Does church membership really expire for someone who moves away?

[XandertheWise]

just curious if that's supposed to happen when you move away to a different town.

last week on Friday I got a letter from my hometown's Methodist church where they say that my member ship will expire since I don't live in town anymore and they were wondering if I wanted to transfer my membership to the church in the town that I live in now.

the heck? I thought one's church membership was forever. Plus the letter they gave me it was at last minute where I really didn't have a chance to keep my frikkin membership renewed.

since when do churches now start doing this kind of crap anyway?

 

[Mima_sama]

That seems like it may be a scam, but even if it isn't, if your former church sent you a letter like that, then you're probably better off not being a member of that particular church anymore.
As far as I'm aware, you can join any actual church free of charge. The ones that charge you membership fees are very likely to be cults.

 

[Daku Rinku]

just curious if that's supposed to happen when you move away to a different town.

last week on Friday I got a letter from my hometown's Methodist church where they say that my member ship will expire since I don't live in town anymore and they were wondering if I wanted to transfer my membership to the church in the town that I live in now.

the heck? I thought one's church membership was forever. Plus the letter they gave me it was at last minute where I really didn't have a chance to keep my frikkin membership renewed.

since when do churches now start doing this kind of crap anyway?

You must have stop paying that 10% tithe. That is the membership fee. I bet if you did, you would have never gotten a notice.

 

[Malon]

Well, as a girl from a family that moves all over, I know for a fact that there should be another church somewhere in your area. However, @Mima_sama is right. If you have to pay, or membership "expires" it's likely a cult.

 

[Dizzi]

i dont think churches can kick you out.... can you not ask a felllow member???

 

[Daku Rinku]

i dont think churches can kick you out.... can you not ask a felllow member???

Oh I have been excommunicated, trust me they can.

 

[Daku Rinku]

To clarify I was even on staff and the Pastor kicked us out cuz, “we made him uncomfortable..” mainly cuz we pointed out the money he raised for mega church from members could not be changed to funding the building three smaller churches without a vote from donors; that ethics is that what they gave money for must be used for that unless they agree to a change, welp that Pastor did not like having to hold to those ethics..

 

[Malon]

To clarify I was even on staff and the Pastor kicked us out cuz, “we made him uncomfortable..” mainly cuz we pointed out the money he raised for mega church from members could not be changed to funding the building three smaller churches without a vote from donors; that ethics is that what they gave money for must be used for that unless they agree to a change, welp that Pastor did not like having to hold to those ethics..

That is amusingly ridiculous. People are stupid.

 

[Daku Rinku]

That is amusingly ridiculous. People are stupid.

Like Arimas of The Three Musketeers I learned, "there is difference between being a Man of the Cloth and a Man of God."

 

[TheGreatCthulhu]

Eh, I have..... particular views about organized religion, so I'd say you're far better off.

 

[Daku Rinku]

Eh, I have..... particular views about organized religion, so I'd say you're far better off.

Yeah, The Way (Early Christianity) was in homes, not organized in temples. The whole point was the church (believers) were suppose to be temples, "Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) and "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man." (Acts 17:24). It was meant to be radically different from everything else, and now it looks like all other religions with domes, and gold and paid priests.

Ah but good ol Emperor Constantine 324 A.D. decided to erect the temple again, make a separation of priest and laity, and a altar with a veil, when Jesus tore down the veil (Matthew 27:51), and all Christians were suppose to be priests (1 Peter 2:9) married or single, their choice. He organized Christianity into a shell of what is was in The New Testament. Sigh..

My theory is it was Rome's way of ensuring they kept control with this new religion (they called t that) rising. The wind was changing in religion, so they set out gilded sails,,,

 

[XandertheWise]

You must have stop paying that 10% tithe. That is the membership fee. I bet if you did, you would have never gotten a notice.

I think you're full of **** about paying tithe or whatever. I've been a Methodist church member since I was a kid and even went to church a few times when I was a teenager in the mid late 1990s.

I just find it odd that the church is sending out letters to people who moved away and frankly that shouldn't make me to renew my frikkin membership. I thought membership was forever til you die of old age or whatever

 

[Reiquel]

I wonder if membership expires when someone dies. When Christ returns to resurrect the dead are they gonna tell all their old members they aren't members of the church?

 

[Malon]

Holy crap. That's true...

 

[Daku Rinku]

I wonder if membership expires when someone dies. When Christ returns to resurrect the dead are they gonna tell all their old members they aren't members of the church?

Haha, sorry Lord they did not keep current their membership. XD