Church Transfer Experiences

[TheGoodLight]

Greetings,

I am wondering if anyone here has any church transfer experiences that they may be willing to share, whether:

A) From one Presbyterian denomination to another (e.g. PCA to PCUSA, or PCUSA to PCA).
B) From a Presbyterian denomination to a non-Presbyterian denomination (e.g. PCA to a liberal Lutheran demom, or PCUSA to a conservative Baptist denom).
C) From a non-Presbyterian denomination to a Presbyterian denomination.

Some details might include whether you received a letter or e-mail acknowledging transfer, how long the process took, and whether the process was tense or cordial.

Thanks!

 

[drjean]

Going from the more liberal groups to the reformed requires a better ability to explain what you believe and why.

My story: (Former member of a PCUSA church, though it was pretty reformed at the time. After moving, there were no Presbyterian churches around so joined back into Baptist.)

But I really began with PCA. After Dr Kennedy died I was removed from the rolls because of the liberalism and vitriol that moved in. I ended up joining my mom's PCUSA church that while liberal at the time, was bearable for me and my dogmatic thinking. They really didn't care and felt I knew my Bible and let me in. Then with the upheaval regarding the homosexual element that church decided to leave the PCUSA. They wanted to join up with the reformed PCA but would not let go of a few of their beliefs so they could not. Most PCUSA churches in this predicament created and joined in the EPA (the newest form of Presbyterianism?) They then dismissed the pastor who began preaching Armenianism. The new pastor wouldn't allow my service dog so I resigned my membership. I went with the offshoot of the Coral Ridge PCA and even though a former member of the "same" group I had to re-attend membership classes and explain my personal belief in Jesus. However, they, too, resented my service dog and I could not attend. I have been without any place to worship for 4 years.

 

[hedrick]

Greetings,

I am wondering if anyone here has any church transfer experiences that they may be willing to share, whether:

A) From one Presbyterian denomination to another (e.g. PCA to PCUSA, or PCUSA to PCA).
B) From a Presbyterian denomination to a non-Presbyterian denomination (e.g. PCA to a liberal Lutheran demom, or PCUSA to a conservative Baptist denom).
C) From a non-Presbyterian denomination to a Presbyterian denomination.

Some details might include whether you received a letter or e-mail acknowledging transfer, how long the process took, and whether the process was tense or cordial.

Thanks!

I've transferred between UMC and PCUSA churches. It's all routine. At the time it was handled by mail, but that was before email was common. I believe the process is actually between the Clerks of Session in the two churches, not you. With the PCUSA the transfer also indicates whether you're ordained as deacon or elder, since ordination is for the entire Church. That would probably hold true with other Reformed denominations as well, but it's harder with churches that have a different polity.

Generally mainline churches will both issue and accept letters of transfer from any "normal" Christian church (e.g. not Mormons or JWs). I doubt a conservative church such as the PCA would either issue a transfer or accept one from a mainline church (e.g. PCUSA). They are generally in correspondence only with conservative churches of the same family (i.e. Presbyterian / Reformed, Lutheran, etc).

I think people typically go through at least some new member orientation even with a transfer, since part of the goal is for you to get to know the local church leadership and find out what the congregation is doing. At least for the PCUSA the difference is primarily in what happens when you're received. If you're not transferring you need to make a profession of faith, and be baptized if you haven't been. In the congregations I've seen that's basically a technical distinction. There's not much difference in process. If you're an elder or deacon, you immediately become one in the new church, though you still have to be elected to be on the Session or currently active board of Deacons.

 

[TheGoodLight]

Interesting stuff. I moved from a PCA to a UMC (I also attend Bible studies at a PCUSA that doesn't mind my UMC membership, which is nice). I requested a membership transfer from my former PCA church awhile back and received aggressive voicemails and e-mails in return. I met with a former pastor from there not too much longer after that, but he advised me that any formal communications were between me and the church office. Multiple people who preach at that church still stay (casually) in touch with me--both had, quite assertively, advised me against joining a more 'liberal' church, though I didn't receive a discipline-related ultimatum.

Months after meeting with the former pastor, I got a letter in the mail concerning old church donations, and it was written in a manner that would suggest that they still think of me as a member. I've been wondering if it was a stock letter they attached my name to, but in my experiences all of their communications with me come off calculated. My expectation at this point is that I'll receive an excommunication letter in the mail within 1-2 months before or after the General Assembly meets.

The senior pastor had told me that he'd honor a transfer to a liberal church (he told me this back when I interviewed for membership), but I have my doubts that this will be honored. I've also wondered if the PCA has a policy against allowing those kinds of transfers and if that's tied his hands, which would make sense, other than that he made that guarantee to me.

(Disclaimer: The above is a relaying of my personal experience, and not meant to be direct criticism to membership of any particular denomination.)