When I was conservative, I felt that doing anything besides what the AOF states would be a compromise of personal integrity. That's what I was taught, believed and lived. However, I spent the last 4 years in the UPC as more of an undercover liberal. I began to see things differently. I have great understanding for the conservative view. As time went on, however, I saw it wasn't so cut and dried for people who are more liberal bending...ESPECIALLY since you can put clarifying notes on the affirmation statement with no question. This clears many a conscience. For me, I still wanted to leave. I wanted to speak my mind outright. If my husband wanted to stay in, I would have and lived undercover best I could.
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Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it. ~Chinese Proverb
When I was young and clever, I wanted to change the world. Now that I am older and wiser, I strive to change myself. ~
The Affirmation Statement was endorsed and retained by a majority vote of the General Conference, and not just by "a few neanderthals."
You may view it as a joke, but I can assure you that the congregations it split and the minister's it disfellowshipped don't.
GraceAmazing said it earlier: "It's a matter of integrity."
I'm surprised, given your vintage, that you view the matter of a signature and a man's word so flippantly.
It's hardly a "blue law" that nobody pays any attention to; if you fail to sign it, you lose your credentials, and potentially your livelihood.
The AS passed by "questionable" procedure and because of a lie by a high ranking official.
The original (1945) statement on holiness in the Articles of Faith would have been fine but it was amended in 1954 to include opinions of a militant minority.
It is my opinion that the proposal, adoption, and subsequent blood-letting and upheaval of the Affirmation Statement is pretty well described in Proverbs 6:16-19.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, a licensed or ordained minister in the UPC (Under Privileged Children) organization so my opinion is not important.
ILG you hit the nail on the head!!!!!!!! Undercover. Thats what we did. Some would say thats hypocritical. But, the real reason is that you or no one else would want anyone to talk about them.
Sure I signed the AS. For Integrity sake. I was involved in the District, one of the associate Pastors in my local assembly about 15 years, Evangelized for a while, I loved the UPC. But I was not going to keep signing something I didn't believe.
I don't have anything bad to say about the UPC. I am not part of it anymore. My dad and other family are, however.
My Grandfather used to be one of the board members im the Mississippi District.
But, even he understood what I believed. Along with 100's of others!!
I have friends who still minister and Pastor in MS. who believe like I do. But, don't want to make waves.
I think it would interesting to know how many Pentecostals who still attend conservative churches and live conservative lifestyles, don't really believe that it's biblically required?
I've noticed an undercurrent among my own friends... little comments and discussions that let me know that they have serious questions about it all. Many of us just feel caught in the system.
The AS passed by "questionable" procedure and because of a lie by a high ranking official.
The original (1945) statement on holiness in the Articles of Faith would have been fine but it was amended in 1954 to include opinions of a militant minority.
It is my opinion that the proposal, adoption, and subsequent blood-letting and upheaval of the Affirmation Statement is pretty well described in Proverbs 6:16-19.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, a licensed or ordained minister in the UPC (Under Privileged Children) organization so my opinion is not important.
I take umbrage with the accusation that a high ranking official lied to facilitate the passing of the resolution that implemented the Affirmation Statement.
I was personally in a meeting where that godly brother apologized for the impression his words gave. He may have expressed himself poorly on the General Conference floor, but I reject the assertion that he lied.
Whether or not the procedure was questionable is a moot point. There has been ample time and opportunity to rescind the Affirmation Resolution, and the will of the body has been to retain it.
Re: Another SPLIT from the UPCI???
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