The Future of the Oneness Pentecostal Movement

[Sam]

Originally Posted by shamgar1

Budget fees are part of the problem. For an ordained minister they are over $400 per year. The district and sections require dues as well. Mine total around $1000 per year currently.

This may play a part in the low number of young ministers. Why pay dues if there is no real benefit?

Are you allowed to take those dues and fees out of your tithes?
When I was in the ALJC my pastor allowed it but a nearby pastor did not allow a young minister in his church to do that. That pastor believed the tithe was supposed to go to him.
Taking dues and fees out of your tithes could cause financial hardship to the local church.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Sam

Are you allowed to take those dues and fees out of your tithes?
When I was in the ALJC my pastor allowed it but a nearby pastor did not allow a young minister in his church to do that. That pastor believed the tithe was supposed to go to him.
Taking dues and fees out of your tithes could cause financial hardship to the local church.

I will not comment.

[Elihu]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Felicity, you have such a beautiful spirit (and a beautiful smile!). How do you manage to profess such optimism?

I don't agree with the way you're looking at the subject, even though I must confess that your way seems to produce much more happiness for you than what I've managed to glean.

I love the UPC leaders and have personally known most of them. They are great men. But there is a churning miasma that they had to "rise" through. It's this "miasma" of politics, fear-based control systems and brutal backbiting that I see.

Of course there are places free from such things; but just sit through a couple of closed minister's meetings at the district level and I'm afraid pessimism will inevitably follow.

Then, look up some gifted old friends. People you knew when you were young that had "success in the kingdom" written all over them. Hear their stories. Ask them why they don't funnel their young men into the organization.

This is my current circumstance. I have very few men my age to fellowship with, and most of them are realted to a mover in the fellowship. The fellowship I do have is wonderful.

I have begun to reach out to other Oneness churches for fellowship.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I don't agree with the way you're looking at the subject

Well there are all different ways of looking at things. I'm looking at it through the perspective of real life and real experience - personally speaking.

I know I've been very very blessed and I also am aware that others have been through different kinds of experience than I have been.

I think sometimes mindsets and what you're looking for and expecting colours how you look at things.

The less you expect, then the less you're disappointed and the more appreciative you are of what you receive.

Don't you think?

[Elihu]

Originally Posted by Sam

Are you allowed to take those dues and fees out of your tithes?
When I was in the ALJC my pastor allowed it but a nearby pastor did not allow a young minister in his church to do that. That pastor believed the tithe was supposed to go to him.
Taking dues and fees out of your tithes could cause financial hardship to the local church.

I pay my dues separate from my tithing.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Recently and this is true I heard of a minister who belonged to a certain affliation who was a truck driver by trade , this brother turned in his credentials because he felt didn't get to preach too much on account of his occupation so he decided to turn in his card.

[Felicity]

There are no perfect situations nor perfect ways of collecting monies to make an organization "go". It doesn't just fall from the sky. It has to come from people some way or other. I think most orgs do the best they can in trying to be fair and not make it any more difficult or burdensome than they have to.

Don't you think?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by shamgar1

I pay my dues separate from my tithing.

That's not as much of a problem when you are being compensated as a minister ... but some of the Levites in the house are supposed to pull 2 shifts ... one is purely voluntary ....

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Recently and this is true I heard of a minister who belonged to a certain affliation who was a truck driver by trade , this brother turned in his credentials because he felt didn't get to preach too much on account of his occupation so he decided to turn in his card.

One has so much time ... and if the focus is just preaching ... then one will feel inadequate.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I'm independent and I have nothing agains't the UPCI brethren ,I'm willing to walk in any doors God opens up ,but I'll not try to make things happen if God is in something it will work out.