How Far Should The UPC Go to Appease Them?

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Their "love fest" with the UPCI will end once a UPCI church opens up in their neighborhood!

My understanding is that this is already starting to happen.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by AGAPE

the UPC is not a "church"

Allegiance to the Articles of Faith and the Affirmation Statement seem to to be a big deal to some people when it suits them. And then they appear to throw these principles out the window when it doesn't suit them.

Are you saying that the United Pentecostal Church is "not a church" and therefore when men sign on the dotted line their signatures are meaningless?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by bishoph

While I certainly do not seek to argue about the particulars of "the church" versus "a church," I would have to disagree with you in calling the UPCI a church.

IMHO the UPCI is a ministerial association which was founded for the sake of fellowship and the propagation of the Gospel to the whole world. In a legal sense it is a non-profit corporation, nothing less nothing more. There are individual ministers and churches which are associated and or affiliated with said corporation, the UPCI, however, is not a church as an entity within itself.

With respect bishop, "In a legal sense" every 501c(3) org is simply a not-for-profit organization. And this includes virtually every Apostolic "church" in North America. To use this line of reasoning, I take it that you would agree that proselytizing every Apostolic church is now available without any hint of criticism for those who do so? Where is your church, by the way? Maybe I should start contacting your saints with a focused effort at evangelizing them to a "better" way of thinking and having church.

Originally Posted by bishoph

I personally think this is one of the problems that UPC "lifers" have at times, they cannot separate the fact that the UPCI corp/organization is not a church. This is because, to some extent, this has been implied if not taught on a national/international level.

My take on this is that with the advance of the teachings of exclusivism by the so-called "Water & Spirit" proponents that a climate was created that caused many saints to say things like "the UPC is THE CHURCH." That was usually followed up by equivocations to include GIBs and and smaller OP orgs. But the general theme usually stood.

It was only among the ministery that clarifications were made about the org being "for the beneifit and fellowship of like minded ministers..." But when it really comes to it, the whole argument is obscured by a lot of quibbling and assertions from every angle over the years.

I think that to say now, that the UPC is "not a church" and thus is somehow excempt from the rules of proselytizing is disengenuous. Most of the same people who say that now are either eager to continue to sow discord or are sympathetic to those who do. Several years ago, these same folks would have been appalled by such behavior.

Just because their opinions have changed doesn't mean that eternal principles based upon the Word of God have changed as well.

[Nahum]

I still say the inconsistency, and the complete lack of ethics involved, is appalling.

These men would throw out every single person who violates one iota of the AOF if they could. In fact, that is the whole reason they are leaving. Because the UPC wouldn't enforce its own bylaws and throw the tv owners and sport-followers out.

Funny how they now say we should ignore dual membership in the interest of peace and brotherly love. They are violating the very thing they so vehemently tried to enforce - their precious uniformity agreement.

That's like the fox tellin' the farmer to leave him alone, because the chickens will squawk louder if he tries to stop him from stealin' 'em.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by pelathais

With respect bishop, "In a legal sense" every 501c(3) org is simply a not-for-profit organization. .

I know of churches who did not file papers of incorporation, and are not seperate 501c organizations. It is not difficult.

I know of a man, an Apostolic Attorney who relished the thought of writing a set of District Bylaws from scratch to avoid some of the errors in many carbon copied Bylaws.

[DividedThigh]

character and lack of character will be eminated by the followers of the wpf and the upci in the next few months and years, and if you think proseytizing is over, honey it has only just begun, some of these guys have it down to a science, lol,dt

[AGAPE]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Allegiance to the Articles of Faith and the Affirmation Statement seem to to be a big deal to some people when it suits them. And then they appear to throw these principles out the window when it doesn't suit them.

Are you saying that the United Pentecostal Church is "not a church" and therefore when men sign on the dotted line their signatures are meaningless?

Upc is not a "church" it is an Org..
If I don't want to go by the rules I leave...


(as in Carmen)

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by AGAPE

Upc is not a "church" it is an Org..
If I don't want to go by the rules I leave...


(as in Carmen)

Sounds like you have a problem with submission.

[TrmptPraise]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Sounds like you have a problem with submission.

Don't you love that thinking, PP? Hopping from one assembly to another trying to find the perfect church, that is just to our liking. They are on the visitor role of most churches in the area.

The only perfect church is the one that assembles right after the rapture.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Dan'D

UPC on the losing end.

Dan’D

Considering the leadership of my pastor, and the men of God that I know personally, I'm thinking we'll be fine.