UPC District board suing church in MS.? - Page 3

freeatlast · #21 11-01-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

1. Taking it to secular courts is entirely out of line with scripture. I don't care if the cause is just or not. Unless there is some sort of criminal act involved, the governing agencies shouldn't be involved.

2. I agree; we don't have all the facts. It's hard to call it one way or the other as to who is right. Some pastors deliberately set up their bylaws to give themselves more control than the organization, but obviously this pastor made the mistake of countering his own authority with a board that doesn't consist of "yes men."

There's more to this story, no doubt.

Our board, just last year revised our archaic (sp) by laws to give more protection to the church and to protect us from any greedy or unscrupulous pastor.

Addition to and removal from the board takes a majority vote of the board now.

The board can convene and take action to remove the pastor by majority vote.

We also voted to become non affiliated and established a concil of Elders that can be contacted if a problem ever occured or if we were faced with the sudden deparure of our pastor.

Our concil consists of three pastors that our church knows.

I have seen preachers who have posted comments that they would never pastor a church with a board like this. That if they did not have right to 100% tithe etc.

Our new by laws pretty much ensure we will never have one of those type of pastors come our way.

For that reason alone I am thankful that. That type of controling pastor will not stay whe his check stops showing up ;-)

TRFrance · #22 11-01-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minister_WD

It was recently brought to my attention that an influential UPC church, that followed the by laws it had set up for years, was brought under pressure by the WPF to disafilliate. Some board members were upset and joined their district board to sue the pastor to maintain affilliation. After appearing in court, it seems the church had properly followed their by-laws and the court refused to get involved. Do you think it is acceptable for board members and, particularly, the district board to file suit against their "brother?"

I thought the WPF was not a denomination, nor wanted to act like one... and would not be pressuring churches to disaffiliate from their present organization.

If this story is true, then perhaps we were being misled all along. That would be sad.

StMark · #23 11-01-2008, 03:48 PM

~ O MY ~

I have some information I read on another forum
NO! I shall NOT name that forum do DO NOT ask!!! but when I have time to log back on,
I'll cut and paste it over here

Lord Bless!!!

George · #24 11-01-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amos

That may be true in many places, but not in Mississippi.

The board there has historically taken the side of the church most of the time.

The prevailing mindset is that they can always get another preacher somewhere, but the saints have to stay there.

From what I have heard, you are right. In fact, I believe in just a short period of time, 50% of the UPCI churches in Mississippi have changed pastors. Sounds like a rough place to be a pastor. You can guarantee there will be many church splits.

CC1 · #25 11-02-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amos

Some members of the church sued the pastor. It wasn't the District Board, although the board was reportedly in support of them.

It was thrown out because the pastor had followed disaffiliation procedures and the church bylaws to the letter, and had a majority vote (albeit a slim one).

Sounds lke a sad situation for all. I am always surprised that folks who consider themselves Christians persist in airing the churches dirty laundry in the public courts where the church is trying to minister.

I would walk away with a right spirit and with the intent of doing no harm. If the church was heading a direction I didn't agree with I would find one I felt was heading the right direction.

This kind of public action and publicity dimenishes the church in the eyes of the world and hurts its witness.

deltaguitar · #26 11-03-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George

From what I have heard, you are right. In fact, I believe in just a short period of time, 50% of the UPCI churches in Mississippi have changed pastors. Sounds like a rough place to be a pastor. You can guarantee there will be many church splits.

Yep, this happened in our church. The only viable UPC church within 60 miles and the MS district blew it. But i am glad they did, it just made it easier for us to leave.

DividedThigh · #27 11-03-2008, 09:39 AM

the answer is no, source the bible, dt

MrsMcD · #28 11-03-2008, 09:41 AM

I must have read my bible wrong but I thought it says something about suing.

All4one · #29 11-03-2008, 09:46 AM

Its just business. The organization is set up as a business. They must maintain control to be succsessfull.

Theresa · #30 11-03-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhoni

This is not the first time a lawsuit has been brought against a UPCI church trying to disaffiliate. It isn't ethical nor is it Biblical...but they are just a manmade organization which makes decisions based on financial assets.

Blessings, Rhoni

Quote:

Originally Posted by All4one

Its just business. The organization is set up as a business. They must maintain control to be succsessfull.

*sits on hands*