Changes in the UPC over the past 30 years

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

LOL!

Could that be the Mark of the Beast on Gorby's forehead?

No, it was a map of the Unites States.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

No, it was a map of the Unites States.

It did seem to grow when world tensions heightened

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

No we are a 400 member progressive UPC church, but in some ways still traditional. 2 services on Sun, wed nite Study, fellowship with food, preaching against sin, shockamoo if you want to type church.

Now we do have many departments, and our youth have a very aggressive cutting edge ministry.

Sounds good

[StMark]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Communion is ignored.

I don't believe this at all. I don't know of any churches that do not take communion other than the folks that believe in "spiritual communion" but they never took it anyways

[StMark]

Esther, i didn't get thru the entire Thread so there may be some repeats. here is my list of changes I have taken notices of.



1) Watch night is dying - fewer churches are having it


2) Sunday nights are dying - fewer churches are having it


3) wednesday nights are dying - fewer & fewer people are attending


4) Revivals are dying- fewer churches have them and if they do, they are very short


5) Door knocking it use to be huge- It's a goner


6) People are more transient - they change churches more- not as loyal


7) Pastoral styles have changed - Years ago, pastors ruled with a rod of Iron. I see a lot less of that now


8)Fellowship meetings are dying- It use to be huge. It's been replaced with mini conferences


9)General Conference- more laity use to go and was more connected to the UPC. many of our members no little about UPC today


10) Bible schools are dying - amny wont agree with this but it's true anyways


11)Less young people are going into the ministry - more are going to secular college


12) Hammond organs are not as common - they are still Big in the Black church but dying in the UPC


13)more ministers are leaving the minsitry - I don't know all the reasons for this but it is true

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Hmmmm... I am saying we have sinfulness - enough to make us less then perfect. I am not saying we should expect to fulfill the lust of the flesh nor commit the sins of the flesh everyday.

I have met a few OP's who believe they were sin-free and said they "never sinned" after being born again. Hogwash! Such a statement IS sin.

I knew a guy who honestly felt like he was supposed to preach sinless perfection to his church. His reasoning was, since everybody's looking to "get away" with something he had to raise the standard as high as it would go. That way everyone would strive to be "perfect" and when they came up short, it wouldn't be so bad.

Sadly, the only fruit it seemed to bear was frustration and self justification. When I asked him if he managed to live in sinless perfection he beat around the bush before coming out and saying "Yes." I then asked him about a couple of instances in our association over the years and he became angry and defensive.

It seems that I didn't have the right attitude and that I should just shut up and not ask any more questions. I once pleaded with this man to give his life to Jesus Christ and to put full trust and faith in Him. The poor fellow and his wife nearly fell onto the floor in shock. "You talk to us like we're sinners!" they protested.

"We're all sinners," I replied. The wife started to deny that but interrupted herself when she immediately realized where I was headed in 1 John; but she would never let go of the indignation and the affront.

The truth is, we all need to put our lives and trust in Jesus Christ. It's so much easier to do that than to try and justify ourselves all the time.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I knew a guy who honestly felt like he was supposed to preach sinless perfection to his church. His reasoning was, since everybody's looking to "get away" with something he had to raise the standard as high as it would go. That way everyone would strive to be "perfect" and when they came up short, it wouldn't be so bad.

Sadly, the only fruit it seemed to bear was frustration and self justification. When I asked him if he managed to live in sinless perfection he beat around the bush before coming out and saying "Yes." I then asked him about a couple of instances in our association over the years and he became angry and defensive.

It seems that I didn't have the right attitude and that I should just shut up and not ask any more questions. I once pleaded with this man to give his life to Jesus Christ and to put full trust and faith in Him. The poor fellow and his wife nearly fell onto the floor in shock. "You talk to us like we're sinners!" they protested.

"We're all sinners," I replied. The wife started to deny that but interrupted herself when she immediately realized where I was headed in 1 John; but she would never let go of the indignation and the affront.

The truth is, we all need to put our lives and trust in Jesus Christ. It's so much easier to do that than to try and justify ourselves all the time.

Well said. When I came to this realization, it was like I was Born Again, again.

The "without spot and wrinkle" is on His behalf not my own accomplishments!

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Esther

In another thread it was mentioned concerning the Tulsa situation that changes has caused many to want to change.

I wanted to discuss what the changes are that you have noticed.

For myself I have noticed the following.

1. Most church no longer have foot washing.
2. Most new churches are being built without altars.
3. I see more women cutting their hair.
4. I see men and women coloring their hair.
5. I see more jewelery.
6. Many folks now have TV's in their homes.
7. Many now go to the theather.
8. I see more make-up.
9. Shorter dresses again, (saw them in the 70's as well)
10. Many women feel it is ok to wear pants.
11. Everyone now has a computer it seems.
12. Many feel it is not necessary to pay tithes.

Now these are some of the changes I have noticed since I have been in the church. I'm not saying all of these are wrong, but these are things you didn't see 30 years ago.


Did I miss anything?

racial diversity

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by StMark

Esther, i didn't get thru the entire Thread so there may be some repeats. here is my list of changes I have taken notices of.



1) Watch night is dying - fewer churches are having it


2) Sunday nights are dying - fewer churches are having it


3) wednesday nights are dying - fewer & fewer people are attending


4) Revivals are dying- fewer churches have them and if they do, they are very short


5) Door knocking it use to be huge- It's a goner


6) People are more transient - they change churches more- not as loyal


7) Pastoral styles have changed - Years ago, pastors ruled with a rod of Iron. I see a lot less of that now


8)Fellowship meetings are dying- It use to be huge. It's been replaced with mini conferences


9)General Conference- more laity use to go and was more connected to the UPC. many of our members no little about UPC today


10) Bible schools are dying - amny wont agree with this but it's true anyways


11)Less young people are going into the ministry - more are going to secular college


12) Hammond organs are not as common - they are still Big in the Black church but dying in the UPC


13)more ministers are leaving the minsitry - I don't know all the reasons for this but it is true

Mark, You will be glad to know that although we have gone to the praise and worship format we still have a B-3 playing EVERY sunday!!! They will get it out of the sanctuary over my dead monkey carcass!!!

[MrsMcD]

No more song books.