| Author | Message | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 153 Registered: 10-2010 |
Colleen and anyone else here. I just found out that I am still on the records as being a seventh-day adventist at the Daytona Beach church. This is really bothering me a lot and am not to sure what to do about it. How did I find this info out? By googling myself that's how. And seriously, I want nothing to do with them anymore. Back in 2005 I had written my letter to them in asking them to remove me from their records with all the reasons why I no longer wish to be considered a member. Apparently the pastor at the time never forwarded the letter to whoever he was suppose to send it to. All I do know is that at that time he did want to talk to me about it and I had declined and that I had it all spelled out in my letter. Since then I have been attending a non-denominational church and was baptized into it. What should I do? Does God still see me as being a SDA or as just as his child? Does my baptism at the non-denominational negate my baptism with the SDA church? I want nothing more to do the Seventh day Adventist Church. It's like saying been there, done that, and just go forward from there. Should I re-write my letter of disfellowship and then send it to the Florida Conference requesting that my name be officially removed from their records? What to do, what to do. This is upsetting to me. What do you guys think I should do? It does bother me to think that I am still on their records as a member (even though I am in inactive mode.) It's just the thought of knowing that makes me want to cringe. I want so much to be cleansed completely from adventism altogether. And that includes its tainted doctrines. It's like saying that I need to be re-taught the Bible and its teachings in its correct format without the SDA spectacles on. I so thought that it was DONE! completely but apparently not. What do you guys think? Or is it satan rearing his little head by saying to me "once a seventh day adventist always a seventh day adventist until you die". I so do not want this haunting me for the rest of my life . I need know that I did in fact make a clean break(and ties)with the SDA church. But I am willing to write to the Florida Conference and declare that I no longer want to be considered a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and all the reasons why I don't want to be there or considered one of them. I am so done with all of this! And I am so grateful for the FAF forum here and having access to various sites that show me all the errors of adventism. And oh, yes even the Proclamation magazine(which by the way I do have every one of them to refer back to) that has helped me to see these things as well. | ||
| Lyrical Registered user Username: Lyrical Post Number: 140 Registered: 4-2012 |
Alison1, I'm certainly not Colleen, nor do I qualify to have her insight or experience in these matters of extracting oneself from Adventism, but I'll share my thoughts. I completely understand how unpsetting it must feel to discover your requests were ignored and your wishes invalidated by the SDA church. It is congruent, however, with how the organization deals with conflict - with avoidance. Perhaps the pastor you originally were in contact with just ignored the request and hoped the problem would just "go away." I will say that, without a doubt, God sees you as HIS child and not as SDA. He does not label us in that way... Your baptism is between you and God and is valid regardless of what a piece of paper (or computer record) says about where you "belong." In God's eyes, you are His, and His alone! I think your reaction is partly due to feeling betrayed and essentially lied to by the Adventist organization. But, you have been cleansed already. You are free and were set free in 2005 through the rebirth of your spirit and your courage to state your faith in Christ alone. God knows all that. I do think that Satan uses these things to attack our faith and bring up old wounds. He wants us to question everything and doubt whose we are. But, the truth is you are a child of God no matter where your name appears on this earth. Your name is written in the Book of Life - forever - and no manmade church organization will ever change that - EVER! Here's my opinion on what you should do. Vent your frustration and anger to safe people (like you've done here) and pray for God's peace to fill your heart once again. I'd probably write a short, concise letter to the local church and cc it to the FL Conference asking that your name be removed immediately. Perhaps you could remind them that you made the original request in 2005 and would like written confirmation of your removal. But, I don't think you need to feel the pressure of needing to restate all the reasons for your decision. You already did that, which was disregarded the first time around. You don't have to justify your request. You only need for them to honor the request that was already made! If you don't hear anything within 4 weeks, send a follow-up letter (or if you're brave... call). Keep hounding them until you get what you've asked for. After I submitted our letter, it took months to get it resolved. We are off the books, but never received the letter we requested. The SDA church doesn't like to play by the rules and doesn't like anyone telling them what to do. Anyway, those are my thoughts. I so understand your anger about this and your desire to be completely free from the SDA church. Just know, you are free in Christ regardless of what the SDA books say. Praying for you... | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 303 Registered: 4-2012 |
Dear Alison1, over the span of 44 years I have written many letters and have even made several phone calls asking for a letter stating I am no longer on any official SDA membership list. This includes the local church as well as the conference. I finally gave up. My mother told me the SDA church doesn't remove people from their official membership because that would be removing them from God s Book of Life and the church people hope you will come back to The Truth. So,the last letter i wrote was a round 30 years ago. I just gave up. | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 2029 Registered: 12-2007  |
Alison, I did get my requested letter from the SDA church I was attending confirming that my membership had been removed...that was a few years ago and a couple months ago I got a phone call one night from someone who was updating the membership directory at an SDA church I had belonged to many years ago. I told her they must not update very often as I had not attended that church in over 20 years . She made a comment about no wonder she couldnt put a face with the name... she then asked if I wanted to transfer my membership to a local church. I told her that I had done that about 10 years or so ago, but that I am no longer Adventist. She said she "Oh, I am sorry to hear that". Anyway, after we hung up I started thinking..... why was she making a business call on a Friday night ? (about 9-9:30 pm) and why had they not removed my name there when it was transferred ten + years ago.... and makes me wonder if i might still even be on the books as a member at the SDA church where I was originally baptized 40+ years ago  Which means the GC office probably still has me on the books also. It made me kinda mad actually....and I had planned to phone the GC office and tell them to make sure to get my name off the books ! I think maybe they purposely leave peoples names on the books in as many places as possible to inflate their numbers and just make it look like they have more members than they actually do. Anyway, I decided if they want to lie to themselves.... that is their problem. I KNOW I belong to Jesus and I KNOW I am NOT any longer SDA, and that is all that matters.  | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 154 Registered: 10-2010 |
