Savonarola would have... and he was the classic ultra-con. :)

I have good friends in the ALJC and honestly I thought they only had about 1000 preachers? So losing 800 seems off to me. I know some of their larger churches they lost like Memphis-Cincinatti-Akron area.

Estimating 15 names per page, I have counted about 765 or so ministers listed in the directory currently. I think there is more, but that is a rough estimate.

If I send my dues to you and help you get a CD burner could you burn me a copy of the grapes of wrath ? or the rise and fall of the roman empire ?

I have never really gotten a clear answer as to why the ALJC has been going down in recent years.

Some have speculated that they are so similar to the UPC that the advantages of being part of a larger fellowship have caused some to leave for the UPC.

I have always found it interesting that UPC preachers wanting to use TV or have TV have not switched to the ALJC from the UPC. Especially those who are still bonafide three steppers and pretty conservative regarding standards.

The few ALJC congregations I have seen out at restaurants, etc all look exactly like UPC ones.

Other than their licensned ministers not having to hide TV's in therir homes or call them "monitors" and their ability to advertise or preach on TV I see no difference.

It's obviously made all the difference. Anytime now the ALJC should see worldwide revival for their efforts.

The truth is Theo that there are only a hnadful of ALJC churches with a TV ministry. But the ones that have one are in the tops in members. There are a few small churches, less than 200 members, that do a tv thing, but that is if they are in a somewhat rural areas. The major ones I know of that have a sucessful tv ministry 400+.

Great..then it is the answer then. Whew, glad that is settled. No need to put it off for further study..we have the successful example of the ALJC then as exhibit A.

Yet, in CC1's earlier post- he was saying that from the holiness standards side of things, the ALJC doesn't appear to be much different than the UPC.

Can we conclude that television has not, and does not cause the loss of standards that some in the UPC fear?

In which case, why ban television?

Maybe I'm incorrect but does the ALJC have state presbyters ?I understand that affliated ALJC churches are autonomous than affliated UPCI churches.