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01-01-2014, 09:10 PM
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Single and sick of it....
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: California
Posts: 37
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Need Scripture about transfer
I am trying to do some research as to why us Pentecostals require a transfer letter or permission to change churches.
Are there scriptures to back this up or is it just a UPC requirement?
__________________
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I’m not concerned about the color of your skin.
I’m not concerned about the size of your checkbook,
your political position, or what you can give me as a friend.
I AM concerned about your honesty, your integrity,
how you will handle my heart
and also the hearts of others.
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01-01-2014, 09:27 PM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 399
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
We have been attending UPC churches for many years and have moved several times. None of our pastors offered or ever asked for a transfer letter! Granted we have been in our present church for 5 years. When did this letter or permission requirement begin? Curious.
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01-01-2014, 09:28 PM
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Go Dodgers!
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 45,787
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Quote:
Originally Posted by VeridicalAngel
I am trying to do some research as to why us Pentecostals require a transfer letter or permission to change churches.
Are there scriptures to back this up or is it just a UPC requirement?
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It's not a UPC requirement. It's a bunch of Pastors who demand it and happen to be UPC.
No Scripture for it.
__________________
Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
- There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
- The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
- Every sinner must repent of their sins.
- That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
- That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
- The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
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01-01-2014, 10:04 PM
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mary
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Midwest
Posts: 3,002
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
It is or was part of the UPC manual. So it is the rules. just not all preachers play by them.
There is nothing in the Bible that says 'grow where you're planted' or 'this is where you were born, so this is where you stay'. There are scriptures the UPC uses to say we should stay in one local church. But do thos passages talk about the church as being only one local group that meets in a specific building under one man?
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
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01-02-2014, 07:56 AM
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Single and sick of it....
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: California
Posts: 37
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Do you know where to find them
__________________
****************************************
I’m not concerned about the color of your skin.
I’m not concerned about the size of your checkbook,
your political position, or what you can give me as a friend.
I AM concerned about your honesty, your integrity,
how you will handle my heart
and also the hearts of others.
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01-02-2014, 08:15 AM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 17,807
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Source Link
Found this link to the 2012 UPC Manual on Google.
Page 127/128 - under "Obligations" for Membership of local assembly, Article II, Section 2:
Quote:
(i) To secure, in case of moving, a letter of membership from the former
church, and unite with another church of the same faith as soon as possible.
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Section 3:
Quote:
2. No person being a member of another church in our organization shall be
received as a member into another assembly without a letter of membership.
3. No person desiring to withdraw their membership shall be refused a letter of
membership unless proven guilty of misconduct by confession or conviction.
When said person has made satisfactory restitution to the church they are leaving,
they shall be cleared of all foregoing matters and be ready to be accepted
into the fellowship of a local United Pentecostal Church assembly.
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In my 30+ years with the UPC and work with several UPC churches, I've never heard of a UPC Pastor following this requirement. The quotes above are direct from the Manual. While other requirements above and below these have scriptures accompanying, these about the letter of membership do not have any.
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01-02-2014, 08:58 AM
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mary
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Midwest
Posts: 3,002
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Thanks, NDavid!
VerdicalAngel, the combos I've probably heard most include Heb 10:25 and/or Heb 13:17 and proceed to expound on the authority of the pastor. I wonder how they can preach that way and then praise people like Sis Nona Freeman's mother who moved so frequently during the Depression. And if they believe a person must stay in church to be saved, how can they justify NOT giving a letter of transfer when needed?
Sorry, my internet is limited today so I can't copy/paste the actual verses.
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
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01-02-2014, 09:04 AM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 11,467
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
I don't think there are any scriptures for it. We were always taught it was a mandatory thing. Lo and behold, we found out that not everyone does it. Pastors who don't require letters are spoken badly of in quiet circles.
__________________
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. ~
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01-02-2014, 09:14 AM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 17,807
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Article ii, section 3, paragraph 3 says no one should be denied a letter of membership unless proven guilty of misconduct by conviction/confession. Allegedly a lot of Pastors are guilty of violating that as well, considering all the posts from various members claiming Pastors wouldn't let them leave the church.
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01-02-2014, 09:17 AM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 17,807
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Re: Need Scripture about transfer
Quote:
Originally Posted by missourimary
Thanks, NDavid!
VerdicalAngel, the combos I've probably heard most include Heb 10:25 and/or Heb 13:17 and proceed to expound on the authority of the pastor. I wonder how they can preach that way and then praise people like Sis Nona Freeman's mother who moved so frequently during the Depression. And if they believe a person must stay in church to be saved, how can they justify NOT giving a letter of transfer when needed?
Sorry, my internet is limited today so I can't copy/paste the actual verses.
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YW. I was surprised that was in there. I was never licensed or anything by the UPC. I've read bits and pieces here or there of the Manual, but didn't realize this was considered an obligation or somewhat mandatory.
I doubt the majority actually practice this though. It even mentions the "right hand of fellowship," which I thought was just a Baptist thing. 
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