Did you Know...That Many Large Churches in the UPC aren't...
 

affiliated and Ordain their own Minsters???

In other words the Ministry in the church is Ordained thru the Church's Corporation....

Yes I knew that

whats the point of this Rev?

Just that those who leave have their own ministry structure already in motion and the UPC while a fellowship is not necessarily needed for that type of support....

It's interesting how many may not know these things...

The general distrust of the organization has been growing for years.

Calvary Tabernacle has never been affiliated.

I think that's a good thing. Don't you?

I don't have a prob with it...at all...

When I came to the Cincinnati area in 1957 I attended the First Apostolic Church. Our pastor was Bro. Frank Curts. He was the Ohio Dist. Supt. but his church was not affiliated.

It's not just large churches.
I have a friend who pastors a church which is named Christ Community. They have around 50 or so. He is independent and he told me they ordain their own people.

It's just another example of picking and choosing what you want from an organization, or, speaking out of both sides of the mouth. The org. is supported and the church participates in org. events and benefits from exposure and fellowship of the org., just for the church to play by different rules when it disagrees with the org.

What is the purpose of Government?

To offer service that cannot be afforded at the local level. Affiliation allows a local body the protection of the District Board if there is an error in the teachings or lifestyle of the leader. In a larger church, they have multiple preachers simply making a dent on a church pew, but capable of helping if needed.

Wait, where are YOU going with THIS thread?

:stirpot

Wow! I agree with everything Jekyll just said!!!

A new day dawning? Jekyll!

This is nothing new and not some recent trend that is the result of "growing distrust of the org." as someone posted.

Thirty years ago when I first started attending a UPC Bible College this was a topic of conversation in a class.

Even back then almost none of the major UPC churches were affiliated.

I don't konw what the stats are but I would be surprised if the percentage of churches affiliated is actually very high at all.

It used to be quite rare, but then there were some cases where a new pastor would come in and take a "UPC Chruch" and more it out of fellowship with other UPC churches.

Not too many seemed to mind at first, because in most cases the "new pastor" supported a stricter holiness standard. But when a couple of churches "went charismatic" that way then a big fuss came up and affiliation was promoted at all of the District Conferences.

I went thru the directory last year, when we voted on becomin non-affiliated.

Over 50 % are not affiliated.

I am not surprised. I really thought it would be more like 75% actually.

I can't imagine why any pastor regardless of whether they are a conservative, moderate, or liberal would want their church affiliated.

If the UPC really wants churches to affilliate it ought to offer some special benefits like an umbrella insurance policy to protect against lawsuits, prepaid legal services for fighting anti Christian local legislation affecting a church, etc.

We issue Christian Worker certificates through our local assembly.

We issue a card to every certificate recipient as well.

The card is proof that they are active representatives for our assembly, and it enables them to purchase items for the church as tax exempt without presenting a letter.

I mentioned getting one of these through the UPC to a former pastor of mine (UPC) and he announced at the next service that I felt the call to preach!!! We had to have a talk later :)

:hypercoffee


HAHA!!!

No, these are not necessarily for preachers. They are meant to equip the laity to do the work of ministry more effectively.

We require completion of membership classes before issuing the certificates. The process is a fifty-two week series of lessons.

I know they're not for preachers...I guess he didn't :)

Too funny.:scoregood

When I was in the UPC the church I was pastoring in the Atlantic District was one of only 7 churches that were affiliated with the UPCI back then. In the Atlantic District it doesn't really matter because they have their own NB Charter that clearly establishes that wherever there are at least six people who embrace the articles of faith of the UPC of NB, they constitute a body corporate. However, the downside to this is that a local congregation only owns their property as long as they are a UPC congregation. If they want to leave the UPC, they must turn the properties over to the parent body.

it is no big deal and no secret that the upc and local churches have always had sovereignty issues, especially if you have a rogue district board or sup that wont to control everything and everybody which i wish i could say is rare, lol,dt:hypercoffee

This raises the question as to what serves the cause of Christ best, a fellowship of churches and ministers, or an organization with affiliated churches, where you have so few churches that actually affiliate, yet you have the strong organizational structure and political influences that seem to deprive the local church of its autonomy.

If you and Felicity took a UPC church do you think the district would require you to affiliate it to protect them if you "went charismatic" again?

There has been no definite decision to be credentialed, and I don't think the church would need to be affiliated. Also, we did not go charismatic. We have been part of the oldest OP organization in Canada for the past 11 years. It is more traditional than charismatic.

Good for you for setting that straight!! :thumbsup

That expression "they went Charismatic" has never set well with me...how does someone "go" Charismatic?!

By not being UPC I guess. In some people's mind if you leave the only alternative is to become charismatic.