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I have been both troubled and relieved at the general reaction to the passing of Resolution #4 at the General Conference.  As many ministers know by now, there is a meeting planned in Tulsa, OK at the end of January, ostensibly for those who no longer feel comfortable fellowshipping with UPCI ministers.  The grapevine has it that the attendees have plans to begin a new fellowship in order to determine a “preferred” Apostolic future.  Some have projected an attendance of 2000 ministers.  If so, it would be a huge gathering of ministers for almost any meeting in oneness history.  The General Conference has reached that number only on rare occasions.  Because of the Times, in Alexandria, has drawn about 2500 ministers plus spouses in the past.  BOTT is probably the biggest ministerial conference going in our ranks, with exception of the GC.  I have received two mailouts on this meeting, and, interestingly enough, I would guesstimate that they got their mailing list from—-where else?—-the UPCI! 

Two letters have been sent out from ministers who have taken great offense at the passing of the resolution.  I’m not sure how many others they officially represent, but I’m sure they express the feelings of many preachers.  Neither of them said that they would leave the UPCI.  As of this moment, I am only aware of one minister who has terminated his fellowship over this issue. 

One of the most vocal opponents of the resolution, J. R. Ensey, editor of the “Minister’s Library” magazine, wrote only a very brief response in his latest issue.  It was a non-commital, “wait-and-see” article.  Bro. Mark Parker wrote a letter that he sent out on the internet which appealed to those who were considering a radical response to the resolution.  He urged them to remain in fellowship with the organization, reasoning that this would not have a major affect on us as a whole.  No one who has a conviction against the use of television for advertising purposes would be forced to violate their position.  It was an excellent, balanced letter.

I think that, in the end, few ministers and churches will advertise on television anyway.  Many in rural areas don’t have a real need to use this medium, and others may not have the capability to produce a product that could use with confidence.  I predict that only 1-2% of our constituency will use television advertising in the near future.  Yet, even that small percentage may see results that will make the resolution worth it.  Some will reach literally millions of viewers.  If someone gets saved as a result of an ad they saw on tv, who among us can speak against their salvation?  They will be eternally grateful for someone who reached them with the gospel.

The UPCI needs a balanced constituency.  I have many friends who are on the other side of the issue.  I love them all and I want them to know that we need them to stay with us.  There will be many more challenges in the future that will call for their expressions and convictions to keep us on the straight and narrow.  Actually, I am on the same page with them on almost every other issue.  What a shame to part company over something that may be so insignificant at this. Some say it is the straw that broke the camel’s back.  If it was, it was truly a “straw” in every sense of the word—lightweight, insignificant, of little consequence.  I also wonder where the bulk of the weight came from before the straw hit?

For anyone who contemplates leaving the UPCI, I think it would be a mistake of gargantuan proportions.  First, after the tv advertising issue is no longer viable, what other issues will be front and center?  Will the new fellowship draft a new charter or manual?  Where will it start and what will be its priorities?  I dare say that many will find themselves at odds with their fellow ministers on points that were never before considered.  A large organization like the UPCI has benefits and advantages that will be a long time coming to a start-up group.  If such a move were necessary because of heresy or some extreme issue, then one would simply have to bite the bullet and leave.  This issue, however, provides no such compelling reasons.  In fact, some ministers have been advertising on television for years.  Nothing was ever done about it, but neither has there been anyone stepping forward to claim damages.  This entire protest movement has begun to look more and more like it was manufactured.  One prominent minister has actually stated that resolution #4 was not the real reason for the pull-out.  As for me, I think that in this day and age when the coming of the Lord is so imminent, a political squabble is exactly what we don’t need.  It will cause a distraction from the real business of the kingdom at a critical time in spiritual history.

 Anyway, that’s my take.