What would you do in my place?

Pastor Keith · #1 06-14-2007, 04:54 PM

I have reached out to the local UPC presbyter in my section, but because the local city Pastor believes that he should be the only UPC pastor in his town, he will not allow a competing church.

Our city has 70,000 people in it.

I agree with the fundamental doctrine of the UPCI, always have, always will.

But my attempts to be a part of the organization in which I was raised and have tremendous appreciation and respect for, have up to this point in my life been unfruitful.

However I have been asked by a large non-UPC group (many, if not all the ministers are ex-upc) to fellowship and eventually join their group.

Should I do this?

Or remain independent, hoping for a better day in the Western District?

What say ye?

Praxeas · #2 06-14-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

I have reached out to the local UPC presbyter in my section, but because the local city Pastor believes that he should be the only UPC pastor in his town, he will not allow a competing church.

Our city has 70,000 people in it.

I agree with the fundamental doctrine of the UPCI, always have, always will.

But my attempts to be a part of the organization in which I was raised and have tremendous appreciation and respect for, have up to this point in my life been unfruitful.

However I have been asked by a larger non-UPC group (many, if not all the ministers are ex-upc) to fellowship and eventually join their group.

Should I do this?

Or remain independent, hoping for a better day in the Western District?

What say ye?

If your views can co-exist with that of the other group, join them, other wise stay independent.

Pastor Keith · #3 06-14-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If your views can co-exist with that of the other group, join them, other wise stay independent.

I think they would tolerate me, one of my questions is to them will be I still feel Acts 2:38 to be normative response to the Gospel, is there room in your big tents for me, I want to be accepted not simply tolerated?

Praxeas · #4 06-14-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

I think they would tolerate me, one of my questions is to them will be I still feel Acts 2:38 to be normative response to the Gospel, is there room in your big tents for me, I want to be accepted not simply tolerated?

Gee...you know it's too bad some guys can't get together and form a group based around Oneness, the Pentecostal experience and believing in water baptism in Jesus name without everyone contending for their different views to the disunity of the body...has anyone ever thought of doing that? And if there is such a group that believes and practices it let me knowm :-)

Praxeas · #5 06-14-2007, 06:09 PM

BTW there are cities larger than 70k and only one church. The problem is many fold...

New pastor comes in and has no problem building his church from members of the other church than starting from scratch.

Old pastor feels threatened and is now no longer fighting the devil but another pastor trying to steal saints from his church.

The old pastor may not necessarily even be a bad pastor...he may though be less liberal leaning than the other and because we live in a society where not only is there a McDonalds on every corner to choose from if you don't like one but there are also just as many churches. Sometimes this can be a good thing and sometimes it can be a bad thing.

The problem I think is lack of oversite of those churches...perhaps our churches have too much autonomy if one established church in a city can take members from another established church in a city and build a congregation that way. That's not church building.

It has happened. I am in NO way suggesting Keith does that, but I think that is why some pastors fight other UPCs being built in their city....but in the long run this really shows just how far away from God we really are and in disunity we are.

Digging4Truth · #6 06-15-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

I think they would tolerate me, one of my questions is to them will be I still feel Acts 2:38 to be normative response to the Gospel, is there room in your big tents for me, I want to be accepted not simply tolerated?

There you go bro.

My response was going to be that you should join or not join this group on their own merits.

If they are someone you would have a "hankerin'" to join then, by all means, join up. If, had they not asked, they were not necessarily a group that you would have had a desire to join up with then keep looking because God's match for you is still out there.

I think in the post I quoted you have answered your own question.

And as far as the UPC thing... don't let it get under your skin (and I would expect that you would not allow that anyway).

Accept it as the answer (for now) so that you may live peaceably with these brethren. If there are underlying issues then God will cure them if that is His will. Until then that is the way to live peaceably with these brethren.

Malvaro · #7 06-14-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

However I have been asked by a larger non-UPC group (many, if not all the ministers are ex-upc) to fellowship and eventually join their group.

Should I do this?

Or remain independent, hoping for a better day in the Western District?

What say ye?

Does the independent group stand true to the doctrine, or are they wishy-washy in that regard???

Pastor Keith · #8 06-14-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvaro

Does the independent group stand true to the doctrine, or are they wishy-washy in that regard???

I believe that they are not hard and fast and hold a broad view of salvation, most characterized by a liberal PCI view of salvation.

Whole Hearted · #9 06-15-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

I believe that they are not hard and fast and hold a broad view of salvation, most characterized by a liberal PCI view of salvation.

Then by all means leave them alone and stay ind..

#10 06-14-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith4him

I have reached out to the local UPC presbyter in my section, but because the local city Pastor believes that he should be the only UPC pastor in his town, he will not allow a competing church.

Our city has 70,000 people in it.

I agree with the fundamental doctrine of the UPCI, always have, always will.

But my attempts to be a part of the organization in which I was raised and have tremendous appreciation and respect for, have up to this point in my life been unfruitful.

However I have been asked by a larger non-UPC group (many, if not all the ministers are ex-upc) to fellowship and eventually join their group.

Should I do this?

Or remain independent, hoping for a better day in the Western District?

What say ye?

Have you prayed about it?

BTW, I have found that in the UPC, to be able to get a license with them, it is not what you know, but who you know. If you don't follow their politics, then it would be hard to be licensed with them.

I have found that I am not accepted by Apostolic organizations, so I am part of a trinitarian org that accepts me, even though I do not believe in their doctrine and there are some ex-UPCers in this org.