I've been away for a while - due to a new job and a major change in schedule - so I apologize if this has already been addressed.
Today I had some time to catch up with some friends of mine (licensed ministers) and am more than a little disappointed with what I've heard. I've asked more than one about it and they've all confirmed the same.
I'm sickened by this. Completely disgusted.
Apparently, in a manner of protesting the sinful '07 NAYC, several Pastors are either withholding or significantly lessening the amount of their SFC offerings this year.
If you're a Pastor who is thinking about doing this, would you mind explaining what in the world you feel this will accomplish? Please, by all means, state why you think you should punish the ministries and people that are supported by SFC simply because of your childish tantrum over what happened at NAYC this year. Help me understand why you feel Tupelo, Lighthouse Ranch, Home and Foreign Missionaries, Bible Quizzing and other District events should pay for what happened at NAYC.
This is as stupid as Democratic Senators/Representatives blocking or withholding funds from the troops because they don't support the war.
Doing this does nothing but hurt and possibly permanently injure the ministries or other people that SFC supports. You sure you want to be a part of that? You sure God would honor your tantrum and attitude of "well, I'll make them pay for what happened . . . "
How dare these men. If they follow through with their threats, they'll have to answer to God for their ridiculous selfishness and arrogance. I cannot imagine God approving of this kind of attitude and action.
Any Pastor here on AFF thinking about making this kind of a childish statement?
JMO Sick . . . just sick.
If this is true, I wonder what the pastor would say to a saint who withheld tithes and offerings because they didn't like the sermon he preached?
My guess is that the pastors response to that situation would be much different.
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
If this is true, I wonder what the pastor would say to a saint who withheld tithes and offerings because they didn't like the sermon he preached?
My guess is that the pastors response to that situation would be much different.
I don't want to be misunderstood as applauding pastors withholding their offerings over the NAYC incidents, but I do want to address something in your post.
It is a fallacy to compare a pastor's relationship with and responsibility to a man made organization with the relationship of a saint and their local church.
Never the twain shall meet.
I do understand the frustration of the grass roots with a WEC that seems less and less in touch with them...I'm not sure withholding money from those who need it is the best way to express it though.
But the UPC is the the Church, and elected officials are not "Master Pastors" in spiritual authority over other pastors.
So your analogy doesn't hold up.
That false concept is one of the biggest problems in the organization.
I can say this because I am a member.
__________________ "Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."
The REAL sign of the times is what went on at NAYC....
The UPCI is headed in the wrong direction my friend....
It truly is sad that Lighthouse Ranch, Tupelo, etc. etc. etc. will have to suffer BECAUSE OF THE BAD DECISIONS OF THE LEADERSHIP (I.E. HAZLEWOOD) OF THE UPCI... not the local pastors who disagree with the direction of the organization. I know pastors, who instead of routing their monies through UPCI foreign missions (and having about 2/3 taken out for "administrative costs") are sending their monies directly to the missionaries themselves, and they are receiving 100% of the money, instead of just 1/3.... Also, pastors can support Lighthouse Ranch and Tupelo directly without having to route their money through Hazlewood. What the local pastor are trying to do is withold support the worldly agendas of hazlewood moneygrabbers and displays of carnality as seen at NAYC...
JMHO
Come on man........quit holding back........tell us how ya really feel.....
The REAL sign of the times is what went on at NAYC....
The UPCI is headed in the wrong direction my friend....
It truly is sad that Lighthouse Ranch, Tupelo, etc. etc. etc. will have to suffer BECAUSE OF THE BAD DECISIONS OF THE LEADERSHIP (I.E. HAZLEWOOD) OF THE UPCI... not the local pastors who disagree with the direction of the organization. I know pastors, who instead of routing their monies through UPCI foreign missions (and having about 2/3 taken out for "administrative costs") are sending their monies directly to the missionaries themselves, and they are receiving 100% of the money, instead of just 1/3.... Also, pastors can support Lighthouse Ranch and Tupelo directly without having to route their money through Hazlewood. What the local pastor are trying to do is withold support the worldly agendas of hazlewood moneygrabbers and displays of carnality as seen at NAYC...
JMHO
Hazelwood moneygrabbers? Really?!! And you know this - how?
Those pastors who send funds directly to missionaries are acting in defiance of the group they pay dues to and they're also doing a disservice to the missionaries themselves putting them in the position of also acting counter to the way things are supposed to work re FMD of the UPCI.
What about being submitted to the authorities and those in leadership over you?
__________________ Smiles & Blessings.... ~Felicity Welsh~ (surname courtesy of Jim Yohe)
Hazelwood moneygrabbers? Really?!! And you know this - how?
Those pastors who send funds directly to missionaries are acting in defiance of the group they pay dues to and they're also doing a disservice to the missionaries themselves putting them in the position of also acting counter to the way things are supposed to work re FMD of the UPCI.
What about being submitted to the authorities and those in leadership over you?
And another good post!
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
The REAL sign of the times is what went on at NAYC....
The UPCI is headed in the wrong direction my friend....
It truly is sad that Lighthouse Ranch, Tupelo, etc. etc. etc. will have to suffer BECAUSE OF THE BAD DECISIONS OF THE LEADERSHIP (I.E. HAZLEWOOD) OF THE UPCI... not the local pastors who disagree with the direction of the organization. I know pastors, who instead of routing their monies through UPCI foreign missions (and having about 2/3 taken out for "administrative costs") are sending their monies directly to the missionaries themselves, and they are receiving 100% of the money, instead of just 1/3.... Also, pastors can support Lighthouse Ranch and Tupelo directly without having to route their money through Hazlewood. What the local pastor are trying to do is withold support the worldly agendas of hazlewood moneygrabbers and displays of carnality as seen at NAYC...
JMHO
If they did this then they are not abiding by the manual that they signed to follow. What does this make them?
__________________ Never burn the bridge of mercy... You never know when you will need it to cross.
Doctrine makes a wonderful servant but a horrible master!
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