Renouncing my Evangelical Church Membership Advice

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I grew up in the Evangelical Free Church denomination and I am a member of a local Evangelical church. Over the last two years I have found the truth of Christ in the Catholic Church and I am currently in RCIA. It was customary in my old church to send them a letter letting them know that one no longer wishes to be a member. I can do that with a simple one paragraph letter but I really want to do more and would like some advice.

I was considering writing an open letter to the church describing in detail why I am choosing to be Roman Catholic and why I believe the truth lies there. Ultimately I was planning on discussing Authority, History, Tradition, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura and the Eucharist.

I would like to write a letter to hopefully open some discussion and plant some seeds with them, but I want to be charitable at the same time, as well as devote my time to fruitful endeavors.

Has anyone else written a letter like this to their former Protestant Church and if so, what type of response did you get?

Thanks!

Jon
 
I really don’t see a detailed letter doing much good, to be honest, unless it was going to be put on display, rather than read out.

Why not write the simple one-para letter, but put in it something like ‘if anyone would like to know my reasons in more detail, please do get in touch’. Of course, there is always the danger that you might get bitter replies, or arguments, so restrict the contact to email only…

Remember, you want to come over as friendly and approachable, not as if you know it all (even if you feel you do)…
 
Jon_S said:
I grew up in the Evangelical Free Church denomination and I am a member of a local Evangelical church. Over the last two years I have found the truth of Christ in the Catholic Church and I am currently in RCIA. It was customary in my old church to send them a letter letting them know that one no longer wishes to be a member. I can do that with a simple one paragraph letter but I really want to do more and would like some advice.

I was considering writing an open letter to the church describing in detail why I am choosing to be Roman Catholic and why I believe the truth lies there. Ultimately I was planning on discussing Authority, History, Tradition, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura and the Eucharist.

I would like to write a letter to hopefully open some discussion and plant some seeds with them, but I want to be charitable at the same time, as well as devote my time to fruitful endeavors.

Has anyone else written a letter like this to their former Protestant Church and if so, what type of response did you get?

Thanks!

Jon
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My suggestion is to take advice from those also in the same journey as you are…chnetwork.org/
 
paperwight66 said:
I really don’t see a detailed letter doing much good, to be honest, unless it was going to be put on display,
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Honestly, I would not mind “pinning” my 95 thesis on their bulletin board!

:clapping::tiphat:
 
😉 Amusing. As a former Lutheran, I find a certain … symmetry… in your comment.
 
I wouldn’t go into great detail. Simply inform them that as your relationship with Christ has developed, He has called you into a still deeper relationship … in the Catholic Church. 😃
 
Just leave quietly. Write a letter trying to evangelize them and watch those bridges burn.
 
I highly doubt that such a letter would be seen by anyone other than the rectory secretary. However, I think there are more effective places for such a witness. There are websites for converstion stories that would put your letter in the hands of people who are open to the truth. Another option would be to post such a letter to your social networking site, though I think you run the risk of being seen as attacking your former religion.
 
As we hear from both Scott Hahn and Mark Shea, both are very thankful for the teaching and brotherhood that they received in their prior communions. Perhaps a letter of thanksgiving to them for all that they did for you on your faith journey might be appropriate. After all, through their ministry, you did advance in faith and spirituality.
 
A simply letter to the church no reason need be given. You could say that if any question to they or may contact you and give your e-mail. that is all that is needed.
 
po18guy said:
As we hear from both Scott Hahn and Mark Shea, both are very thankful for the teaching and brotherhood that they received in their prior communions. Perhaps a letter of thanksgiving to them for all that they did for you on your faith journey might be appropriate. After all, through their ministry, you did advance in faith and spirituality.
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This, IMO, is the way to go. Be gracious, be thankful. Tell them where you’re going. There are plenty of apologetic materials easily available to anyone who’s curious about Catholicism, written by more experienced and knowledgeable Catholics than you, so I don’t see how you can possibly do either Catholicism or your former church justice in a letter.

I go to an E Free church, Jon. My pastors have been very well-read and knowledgeable. Though I’m not leaving my church, if I were, it would be completely silly and a bit obnoxious of me to think I need to teach them.

Have you discussed Catholicism with your pastor while you were searching? Have you been honest, open, and humble enough to let your pastor in on helping you search ? If you don’t already have that kind of open and trusting relationship with your pastor now, I can’t see your sudden attempt to convert your E Free church leadership to Catholicism going over well. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman, but I expect to give and receive transparency in relationships, not unexpected letters announcing a surprise conversion.
 
