The State of the UPC

MrMasterMind · #1 02-05-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chateau d'If

At best, it's stagnant. Its best years are far gone, and the continued brain drain has taken an incalculable toll.

The best and brightest are leaving in droves.

I was thinking more in demographics.

Currently the median age of its ministers is 54.

There are something like less than 400 under the age of 35 and it looks like they make up a good portion of those leaving.

Hence on the present course, 20 years tops.

MrMasterMind · #2 02-05-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMasterMind

I was thinking more in demographics.

Currently the median age of its ministers is 54.

There are something like less than 400 under the age of 35 and it looks like they make up a good portion of those leaving.

Hence on the present course, 20 years tops.

Bump for Hoovie

Hoovie · #3 02-05-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMasterMind

I was thinking more in demographics.

Currently the median age of its ministers is 54.

There are something like less than 400 under the age of 35 and it looks like they make up a good portion of those leaving.

Hence on the present course, 20 years tops.

I understand. This is not good news at all. And if true it's cause for alarm, no doubt.

However, it does not take into account the hundreds of young ministers coming into the organization annually. Naturally, the numbers coming in over the age of 35 would be fewer... Therefore if stagnant, or even slight decline it would still not automatically spell out the demise of the group any time soon.

MrMasterMind · #4 02-05-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I understand. This is not good news at all. And if true it's cause for alarm, no doubt.

However, it does not take into account the hundreds of young ministers coming into the organization annually. Naturally, the numbers coming in over the age of 35 would be fewer... Therefore if stagnant, or even slight decline it would still not automatically spell out the demise of the group any time soon.

it definitely not "hundreds" of young ministers coming in. Even the cons within UPCI agree on that one. I am not anti UPC. Never have been. Once again this is not about doctrine it is about demographics. Let me put it this way only 4% of the ministers in the UPC or 35 or younger. It WILL collapse.

Hoovie · #5 02-05-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMasterMind

it definitely not "hundreds" of young ministers coming in. Even the cons within UPCI agree on that one. I am not anti UPC. Never have been. Once again this is not about doctrine it is about demographics. Let me put it this way only 4% of the ministers in the UPC or 35 or younger. It WILL collapse.

I wish we had a way of proving or disproving that. "hundreds" per year would simply be 4 new ministers or more getting a license per state... Again, that would not prove groweth in that bracket, because any ministers dropping, lapsing, moving up in age above 35, or even dying (hopefully not many!) would be deducted.

Do you have any source for your statements at all?

Austin · #6 02-05-2011, 08:37 AM

In 1973 in a full gospel wopship service in a church in Indiana a church who's pastor was one of the original founders of the UPC then, and was kicked out of the church organization because he had the first radio broadcast ministry,which they said the radio was of the devil.
During this service the Lord spoke to me in a split second of time and said," "Beware of the spirit of compromise" At the time this had no meaning no matter how much I searched in God to understand. Today I understand very clearly the meaning of that message. I think the Bible calls it, The great falling away!