Comments on: What is gained by removing members from church rolls? http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/2010/05/27/what-is-gained-by-removing-members-from-church-rolls/ Biblical Issues. Pastoral Concerns. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:33:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dale Tripp http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/2010/05/27/what-is-gained-by-removing-members-from-church-rolls/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Dale Tripp Sun, 30 May 2010 12:57:11 +0000 http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/?p=354#comment-741 It is a long process but most beneficial as you see benefit of calling people to faithfulness in the Body of Christ (His Church). It is a long process but most beneficial as you see benefit of calling people to faithfulness in the Body of Christ (His Church).

]]> By: Josh C http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/2010/05/27/what-is-gained-by-removing-members-from-church-rolls/comment-page-1/#comment-734 Josh C Fri, 28 May 2010 14:36:43 +0000 http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/?p=354#comment-734 Regarding the last question, it appears that by keeping inflating rolls, one might gain increased "credentials" in denominational life regarding the size of their church and ability to "grow" it. There's also for some perhaps an increased salary that goes along with it (other churches our size pay their pastor X amount, so should we.) I know one church secretary who told me that a former pastor she worked for asked her to increase the membership by 10-15% every year on the ACP regardless of what the actual numbers of the church were. He considered it "estimating." On the members' side, the sentimental motivation weighs heaviest, I think. Some may see a certain "number" nostalgically as a reminder of some past heyday in the church's life. Others (understandably) struggle with taking cousin Bobby who joined the church as a 6 year-old at VBS removed from the list even though he hasn't darkened the church door in 30 year. To them, they may be placing a hope for his salvation on his being on that list, since nothing in his life would ever confirm it. if you get the perfect storm of a pastor motivated by the first paragraph and people motivated by the second, you might explain a lot of SBC membership numbers. Regarding the last question, it appears that by keeping inflating rolls, one might gain increased “credentials” in denominational life regarding the size of their church and ability to “grow” it. There’s also for some perhaps an increased salary that goes along with it (other churches our size pay their pastor X amount, so should we.) I know one church secretary who told me that a former pastor she worked for asked her to increase the membership by 10-15% every year on the ACP regardless of what the actual numbers of the church were. He considered it “estimating.”

On the members’ side, the sentimental motivation weighs heaviest, I think. Some may see a certain “number” nostalgically as a reminder of some past heyday in the church’s life. Others (understandably) struggle with taking cousin Bobby who joined the church as a 6 year-old at VBS removed from the list even though he hasn’t darkened the church door in 30 year. To them, they may be placing a hope for his salvation on his being on that list, since nothing in his life would ever confirm it.

if you get the perfect storm of a pastor motivated by the first paragraph and people motivated by the second, you might explain a lot of SBC membership numbers.

]]> By: Brian Whitaker http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/2010/05/27/what-is-gained-by-removing-members-from-church-rolls/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Brian Whitaker Fri, 28 May 2010 04:09:43 +0000 http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/?p=354#comment-732 It is very easy for people to hide who they are by becoming a member somewhere but never becoming active in the ministry. They might be interested in voting, of course, or maybe influencing the church leadership by their giving if they give. You are correct by what the Scripture says about biblical church membership, which only brings out what a true biblical Christian is. It is very easy for people to hide who they are by becoming a member somewhere but never becoming active in the ministry. They might be interested in voting, of course, or maybe influencing the church leadership by their giving if they give. You are correct by what the Scripture says about biblical church membership, which only brings out what a true biblical Christian is.

]]> By: John Mark Harris http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/2010/05/27/what-is-gained-by-removing-members-from-church-rolls/comment-page-1/#comment-730 John Mark Harris Thu, 27 May 2010 21:50:45 +0000 http://togetherforchrist.com/blog/?p=354#comment-730 It's not about removing people from the rolls, it's about identifying the faithful. Membership should be active, being removed from the rolls should be default. Not too soon, but if you don't show yourself faithful, there are no dead limbs in the body of Christ. Good for you. It’s not about removing people from the rolls, it’s about identifying the faithful.

Membership should be active, being removed from the rolls should be default. Not too soon, but if you don’t show yourself faithful, there are no dead limbs in the body of Christ.

Good for you.

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