The UPC Rev.'s Thou Shalts and Thou Shalt Not

DAII · #1 02-22-2011, 07:17 AM

Saw these listed by SheltieDad a few years ago ...

In addition to a minister not having a TV in his home or never being allowed re-admittance to the ministerial fellowship if he leaves because of sexual sin ...

Here are some other Shalts and Shalt nots:

Quote:

Ministers cannot accept an invitation to preach by a member of a church without the local pastor's consent.

Ministers are not allowed to hold a meeting in a town with out the local pastor's consent.

No minister can start a church without the written consent of the District Board.

No minister or church pastored by a minister can relocate to a neighborhood where there is another church without written permission of the district board.

Ministers cannot accept an invitation to preach at any church that is “held in question” without getting the consent of the District Superintendent.

Ministers and saints of different congregations cannot interact in volunteer services or religious activities without the saint's pastors approval.

Any minister who resigns a church must sever all connection with that church or any of its members without the new pastor's consent.

Each minister holding a local license is required to pay their annual dues.

Each minister holding a general license is required to pay their annual dues.

Each ordained minister is required to pay their annual dues.

All ministers accepted into the fellowship must pay their dues beginning from the first of the quarter during which they are accepted.

All ministers are to pay their budget fee on at least a quarterly basis in advance.
All ministers have to pay their local district dues.

All ministers have to sign their affirmation statement stating their loyalty to the Fundamental Doctrine and the Holiness Standards every two years.

Ministers over 65 are eligible to become honorary ministers.

Any minister holding or seeking to hold credentials who speaks or writes in opposition to any Articles of Faith shall be called before the District Board.

No minister can be in a secret society except for labor unions.

No minister can mix bathe outside of the immediate family.

Ministers holding local licenses can't perform marriage ceremonies without permission.

Any minister who has been dropped or disfellowshipped shall not be received back for 1 year (not sure I paraphrased this one right, it is kinda confusing)

If a minister withdraws or is dropped from fellowship under questionable conduct, no other minister is allowed to let him preach or participate in any form in services except funerals or weddings.

Any minister who gets in trouble in another district can be tried in that district.

Any minister who commits an offense that affects more than one district may be refered to the General Board.

Any minister committing sins that are a great hindrance to the body shall be “silenced indefinitely” (that sounds kind of ominous!)

Any minister who knows the minister in rule 24 and lets him preach shall be “silenced” until proper restitution is made.

Any minister who used to have a license and has been dropped or withdrawn under question, falling into sin, etc. and seeks reinstatement later must prove himself for 2 years and then get endorsements and stuff.

All ministers not actively engaged in pastoring, evangelizing or teaching has to go to a church pastored by a UPC minister.

All ministers shall affiliate with the district in which they labor and reside.

A minister has to get a certificate of transfer to change districts.

A minister who is a student at a bible school cannot transfer into the district where he or she is going to school.

No video except family pictures and church activities, etc. You must modify all video receivers so that they cannot receive television channels.

A minister cannot accept a member into his church who came from another UPC church without a letter of release or transfer from his old church.

A minister can't own the church building.

A minister must keep confidential information confidential and not tell ANY other person!

Any missing? Your thoughts on these items?

aegsm76 · #2 02-22-2011, 07:27 AM

Some of these are a trifle "dated" but I would say that most denominations have some similar rules.
Even the rules that I would disagree with, I can see what led them to being put into place.
I think most ministers view the manual as somewhat "outdated".
Including conservative ministers.

DAII · #3 02-22-2011, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Some of these are a trifle "dated" but I would say that most denominations have some similar rules.
Even the rules that I would disagree with, I can see what led them to being put into place.
I think most ministers view the manual as somewhat "outdated".
Including conservative ministers.

Which of these are dated? Which of these are considered " outdated" by cons?

DAII · #4 02-22-2011, 07:38 AM

Also AEGSM, which ones do you disagree with?

aegsm76 · #5 02-22-2011, 07:43 AM

This may surprise you.

No video except family pictures and church activities, etc. You must modify all video receivers so that they cannot receive television channels.

A minister cannot accept a member into his church who came from another UPC church without a letter of release or transfer from his old church.

I do not know of any, any minister who follows the video "rule", anymore.
Most do have access to the internet, so that rule is very outdated.
I also do not know of any UPC ministers who have a "tv", either.

Also, I have attended 4 different UPC churches and have never had one ask anything about a letter.
I knew this rule was in there, because my old childhood pastor used to follow it.

DAII · #6 02-22-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aegsm76

This may surprise you.

No video except family pictures and church activities, etc. You must modify all video receivers so that they cannot receive television channels.

A minister cannot accept a member into his church who came from another UPC church without a letter of release or transfer from his old church.

I do not know of any, any minister who follows the video "rule", anymore.
Most do have access to the internet, so that rule is very outdated.
I also do not know of any UPC ministers who have a "tv", either.

Also, I have attended 4 different UPC churches and have never had one ask anything about a letter.
I knew this rule was in there, because my old childhood pastor used to follow it.

I am very aware of the rules AEGSM, for the most part. My dad was UPCI for almost 28 years and I was licensed for 2 - so these are not surprising.

The video rule was ignored from the get-go. With most ministers applying for a Blockbuster card in the 80's.

Was that a typo that you don't know any who owned a TV? Dad sat on the district board in NYC and I can tell you 95% had a TV, including those on the board.

jfrog · #7 02-22-2011, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAII

I an ver aware of the rules AEGSM, for the most part. My dad was UPCI for almost 28 years and I was licensed for 2 - so these are not surprising.

The video rule was ignored from the get-go. With most ministers applying for a Blocbuster card in the 80's.

Was that a typo that you don't know any who owned a TV? Dad sat on the district board in NYtC and I can tell you 95% had a TV, including those on the board.

I know some pastors got around the tv rule by saying the tv was their kids...

Apparently it just takes some creative justification to get around that rule.

aegsm76 · #8 02-22-2011, 07:48 AM

I disagree with "rules" in general.
Because they tend to box you in and keep you from dealing with people who have problems, but are following the "rules".
I have noticed in my professional life, the more rules you make, the worse it makes the people who work for me perform.
We try to focus on our mission statement and our overall performance,
If you try to make people perform within the "rules" they will make it a game of seeing how little they can do and still stay within the rules.
This same thing occurs within the org's framework of rules.

jfrog · #9 02-22-2011, 07:58 AM

Also I found it interesting that a few years after I left church I visited another UPC church. The pastor was awfully concerned about knowing if we were still members of the other church and visiting his. There must be some rule about that too... which is all a little weird.

DAII · #10 02-22-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

Also I found it interesting that a few years after I left church I visited another UPC church. The pastor was awfully concerned about knowing if we were still members of the other church and visiting his. There must be some rule about that too... which is all a little weird.

It was part of proper modicum of yesteryear. Does not fly well with today's generation - that's for sure.