For The Record. How Many Will Leave? Go On Record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[deltaguitar]

OK, I have heard crazy predictions concerning how many ministers will leave the organization and all these rumors that no one can confirm.

If you really want to go on record. Post your predictions here. If you really want to put your reputations on the line well here is your chance. We will come back a year from now and see who was right.

This will be a net gain or loss contest. It is possible that the UPC will gain ministers from this change so you can post a net gain number of a net loss.

Whoever gets the closest wins the grand prize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Game will close on 10/2/2008.

GO!!!!

[deltaguitar]

Before I make my guess. Does anyone know how many ministers are in the UPC now?

Originally Posted by deltaguitar

Before I make my guess. Does anyone know how many ministers are in the UPC now?

My guess is 40% less than a week ago. :sshhh

[DividedThigh]

net loss will be 500 to 600 total, about 20 percent of total north american church attendance, dt

[Ferd]

Seven and three of them left 4 years ago.

[deltaguitar]

If you take in the fact that the UPC is losing numbers of ministers anyway. Plus with dues doing up constantly I have to lean towards a net loss. Not sure how much yet. If they have 8000 ministers and are losing 1% a year anyway then we already have a net loss.

[BrotherEastman]

delta, I really don't think we will lose that many, but then again I can be way outa touch with my own org.

[deltaguitar]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

delta, I really don't think we will lose that many, but then again I can be way outa touch with my own org.

I feel the same way. I feel like once you get down to the level of the common folks of the UPC there is not going to be that great a change and most of them are for progress and probably have TV in their homes.

However, I just looked at the UPCI site and this is what I found.

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) has been among the fastest growing denominations in North America since it was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. From 617 churches listed in 1946, the UPCI in North America (United States and Canada) today lists 4,358 churches (which includes 4099 autonomous and 258 daughter works), 9,085 ministers, and reports a Sunday School attendance of 646,304. Moreover, it is also located in 175 other nations with 22,881 licensed ministers, 28,351 churches and meeting places, 652 missionaries, and a foreign constituency of over 3 million, making a total worldwide constituency of more than

With 4,358 churches I there is the potential for a movement.

5% of 4,358 churches puts us at the 200 mark.

Just 3% of 9,085 ministers minus my pastor leaving a couple of months ago puts the number close to 300.

I think a likely place to start would be the actual votes on the resolution. People who actually showed up to vote at GC. Even if the UPC loses 25% of 950 we are looking at around 250.

So you can see how easily the UPC could lose 200 ministers. If they are already losing 1% a year and you add another 2% net loss you are still looking at close to 300 ministers.

Maybe a better question should be asked. How many members will the UPC lose? I bet the percentage would be a lot lower.

Based on the atmosphere adherent to the organization today "0", but that's jumping on "the sky is falling mentality" bandwagon! If I have to give a figure, it could go to 66% based on current trends! Delta guitar, that's just a guess!

[deacon blues]

250 churches/450 ministers