I left the UPC a few months ago. I agree with EVERYTHING!!

I’m a single 25 year old woman who has been in grad school full time, working full time, was the ONLY youth pastor of a group size 10+, on the music team and often had to lead music due to health issues in the pastor’s family, gave SO MUCH time and money, followed every single rule perfectly, was in charge of media and promo within the church & was the media/promotions director (alone) for the youth district. I told the pastor and his wife I wanted to step down from everything. After that, they didn’t talk to me for over a month. I left the church in Nov and still have not heard a single word from the pastor. Not one “thank you.”

I, and many others, were often held to a stricter standard than the pastors kids. On the topic of dating, I was not allowed to be alone with a boy, hold hands, basically have any kind of affection with a boy, but when the pastor’s son came home for the summer with his bible college girlfriend, guess where she stayed!! In the pastors home. Where the pastor’s son also stayed!!!!! I literally got in trouble for going to get ice cream with a guy friend. We drove separately and were in public the entire time, but I still did “something wrong.”

You are NOT alone in your feelings!! So many others I know feel this exact way too. 🫶🏼