What do you think...

[Cris413]

...or how would you have responded?

I was sitting in a hospital waiting room yesterday and this older gentleman, 83 was there because he was the Pastor of the Seniors Ministry of his church and he was there to minister to a family that attends his church….

Anywhooo…they all went back to visit with the man who just came out of surgery.

Then the Pastor came back out and it was just him and me so he started talking to me…asking me what church I go to and such…so I told him.

He started to tell me about his church…it is a rather large ND church that has been in the community for over 75 years…

Then something he said kinda startled me…he was telling me about the churches requirements to become a member…which I didn’t find all that unusual…classes and such…but he also said that one would have to fill out an “application” because…

“We don’t want just anyone coming to our church simply because they want to go to church somewhere”

I was dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say to this man. All I said was, “I see” so he handed me his card and I thanked him and tucked it in my purse and politely excused myself…I wasn’t angry or upset…but I didn’t want to say anything that was disrespectful to an 83 year old pastor.

Perhaps I misunderstood what he meant by that???

 

[blueguy]

An application? Never heard of that before.

I had something similiar at this one church I started attending for a while. They wanted me to go before a review board....... sooooo I found another church

 

[Zecryphon]

I think he was saying that people had to fill out an application, so that this church wouldn't take just anybody who wanted to be a member without knowing what they believe and whether or not it was in agreement with his church's beliefs and SoF. There are people who become members of a church just because they've become comfortable there or they like the music or it's close to their house, not because they are in theological agreement with that particular church's beliefs. It sounds to me like he is trying to safeguard against such people becoming members and possibly having voting power in his church. It's a safeguard more than anything else.

 

[Nadiine]

I think he was saying that people had to fill out an application, so that this church wouldn't take just anybody who wanted to be a member without knowing what they believe and whether or not it was in agreement with his church's beliefs and SoF. There are people who become members of a church just because they've become comfortable there or they like the music or it's close to their house, not because they are in theological agreement with that particular church's beliefs. It sounds to me like he is trying to safeguard against such people becoming members and possibly having voting power in his church. It's a safeguard more than anything else.

That's what they do at my church too - and our church is quite "free" and open.

Members get to vote on certain things in the church and they need to agree to the central tenets of Christianity - and I don't blame them for that either.
It's like opening up a vote to Christians at CF when you fail to define what a Christian actually is.
What kind of votes do you suppose you'll be getting when they don't understand Christianity?

So in a way I see it, and in a way I dislike it - I haven't yet become a member at our church after close to 2 yrs attending and we still go regularly & tithe there & call it our home church.

(Hi Cris) Hope you're ok, I read hospital & wondered if all's well

 

[Zecryphon]

That's what they do at my church too - and our church is quite "free" and open.

Members get to vote on certain things in the church and they need to agree to the central tenets of Christianity - and I don't blame them for that either.
It's like opening up a vote to Christians at CF when you fail to define what a Christian actually is.
What kind of votes do you suppose you'll be getting when they don't understand Christianity?

So in a way I see it, and in a way I dislike it - I haven't yet become a member at our church after close to 2 yrs attending and we still go regularly & tithe there & call it our home church.

(Hi Cris) Hope you're ok, I read hospital & wondered if all's well

My former ND church made it mandatory that in order to become a member of that church you had to take a 12-week class that explained that church's theology, why the Bible is the truly inspired, inerrant Word of God, who God is, who Jesus is, what sin is, etc. At the end of the 12 week course, you had a choice as to whether or not to sign their statement of faith, saying you were in agreement with it. They were trying to safeguard themselves in the same way. But since that church was so large and had so many different teachers from different backgrounds they ended up teaching different things depending upon where you were on Sunday mornings. An example is that the youth minister was an Arminian, while the Senior Pastor was a Calvinist.

 

[Cris413]

That's what they do at my church too - and our church is quite "free" and open.

Members get to vote on certain things in the church and they need to agree to the central tenets of Christianity - and I don't blame them for that either.
It's like opening up a vote to Christians at CF when you fail to define what a Christian actually is.
What kind of votes do you suppose you'll be getting when they don't understand Christianity?

So in a way I see it, and in a way I dislike it - I haven't yet become a member at our church after close to 2 yrs attending and we still go regularly & tithe there & call it our home church.

(Hi Cris) Hope you're ok, I read hospital & wondered if all's well

Awww...ty for your concern. Everything is fine...I was just giving someone a ride to have a procedure done for her cataracts...they would not let her go unless someone was with her.

I guess...going to Calvary Chapel all these years...it's hard for me to understand memberships and such.

