Accepting excluded members

Let me give you an actual example - from some 30 years ago. FTR - I was
not there at the time -rather, I was the church clerk and saw it in the minutes.

A family had decided to join our church, from a nearby church.
A request had been sent. Upon return, the other church did send
the letter for all family members - except for Dad. The reason given
was that Dad still owed money to the Church Christian Day School.

Now I don't remember if our church accepted Dad or not -
but that is the only time I ever remember a problem in accepting a
new member.


Now what would our church do. It depends what the issue is.
Lets suppose the loosing church sends a rejection in stead of a letter
because the couple had withheld the fact they had both had been
divorce. Upon discussing -they told us that they never mentioned because
they didnt think it was an issue. So a quick call to the other church and the
pastor says - "No, we never asked them - they should know the Bible
teaches against divorce. Well, in that case, I would not have a problem in
accepting them, but the other church would probably have nothing else to
do with us!

So, I do not think we should automatically accept another letter refusal - but
it should be checked out by looking at all three sides

 

Obviously, I do not know details
BUT
Maybe this is some of the problem with our churches.
1) get kicked out of church = no big deal
2) if you thought they were wrong - then did we check out church before we joined.

IMHO - we should take church membership very serously.

 

Disagree - Church membership should not be a revolving door. If they disagree with some major doctrines - they can attend , but not membership.

 

Did you know what the policy was before you used your notes?
I have a hunch you did.
If you did not like the SBC literature - did you talk to the pastor or SS director about it?

If you knew the church policy and went against it - then I probably would agree with the church decision

 

When someone seeks formal admission to our church (few do), we ask about previous membership/standing. People opt to attend/worship with us, give, work and fellowship freely. We do not push "membership". In 15 years have never had a family leave our church and have the new church they attend even call and ask us anything. We hold people "loosely", since it often hurts to have God pry our fingers off the grip.

In 1968 as a junior in a Christian university preparing for pastoral ministry (age 21), I went privately to my pastor over an issue. He called in two other pastoral staff as witnesses of my "questioning" his leadership. I just wanted clarification but was treated as an "enemy". Since I was moving to another state I asked if I could send for my membership and they agreed.

A few months later my new church received notice that they could NOT have my membership; I had been excluded from my home church for "disloyalty". My mother (still a member of the home church) never missed a business meeting and never heard of my "disloyalty" or action of the body to dismiss me. She asked and found out that in 1942 the church had voted to allow pastoral staff to "exclude immediately" anyone for "disloyalty". Of course, the original intent was disloyalty to America during World War II, but ever since the staff had simply excluded anyone they wanted under that umbrella and no one even new.

So I took it as a badge of honor to be excluded My new church licensed me to the Gospel ministry and I went on to finish undergrad and seminary. So excluding membership is near-and-dear to my memories.

 

"Church members today have weak backbones and strong leg muscles." - Bob Griffin