Contract Question

[sjfc.contract]

Is it normal to have your platform ministry and all Sunday School Teachers Sign the following? Is this Biblical? This started last year with just the platform ministries. This year they have added Sunday School. What will be next? What about "convictions" or finding your own salvation?

Core Leadership Contract

I recognize that this ministry is a visible place of service in the congregation and I agree to uphold all of the following teachings of Church to the best of my ability.

• I will be faithful in tithes and offerings.
• I will be faithful in prayer, evangelism and attendance, placing my own plans and schedules second to my position of ministry on the platform.
• I will uphold the outward standards of Modesty in dress and behavior.
• I will uphold the Spiritual teachings of men and women’s hair.
• I understand that women do not cut/intentionally break or any other method of purposely interrupting the growth of their hair. I understand that men are to keep a short and neat hairstyle at all times regardless of fashions or trends promoted in the world around them. As either of these are a sign of rejecting God’s divine authority over our lives. I understand that I will not color my hair or change the natural color that God has given me.
• I understand the wearing of jewelry other than wedding bands/rings is prohibited by scripture and I will refrain from doing so at anytime while serving in this capacity.
• I will not intentionally use technology that allows me to engage in watching broadcast television or any form of Hollywood-produced entertainment (including movies rented through stores, internet, or mail order services).
• I will at all times uphold this example in my actions, attitudes and lifestyle.
• I will uphold a moral example for others to follow in every area of my life. I will act as God has required the Pastoral Leadership in all things.
• I will strive to set the atmosphere in every service with prayer and fasting.
• I will not “speak evil of” nor speak against the leadership of Church as a whole nor will I engage with those that do (this is not restricted to B S, P S or any church staff).
• I will at all times work in harmony with and cooperate with all ministries and leadership because I recognize that division prohibits Apostolic revival and impacts Spiritual Anointing.

I agree that if at any time I am in conflict with the above mentioned standards of Church and the Biblical principles it teaches, I will remove myself with explanation and will do so without attacking the leadership of this ministry or the leadership of the church as a whole.

I understand that my commitment to this ministry will expire on the last Sunday of January 2010.

Signature_________________________________________ __________
Date ________

[KWSS1976]

Yes this is normal but if I was you I would run.......My wife brought one of these home one time I about blew a head gasket

[KWSS1976]

If they cannot accept you for who you are they are not very christian and if you have a music talent and cannot be allowed on the platfom because of standards. O this gives me chills I am going to leave this one alone...

[CC1]

Sounds like normal UPC expectations to me. Some of the things are amusing like the statement that rings that are wedding rings are ok but other rings / jewelry are not. I don't recall that in scripture. Also about dying ones hair. That is another one of those Pentecostal traditoinal standards that does not have one wit of common sense or scripture.

[deltaguitar]

Wow! That is a pretty strict contract. Not sure I would want to be involved in a church that held these beliefs. What about salvation or loving our brother or putting God first? Sounds more like a "secret society" than a church to me.

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by KWSS1976

Yes this is normal but if I was you I would run.......My wife brought one of these home one time I about blew a head gasket

Seriously? You think that's normal??? I spent alot of years in the UPC at 4 different churches under 7 different pastors and I never once saw something like that. I taught SS, sang in the choir, cleaned the toilets, played music and anything else that I was asked to do. It was understood that you would "follow the rules", but I was NEVER handed something to sign.

I would be out that door so fast and would never, ever go back. To me that smacks of cult practices. I know that's a dirty word around here. Please understand - I am NOT IN ANY WAY SAYING THAT THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH IS A CULT!! I am simply saying that a leader who feels the need to be that controlling makes me feel like it could easily become cultish.

[Digging4Truth]

It's Hasta La Vista time ....

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Seriously? You think that's normal??? I spent alot of years in the UPC at 4 different churches under 7 different pastors and I never once saw something like that. I taught SS, sang in the choir, cleaned the toilets, played music and anything else that I was asked to do. It was understood that you would "follow the rules", but I was NEVER handed something to sign.

I would be out that door so fast and would never, ever go back. To me that smacks of cult practices. I know that's a dirty word around here. Please understand - I am NOT IN ANY WAY SAYING THAT THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH IS A CULT!! I am simply saying that a leader who feels the need to be that controlling makes me feel like it could easily become cultish.

You are both right... this isn't the way it used to be. I have never (and will never) sign one of those things....

But it is, increasingly, becoming the norm these days.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by KWSS1976

If they cannot accept you for who you are they are not very christian and if you have a music talent and cannot be allowed on the platfom because of standards. O this gives me chills I am going to leave this one alone...

What in there is about not accepting someone for WHO they are? You mean like "who I am is a person that does not pray" or "Who I am is a person that does not believe in the doctrine of this church but I want to play my guitar anyway"?

Not very christian? Not very christian to not have someone on the platform that disagrees with church teaching or believing in standards?

The issue of whether or not a standard is biblical is another story, but the issue of not allowing someone on the platform that is going against church teaching is not being unchristian.

By "accept you for who you are" could you mean being a queen that acts and dresses effeminate and engages in homosexual acts?

Sorry but that is not being "unchristian" to expect people in leadership to obey what your church believes is the word of God. Whether those things are the word of God is another issue though.

[Theophil]

Preposterous