Welcome fellow sinner. May God bless you on your journey (and the rest of your life :))
 
AbideWithMe said:
This, IMO, is the way to go. Be gracious, be thankful. Tell them where you’re going. There are plenty of apologetic materials easily available to anyone who’s curious about Catholicism, written by more experienced and knowledgeable Catholics than you, so I don’t see how you can possibly do either Catholicism or your former church justice in a letter.

I go to an E Free church, Jon. My pastors have been very well-read and knowledgeable. Though I’m not leaving my church, if I were, it would be completely silly and a bit obnoxious of me to think I need to teach them.

Have you discussed Catholicism with your pastor while you were searching? Have you been honest, open, and humble enough to let your pastor in on helping you search ? If you don’t already have that kind of open and trusting relationship with your pastor now, I can’t see your sudden attempt to convert your E Free church leadership to Catholicism going over well. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman, but I expect to give and receive transparency in relationships, not unexpected letters announcing a surprise conversion.
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Thank you everyone for all of the advice! I feel much better about where I should go with this.

I think I will send a general letter, thanking them for the foundation they laid, explaining in general terms what I have found in the Catholic Church. So instead of a 10 page dissertation maybe it will be two paragraphs 🙂

In response to AbideWithMe, I would add, that if I did send the full blown letter, it would have been to a pastor who I have a long history with and a good rapport with. I have sat down and talked to him a bit about church history and where the Bible came from. I know I would not be teaching them anything per se, but after talking to a Catholic Friend of mine who used to be a Protestant Pastor and has his Masters from a Prominent Protestant Seminary, I do believe that many Protestant Seminaries are set up to give a cursory glance at pre reformation Church History. For example: this former protestant Pastor I am talking about, cited reading Irenaeus as a major part of his conversion process. After reading Irenaeus he went back to his Protestant Seminary Textbook on Church history to see how he had missed it before. Well out of a 400 page text book, there where 3 pages on the early church fathers, basically just saying that they existed and did not discuss any of their writings or beliefs.

So all that to say, I think it is important to be open and honest with our Protestant Brothers but of course it should be a mutual thing rather than a lecture.

I will probably email this pastor directly with a copy of the letter and perhaps a few more things and offer time if he would like to discuss more.

I may even write out something lengthy for my own processing, and have it available readily that way should questions come back.

A big part of this is that after a lifetime of seeking the truth, I am so joyous to have found it in the Catholic Church and I want all of my friends and family to find it too. I will keep praying and loving them and hope for questions from them!

Grace and Peace to All and a very big thank you!

Jon:D
 
I would write the letter even if you don’t ever send it, as it would be something worth retaining for yourself and your family. I would have no problem sending such a letter if I were in your position, as long as it is entirely factually and theologically true and also charitable.
 
Jon_S said:
I grew up in the Evangelical Free Church denomination and I am a member of a local Evangelical church. Over the last two years I have found the truth of Christ in the Catholic Church and I am currently in RCIA. It was customary in my old church to send them a letter letting them know that one no longer wishes to be a member. I can do that with a simple one paragraph letter but I really want to do more and would like some advice.

I was considering writing an open letter to the church describing in detail why I am choosing to be Roman Catholic and why I believe the truth lies there. Ultimately I was planning on discussing Authority, History, Tradition, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura and the Eucharist.

I would like to write a letter to hopefully open some discussion and plant some seeds with them, but I want to be charitable at the same time, as well as devote my time to fruitful endeavors.

Has anyone else written a letter like this to their former Protestant Church and if so, what type of response did you get?

Thanks!

Jon
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Praise the Lord! The Lord that the Apostles- taught by His Son- who through their word we learned who Christ is, with whom they were privileged to be with. 🙂

I would also suggest you don’t say Roman Catholic. Say you want to be a Catholic the Church that Christ built. :highprayer:

MJ
 
po18guy said:
As we hear from both Scott Hahn and Mark Shea, both are very thankful for the teaching and brotherhood that they received in their prior communions. Perhaps a letter of thanksgiving to them for all that they did for you on your faith journey might be appropriate. After all, through their ministry, you did advance in faith and spirituality.
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👍👍👍

I concur
 
I totally understand your pressing desire to share your newfound freedom from error. BUT…I would keep the letter simple, as suggested by others. Are you ready to defend your new faith against what will be an onslaught of huge proportions? Be aware that what you are doing is making the Liar very nervous and angry and he can and might use others to attack you and weaken your resolve. Pray about this. Ask your Priest and RCIA leader. Put on the full armor of God before you go to war, friend.
 
Welcome! I advise you to keep it simple and to the point, rather than rambling on about
every reason you have for converting.
 
Perhaps instead of renouncing your Evangelical church and leaving it, you can stay and work to try and reform it from within. Unless you think they’d disfellowship you and kick you out. Do you have an idea of how much you could do while maintaining unity?
 
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