What's a "non-resident" member?

In my experience, a non-resident member would be a college student who is away from their home church while attending school, but they are still a member of the church. Same goes for the elderly folks who spend their winters in Florida but are still members of the church. This also might apply to shut-ins.

To me, if someone decides not to attend the church anymore, they should be removed from membership, not considered a "non-resident member." Being a member implies they have voting rights. If they are not attending or being active in the church (as physically able) I don't think they should have voting rights. This is how you get business meetings with a bunch of people showing up to vote on an issue and the pastor not even knowing who the folks are!

 

I remained a member of my home church all through my ministry. I did not vote and only attended services on special occasions and kept in touch with information on what I was doing.

Frankly, I don't make a big deal about membership as much as fellowship and ministry.

Do we make too much of the political aspects of church rather than the actual function; the ministry overall?

Cheers,

Jim

 

I agree.

I am not as much on the "voting rights" but rather...what are you doing to promote the vision of the church.

 

At our church, any member who has not been there in a year is dropped from the rolls. They are classified as "inactive" if they haven't been there in a couple of months or so, though. I am thinking that inactive members are not counted in church business votes, either (if you're not there then you don't know what is going on).

This has really pared down the church rolls since this was implemented, but at least now they reflect who is actually a part of the church.

 

Quite a few of our missionaries are church members - they would qualify as non-resident members.

Some members may be "snow-birds", they fly south for the winter, they might qualify as non-resident members.

College students have been mentioned already.


The ones you listed are non-attenders, don't attend for 6 months (without do cause) and we write you a letter informing you that you are off our membership list.

Rob

 

I never thougnt membership in a church meant the person was guaranteed salvation.

Membership is for voting on church functions; if you don't attend then you don't care enough to vote.

We have a 75% forum requirement - I think we've only not met the goal once.

Rob

 

A non-resident member is what the congregation says it is. These days, it's not unusual for one to drive 20-30 miles to a church.

So, as long as they show up, it really doesn't make much difference.

It's when we don't hear from them for a long time, or simply lose contact, that the definition comes into play.

 

Yeah, I'm a big fan of that. A few months ago, we did that and removed several members. It wasn't discipline. They were free to re-apply for membership and, of course, they'll always be welcome as visitors, but we just didn't feel they were commited to the church or that we could justify keeping them on the rolls.

So far, they haven't re-applied.

 

As Ronnie Sr. says, a non resident member is a member who the CIA can't find.

 

I haven't come across that particular term before. I know of missionaries, and college/university students who maintain membership of their home church, even though for the time being they can rarely attend. But that seems quite different to the situation where a church member moves away. When that happens, their first church should surely encourage them to join a church near to their new home.

 

It's pretty much the same way on this side of the pond. Students, missionaries, even members of the military may keep their membership in their home church. But they should be encouraged to find a church where they are and place themselves under its "watch care."

I also know some students that simply transfer their membership to a church near the college while they're going to classes, then move it back to their home church during the summer.

Those who move away should be encouraged to find a church near their new home. One thing I have noticed is that when they don't, they weren't active when they lived here. The left the radar long before they moved away.

 

We have also discussed this idea at our church. Well a few of us have. I'm sure it's never occurred to 98% of them.

From my way of thinking, it should be a great opportunity for "a new pastor" and the deacons (or Sunday school leaders if the non-resident members had one before) to reach out to those who haven't been in a looooooong time. If the first time you just tell them you are visiting and trying to meet people who you've not met, and ask them if you can pray for them or anything they're going through, they shouldn't get too mad or offended. Even if you don't ask them to come back directly the first time, it's clear you're leaving the door open for them to, just by visiting. It should be clear that that's the intention of the visit, but then again, will they see that if you don't mention it?

It would also help if you could get the deacons and Sunday school leaders, women's group leaders, whoever's important, involved, get them to go down the list and check off who they already know the answers to, and have them visit with you, so it's not just "the new pastor running roughshod over the roll." Because to most people who are running from a church that they left years back that never considered knocking them off the rolls before, they'll see you as the catalyst. If they see more people involved in "the purge" then maybe they will take their membership more seriously anyway.

Then there's the practical side of me that says "If the church is going well, then do you really want to reintroduce any unhappy spirits right now and mess it up?" but that side gets shouted down in time. :smilewinkgrin:

God bless you and your church in this endeavor, it's something that needs to be done in a lot of places. Definitely let us know how this turns out.

 

Before you act unilaterally, be sure that your church has a policy regarding the requirements of membership in place. The church needs to be agreed on this (or at least a majority).

This could involve various levels of membership. Say, an absence of six months means automatic revocation of voting rights, or placing them on an inactive member list. It could also provide for a revocation of membership (a nice word for disfellowshipping) after one year's absences.

There should also be a provision for restoring people to membership who repent. It could go as far as requiring one to go before the church and ask.

Once those provisions are in place, then you and your deacons (and teachers and other staff) may start trying to contact them.

I wouldn't worry about their feelings. Simply ask them why they've been absent. And if you're convinced they're really not interested, just tell them that at the next business meeting, they will be removed from membership. Do not ask them if they want to stay on the roll. It's not their choice.

If there are extenuating circumstances, you can act accordingly.

Don't worry about saying something that will run them off. They're already off. And most of them won't really care if you kick them out. If they did, you wouldn't be having to have this visit.

 

Ain't that the truth!

 

Since you cite the Military in your sig line, how about that status applying to active duty service members who keep their membership in their hometown?