The Recent Accusation of Racism Against the UPCI

[n david]

In the first video, this couple refers to "systemic" racism in the UPCI. No examples are given, everything is kept vague. They mention there are no or very few minorities in the hierarchy of the UPCI, at both General and District levels. They mention the PAW had two leaders who were white (though failed to mention that this was in the 70s and 80s and since then the leadership of the PAW has been black from top down.) They demand some sort of resolution calling racism a sin and affirming the UPCI will vote anyone into office regardless of race. They say the video was a "last resort" due to being ignored by their District and by UPCI HQ.

The second video brings another demand -- gender equality! They wished to address accusations from the first video. They said they were accused of causing division, which they deny. They claim to have released the videos to bring healing. Please. You don't release a video making vague accusations against an organization to "bring healing." They said they were accused of being vague. They gave a story of meeting with the District board and someone on the District board asked about their interracial marriage and how their kids adapted. Also said the board told them there were some churches in the southern part of the district which may not be welcoming to interracial marriage. I can tell you there are likely black churches which also would not welcome interracial marriage. There are likely black churches which wouldn't welcome a white minister to preach. They again refer to the UPCI having "systemic" racism, but then say they know not everyone is racist. If they believe it's not widespread, not the whole of the UPCI, they shouldn't be calling it "systemic."

The wife is the leader, IMO. I've known and been around couples in ministry in which the wife took the dominant role.

She read a part in which a new demand is that the UPCI pass a resolution which states all positions be open to any race and gender. Never. Gonna. Happen.

First, no woman should be the GS or AGS. Not their role. Nor should the ladies ministry position be open for a man to be in charge or vice versa. Second, anyone can put their name in for office and receive votes.

This demand that there be resolutions passed against racism and opening positions to both genders is nothing more than liberal, social justice and feminist junk.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Originalist

This is not "racism". Again, this broad definition of "racism" is often used as a bully tactic. While I certainly think some points of criticism had merit, the accusers took an accusatory tone, thus falsely maligning their brethren.

I wonder if their proximity to Ferguson (20 minutes away), and the riots there from a few years ago, has played a role in this.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by n david

I wonder if their proximity to Ferguson (20 minutes away), and the riots there from a few years ago, has played a role in this.

Bingo. I was thinking the same thing. And,as you noted, the term "systematic" now has just as broad of a definition as "racism" does.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Leaving only will make the perceived problem worse. Even if the UPCI's approach was in error, the intent was genuine. The movement shows a genuine attempt to reach out to the black community. Instead of staying and educating, this church played the race card. I suspect they are lefties to begin with.

I suspect there is more issues with "standards", than with racism.
Time will tell.

[Evang.Benincasa]

I think it's more of female leading the man down the road called confusion. No offense to the well meaning couple. But, in their video we have the issue of "race" then something about female "pastor?" How that all got thrown together was not exactly made clear. But, the pastor and his wife, might just be the pastor and his pastor. Just my opinion, since I haven't the foggiest idea what their complaints actually are, or know their situation well enough. Yet, this is what Charnock may of been getting at in his thread. People come use the video feature on their phone and then cry wee...wee...wee....all the way home. The people in the cheap seats then try to figure out the one dimensional story. Elder Bernard and the United Pentecostal Church International then starts to come up with statements that they are not racists. I thought we are of the race of Christ? Once we come into the Church? We are of His lineage. We aren't Italians looking to be culturally Italian. Or Greeks to be culturally Greek. A Spanish church is Spanish because of a language barrier. Same with a Korean church and Haitian church. I had a 22 year old on the job who was born and raised in Hialeah Florida. He can't speak a word of English. Am I racist if I don't see that as a good thing? Our language in this country is English. I guess if you never set a foot out of Hialeah you are OK. But if you intend on working in the rest of the sunny state of Floreeda then you need to learn ENGLISH.

