General Conference

[Jermyn Davidson]

If I was still attending a UPCI church, and there was a registration fee of $200.00, I would not go.

Not because it wouldn't be worth it, I just probably couldn't afford to go.

Especially if I had a family and their fees had to be paid too.


Charging registration fees to the general public to attend General Conference is a bad idea.

The purpose of G C is not to make money, but it is to encourage and strengthen the body, handle necessary business, and fellowship.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

If I was still attending a UPCI church, and there was a registration fee of $200.00, I would not go.

Not because it wouldn't be worth it, I just probably couldn't afford to go.

Especially if I had a family and their fees had to be paid too.


Charging registration fees to the general public to attend General Conference is a bad idea.

The purpose of G C is not to make money, but it is to encourage and strengthen the body, handle necessary business, and fellowship.

There could be a family rate.

I am just thinking of other conferences I attend. The registration fee is never the deciding factor. Travel, hotel, and missed work expense each cost more than the registration does.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

There could be a family rate.

I am just thinking of other conferences I attend. The registration fee is never the deciding factor. Travel, hotel, and missed work expense each cost more than the registration does.

Yeah, but it is still an "extra fee" to pay which can prove to be a mental bloc for folks determining if it is worth it to them to make the trip.


It would be worth it, but the registration fee would discourage some from showing up.

[Innocuous]

Originally Posted by secretone

Up until they started charging registration they were losing around 500,000 thousand a year. Registration has brought it down to around 350,000 to 400,000 thousand dollars.

Future conferences will be held in venues that will not cost as much, once they get through the contracts that have already been signed.

To the credit of HQ, they currently have a committee that is evaluating the operations of WEC to recommend ways to be more efficient. It is very possible that programs and perhaps even divisions will be cut.

So you're saying it costs about a half mill to put on a GF? That's reasonable. The numbers I received, from a very well connected source, were much higher than that, in the seven figures.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Yeah, but it is still an "extra fee" to pay which can prove to be a mental bloc for folks determining if it is worth it to them to make the trip.


It would be worth it, but the registration fee would discourage some from showing up.

Again I think that would be OK. The voting membership could come and vote free... and that is the real biz taking place, not a goal of attracting a huge crowd.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Again I think that would be OK. The voting membership could come and vote free... and that is the real biz taking place, not a goal of attracting a huge crowd.

A goal, even if it would be unstated, would be attract huge crowds-- a sign of growth and solidarity.

Also, crowd attraction is at least a consideration as the Speakers lined up for such events are not local district known only preachers-- it's the big guys!


Crowd attraction, or lay participation, is just as much a consideration as the business aspect is.

[Innocuous]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

The terminology that you are using is needlessly negative..... without the General Conference the organization will eventually become a fragmented disconnected collection of fiefdoms.

.

I apologize for sounding negative. I'm not a big proponent of conferences but certainly didn't mean to make that an issue. I was only inquiring to determine the veracity of what I was told.

Regarding your second comment, at the risk of appearing to take a cheap shot, I'd argue that this is already a reality to large degree. If so, then I guess a national conference is more necessary than ever before.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

A goal, even if it would be unstated, would be attract huge crowds-- a sign of growth and solidarity.

Also, crowd attraction is at least a consideration as the Speakers lined up for such events are not local district known only preachers-- it's the big guys!


Crowd attraction, or lay participation, is just as much a consideration as the business aspect is.

Right, I agree it is, but I question whether it needs to be. Especially if there is fiscal irresponsibility to achieve it.

[Innocuous]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Right, I agree it is, but I question whether it needs to be.

With the plethora of boutique conferences of every flavor being held almost weekly all over the country perhaps GC should be redesigned as a purely prechers conference where licensed ministers come and do the business and worship and fellowship together. The 'laity' could attend the more regional conferences or go to the boutique conference of their preference for fellowship with other people in the org. This would bring the scope and costs of the GC down considerably.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Right, I agree it is, but I question whether it needs to be.

I don't question it at all. One thing that Apostolics need is to come together. To be able to do so on a National scale is great blessing and one of the benefits of being a member of an International fellowship.

There are so many wonderful things that can happen at a General Conference-- all of which would be a blessing and encouragement to the local assemblies.