Missouri Molestation Case

[FRINGE_NUTTER]

It seems that no matter what the headquarters says, churches just do what they want to do. Not saying that is bad, just an observation.

Originally Posted by pelathais

As Sam has pointed out, it is the job of the local (usually state-wide or thereabouts in size) district to license and ordain.

And yes, at least going a few years back, if a man's wife backslid and walked out on him, he would not be necessarily "kicked out." He would certainly end up meeting the board to talk about it. If the board was satisfied then the man would not loose his ministry due to the actions of his wife (or vice versa). Of course if the minister in question was something of a trouble maker it could be that this would be the "straw that breaks the camel's back."

But the decision is local (at the district level) as long as the district board is following the general guidance of the UPCI Manual.

To answer your other question (sort of?): "The Manual" of the UPCI contains "the rules" that every minister is to follow. These can be broken down:

The Articles of Faith: what the UPC teaches and believes to be necessary for salvation and thus, also for Christian fellowship. Every minister is "expected" to preach, believe and practice the Articles of Faith. They are supposed to (in one way or another) get their congregations on the same page as the AoF.

The Judicial Procedure: This spells out how differences among ministers, among districts and other bodies and among officials are to be worked out. Basically, you must follow a Matthew 18 pattern for conflict resolution and the org will help if called upon to provide arbiters, etc.

The Local Church Constitution: What every local assembly must do to become and remain affiliated with the UPCI. Local UPC churches may or may not be affiliated." It's up to them. The trend has been that most churches have become affiliated to protect their property, etc.

And then there's more organizational stuff: departments, endorsed schools and ministries (like Tupelo's and Lighthouse Ranch) etc. And of course every resolution that has ever been passed unless it was subsequently done away with by subsequent resolutions and a series of "Position Papers."

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by FRINGE_NUTTER

It seems that no matter what the headquarters says, churches just do what they want to do. Not saying that is bad, just an observation.

I think the idea all along has been that the individual churches should have the freedom to develop their own ministries as they see fit. The thinking being, "you're in the community so you know what's working and what's not."

Of course as this involves the approval and use of ministers the national body needs to make certain that it's interests are addressed. There's a balancing act that has to be constantly fine tuned and worked out. That's what all the hullabaloo is usually about- the fine tuning and balance.

[FRINGE_NUTTER]

Thank you for this information. I have lived in several areas and things vary so much across the country.

[MissBrattified]

This was in the comments section under the Joplin Globe article about Curtis Huling:

posted by How Could You!

"I just have one statement to make...the victim YOU GO GIRL!!!! You did the right thing. It takes a very brave person to realize that "i've been wronged and I need to tell someone who can do something about it." To Curtis Huling, (whom I do know personally) How COULD YOU!!! Mother's day admitting that you had committed emotional "NOT PHYSICAL" adultery...was it with the victim??? Come on...we as a church should have known something was up then!!!"

Also, the police report is linked...here.

[tv1a]

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by pelathais

I think the idea all along has been that the individual churches should have the freedom to develop their own ministries as they see fit. The thinking being, "you're in the community so you know what's working and what's not."

Of course as this involves the approval and use of ministers the national body needs to make certain that it's interests are addressed. There's a balancing act that has to be constantly fine tuned and worked out. That's what all the hullabaloo is usually about- the fine tuning and balance.

[myhaloisintheshop]

I really don't know what to make of this....

It was on the news last night


Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 @06:47pm CST

An area pastor charged with child molestation says he's not guilty. 58-year-old Roy Huling of Joplin was in Jasper County Circuit Court this morning for his arraignment.
Huling pleaded not guilty to one count of child molestation. He's accused of having sexual relations with a young child. Huling was the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Webb City. He resigned from the church last Wednesday. Huling's next court appearance is scheduled for September 20th.



So you confess and then plead not guilty????

[HADDOCK]

Routine "justice system" ploy. He may have confessed, but defendants most always come into Court when being arraigned and plead not guilty. If they don't have an attorney they are given another appearance to retain an attorney or if they are indigent, one is appointed and another appearance date set to allow them time to meet with the attorney. The attorney will most likely move that his "confession" or statement be suppressed and all sorts of other motions even perhaps seeking a mental evaluation and also probably seeking change of venue for the matter to be heard, if it proceeds to trial, in another location because of media attention and quite possibly because the minister may be well known. There will be one appearance after another and eventually there will be a trial date set. His attorney will try to make a deal and most likely will. If there is a trial you have a young victim having to go through the orderal of testifying in Court...... And, the defendant is probably advised that he'd be better off to take the deal than to go into court before a jury who probably wouldn't be very tolerant of this sort of action.

[MissBrattified]

Isn't that kind of stupid? (To plead "Not guilty")...I thought a person would have an easier time in court if they pled guilty and apologized and all that....

[RandyWayne]

<Play Law & Order tunktunk sound>

[HangingOut]

I sort of hesitate on this, but I got word from a close source that stated he is being falsely accused by a former disgruntled saint. I am skeptical, but that is what I was told.