinson covers the deceitfulness of certain UCG ministers in 1995.

NOTE: It is alleged that many groups known as "cults" are fronts for a hidden agenda and work together to create a passive people. Is it any wonder they have similar methods of deception, manipulation, abuse, and related goals? Author Alex Constantine has stated: "That cults are dangerous has been proven time and again. That they are often fronts for intelligence activity is indisputable (as anyone who has dug into researching CIA mind control experimentation knows full well)." Read more about this and WCG / HWA activities from OIU Newsletter #6.

Footnotes:

1 United News, December 2007, "Council Approves Purchase of Texas Property." Also see 12-14-07 letter to ESN: UCG-AIA Moving Headquarters / Increased Rhetoric on Tithing to Come?

2 Ray Wooten is now with United Christian Ministries in Birmingham, Alabama. There was also a United Church of God founded by Richard Wiedenheft in 1978 and a United Church of God, Missouri, founded by Richard Prince in 1979. Today there are a number of splits; some having broken off into small home church/study groups.

3 About the Church of God, "Who We Are." (on UCG's website);

4 There are some who attend UCG who were previously members in WCG, but who are not members of UCG. One reason for this could be because they are considered "already converted."

5 UCG-AIA Doctrinal and Study Papers, "Tithing"

6 Mystery of the Ages by Herbert W. Armstrong, p. 171

7 How is the Term Israel Used in the New Testament? (Shows how the church is not "spiritual Israel") (also covers Gal 6:16) [offsite link]

8 For documentation of this see the following articles:

Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots

Mystery of the Ages (a critical review)

Did Herbert W. Armstrong Distort Historical Church Documents?

True Original Church/Faith Once Delivered (Proof Herbert Armstrong Lied About the "Lost" Church Century) 

9 Testimony by former UCG member: I Became Weary With the Whole Mess.

10 Testimonies sent to ESN. Also read: Exiter of UCG Feels Like He is Going Crazy (2004 letter)