New Resolution: All local ministers right to vote

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Straightline

BE: MP is correct in his last post; you could vote if you had a letter from your pastor.
Most of my posting is to be explanatory of the current system, which is a Pastoral system. Maybe we ought to just waive the dues of all ministers that are ineligible to vote - that would make more sense.

Heading stage right
in a
Straightline

Ruh roh.......somewhere in Hazelwood, JJ just about choked on his coffee.....

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Agreed, BE. There are far more churches in the organization with only one or two ministers voting than 15-20.

The hardest thing for me to do is to go to General Conference and be there in the business meetings. I would get the feeling that I was a part of this great organization, but I couldn't actually vote on any of the resolutions. I don't even bother to go to GC anymore; having to pay a registration fee along with my dues is no longer feesable to me.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Straightline

BE: MP is correct in his last post; you could vote if you had a letter from your pastor.
Most of my posting is to be explanatory of the current system, which is a Pastoral system. Maybe we ought to just waive the dues of all ministers that are ineligible to vote - that would make more sense.

Heading stage right
in a
Straightline

LOL! Well, why don't you present that as a resolution to vote on? ( or are you being facetious?)

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Ruh roh.......somewhere in Hazelwood, JJ just about choked on his coffee.....

The answer is progressive income dues ... hike the full-timers dues ... or give the non-voters a 50% discount.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

The answer is progress income dues ... hike the full-timers dues ... or give the non-voters a 50% discount.

LOL! I still like Straitlines proposal better.

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

I hope that it does pass. If I'm paying almost 600.00 a year between national and local dues, I should get the benefit of voting and making a difference.

Isn't THAT the truth!

Especially when it comes to DUE INCREASES!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

Isn't THAT the truth!

Especially when it comes to DUE INCREASES!

Wow! Are the local dues increasing in Wisconcin as well?

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by Straightline

It has little to do with young ministers versus old ministers.
The change is in giving part-time and no-time ministers an equal voice with those in full-time ministry. Full-time ministry has more vested in the org., and is more greatly affected by decisions made on a national level than the others. A Pastors vote respresents a whole congregation, whereas the local licensed minister that only preaches on occassion only represents himself.
This will probably pass, and will do more to disintegrate the cohesion of the UPCI than just about any other resolution.

If you must read between the lines,
do so in a
Straightline

So those of us who work a job are less vested in the org and only represent OURSELVES?

Thats pretty harsh if you ask me.

That may be true of some but its definitely not true of all.

Many "part-time" ministers invest just as much time to ministry/org as those that are full time and sometimes even more. Afterall, we are the ones that are expected to take up the slack in any and every area possible. That includes cleaning toilets, cutting grass, fundraising activities, teaching bible studies, being a dept head, visiting hospitals, on and on the list goes, as needed by the pastor.

These same "part-time" ministers pay costly dues, attend conferences whenever possible, often using vacation time to do so and they have families to care for same as the full time minister.

And speaking of harsh, I could be VERY harsh indeed but I will try to be GENTLE, at the moment.

Many demands can be and often are placed on part-time ministers while full time ministers enjoy the benefits of having a part-time minister assisting them. These demands often are placed with little or no consideration for the part time ministers job, family, personal needs, etc. while the full time minister, without a secular job, enjoys more flexibility of schedule for things that need to be done outside of ministry.

Sure there are calls in the middle of the night. Sure there are saints with problems that need counseling that may interrupt a fishing trip. The difference is the luxury of being able to catch up on sleep or reschedule that fishing trip without worrying about the demands of a secular job. The job may make rescheduling impossible for the part-time minister.

All the while the full time minister enjoys all the benefits of the org that the part-timers help support, in more ways than one, without all the same benefits.

I'm not for "stacking" but I am for what is right. I've been local licensed for over 10 years. I've paid my dues in more ways than one!

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Wow! Are the local dues increasing in Wisconcin as well?

They already did last spring.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

So those of us who work a job are less vested in the org and only represent OURSELVES?

Thats pretty harsh if you ask me.

That may be true of some but its definitely not true of all.

Many "part-time" ministers invest just as much time to ministry/org as those that are full time and sometimes even more. Afterall, we are the ones that are expected to take up the slack in any and every area possible. That includes cleaning toilets, cutting grass, fundraising activities, teaching bible studies, being a dept head, visiting hospitals, on and on the list goes, as needed by the pastor.

These same "part-time" ministers pay costly dues, attend conferences whenever possible, often using vacation time to do so and they have families to care for same as the full time minister.

And speaking of harsh, I could be VERY harsh indeed but I will try to be GENTLE, at the moment.

Many demands can be and often are placed on part-time ministers while full time ministers enjoy the benefits of having a part-time minister assisting them. These demands often are placed with little or no consideration for the part time ministers job, family, personal needs, etc. while the full time minister, without a secular job, enjoys more flexibility of schedule for things that need to be done outside of ministry.

Sure there are calls in the middle of the night. Sure there are saints with problems that need counseling that may interrupt a fishing trip. The difference is the luxury of being able to catch up on sleep or reschedule that fishing trip without worrying about the demands of a secular job. The job may make rescheduling impossible for the part-time minister.

All the while the full time minister enjoys all the benefits of the org that the part-timers help support, in more ways than one, without all the same benefits.

I'm not for "stacking" but I am for what is right. I've been local licensed for over 10 years. I've paid my dues in more ways than one!

I couldn't have said it any better myself.