This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
This form is a sample letter in Word format covering the subject matter of the title of the form.
Set up a time to talk directly to one of the pastors of your church about your leaving. This is a key step in leaving a church well. You don't need to share all of your reasons or rationale, but as a matter of love and courtesy, let your pastor know you and your family have chosen to go to another church.
Dear RECIPIENT NAME, I regret to inform you that I am ending my membership at Church named NAME as of today. I have given this decision careful consideration. And as you may have already known, a conflict of views between NAME 1 and mine makes my practice of my faith here difficult.
A withdrawal is a unilateral and unfounded breaking with the church of which one is a member. One simply resigns, either by telling the ward elders or by writing a letter to the consistory. A church may for a while make no announcement regarding the withdrawal, but in time an announcement will be made.
This is no doubt one of the toughest decisions pastors have to make, but at times, it is also one of the most necessary decisions pastors must make for the overall well-being of their church. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon occurrence for pastors to have to ask a member of the church to leave.
So, here are a few thoughts about how to leave a church well, with one bonus thought at the end. Pray about it. Sometimes people leave their church for the right reasons, and sometimes not. Take responsibility. Communicate. Be kind. Go to church somewhere.
You want to give at least a two weeks' notice. You want to share a statement of intent, an expression of gratitude, and then offer up any sort of assistance that you can provide with the transition. Use a formal business format for the actual letter itself.
It refers to removing someone from membership in the church and participation in the Lord's Supper. To excommunicate is to ex-communion someone, kind of like a reverse baptism.
Let your pastor know the main reasons you are leaving, but do so with humility, love and grace. Be wise and thoughtful about this. Be sure to let your pastor know some of the things you are thankful for regarding your time at your church. I'm sure there are plenty of things you are thankful for.
Excommunication, form of ecclesiastical censure by which a person is excluded from the communion of believers, the rites or sacraments of a church, and the rights of church membership but not necessarily from membership in the church as such.
“Exclusion” would involve the removal of an offending individual from the rolls of the particular congregation of which they are a member, but without any statement to the broader Christian community about whether the individual is to be regarded as converted or not.