Should the Church be Adept at Suppressing Negative Information?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle

The truth is, nobody knows what the fallout is going to be.

If this is the FULL/WHOLE TRUTH ... than why not state it as such ? Instead of writing half truths to protect your tail? Aren't we in the truth telling business?

[Stephanas]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

What if it bills itself as "one of the fastest growing movements in the world" when, in fact, its attendance numbers have decreased steadily for over a decade?

Is that a lie?

The "fastest growing" mantra may be PPH propaganda.

But, does the claim that attendance numbers have decreased steadily for over a decade have any more credibility?

Here are some published numbers. Are they false?

1993 - 397,947

1994 - 400,991

1995 - 403,997

1996 - 407,657

1997 - 429,066

1998 - 422,137

1999 - 430,692

2000 - 447,786

2001 - 448,537

2002 - 487,200

2003 - 498,903

I haven't seen any published numbers since 2003. Somebody told me that Bro. Haney instituted a "truth in counting" policy and the numbers were slashed to the 300k - 350k range, but I don't know if that is really the case.

A Sunday School guy gave me these numbers. Again I haven't seen them published anywhere, and the 2006/2007 numbers on upci.org are incomplete.

2004 - 315,649

2005 - 337,646

Maybe someone can unlock the guarded records of the UPCI (Tom Fudge couldn't) and post some accurate numbers.

Until then, it's 25% for the decade 1993 -2003. Probably not in "fastest growing" territory, but not in decline either.

[Stephanas]

Now, this is strange.

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) has been among the fastest growing denominations in North America since it was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. From 617 churches listed in 1946, the UPCI in North America (United States and Canada) today lists 4,358 churches (which includes 4099 autonomous and 258 daughter works), 9,085 ministers, and reports a Sunday School attendance of 646,304. Moreover, it is also located in 175 other nations with 22,881 licensed ministers, 28,351 churches and meeting places, 652 missionaries, and a foreign constituency of over 3 million, making a total worldwide constituency of more than 4,036,945.

Apparently the Easter Attendance is only half of the actual Sunday School attendance of 646,304.

Color me confused.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Now, this is strange.



Apparently the Easter Attendance is only half of the actual Sunday School attendance of 646,304.

Color me confused.

Destined to double.