UCG Observations

As UCG expands its social media, it was only matter of time before we would cross swords with them via Twitter. We even have @VictorKubik following us.

@ucgobservations looks to offer “exciting and/or commonplace observations at the UCG home office from dudes who work there.”

Tweeting with the curator of the feed, it seems he’s more interest in “lighthearted humor,” with which we have no problem. When questioned about why UCG and COGWA split, there was  the usual refusal to discuss it (which in many cases translates to “I don’t know”).

We won’t speculate as to who’s running the account, because it’s not important. What’s important is UCG’s attempts to change its image from a crazy splinter of a broken mega-cult to a kinder, fluffier church under Dennis Luker.

Obviously, this tonal change is partially what drove COGWA to the exits and a handful of UCG pastors into the waiting arms of David C. Pack.

The question is whether the change in tone and image reflects internal changes to attitudes within the leadership and the flock?

The answer: sort of.

Luker, for whatever reason, does want to soften UCG’s image with a greater focus on love and Christ, something that has angered the greater COG. However, many of the older heads within congregations and the ministry haven’t changed at all.

UCG’s youth are, on the whole, far more “secular” and laid-back than in the rest of the COG, and tend to be more idealistic about a future where all of the COG unites, and connected to that, know far less about its history. Many don’t even know who Herbert W. Armstrong is, something unheard of among other COG groups.

As the aging ministry retires and passes on, UCG may undergo an actual radical change instead of the simple polishing of its front-facing image that’s currently taking place. It may take a few generations, but COGWA’s most paranoid could someday be shown correct when or if UCG fundamentally transforms itself into something only vaguely resembling Armstrongism.

Only time will tell, and may show that observation to be overly optimistic.

@ucgobservations purged much of our exchange, but left a reference to us with:

Blogs may be hatin’, but we know our motivation. Not a day goes by we aren’t thankful to God for our vocation. http://yfrog.com/kk63acpj

For the record, we don’t “hate” anyone. Also, we never flamed this account’s curator, as we were accused of. THIS is a flamewar.  We just wanted to pick the brain of a UCG member venturing out into cyberspace, in hopes of getting answers their leaders aren’t forthcoming with.