Quote:
Originally Posted by Apocrypha
I was discussing this with one of my UPC pastor uncles.
Its actually deeper than that. He watches copies of the Forward magazine to see whos joined and whos left.
He has noticed over the last few years there are many experienced pastors and mid sized churches who are pulling out without enough churches being planted... and even those that are don't have the ability to do "full participation" as they say in most districts by supporting each and every program on some level.
In most companies when they cut the salespeople its usually "the sign" the company is going down.
Home Missions Division is really what creates the financial base of the UPCI by starting new works.
Foreign Missions Division is the largest outflow from the churches to the FMD to the missionaries by far.
It's not a good thing to eat your seed before its planted in future years.
If I were to look at it from a straight money viewpoint I'd rather send home missions planters on deputation rather than the foreign missionaries since it will have a better return over a 10 year period... many countries can already be spun off as national UPCI's with their own general superintendent (like the Phillipines.. who really dont need more white missionaries).
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This is the rub right here! Your uncle has nailed it .... the spin doctors would have us believe that the loss of established churches in the last few schisms from Westberg to WWPF is no big deal because XXXX number of new ministers have signed on .... but it does not factor the experience, gravitas, maturity and financial support of those who have left.
Moreover, looking at a net growth of maybe 700-to 900 in the last decade is not explosive growth or the path to doubling or a global impact.
PPH also helped in funding some of these divisions.