Joining the church

[evangelist6589]

I am taking the new members class and am going to join the church. Still a member at the IFB church but am leaving it and with this church I agree with 99% of the doctrine. Only disagreements are in the area of evangelism and Hell . They are primarily lifestyle evangelism oriented instead of primarily contact evangelism and with the doctrine of Hell they believe it is literal and I believe the same however I am open to the metaphorical View on Hell. Crocket did a good job at explaining this view in the book 4 Views on Hell.

How should I leave the IFB church? Tell them or just let them remove me for no attendance? Moving towards the second option.

 

[Don]

Your question should be directed to the pastor and/or administrative person for how your new church does it. Here, on a message board, you're going to get opinions rather than proper process.

 

[evangelist6589]

Your question should be directed to the pastor and/or administrative person for how your new church does it. Here, on a message board, you're going to get opinions rather than proper process.

Hmm....

 

[Sapper Woody]

Usually, when you join a church, you do so via recommendation or letter from your previous church. However, depending on the IFB church, they may not send a letter to non-IFB church. But with many churches, you tell them that you'll be joining via letter, and they'll send a letter to your old church, requesting a letter of recommendation for you.

Honestly though, in many churches this is a formality, and a lot of times the letter of request is never sent.

Also, I wanted to parrot what Don said. It's a matter of administration in the church, and the only solid answer you'll get is from them.

 

[JamesL]

I'm guessing Evan wants them to see his taillights through a cloud of dust...

I left a church like that once, no regard for where God wanted me; I only cared about me, my difficulty there, my feelings, my perceptions, etc.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I'm guessing Evan wants them to see his taillights through a cloud of dust...

I left a church like that once, no regard for where God wanted me; I only cared about me, my difficulty there, my feelings, my perceptions, etc.

First of all, yes, you are guessing.
Secondly, you have no idea where God wants Evan to be. I'm sure that Evan has prayed at length about his situation and has come to his conclusion based on that and his reading of Scripture.

In other words, give the poor guy a break!

 

[Martin Marprelate]

How should I leave the IFB church? Tell them or just let them remove me for no attendance? Moving towards the second option.

You should definitely tell them. It's the polite thing to do.

 

[Salty]

1) At the moment - evidently you have requested membership in this church.
Did you request to join by transfer of letter or by statement of Faith.
If by transfer of letter, the new church will request your letter of membership -
but as stated before - the old church is not required to send, nor is the new church required to accept it - (esp if the recommend is derogatory)
If a letter of transfer is not received - your church will accept you on statement of faith.
Best answer - bring it up at your next class- would be great info for the other applicants.

1A) Is the new church asking you to be re-baptized?

2) Hell - Not fully understanding the situation on the doctrine of Hell.

 

[JamesL]

First of all, yes, you are guessing.

That's why I said so....

Secondly, you have no idea where God wants Evan to be.

That might be exactly the reason I said I'm guessing....

I'm sure that Evan has prayed at length about his situation and has come to his conclusion based on that and his reading of Scripture.

Maybe, maybe not. I'm not sure about anything. That's why I was guessing...

In other words, give the poor guy a break!

Maybe he needs a break, maybe not.

All I know for sure is that I left a church the way I described, and it might be just what he needed to read. Just a guess, though.

But.... It might add more to the discussion if you tell me I'm guessing again.

 

[annsni]

I believe you should speak to your old pastor at your other church and explain why you are going to this new church. As part of a pastoral team (hubby is a pastor), we find that when people approach us and let us know that they are going and why, it can actually help us to evaluate if there was something we were doing wrong or something we missed, how we might be able to change something to fix what might be broken or just to give our blessing to the person going to the new church (we've done all of these).

 

[JamesL]

I believe you should speak to your old pastor at your other church and explain why you are going to this new church. As part of a pastoral team (hubby is a pastor), we find that when people approach us and let us know that they are going and why, it can actually help us to evaluate if there was something we were doing wrong or something we missed, how we might be able to change something to fix what might be broken or just to give our blessing to the person going to the new church (we've done all of these).

My pastor won't receive anyone without first knowing they have talked with the leadership at the other church.

