p. 9 | Transfer of Church-Membership

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

Transfer of Church-Membership

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

A. G. DANIELLS

In recent years the members of some of our churches frequently remove from the church where they hold membership, and live for years in some other place, still retaining their membership with the church where they formerly lived. This is a practise which should be discouraged as far as possible. It is contrary to correct methods, and is liable many times to result unfavorably to the cause, and disastrously to the individual. In the first place, the one who removes to another church from where he holds his membership, expecting to remain there even a few months, should have his membership transferred to the church where he is; otherwise, he can not feel that close bond of sympathy and co-operation with the brethren in that church that he would if he were one of their number. And furthermore, his standing in the attitude of an interested on-looker will not increase his love for, or interest in, the development of the work for which our churches stand. In the very nature of things, it would appear that his attitude is one of indifference, at least not one of interested, hearty enthusiastic co-operation in behalf of the cause.

It is generally understood and recognized by all that our members should adopt the tithing system in support of gospel work. The one who is located in a place away from the church where he holds membership may for a time report to his church, and make remittances of tithe and offerings. But it frequently happens that his interest in attending to these matters lessens, and he fails to report to his church, or to send in tithes and offerings.

Later he may have his attention called to these matters, and may wish to secure a letter from his church to join the church where he lives. He writes to the officers of the church, and asks them to see that a letter is sent for this purpose. He is thus virtually asking the church there to “certify” that he is in “good and regular standing” in their church, and is “recommended to the fellowship and care” of the other church, when the fact is that they can not in truth certify anything of the kind. Perhaps the request for a letter is the first time that church has heard from him for a long time. So far as they are able to certify, they could only state that he has apparently lost much interest in the truth, has paid no tithes or offerings, and has not reported to his home church for months, and perhaps years. That church can not consistently grant such a person a letter certifying that he is in “good and regular standing.” Where there are a number of absent members in a church taking this course, the financial showing of that church at the end of the year is consequently very poor.

The duty of our members to transfer their membership to the church where they reside, and to pay their tithes to the church of which they are members, has been recognized for many years by the representatives of this body. This matter was considered by the General Conference assembled in 1884, and the following action was taken, as noted on page 37 of the Year-Book for 1885:—

“That this Conference recognize the duty of individuals in changing their place of residence, to transfer their membership, and to pay their tithe to the churches with which they thus unite.”

Only a little reflection is necessary to see the irregularities that result from the non-performance of this duty on the part of our members. If these lines should come to the attention of any one who is remiss in this matter, we sincerely trust he will at once reform in this respect, and transfer his membership to the church where he is living, and then faithfully assist that church in the obligations devolving upon all its members.

There are, of course, exceptions to the action noted above. This action is with reference to the transfer of membership in the case where a person has changed his place of residence. If he is in a place only temporarily, of course no such transfer of membership is contemplated by this action. But he should be able easily to decide whether he has gone to a place to reside; and if he has, he should feel it his duty to co-operate with the church where he is located, and thus encourage its members, and help them in building up a strong work in their midst. Every one will readily admit that this is a much better course than for one to simply slip off into a quiet corner, and there enter upon a “retired” life. Active Christian service does not recognize such a life. That is stagnation. Let us not stagnate, but live, and enjoy the blessed privileges afforded to all the members of Christ’s body, by improving every means possible for co-operating in the work the Lord would have done.