Wpf & upci
 

Are pastors and churches members of both the WPF & UPCI? For instance, I notice Rick Mayo’s church in Spokane is listed in the UPCI directory but he preaches at WPF churches and special events all the time. Can you have dual membership?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

This is left up to the local UPC district. If they are ok with you belonging to both, then it is ok.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Since when?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Interesting point.

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Since WPF started licensing. Which was around 2008, I believe.
That is when it was decided to leave it to the local districts.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Right. The UPCI doesn’t allow dual membership. To my knowledge.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Why did this group split up again?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Kind of like the Hatfield's and McCoys.
Because...just because.

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Wasn't there always division? I thought ( or led to believe ) that it was all due to television?

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Wasn’t it over being allowed to place ads on tv? (Not broadcasting service on tv)

And now most everyone on both sides does streams online.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

I believe you are correct. It did have something to do with UPCI advertising on Television. Also the rapture didn't come in time, so now the Internet allows them all to be on online video streaming. I wonder how they would of got around all the UPCI lockdowns during COVID quarantines during the pandemic?
What would these churches have done if they didn't have live streaming? Any opinions?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

That was the issue. However, the issue was voted on several times and failed before it passed.
The main issue was that the last time it was voted on and failed, assurances were given (before the vote) that this would be the last time it was brought up.
This was a large reason for the split.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Technically you are correct. However they leave it up to the local districts to enforce.
And some do not enforce it.

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What would be the reason to have dual membership?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

It gives you the opportunity to fellowship both organizations. Most of those who are UPC/WPF have past relationships/friendships with those who left and became the WPF.
Most of these are churches that are regarded as highly conservative (at least by UPC standards).
Also, it seems to depend on where you are located and the org the local churches around you belong to.
I have good friends in both orgs and would be hard-pressed to pick just one if I had to.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Twice a the dues. :lol

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So you can't fellowship people who are in a different organization unless you're a member of their organization.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

How else are you going to learn the secret handshake?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

I thought the instructions came with the Decoder Ring in the CrackJack box? No? Mandela effect?

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The UPCI uses decoder rings as long as they arent too ostentatious...the WPF uses decoder neck ties.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

You still can. There are many pastors who fellowship the WPF, but are not dues paying members.
Some of those even preach WPF meetings.
Probably more who fellowship but aren't dues paying, than those who pay dues to both orgs.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Wasn’t the split over advertising on tv?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

From previous post.
It was advertising and services on TV.
This was in the days of network and cable.
Internet hadn't become a "thing" yet.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Uhhh we were all on some forum when there was a split. Internet wasn’t a thing?

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I think there may be confusion from the affirmation signing and the WPF situation.

Back when the UPCI required the affirmation signing, many on the more liberal side of the UPCI left the organizatin, and that was back when the internet was not as predominant as it is now, but it was still here. I think this was @1992 or so.

When the UPCI voted to allow TV advertising and broadcast, many on the more conservative side of the UPCI, left the organization and formed the WPF in 2008.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Regarding the highlighted portion.

1) What exactly was the affirmation signing? To clarify this was before my time.

2) To those that did leave the organization, do you happen to know where the majority of them went?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

The affirmation signing was requiring all licensed ministers to annually,or maybe bi-annually, I am not sure which, because the UPCI felt many were no longer following the manual.

I am not sure where they all went, but I think most formed a new organization, or maybe just independent, but I don't recall what it was called.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Affirmation statement was in 1992.
It was a reaction to some churches not preaching holiness, as defined in the UPCI manual.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

While the affirmation signing had much to do with whether one taught holiness as the manual required, there were those that left that were on the very conservative side as well as those that were on the liberal side. At least in the state of Washington. Those that were on the conservative side most became independent, while those that were on the liberal side formed their own organization.

It is kind of funny but there were two brothers one that was on the conservative side and on the liberal side both left the UPCI, actually I don't know if Jess Parker was ever in UPCI but Joe Parker was, I was good friends with Joe when they left UPCI actually I now attend the church that Joe started in Federal Way.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Interesting. Did those on the conservative side leave due to the affirmation statement or were there other reasons?
I ask because one of the main pastors behind the affirmation statement was very conservative.
Also, the LaGrande church was UPCI until around the time of the WPF withdrawal.

Re: Wpf & upci
 

Those that were on the overly conservative side left because of the wording of the statement. They felt that the UPCI was being too controlling. Funny but in our state, the statement was the defying role that caused about 1/3 of our minsters to leave the UPCI and not all of them were of the liberal mind set. As a matter of fact, the pastor that I was associate to did not teach a set standard of holiness from his pulpit, but he still stayed in UPCI.

Thank you for the info on the Lagrande church. I could not remember even though I had friends that attended the LaGrande church. By the way if you are from the LaGrande area do you Know of Dan Saterwhite or Larry Bankston?

Re: Wpf & upci
 

We have been (and still are) very involved with Bible Quizzing, so we have known the Meaderds from LaGrande, for probably 30 years or so.
I have a brother and sister in law who live in the Portland area and went to CBC. I know who Dan is, through them, but have not seen him in years. Larry Bankston sounds familar, but I do not recall knowing or meeting him.
I live in the South now, but still fellowship both UPC, WPF and the GIB!

Re: Wpf & upci
 

I don't know anyone else from the LaGrande area but I knew of Jess Parker by name and reputation. Dan is now the Pastor of Pendleton, I knew him because we lived in Pendleton when I was eleven, we moved when the Rutzens were still Pastor, but they left in the first year that we lived there. I was originally from the Tri Cities but lived in Portland and Pendleton two years each, we went to the Sponslers church when in Portland.