Quote:
Originally Posted by triumphant1
Let me try again....
Churches have to vote at some point in their history to be affiliated. What affiliation does is make having a UPC licensed preacher as pastor mandatory. It is a legally binding agreement between that church and the organization that ensures the church will always be "in fellowship" because it will always be pastored by a UPC licensed preacher.
A church that is not affiliated is kept "in fellowship" solely on the basis of the pastor having a license. But if he chooses to turn the card in, or loses it, there is NO OBLIGATION on that church to keep a UPC preacher. So if a church is not affiliated, and the pastor decided the UPC is no longer what he wants to do, and the church is fine with that....then he turns his card in and they instantly become independent....and there is nothing the UPC can do about it...
Hope this helps.....
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To add a little to this.....an "affiliated" church can vote to become "non-affiliated." Usually, a district official is allowed to make his case as to why the church should not dis-affiliate at the business meeting.
Usually, a church will follow the pastor. However, I do know of cases where the pastor left the UPC and the church stayed affiliated. (got a new upc preacher) But I've never heard of a church leaving without the pastor.
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