Who's Job is it???!!!

[Carpenter]

I was recently told by a lock-step member of the local UPC that the ONLY person who is charged/responsible/called, etc. to talk/explain/discuss standards is the pastor. I asked him what was wrong with wearing shorts, and he jumped on me using this answer and especially...especially...did I mention especially with regard to new converts!!

The local UPC here has a series of groups that have church in the home every other Wed night. The large church is divided up into groups around the city and each group comprises 5-6 familes or less. They have a lesson prepared by the pastor, music, and even offering.

Anyway, this dude told me that the leaders (hand picked by the pastor) have been admonished that under no circumstances are they to discuss standards.

Now I am wondering, new folks are to be brought into the church, assimilated, THEN preached to or exposed to standards, or WHAT? I remember when we got into the UPC, they sprung them on us as a matter of...well, you have friends here, you are part of our church, you are one of us...but um...we don't do that.

Kinda like bait and switch...