| Author | Message | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 41 Registered: 10-2005 |
I saw that people here have sent letters to request removal from membership at the SDA church. I want to do this. I think it would help me feel a little more free. Curiously, do they allow transfers to non SDA churches? I would think it was strange if they did being that they consider themselves the remnant. If anyone has experience on this, I would love to hear about it. Thanks  | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2797 Registered: 12-2003  |
No, they don't. If you want to leave for another church, they call it "apostasy". Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1947 Registered: 3-2004  |
Lynne, You have to ask that your name be removed from the church books. Most people do this with a letter. They will still consider it "apostasy", but you will be following Jesus and that is the important thing. God is truly awesome. Diana | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wow, I don't think other churches do that. In a way I am happy following Jesus, but I am also sad. | ||
| Taybie Registered user Username: Taybie Post Number: 94 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hi Lynne, I completely understand how you feel. I think all of us that have gone thru leaving the SDA church know in some sense that sadness you are referring to. I can honestly say that writing that letter and receiving a letter stating that my name was removed, (this wasn't as easy as I am making it sound) was one of the happiest days of my life. If you want a sample of the kind of letter that I wrote, go to ... http://truthorfables.com/Why_Remain_SDA.htm I am happy for you! God, You are Beautiful!!!!!!!!! Shontay | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2005 |
My last day of employment at the GC is this Fri, 28 Oct!!!!!!!!!! But my wife is still employed at the GC, so I am going to keep my name on the books of the Church I used to attend. I am curious to see how long it will take them to contact me to see if I want my name removed. I know several years ago, when I was a Board Member, they had people listed on the books who had been dead for several years!!! | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1006 Registered: 10-2004  |
As my sister said, when you die you cease to exist, except for on the membership list! Jeremy | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 43 Registered: 10-2005 |
Taybie - Thank you for the link to the truth and fables website. This is helping me with healing. I know that my tears of mourning this loss will turn to tears of joy. I just need to get through this and it is difficult. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2800 Registered: 12-2003 |
Lynne, I also know that mourning. It is a painful loss. Shontay is right, though--on the other side of the necessary separation is unimagined freedom and peace. God is faithful. 91Steps, how good to hear from you again, and to hear of your job status. Do you know where you will be going? I understand your excitement. How wonderful! Colleen | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 44 Registered: 10-2005 |
How do I get the names of the board members. I contacted the church and spoke with the associate pastor briefly. I asked him the church board members names and he would not give them to me. He said I needed to speak with the clerk but didn't give me her number. Should I call back and tell him it is because I want to send an apostasy letter? I really don't want to talk with him, it makes me very uncomfortable right now. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1010 Registered: 10-2004 |
Lynne, it probably isn't absolutely necessary to have the board members' names, you could probably just address the letter to the church board. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to get their names. Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2805 Registered: 12-2003 |
I agree, Lynne--you can be sure that the board will certainly see a letter such as yours! Address it to the board and send it to the church or pastor. The board will have to vote on your name, anyway--they'll see it! Colleen | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thank you so much for all the help. I am writing it tonight but I probably will not be able to finish it for another day or two. I will do it prayerfully. | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 48 Registered: 10-2005 |
I finished the letter today and feel better. It will be sent tomorrow. All the help is much appreciated! | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 59 Registered: 12-2004 |
Lynne I understand your challenges regarding your letter. I started mine 10 months ago and finally finished it last week.It sat dormant for 9 months as I tried articulating my many reasons in a loving and yet thought provoking way. This will be an exciting and yet challenging time. As I have spoken to many around me about the problems with Adventism, several voice the same frustrations but have never given thought to leaving and/or feel paralyzed. I am hoping that my letter will in some small way serve as a catalyst for those with questions to see that it is alright to think for yourself and to trust the Holy Spirit's leading. Upward and onward, Randy | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 338 Registered: 7-2004  |
Randy, my experience was very similar. A number of SDAs were willing to voice the same doctrinal concerns that I had. I really pray (rather than pretend pray?) that you receive a different response. In our case it seemed that it was "safe" to voice these concerns to someone still in the church, but that once we left the church the very people just described are among the first to distance themselves from us. That was one of the largest surprises for me. OTOH our letter brought people and their questions into our lives in ways that we never expected. | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 34 Registered: 7-2005 |
Ric, why these people had distanced? It's a surprise for me, and very dissapointing, because it makes no sense. Much more, at this moment my friends in adventism are those for whom I still attend adventist churches. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 339 Registered: 7-2004 |
I think that it might have been because our departure was making them uncomfortable with their own ideas about whether they could disagree with so many SDA teachings and remain SDA. The idea of leaving was too scary right now, but our stand made us a constant reminder of the question about whether they could really stay. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1158 Registered: 7-2003  |
Could it also be fear? Since they had shared similar concerns, and they see you as becoming "disloyal" perhaps they fear your new "disloyalty" will compromise them if you tell of those conversations?? When two share a secret, you can kindof keep each other in check. But when one has his secret exposed, he no longer has motivation (for lack of a better word) to protect your secret? I'm sure it's a complex time emotionally, I'm just speculating. | ||
| Vchowdhury1 Registered user Username: Vchowdhury1 Post Number: 134 Registered: 7-2004 |
Melissa, I too have known SDA's that disagree with a lot of the teachings of the SDA church, but choose to remain SDA's and not leave the church (including one SDA pastor that I've spoken to). Remember OUR "fear" when we first learned the truth about adventism, and the truth about EGW being a false prophet? I think they have the "What if I'm wrong-and the church (SDA) is right after all" syndrome. I know this is the fear I had when I first started questioning the SDA church and its doctrines until I really studied the Word of God (Bible) for myself, instead of just in conjunction with the sabbath school lesson. Also, it had been drilled in our heads for years that "The whole world is wrong and we (The SDA church) are right". Also, "We are the only True denomination and we have the TRUTH" and "Anyone who leaves the SDA church is deceived and lost and will have the MARK OF THE BEAST"!! And also, remember this one, "No matter how good a Christian you are, if you reject the sabbath, you will be lost". I would say that having these ideas drilled in your head for years/or all your life is enough to strike fear into anyone even THINKING about leaving the SDA church. I even know several people that strongly disagree with the SDA church and believe it or not, they go to an SDA church on "sabbath" and also sneak and attend a "Sunday" church every Sunday. People that I know that are still SDA are still kind to me and even still "hang out" with me. But they will avoid any religious conversation what-so-ever. They are afraid. They are afraid that if they learned the truth about adventism, it will shake their whole foundation. It will change everything that they are! This is typical of people that are brainwashed. Only the Holy Spirit can "deprogram" them. When I was still very active in the SDA church, there were some people that I knew that DID leave the SDA church and started attending other Christian churches...I remember that I thought these people were INSANE!! I mean, how in the world can they leave the "TRUTH"!! I mean, it was different if you left the SDA church and did not go to ANY church!! I mean it was okay to leave the SDA church and not go to church at all, or start drinking, selling or doing drugs, winding up in a immoral sexual relationship, etc., etc...But to actually leave the SDA church and start attending a SUNDAY church...OH MY GOD!! Yes, so it is fear. Its the fear of leaving behind all you know, and all you were taught, and fear, especially, of what other SDA's, especially family, will think of you. And its that ol' "I don't want to rock the boat" feeling. I think they feel its safer to just AVOID. --Valerie |
