Bernard on TV, Tulsa, and Togetherness

TK Burk · #1 11-22-2007, 08:27 AM

This was just sent to me by a fellow minster. I thought you might enjoy seeing the official South Texas Dist. position.

TV ADVERTISING RESOLUTION UPDATE
11/21/07
From David K. Bernard

You have probably received an invitation to a meeting in Tulsa in January for ministers who are concerned about the recent General Conference resolution allowing TV advertising and ministry. I have heard that a few ministers plan to leave the UPCI, while other ministers have stated that they will attend the meeting but do not plan to leave the UPCI. It seems that this issue will have little or no effect within our district. So far, none of the ministers of our district has withdrawn as a result of this matter, and I have only heard indirectly of one who may do so.

It is legitimate for us to be concerned about the possible effect of a resolution like this. At the same time, it is premature to assume a negative outcome and certainly premature to withdraw from the fellowship. We should not act in fear but in faith. We should not prophesy failure for the body or let our influence be used to harm the body, but we should work for the spiritual success of the body. Now is the time to cooperate with the body as never before, to work for common values, and to set a positive example of holiness—and to follow leaders who are attempting to do these things.

I believe that the overwhelming majority of our ministers truly want to do what is right and are standing for holiness. Changing technology, including the merger of Internet, video, and television, has created a new situation, and as a movement we are seeking the right way to operate in this environment. We should prayerfully lead our congregations in holiness and create a consensus for the appropriate use of technology. If there are abuses of technology or uses that undermine our position of holiness, then we need to take corrective measures. By working together, we can prevent, minimize, and resolve problems that arise. It would be wrong to leave our fellowship before there is evidence of problems caused by the resolution or without allowing our fellowship time to deal with such problems if they arise.

We have invested much in this fellowship, including home and foreign missions. We must be careful not to do anything to harm the body or hinder the tremendous worldwide revival that God is giving us. If we try too hard to pull out every tare, we could also pull out much wheat. In no case should we condone false doctrine, sin, or unethical conduct. However, we must be big enough to live with policy decisions or ministerial rules that are not to our liking. Since our form of church government is basically congregational, we have the liberty to follow convictions and preferences in local church policy. In other words, we don’t have to change the operation of our local churches in this matter.

Those of us who are pastors are called by God to lead our assemblies. However, our position as pastor does not exempt us from the need to follow scriptural principles of unity, building up the body, accountability, submission to godly authority, cooperation with decisions of the body (even when we disagree), and ethics. Although we are preachers, we must first be saints! Just as we teach our people to follow these principles in the local church, so we must follow these principles in the larger church fellowship. Even if we have a legitimate concern or disagreement, we must not undermine unity, sow discord, cause strife, or act out of personal motives and feelings. I am not asserting that anyone is doing so, but we should be careful in this regard.

When we became ministers of the UPCI, all of us made a commitment to proclaim the message of salvation according to Acts 2:38, and we made a commitment to preach and practice holiness. We recently signed a statement reaffirming this position. When we became ministers of the UPCI, we also affirmed the following statement in our Fundamental Doctrine: “We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body.” Let us keep this commitment.

StillStanding · #2 11-22-2007, 08:35 AM

Very well spoken!

SDG · #3 11-22-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

Those of us who are pastors are called by God to lead our assemblies. However, our position as pastor does not exempt us from the need to follow scriptural principles of unity, building up the body, accountability, submission to godly authority, cooperation with decisions of the body (even when we disagree), and ethics. Although we are preachers, we must first be saints! Just as we teach our people to follow these principles in the local church, so we must follow these principles in the larger church fellowship. Even if we have a legitimate concern or disagreement, we must not undermine unity, sow discord, cause strife, or act out of personal motives and feelings. I am not asserting that anyone is doing so, but we should be careful in this regard.

When we became ministers of the UPCI, all of us made a commitment to proclaim the message of salvation according to Acts 2:38, and we made a commitment to preach and practice holiness. We recently signed a statement reaffirming this position. When we became ministers of the UPCI, we also affirmed the following statement in our Fundamental Doctrine: “We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body.” Let us keep this commitment.

IMO, He is laying down some arguments to hang some of these guys on the basis of ethics ....

Hoovie · #4 11-22-2007, 08:39 AM

Great article and great wisdom in it.

SDG · #5 11-22-2007, 08:40 AM

Bernard is a proponent, apparently, of denominationalism.

Hoovie · #6 11-22-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Bernard is a proponent, apparently, of denominationalism.

explain

SDG · #7 11-22-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

It would be wrong to leave our fellowship before there is evidence of problems caused by the resolution or without allowing our fellowship time to deal with such problems if they arise.

There is lots of wisdom in this letter.... but I take issue w/ the above quote.

Why be reactive ... when you can be proactive???

StillStanding · #8 11-22-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

When we became ministers of the UPCI, all of us made a commitment to proclaim the message of salvation according to Acts 2:38, and we made a commitment to preach and practice holiness. We recently signed a statement reaffirming this position. When we became ministers of the UPCI, we also affirmed the following statement in our Fundamental Doctrine: “We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body.” Let us keep this commitment.

He is making liers out of those that are causing division!