Punababe, how deceived the SDA church really is. They don't know nothing. What puts us in God's Book of Life is when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for ourselves. That's what puts us there not some religious group like them. Ooooo, that so ticks me off. In a lot of ways I am so glad that I no longer go there. They are so misinformed about everything even with how our names go into the Book of Life. And Lyrical thank you for your support and your thoughts. I really appreciate it. | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 305 Registered: 1-2012 |
I haven't even bothered to have my name taken off the SDA books. I guess I should get around to it sometime, but I know that God isn't going to hold it against me if I don't. Send another letter if you want, but don't sweat it. God's not confused about who you belong to. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 941 Registered: 2-2011  |
Katarain~ I agree with you~ For me, it is only a formality~ ~mj~ | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14284 Registered: 12-2003  |
I agree with all that's been said above. Alison, God see you as His. Period! I'd write a brief letter and send it to the local church and to the conference membership secretary...and I'd ask for a written response that they've honored your request. You are not hooked to Adventism, however; He knows your heart. Colleen | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 155 Registered: 10-2010 |
Thank you everyone for your support and ideas. I will definitely be following through with this. I also plan on talking to my pastor (at the nondenominational church where I attend) and see what he has to say about it too. Thanks for everything. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2964 Registered: 7-2007 |
My name is still on the books too, though I've asked for it to be removed. I get the periodic magazines in my mail box at the post office which I tear up to keep anyone else from being deceived. The important thing is to have one's name in the Book of Life - not whether a church has it on their books! | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 945 Registered: 2-2011 |
I have been doing some thinking about why it might mean so much to some "Formers' to have their name removed from the adventist church when they leave, and receive an acknowledgement letter to the same, and not mean as much, if anything, to other 'Formers'. Could it be possible, that many believed they were being baptized into "The Church"-Adventist (Remenent of GOD), not really identifying with CHRIST? HIS death and resurrection? Only the "Specialness" of being one of the "Chosen"? Whereas, the other 'Former's', the whole baptism might have happened at a very young age, so it did not mean as much when they reached adulthood? Meaning, that a "Letter" of acknowledgement just does not seem really necessary? Just "ask'n" ! ~mj~ | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9924 Registered: 3-2004  |
I am so very glad my name was removed from the sda church books many years ago. I am sure they marked it apostasy. I have never had to be concerned about this. I do pray for you though, that God's will be done with each life as each person leaves adventism. Diana | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 156 Registered: 10-2010 |
Update report: Just to let you know that I have already done a rough draft of the letter that I plan on sending to the pastor of the SDA Church here in Daytona Beach. I even have plans on sending a copy to the Florida Conference and to the Southern Union Division and even to the General Conference.I'm not sure who had said that they wrote in their letter that they would take legal action if necessary. Just to let you know that I am also adding that statement in my letter as well. Wish me luck guys. I'll keep everyone abreast on the results. Thanks all of you. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 947 Registered: 2-2011 |
Alison1~ Praying that it is "GOD's Will", you achieve the outcome you desire! ~mj~ | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 918 Registered: 1-2007 |
About 8yrs ago I also wrote a letter to the sda church and I did not hear anything back and then I ran into the pastor and asked him about it and his response was he was not going to honor my request because I will be back. What little he knows. When I heard this out of his mouth I went home and went in prayer to Jesus and He gave me peace. My heart is baptized to Jesus and not some church which is a material object or a false prophetess. When I gave it to Jesus the burden of membership was lifted from my shoulders. How awesome God is. | ||
| Leonie Registered user Username: Leonie Post Number: 63 Registered: 10-2011 |
To me it was important to get my name removed out of the sda-church-books. It was important because I felt the need to publicly renounce what I used to believe. It was also important to make others see that it was because of doctrine that I left, not because I did not believe in Christ anymore. Also to point to the fact that EGW was a false prophetess. In addition to that, all the churches in Norway get some support according to how many members they have in their books. I did not want the sda church to have more money than they are entitled to..... I received a written confirmation that my name was taken off the membership-list about 3 months after I sent my request/ resignation-letter. It feels good to be free, and to me it felt good to have told the truth about why I left. I hope God used my letter to plant some thoughts in the minds of those who read it. | ||
| Krista Registered user Username: Krista Post Number: 56 Registered: 8-2004 |
Alison, I hope they honor your request. Don't give up! I got a very nice letter within about 6 months after I requested that my membership be removed from the church... but now I wonder if they really did it? I wouldn't be at all surprised if they didn't remove names to boast on how many members they have. Therefore, I do feel it is important! Where would I look to find out if my name is still listed as a member? | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 157 Registered: 10-2010 |
Krista, I guess you can try googling yourself and see what comes up. Let me know what happens. | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 158 Registered: 10-2010 |
Well, everyone I did it. I finally sent my letter to ask to have my name removed from the church rolls. I sent one to the pastor here in Daytona Beach, then one to the Florida Conference, Southern Union Conference and also to the General Conference. I just wonder how long it will take them to resolve this issue. But I am certainly glad that I did it. Yes, I know that I belong to Jesus Christ and God and I am so glad that I do. I just know that I just want to put all this to rest and really go on with my life without the adventist strings attached. |
