| Author | Message | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2004 |
My husband wrote a letter a few weeks ago, to the SDA church he had his last membership at. He got a response letter today, so I thought I'd share it with you all. ~~"Dear xxxx xxx, At the XXXXXXX church business meeting this past week, it was voted to drop your name from membership at the xxxxxxx Adventist Church, at your request. Though we regret that you have made this decision, we want to assure you that we respect your wishes and believe that our gracious God will lead you and bless you abundantly. We consider you part of the same family of God that we belong to. We rejoice in the same gospel of grace, and look forward to meeting you in heaven one day, With warm christian greetings, xxxx xxxxx Senior Pastor" ~~ I thought this was a very respectable response on their part. Does anyone know if this is a typical type of response? | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 628 Registered: 11-2002 |
That sure is a nice letter. Years ago I wrote and asked for my name to be dropped. I never heard anything so several years later I wrote again and again I got no response. So I honestly don't know if my name ever was dropped or not. OTOH, my parents were dropped from sda membership around 55 years ago because they moved and didn't have their membership transferred to the current congreation where they were attending in a timely matter. Over the years numerous sda ministers have told them they should request having their names put back on the church books and my parents response was always the same. They would tell the minister, "We didn't request our name be taken off and we won't request it to be put back on. If you want it on then put it on, that's up to you". My mom doesn't know if her name is on the church membership or not but she sort of thinks this new minister put her back on because after she told him what I wrote above she started getting The Review again and she hadn't gotten it for decades. Yet all those years my parents remained faithful to the sda denomination saying that it was the closest to being the most perfect of any denomination, I'm sure you all know the line they use. It is a very nice letter your husband recieved. | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 572 Registered: 7-2000 |
Tealeaves, Hi! The letter appears genuine and spirit-filled. Quite a contrast to the REAL doctrine of Adventism's remnant theology! This is why in my life, at least, it is the DOCTRINES of Adventism, not the people, that I've had to have complete separation from. If this pastor and church board truely does consider you still part of "the same family of God"... and believe that they rejoice with you in the "same gospel of grace"..., I would pray they will continue to be open to God's Spirit! They need to live their words in actuality, being totally HONEST in analyzing the triumphalistic and denial-of Jesus'-sufficiency doctrines of Adventism. One can't live in both places at once forever...it just causes too much pain and dissonance! I am grateful to know Jesus...and that He is all I need. grace always, cindy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 154 Registered: 3-2004 |
Tealeaves, That is a very gracious letter. It is so different from what others have experienced. I am very happy for your husband. You two are God's children. He will be with you always as it says in the Bible. God bless you as you two walk together in God's truth. Diana | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 331 Registered: 1-2003 |
I got no response from anyone except I email'd the church secretary and she told me it had been approved. Case closed. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 323 Registered: 12-2003 |
Tanya, what a nice letter! We received a sort-of generic letter confirming that our request had been approved. I think the tone of your husband's letter is unusual, and as Cindy says above, may God continue to guide them toward Himself. Colleen |
