What would you do in my place?

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 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?

Obey God.

[Whole Hearted]

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..

[Theresa]

I'd say stay independant - after 7 years, if the doors haven't opened to join the UPC, then it wasnt meant to be..IMO. Perhaps there have to be changes within the district before you should bother joining.

I say any minister opposed to having more churchs to reach the lost has their priorities in the wrong place

and honestly, I wouldnt want to be part of the sectional politics

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Hmmm..not to detract from this but that is sort of how I feel...though I have never tried to commit suicide.

Is she alone?

No, she has family around her all the time.

[Glenda B]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Hmmm..not to detract from this but that is sort of how I feel...though I have never tried to commit suicide.

Is she alone?

Brother Prax,
I hope I am not out of line here Brother, but as I said I don’t visit this forum often. But in my browsing one time, I think I read somewhere that you were on dialysis? If I have my names mixed up, please forgive me.
I don’t know what you are going through, because I have never been where you are, but there’s a man in my church who is such an inspiration to me. He was on dialysis for over 20 years before the Drs. Found a match for him.
And by some miracle, when this kidney came available, he was not even next in line for the kidney, but whoever was on the waiting list, and next in line could not be reached. They called our Brother ______,
And guess what, he was a perfect match. Is that a miracle or what? He has had his new kidney several years now, and seems to be doing good. So God is so good to his children. Just trust Him, don’t get depressed Brother. Your miracle is on it’s way.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

Just do your best... and don't worry about an affiliation... I know my opinion doesn't amount to much around here but I respect guys like you...

Brad.......

I truly wish you wouldn't say things like that.

[Neck]

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 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?

Keith my words are do not feel the strain of trying or wishing to be accepted. Find a place where you can work for the Lord and do great things.

Where ever that may be.....

[Sherri]

Our town is about the same size as yours, Keith, and there are probably 4 UPC churches here. I didn't know one pastor could keep another one out of town; I thought it came down to a mileage thing. Like only one church within so many miles. I've never heard of having just one UPC church in a town this size! Are there set rules about these things in the UPC manual?

Herrin, Illinois, close to where I grew up, was a really small town and had three UPC churches!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Our town is about the same size as yours, Keith, and there are probably 4 UPC churches here. I didn't know one pastor could keep another one out of town; I thought it came down to a mileage thing. Like only one church within so many miles. I've never heard of having just one UPC church in a town this size! Are there set rules about these things in the UPC manual?

Herrin, Illinois, close to where I grew up, was a really small town and had three UPC churches!

I agree with you Sherri.

I was talking with a UPC pastor wife friend from back home this morning and we were talking about this very thing. She agrees with me and with the points I made in another thread the other morning which I plan to follow back up on that the idea of disallowing more than one UP church in a city of any size is both ludicrous and preposterous.

In the city (about 50,000 population at the time) where my parents lived and where I spent my teen years there were 3 UP churches. Those churches fellowshipped and were healthy and thriving.

There is no way that one church can reach a whole city. It's impossible.

I believe there's a stipulation in the manual where a church can't be started within a 5 mile radius of another UP church, but there is no rule against there being more than one UPC in any particular city. Why another pastor or presbyter would want to prevent that from happening would depend on the situation I guess, but I don't understand why men who truly have a love and burden for lost souls would want to prevent more than one UP church in a city of any size at all. Or even in a smaller city for that matter.

Right now I know a pastor who has been in a city for some time and hasn't really been terribly successful in growing a work -- yet. (That "yet" is every important. ) There's another pastor planning on moving into that city and starting a new church - not terribly far from where the pastor who is there presently is located. He's thrilled at the thought that someone else is moving in and at the potential that exists for a new church to be raised up -- and the possibility that this new guy might raise a church more quickly and more successfully than he's been able to do. To me this exemplifies a right attitude!!

Surely, there are different giftings and abilities. I recognize that. We all have our place. We're not all equally successful (taking into consideration the ways we "measure" success.) and that's okay. The main thing is that we're fulfilling the call God has placed on our lives and doing that to the best of whatever ability God has given a man or woman.

We've got Pentecostal churches all around us here and we need a whole bunch more. If someone else decides to move into this city and start another Oneness Pentecostal church nobody would be happier or more thrilled than us!!!

The main thing is ..... that souls are getting saved and freed from hell's clutch.

Good grief and dear Lord help us if that isn't the most important thing.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Maybe I should move to Canada , and start a work ,eh ?