I guess it was just the way he put it..."we don't want people coming to our church...simply because they want to go to church somewhere" that took me aback.

I'm more use to the "come as you are" open door policy.

At our Calvary...you don't really have to hold any certain doctrine or beliefs system to come to church....however....you are required to adhear to what we call Calvary Chapel Distinctives if you want to be in leadership or serve in some capasity in the fellowship.

You have to fill out an "application" if you want to serve but otherwise there are no requirements to attend for as long as you like. We don't refer to people in the fellowship as "members" but rather..."regular attendees" in the announcements and such.

Anyway...I consider I may have misunderstood him...and who am I to admonish an 83 year old pastor...

Now had it been a younger pastor...I may have questioned him further...but I didn't feel led to get into this conversation with this particular gentleman.

 

[Nadiine]

Awww...ty for your concern. Everything is fine...I was just giving someone a ride to have a procedure done for her cataracts...they would not let her go unless someone was with her.

I guess...going to Calvary Chapel all these years...it's hard for me to understand memberships and such.

I guess it was just the way he put it..."we don't want people coming to our church...simply because they want to go to church somewhere" that took me aback.

I'm more use to the "come as you are" open door policy.

At our Calvary...you don't really have to hold any certain doctrine or beliefs system to come to church....however....you are required to adhear to what we call Calvary Chapel Distinctives if you want to be in leadership or serve in some capasity in the fellowship.

You have to fill out an "application" if you want to serve but otherwise there are no requirements to attend for as long as you like. We don't refer to people in the fellowship as "members" but rather..."regular attendees" in the announcements and such.

Anyway...I consider I may have misunderstood him...and who am I to admonish an 83 year old pastor...

Now had it been a younger pastor...I may have questioned him further...but I didn't feel led to get into this conversation with this particular gentleman.

The church we were at prior to the one we're at now was Calvary Chapel, in fact we've only been in Calvary Chapel's out here & they don't do any memberships.

I was a little wierded out when this ND church did membership classes & you get voted in.
If it weren't for having to get voted in by the congregation & standing up there on the stage like that, I might join. Kinda feels wierd.
If I wanted to get voted in, I'd run for some leadership position.
:/

 

[Zecryphon]

The church we were at prior to the one we're at now was Calvary Chapel, in fact we've only been in Calvary Chapel's out here & they don't do any memberships.

I was a little wierded out when this ND church did membership classes & you get voted in.
If it weren't for having to get voted in by the congregation & standing up there on the stage like that, I might join. Kinda feels wierd.
If I wanted to get voted in, I'd run for some leadership position.
:/

Or join a sorority.

 

[Nadiine]

Or join a sorority.

alpha beta churcha
?

 

[Cris413]

The church we were at prior to the one we're at now was Calvary Chapel, in fact we've only been in Calvary Chapel's out here & they don't do any memberships.

I was a little wierded out when this ND church did membership classes & you get voted in.
If it weren't for having to get voted in by the congregation & standing up there on the stage like that, I might join. Kinda feels wierd.
If I wanted to get voted in, I'd run for some leadership position.
:/

What? You get voted in on whether or not you can become a member? I have no doubt it feels weird...I would feel weird too.

but...hey...I'd vote for ya!

 

[Nadiine]

What? You get voted in on whether or not you can become a member? I have no doubt it feels weird...I would feel weird too.

but...hey...I'd vote for ya!

lol gee thanks Cris!! I've vote you in too

Well, I'd have a little notepad & take names of those that didn't raise their hands.
I'd let them all know they made a grave mistake.

 

[Cris413]

lol gee thanks Cris!! I've vote you in too

Well, I'd have a little notepad & take names of those that didn't raise their hands.
I'd let them all know they made a grave mistake.

ROTFL....this is why I love you sister!

 

[Blank123]

yup my last church was big on membership. i don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the idea of church membership but i was very adamant about not becoming a member there because of the elitism i saw going on. the Sunday after my mom, dad, and brother became members i had a deacon approach me telling me that it was alright that i didn't become a member yet because he knew my heart was in the right place and i would get there eventually. as if becoming a member was evidence of spiritual maturity or something

but they did the voting thing too. first they had to have an interview process with the pastor and deacons to verify that their beliefs were in line with the church's statement of faith and then they'd take it to the church membership in the next business meeting to have them vote on it, thats the baptist way of doing things i guess. the deacons/pastor can only give spiritual leadership its the membership thats responsible for how things are run and who can join, etc...

oh and Calvary Chapel FTW

 

[Cris413]

alpha beta churcha
?

That is hysterically funny...I think...