Leaving the LCMS

[TCat]

A dear friend of mine recently moved to Maryland with her family. She is a life long Lutheran-LCMS and was looking forward to getting settled and finding a new church. She attended two LCMS churches in her area, both several times and found them both so unwelcoming and cold that she finally gave up and is now attending a non-deminational church.
She recently came home for a visit and commented several times how much she misses our home church but thinks that she will have to give up membership in the LCMS as she cannot find a church home there.

 

[Jim47]

I think it would be a grave mistake to go to an ND church. They don't hold at all to the teachings of the bible or Lutherizm. I went to the WELS church locater and found a number of WELS churchs in Maryland.

Here is the link, if you need more help just PM me.

WELS Location Search

 

[TCat]

Thanks Jim, she was just really disappointed in one church in particualr. The family attended 5 Sundays and filled out the welcome card asking for a visit from an elder or pastor. She said the church membership was only 200 or so and with only 40 people in the service it was not hard to pick them out as newcomers. She finally approached the pastor and mentioned that the family was interested in membership transfer and he just replied that New members classes are in Nov and they should sign up. Wow.
So now she is looking elsewhere...yes, they would prefer to remain within the Lutheran family but are praying that God lead them where He will.

 

[TCat]

Thanks Jim I will mention the link to her.

 

[Jim47]

If you don't know how to send her the links just teel her to search for WELS church, and then from the top of the homepage she will find the church locater. If you should like my email address just send me a PM and she can have it as well.

 

[filosofer]

Where in Maryland? (You can send a PM if you don't want it known). Our church has gained two families from LCMS because they were not solid Biblically. I know, hard to comprehend.

 

[RadMan]

Where in Maryland? (You can send a PM if you don't want it known). Our church has gained two families from LCMS because they were not solid Biblically. I know, hard to comprehend.

Imagine that.

 

[LilLamb219]

Okay here is my thought...if she thinks that the LCMS church is preaching what is biblically correct, then she should maybe find one of those churches and sign up to be on some sort of committee or organization within that congregation that does welcomings to newbies!!! She could be the one to educate that group...blessed to be a blessing, you know?

 

[Aibrean]

Good doctrine > being comfortable.

 

[Joshua G.]

reps to aibrean. (it wont let me rep.)

 

[BigNorsk]

I'm a little surprised, generally I've found people in the LCMS not to be focused on how they are personally treated but focused on worshipping God upon enterring a church. I do realize there are some congregations that do really come across as a bit cold but realize that's actually a pretty honest reaction, they don't know you, and they react accordingly. The bunch that really fawns over you could just be faking it.

Relationships, whether one on one or with groups really shouldn't be concluded upon first impressions. I know it's common to do so, but it's a very dangerous way to do things.

The friendliest people I've ever seen upon first entering were the Moonies. They really knew how to spread it on.

Maybe it's just my own reserve but I'm always a bit taken aback by a too big reaction, though it is nice to be acknowledged and greeted.