He sums it up nicely:
"I want to make sure you're not running away"

 

[evangelist6589]

1) At the moment - evidently you have requested membership in this church.
Did you request to join by transfer of letter or by statement of Faith.
If by transfer of letter, the new church will request your letter of membership -
but as stated before - the old church is not required to send, nor is the new church required to accept it - (esp if the recommend is derogatory)
If a letter of transfer is not received - your church will accept you on statement of faith.
Best answer - bring it up at your next class- would be great info for the other applicants.

1A) Is the new church asking you to be re-baptized?

2) Hell - Not fully understanding the situation on the doctrine of Hell.

Well they said I could become a member by statement or transfer of letter. However I doubt the IFB church would write a letter for a non IFB church so I will join by signing a statement. No need to get re Baptized since I have been baptized once before in the missionary church in 1991.

Today in the class we went over the churches doctrine and my only difference is on Hell. I am open to the metaphorical view. Besides that I agree with them in every other area.

 

[evangelist6589]

My pastor won't receive anyone without first knowing they have talked with the leadership at the other church.

He sums it up nicely:
"I want to make sure you're not running away"

Good thing this one is more lenient.

 

[evangelist6589]

I believe you should speak to your old pastor at your other church and explain why you are going to this new church. As part of a pastoral team (hubby is a pastor), we find that when people approach us and let us know that they are going and why, it can actually help us to evaluate if there was something we were doing wrong or something we missed, how we might be able to change something to fix what might be broken or just to give our blessing to the person going to the new church (we've done all of these).

They already know why I am gone and that I won't be returning. Something to fix? They are not going to change and I tried to approach them on areas to change but they ignored my advice.

 

[evangelist6589]

First of all, yes, you are guessing.
Secondly, you have no idea where God wants Evan to be. I'm sure that Evan has prayed at length about his situation and has come to his conclusion based on that and his reading of Scripture.

In other words, give the poor guy a break!

Thanks for standing up to James. I feel this is where God wants me to be. Want to be in a church where I can agree with the doctrine, want to give money, and serve in the church. The last church I did not agree nor did I desire to serve or give money.

 

[evangelist6589]

You should definitely tell them. It's the polite thing to do.

When I become a member I will shoot them a email and say I am gone and won't be returning.

 

[Don]

They already know why I am gone and that I won't be returning.

Then there's no point to this thread.

Let it go. If they care, they'll contact you, and you can talk to them about it then. But I'm betting you won't hear from them.

Just let it go -- unless your new pastor says differently.

 

[annsni]

My pastor won't receive anyone without first knowing they have talked with the leadership at the other church.

He sums it up nicely:
"I want to make sure you're not running away"

This is a wise and very "shepherd-like" thing to do. There are also times it's good for the pastor to speak to the former pastor of the prospective member. Many of our pastors in our county are good friends and get together regularly so often they know when someone moves from one church to another. We've had times where people are looking for trouble and it's nice to have a bit of a "heads-up" regarding someone. We've also just had times where one church was not a good fit for someone and so they were directed to another church that they might like better and then the pastor will call the new pastor to let them know who these people are so they can look for them and welcome them.

 

[JamesL]

Good thing this one is more lenient.

That's an interesting word you used - lenient. How is his leniency a good thing? What do you mean there?

And does that mean my guess wasn't too far off?

 

[Salty]

... No need to get re Baptized since I have been baptized once before in the missionary church in 1991.

The reason is ask about baptism - is that some churches will require a person to be baptized again.
I would not be baptized a second time to join such a church.- The Only time I would "re-baptized" someone is if they had not been scriptural baptized initially.

Of course - even that is open up to interpretation - some will say if you were not baptized by a BAPTIST pastor - you must be do so again. Others will go to the extreme and say if you have not been baptized by a baptized "descendant" of John the Baptist - you need to be baptized again.

( arent you glad the John the Baptist had a computer and kept excellent records of whom he baptized!)

Today in the class we went over the churches doctrine and my only difference is on Hell. I am open to the metaphorical view. Besides that I agree with them in every other area.

Metaphorical view??? I have started a new thread - click here