UPC Resolution to Remove TV from Manual

[deacon blues]

From two separate sources connected to WEC and the General Board I've been told that last week's GB meetings produced a resolution for this year's General Conference to remove all references to TV from the manual. For some time there has been a committee researching the subject and the relevance of the wording of the manual in regard to television ownership among ministers. David Bernard realized that modern technology had made the wording of the manual irrelevant and obsolete.

The word I received was 75% of the Board members were in favor of it. This is a giant shift in policy. It has been a wedge issue for years between conservative and moderate/liberals. The WPF exists today because of the 2007 decision to allow TV advertising at the GC in Tampa. Should the GC pass this resolution, this could push more conservatives out of the door.

To the man on the street this debate is a no brainer. To ban the traditional TV from preacher's homes while phones, computers, notebooks and other devices can access almost all of the same content of television is nonsensical. A majority of UPC churches have members who own TVs. Many preachers have TVs and have been making the choice to lie on their affirmation statements they are required to sign every other year. Many preachers have left because they could no longer sign it dishonestly. 30% of new applications for ministerial licenses in the UPC had the statement about TV ownership struck through, which automatically canceled the applications validity.

With the numbers in the UPC declining, in numbers of churches, numbers of veteran ministers and numbers of young men applying for license, the UPC cant afford to turn away 30% of new applicants. I believe that with the short term losses of conservatives leaving it's ranks the long term benefits will outweigh the losses.

Then there's the dress code and hair issues...

[StillStanding]

Interesting! The argument that "its the way that we've always done it" begins to crack when technology makes their reasoning obsolete. The reason TV was banned back in the 50s was to keep worldliness out of the home. The argument is laughable when computers and smart phones are allowed.

Maybe, just maybe, this will pass and the focus will be on godly choices of what is allowed to be seen on TV.

[Evenuntodeath]

Makes sense to me.

However, i dont see them getting rid of the skirts and long hair restriction anytime soon. They could do away with the no jewelry and makeup rules.

[ILG]

They will do away with most restrictions pertaining to the male, but not the female. My opinion.

[Evenuntodeath]

Originally Posted by ILG

They will do away with most restrictions pertaining to the male, but not the female. My opinion.

You already know.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by ILG

They will do away with most restrictions pertaining to the male, but not the female. My opinion.

Originally Posted by Evenuntodeath

You already know.

Yes... I've often heard it said... you can't tell what a man believes until you see his wife....

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Yes... I've often heard it said... you can't tell what a man believes until you see his wife....

[Timmy]

Great Frying Flounders!

[deacon blues]

"Apostolic Identity" = your wife looks 1890s

The original Apostles were identified that they had "been with Jesus." They weren't recognized as Christians because they're wives and daughters looked a certain way.

[AreYouReady?]

Thank you deacon.