The church has nothing to apologize for, it doesn't have to apologize for Sunday School directors who are homosexuals, or song teachers who are homosexuals. Because the church doesn't teach that is acceptable. Same for racism. The UPCI DOESN'T TEACH OR PREACH RACISM. If a black or Spanish GS is not to be found. Then oh well, we just never had one run, or want to run. We can make all the accusations we want, and bring up all the spooky Halloween stories which have no credible witnesses. The next thing we will have will be women coming forward accusing leadership of moral failure. Because that is what is going on with the secular world. Racism, people coming forward after untold amount of years past, accusing individuals of moral failure. If the church doesn't cut itself loose on trying to please everyone by making apologies, then it will crumble under its apologies.

Why was the video made?

Oh, to help people with the same problem?

Well, actually, that doesn't really happen. It just causes people who may have similar situations to just pour gasoline on the problem. Instead of Holy Ghost on the problem.

[Sister Alvear]

I heard about it...but have not seen it or care too...

[n david]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I think it's more of female leading the man down the road called confusion. No offense to the well meaning couple. But, in their video we have the issue of "race" then something about female "pastor?" How that all got thrown together was not exactly made clear. But, the pastor and his wife, might just be the pastor and his pastor.

Is the A/P movement seeing a rise in feminists? How many are there like this couple, where the woman is the dominate spouse and the Minister/husband is a yes man, nodding along meekly to whatever his spouse says?

This may seem odd, but I saw a connection between the woman in the video and what I read from a recent Lady Gaga speech:

"""I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to say tonight.

How does one rise to such an occasion when maybe you don't feel that inside? How does one accept where life has brought them and what it all means?

As I tried on dress after dress today, getting ready for this event, one tight corset after another, one heel after another, a diamond, a feather, thousands of beaded fabrics in the most beautiful silks in the world... to be honest? I felt sick to my stomach.

And I asked myself, what does it really mean to be a woman in Hollywood? We are not just objects to entertain the world. We are not simply images to bring smiles or grimaces to people's faces. We are not members of a giant beauty pageant to be pit against one another for the pleasures of the public.

We women in Hollywood, we have voices. We have deep thoughts and ideas and beliefs and values about the world, and we have the power to speak and be heard and fight back when we are silenced.

So after trying on ten or so dresses, with a sad feeling in my heart that all would matter was what I wore to this red carpet, I saw an oversized Marc Jacobs suit very quietly in the corner. I put it on, to a resounding view of eyes glaring at me in confusion. "But the Rodarte was so beautiful!" one said. "But the Raf Simons for Calvin Klein was so stunning on you! sad another.

"But what about the Braden Maxwell? What about the Dior?" Lots of questions.

They were all dresses. This was an oversized men's suit made for a woman. Not a gown. And then I began to cry.

In this suit, I felt like me today. In this suit, I felt the truth of who I am well up in my gut. And then, wondering what I wanted to say tonight became very clear to me.

As a sexual assault survivor by someone in the entertainment industry, as a woman who is still not brave enough to say his name, as a woman who lives with chronic pain, as a woman who was conditioned at a very young age to listen to what men told me to do, I decided today I wanted to take the power back. Today, I wear the pants."""



Change some of the wording, and that is what I hear from the woman in the video. What she talks about during her reading bit on the video is modern feminism. She talks about having a seat at the table, not just being invited.

This is more than whatever alleged "systemic" racism they claim to have experienced. The second video about gender equality proves it.

[n david]

Gives his history in A/P churches before addressing the accusations around 11 minutes into the video.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by n david

As a sexual assault survivor by someone in the entertainment industry, as a woman who is still not brave enough to say his name, as a woman who lives with chronic pain, as a woman who was conditioned at a very young age to listen to what men told me to do, I decided today I wanted to take the power back. Today, I wear the pants."""

She says she wants to take back power, and yet she is exposing her chest like wares for sale. She is not free from the need to pay her way to success with sex. What kind of power is that?

[n david]

"""I will add, the body of Christ isn't Wakanda"""

https://twitter.com/DocTofer/status/1049687203461369856