Pastor Wendell Elms, TX, defends standards on local news channel

[delta soundman]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

I agree 100% with you. It looks so childish really. Even nowadays if you ask a churched person (ie. baptist, methodist, etc) about these things they will laugh at you. I lived in a town in Ill and there was an Apostolic church around the corner from the UPC church. I met the pastor one day and we talked about standards. He said that he had tried to get with the UPC pastor over the years and fellowship but the UPC church wouldn't because of standards. The community did not understand it. I didn't understand it then. Now I understand elitism when I see it.

That word says it all!

[IBCrazier2]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Following Faith: The Pentecostal Church

See Video Now


All month we're learning more about different relegions. Tonight, we focus on the Pentecostal Church.You may have seen followers in the community and wondered why the women only wear dresses. They do it to give god praise. And there is nothing that will stop them. "Women stay in dresses regardless." Pastor Wendell Elms insists wearing skirts or dresses isn't forced upon the women in his United Pentecostal Church. It's something they do to honor God, something many would consider a fundamental lifestyle.

"In function, men wear pants, because they work. They have to put themselves in situations that to see a lady in that situation is compromising." Wearing pants isn't the only thing these Pentecostal women abstain from. They don't wear make-up, jewlery or cut their hair. "There are boundaries that we put up to help us to stay Christians, that help us to be Christians."

And these boundaries don't reach far outside the home. Elms says the bible clearly define's a woman's role .

"They were keepers of the home, and that's a full-time job. They were submitted to their husbands and submitted to the word of God." He explains it's not hard to live this way, it's a spiritual choice. "When a person is filled with the spirit, something happens in their understanding of these things. Their eyes are opened to something that the world does not see."

And it's behind these doors where they find refuge and strength. Elms says this way of life was standard in America years ago but his church has no plans to fit in with secular society. "That's just a line we will not cross. We're not going to become like them just to make them feel comfortable." We are what we are. We're comfortable with what we are. We want the whole world to be this way." A world outside these doors. They do it to give God praise.

Story Created: Nov 12, 2007 at 6:27 PM CST
Story Updated: Nov 12, 2007 at 6:27 PM CST

http://www.kauz.com/home/ticker/11220801.html

seems to me they only asked a 1 sided question.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by delta soundman

That word says it all!

To borrow a term from Reggie Jackson, Elitism is the 'straw that stirs the drink' in the Pentecostal movement. I know some will disagree, but truth hurts sometimes. I can say it cause I was taugh it and followed it.

[chaotic_resolve]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why one should be very careful about granting interviews to the press. I bet you this crew took a lot more footage and asked a lot more questions . . . but then only focused on making this church look like a cult or some crazy place that represses women. I'll hand it to the news crew, they did a great job spinning the story. I imagine even if this pastor spoke of community outreach for 30 minutes and standards for 5, the crew wouldn't have changed their focus.

Nice hack job by the local media.

[delta soundman]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why one should be very careful about granting interviews to the press. I bet you this crew took a lot more footage and asked a lot more questions . . . but then only focused on making this church look like a cult or some crazy place that represses women. I'll hand it to the news crew, they did a great job spinning the story. I imagine even if this pastor spoke of community outreach for 30 minutes and standards for 5, the crew wouldn't have changed their focus.

Nice hack job by the local media.

What would the pastor expect.......That's what you get for not having a TV and understanding how the media works. Most churches do community outreach, most church do alot of the same things, why would you report about that? That's nothing new. A church where women are sacrificing style for the sake of "holiness" now that is news.

[Kutless]

"Women should be keepers of the home"?

I may be different/liberal; but in my house we both work. It takes us both to maitain our house. Both incomes, both working to gether to keep things in order.

VERY Chauvanistic and extremely UC pentecost!

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Following Faith: The Pentecostal Church

See Video Now


All month we're learning more about different relegions. Tonight, we focus on the Pentecostal Church.You may have seen followers in the community and wondered why the women only wear dresses. They do it to give god praise. And there is nothing that will stop them. "Women stay in dresses regardless." Pastor Wendell Elms insists wearing skirts or dresses isn't forced upon the women in his United Pentecostal Church. It's something they do to honor God, something many would consider a fundamental lifestyle.

"In function, men wear pants, because they work. They have to put themselves in situations that to see a lady in that situation is compromising." Wearing pants isn't the only thing these Pentecostal women abstain from. They don't wear make-up, jewlery or cut their hair. "There are boundaries that we put up to help us to stay Christians, that help us to be Christians."

And these boundaries don't reach far outside the home. Elms says the bible clearly define's a woman's role .

"They were keepers of the home, and that's a full-time job. They were submitted to their husbands and submitted to the word of God." He explains it's not hard to live this way, it's a spiritual choice. "When a person is filled with the spirit, something happens in their understanding of these things. Their eyes are opened to something that the world does not see."

And it's behind these doors where they find refuge and strength. Elms says this way of life was standard in America years ago but his church has no plans to fit in with secular society. "That's just a line we will not cross. We're not going to become like them just to make them feel comfortable." We are what we are. We're comfortable with what we are. We want the whole world to be this way." A world outside these doors. They do it to give God praise.

Story Created: Nov 12, 2007 at 6:27 PM CST
Story Updated: Nov 12, 2007 at 6:27 PM CST

http://www.kauz.com/home/ticker/11220801.html

I went to UPC Churches for 40 years. Back when I was younger many of the girls I knew did not dress with standards willfully.

Many of my sisters and cousins friends same thing.

The thing is if you do not abide then you can't do anything in the church.

That is not doing anything willfully...

[Kutless]

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

I went to UPC Churches for 40 years. Back when I was younger many of the girls I knew did not dress with standards willfully.

Many of my sisters and cousins friends same thing.

The thing is if you do not abide then you can't do anything in the church.

That is not doing anything willfully...

Great point Neck. I wonder how many would drop jaw if they knew what was going on behind closed doors

There is a pastor in my area who is dead-set against TV. Funny thing is at least 70% of the church has them in their homes including board members.

[SoCaliUPC]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why one should be very careful about granting interviews to the press. I bet you this crew took a lot more footage and asked a lot more questions . . . but then only focused on making this church look like a cult or some crazy place that represses women. I'll hand it to the news crew, they did a great job spinning the story. I imagine even if this pastor spoke of community outreach for 30 minutes and standards for 5, the crew wouldn't have changed their focus.

Nice hack job by the local media.

This is what people need to learn.....when granting interviews to the press, YOU YOURSELF also record what is going on. When the press edits to their liking...show an unedited version. The video does not lie.

[SoCaliUPC]

Article states....

Pastor Wendell Elms insists wearing skirts or dresses isn't forced upon the women in his United Pentecostal Church.

Give me a break!! This is one of the most laughable statements made by a UPC preacher in a while. Not FORCED upon the women??? What would happen if they walked in with pants.....see if the reaction is the same and see if it is not FORCED. Maybe FORCED is the wrong word.....STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!!