Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/1/2007

Question
Dear Pastor Don,
We are a fairly new church (7 months)and have 19 members.  Two of our members are from another church and would like to transfer from their other Baptist church to ours.  Is there a certain way this should be done?  Appreciate any and all advice on this matter.  Do not want to offend any other churches or members and want to make sure we do everything right and in God's way.  Thank you and God Bless.

Answer
Hi Deena,

Thanks for this great and practical question.  Here are a few thoughts:

1.  If someone wishes to join your church from another Baptist Church, typically the church pastor or secretary would contact the other church requesting a letter of transfer.  This letter would state that he or she is a member in good standing.  THis communication would help the other church to know to take that member off of their books.

2.  One way to avoid any tense situations would be as soon as you have members coming from another good church, your pastor should let the pastor of that church know.  This would give him a chance to restore them, or to give you folks the blessing to persue them.  Hopefully when someone goes from your church to one of theirs, they would extend you the same favor.

I hope that this helps.  A request for a letter of transfer can either be initiated by your pastor, church clerk, or the member who is making the change.  There should not be any offence here, but sometimes there can be and it is not your fault.  Remember what it says about a person when he gets offended:

Psalm 119:165
165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I am very sorry for this late response, but I hope that this helps.

In Christ
Pastor Don