Membership letters??!

[Sherri]

We have Membership Covenants that have to be signed to be a member, and only after taking our 101 Class. Then there is a Ministry Covenant that is a bit more stringent that you have to sign if you want to do any kind of ministry, be on the platform, teach, mentor, etc. We take them pretty seriously.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We have Membership Covenants that have to be signed to be a member, and only after taking our 101 Class. Then there is a Ministry Covenant that is a bit more stringent that you have to sign if you want to do any kind of ministry, be on the platform, teach, mentor, etc. We take them pretty seriously.

Please scan these documents and post them.!!!

[jtork]

Yeah - I would like to see these "covenants" - not sure I understand the necessity of them - I would like to know how biblical this practice is also - do you tell people - Jesus loves you just as you are - oh but only if you read and sign this piece of paper. Maybe I will feel differently once I read them.

[deltaguitar]

Churches have to have bylaws and membership requirements. How else can important church business be conducted? Otherwise, folks could just take over a church by moving where they attend.

[aak1972]

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Churches have to have bylaws and membership requirements. How else can important church business be conducted? Otherwise, folks could just take over a church by moving where they attend.

It is my belief along with dozens of others that this pastor wants sole control of everything regarding the church. So there will be no need for bylaws. You only are required to have bylaws if you are incorporated.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by jtork

Yeah - I would like to see these "covenants" - not sure I understand the necessity of them - I would like to know how biblical this practice is also - do you tell people - Jesus loves you just as you are - oh but only if you read and sign this piece of paper. Maybe I will feel differently once I read them.

I'm not going to scan these covenants for people on here to tear apart and criticize. No way; they are Love & Truth family business, like the annual financial reports. They are for our people, but I'm not going to subject them to scrutiny on here.

The importance of them is.......we are a corporation, and to vote you have to be a registered member. We keep the forms on file. As for the ministry covenant, we don't want anyone in any kind of a ministry or mentoring position that we don't know what they believe or how they conduct themselves. We tell people to read the covenant and if they don't feel that they can live up to it, don't sign it. It's not like the minister's statement in UPC that so many people say, "just sign it and then do what you want."

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I'm not going to scan these covenants for people on here to tear apart and criticize. No way; they are Love & Truth family business, like the annual financial reports. They are for our people, but I'm not going to subject them to scrutiny on here.

The importance of them is.......we are a corporation, and to vote you have to be a registered member. We keep the forms on file. As for the ministry covenant, we don't want anyone in any kind of a ministry or mentoring position that we don't know what they believe or how they conduct themselves. We tell people to read the covenant and if they don't feel that they can live up to it, don't sign it. It's not like the minister's statement in UPC that so many people say, "just sign it and then do what you want."

Can't miss a chance at a swipe can you? Could it be that Charismatic intolerance coming through???????

[LaVonne]

I don't think we ever had to sign a letter, but one pastor had us sign a "Membership Book".

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Can't miss a chance at a swipe can you? Could it be that Charismatic intolerance coming through???????

Hey, you know I love the org!!! I'm just saying.......I've heard this a zillion times. I think a covenant should be just that and a signature should mean something. Lots of folks don't agree with that.

Sorry if that came across as mean; I didn't mean it as a jab at UPC, just at some individuals.

[George]

Originally Posted by aak1972

Well the bylaws will depend on if the church stays WPF or goes back to UPC. If it stays WPF there will be no bylaws.

If it stays WPF, it better get by-laws or it wil be in violation of the law.