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Membership
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On Joining, Transferring In, Or Leaving A Church Fellowship
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We are living in a highly mobile, fast paced society. People are always coming and going. So it is in the church that people are coming, staying and going. This page has been written to make these transitions easier for all involved. But like anything else, there are right ways and wrong ways of going about doing these transitions.
Joining a church is a joyous and exciting experience. At WLCC, we use our Newcomers' Class to lay out all the issues and answer all the questions up front so that potential members can know what to expect from life in the fellowship. This means that everyone must go through the same class so all of us will be on the same page. This orientation is our attempt at a formal and friendly introduction.
Transferring from another fellowship to WLCC is accomplished by having the previous church send a letter of introduction concerning the transferring individuals. This will hasten the transferring individuals in placement within the ministry of the church. The Newcomers' Class is still required as well as an interview with pastoral staff.
When leaving WLCC to transfer to another church it is a wonderful opportunity to bless the Body of Christ. The process of transferring-out is accomplished by simply writing a letter to the pastoral staff stating your intent and requesting a letter to be sent to the next church fellowship to be attended. The letter will be issued within 10 days. This way the individuals exiting can experience the blessing and prayers of those who they have been in relationship with.
Each member is free to follow their conscience before God and will not be compelled to attend against their will. However, (in church experience, the common practice of) leaving a fellowship with hard feelings amidst rumors and gossip is contrary to everything we stand for. Members who leave the fellowship in the midst of unresolved conflicts, unproven accusations or strife, will not be issued a letter of reference until the issues are resolved.
Our desire at WLCC is that your fellowship in Christ and with His people be as glorious as God intended. Those exiting and transferring are always our friends no matter how far apart life takes us. Usually we throw a party, bless them and send them away in peace with our prayers. We believe this is worthy of the Lord.
We are living in an era in which we believe God is stressing relationships, integrity, and character of the believer. Leaving a fellowship on good terms, even if disagreements are real or needs of life have changed, shows Christian maturity and godly character which pleases our Father in heaven.
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