Yeah, i thought all California UPC'ers were ultra cons until I got to know some of them.

I've been a part of the TN district for 24 years, and I can't remember Tim
Dyson. Who is he?
I do think it is ironic that you have one of the most liberal states in the
country in California, but the church in California is known for being very
conservative, and at the same time, TN is one of the more conservative states, but the UPC in it is more moderate to liberal.

I'm from the Atlantic District in eastern Canada and I would definitely classify it as moderate. It was always the strongest district in Canada and was always compared proportionately and favourably with the Louisiana district as far as # of churches per population.

I am so proud of and thankful for my roots. The AD produced a lot of very strong men and leaders and many missionaries have gone out from that district.

The AD is very unique in that first of all it's Canadian, but secondly that they withdrew from the UPCI back in the early 50s I believe over some kind of disagreement (I think it had to do with FMD). So for a couple of decades they were the United Pentecostal Church of New Brunswick. Then they re-affiliated in 1973 with UPCI, the year we got married.

There are some strong conservatives there though. :D

From Nashville to the Mississippi most UPC preachers did NOT believe the new birth message of water and Spirit since most were influenced by Elders Gurley, Greer, Henson. I have heard that has changed by pastors taking churches from out of the Tn. district. Holiness wise they have been weak as water television no big deal, hair was marginal, dress was worldly etc. I think the problem around Nashville is all of them are trying to compete with Christ Church and fail miserably. I would like to see a good conservative church in Nashville.

I've lived in Tennessee (Memphis area), Louisiana, and Florida. I'd classify those three districts as liberal, moderate, and conservative, respectively. The church I attended in TN did not stress standards at all.

Tim Dyson was a big time evangelist in the 80s.

He went on TBN and BASHED his own organization while being interviewed by Paul Crouch during the General conference that year(early 90s)

as far as the other, you, I, and many others have thought about that very thing. you have to know the roots of the CA. Dist. to understand how that came about.
It's might be a good thing that the churches are little more conseravtive here? The first generation people that get saved here need a little more structure

That is pretty well the story of UPC in Tn. even the ALJC were somewhat stronger than them and that is saying something. When I lived in the Nashville area the strongest church doctrinally and holiness wise was a PAW church what does that say?

This is a fair description of the situation as I see it also (other than I would not characterize the things he did as "weak", of course!).

However in 1986 once Christ Church left the UPC I imagine by default the district became a little more conservative!

I have seen wedding pictures of Pastor Hardwick and Montelle and Montelle had on earrings. I think he became pastor of CC the same year he got married, about 55 years ago.

First Church (Becton's) is liberal by UPC standards but with important distinctions from Christ Church. At First Church you are free to attend, worship, be fellowshipped, etc without the traditional dress standards BUT you are a second class citizen and not eligible to be on the platform, teach Sunday School,etc.

Brothers Gurley and Greer baptized in Jesus name, and believed it was
important to do so, but they would not say that someone who had truly
repented and placed faith in Christ was lost if he was not baptized
correctly. They also emphasized the need for being baptized with the
Holy Ghost, but did not emphasize it as essential to salvation as it is
today. In my 24 yrs in the TN district of the UPC, I have never heard
baptism in Jesus name or the baptism of the Holy Ghost taught or preached
as optional. I think you are correct that over time the district has gotten
more conservative on the salvation message.

Tim Dyson's father pastored in Memphis while I lived there. At the time, I thought he was independent or ALJC. I may be wrong about that. He was very strong on Acts 2:38 but not standards.