Tulsa: A Description from a Coordinator of the Meeting

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by CC1

I don't know why there is any pretense about what they are doing. They are established men, not novices.

They are not some fly by night preachers rashly making a move. They have been increasingly unhappy for years and are finally doing something about it.

Why be coy?

Not meaning to be ugly but have you ever heard of a politician???????

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Not meaning to be ugly but have you ever heard of a politician???????

LOL!!!

I guess we just should appreciate they are not being ugly about it.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Not meaning to be ugly but have you ever heard of a politician???????

Don't "run for the hills..." You hit the nail right on the head, there.

[1stLady]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I just preached a very unique conference last week with two great Men of God. On one hand I had one of the Assistant General Superintendants and on the other hand I had one of the Coordinators of the Tulsa meeting.

For all the talk about 'recruiting' and 'stealing members' and 'unethical' that abounds I have to tell you that this isn't the spirit of the coordinators at all! They are kind gentlemen that are simply providing a grass roots meeting to discuss what steps to take to maintain an Apostolic atmosphere without the diminishing of Apostolic distinctives.

I spent several days with them and - AMAZINGLY - not one time did they ask me to come to the meeting (I'm personal friends with most of the names on the mail out and have never been asked or recruited to come) or to drag others with me if I should decide to go.

We had several candid conversations about recent events and I asked the coordinator point blank if the meeting was going to be a 'preaching' type meeting, a bloodbath or what... only to be told that what they want to do is NOTHING that would require anybody to leave the UPC. They simply want to talk options, hear suggestions and reiterate our goals as Apostolics.

I know this will seriously upset some people to know that it will neither be a...

• Gripe session
• UPC bashing meeting
• Flashback to the vicious splits of days gone by or
• A 'let's march out and make a statement' type meeting.

It's a meeting to gather suggestions and find a way to network men together who have begun to lose faith in the direction the Apostolic movement as a whole is going.

And, for what it's worth, I've talked to many who are involved or going to this meeting and have yet to hear any viciousness in their voices. Just a little sadness for the most part.

Thus, what most have surmised, heard gossiped about or interjected their own fabrications about... simply isn't true.

Brother Steadfast,
How did the bishop's nephew treat you last week ?

Originally Posted by pelathais

I suppose time will tell what the truth is. There are many men of "this crowd" who have already pulled out of the UPC over the last few years. And when they are not speaking in front of an Assistant GS, some of the coordinators have expressed a great deal of antipathy for the UPC as a whole.

My impression is that they would love to see a huge ground swell at Tulsa that will sweep these men into the national offices that "they deserve;" but they don't know for certain that they'll see such support so they're hedging their bets by being respectful whenever a UPC official shows up.

There are men on the flyer who have complained for years that they've been elbowed out of the positions that their talents have made them worthy of (and they may even have a point!). There are a lot of different agendas at work here.

What I have seen is a bunch of guys who were raised and trained to really despise some of their brethren. While some of the "coordinators" have a kinder spirit than that, there is something of a groundswell to be finally rid of "the compromisers" one way or another.

So much here that I disagree with. Oh well... I know most of them and consider them personal friends. I know for a fact that the man did NOT 'water it down' for an Assistant Superintendant. They ribbed each other all week long about many things but this conversation was open and honest.

As for any ulterior motives: I'm personal FRIENDS with most of these men and NOT one of them (I've talked to most before the vote and many after the vote) have EVER tried to persuade me to drop the UPC.

Some of them have dropped. NEVER asked me to.
Some of them will drop. NEVER suggested I do the same.
Some will stay in the UPC. NEVER tried to persuade me either way.

In fact, when I brought up the fact that there were so many from other groups saying they were coming who would 'rejoice over any exodus' the reply was stern and to the point: "That spirit won't be allowed to find a spotlight".

Of all the men I've talked to who are planning on leaving I've yet to find an 'in your face, liberals!' spirit among them. Most are just sad and resigned to the fact that they have to make a choice.

Originally Posted by CC1

I don't know why there is any pretense about what they are doing. They are established men, not novices.

They are not some fly by night preachers rashly making a move. They have been increasingly unhappy for years and are finally doing something about it.

Why be coy?

Absolutely true. Good post.

Originally Posted by 1stLady

Brother Steadfast,
How did the bishop's nephew treat you last week ?

I scarcely saw him! He was evidently busy as I only got to speak to him a couple of times during the entire conference.

[1stLady]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I scarcely saw him! He was evidently busy as I only got to speak to him a couple of times during the entire conference.

We are thrilled that he is pastor of that beautiful church there on the river.The folks there seem to love him very much.

Originally Posted by 1stLady

We are thrilled that he is pastor of that beautiful church there on the river.The folks there seem to love him very much.

I hope so... and, yes, it IS a beautiful location. I walked out back and stood there forever looking at the beautiful Ohio River gently rolling by. I absolutely love the water; it relaxes me like nothing else can.

In my earlier days of Pastoring here when I would get 'stressed out' I would go to a nice place on Galveston Island to a restaurant that had a pier WAY out in the gulf. They had 'all you can eat' ribeye steaks for $12.50.

Sitting there in the gentle breeze (I liked it when it was about to storm, actually) eating great steaks and watching the waves... I could practically calm down to a comotose state!

Maybe I need to try that again... soon.

[Kutless]

Originally Posted by Pastor G

I believe you were told what you say you were told, Steadfast... However, I have corresponded with one of the men listed on the Tulsa flyer, who has already, as people say, turned his card in and has used the term "alternative fellowship" when describing the meeting that is to take place... It sounds like either some of the men on the post card have different ideas of what is to take place... Or some are not ready to admit it..

God Bless

WOW sounds real organized