Need Scripture about transfer

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by n david

You're using an incredibly broad brush to paint "Pastors" as evil, money-grubbing, power-hungry, manipulative jerks. I don't believe that was your intent, but that's the way it comes across. "Pastors" are in it for the money, therefore they do all they can to manipulate and control people into staying at their church.

In reality, the "Pastors" you post of are a very very small percentage; while the overwhelming majority are good people who do everything they can to help people, and don't deserve these kind of broad brush accusations.

Not everything is done for sinister reasons. The reason for the inclusion of transfer letters wasn't because greedy, power-mad Pastors wanted to control congregations; else you wouldn't have the verbage (page 128, paragraph 3) which states a transfer letter can only be denied if there is cause by way of confession or conviction.

We should also remember the age and culture when this was included in the Manual. It had everything to do with ethics and nothing to do with money. I wish we could go back in time and see the difference between that era and today. It's really sad.

Yes, I should not broad brush, certainly not my intention. But, as to the percentage of those who do this, only God knows, but regardless of how many pastors feel this way... it is a problem, enough that I have experienced it in almost every OP church that I have attended, with the exception of one.

[missourimary]

So... I've wondered off and on for some time: what would happen if I cut my hair, put on pants and makeup and some jewelry, moved to another state and walked into a church where no one knows me and no one is connected to my formeer church. I pretend I know no one and nothing, 'pray through' and am baptized. Then I'd be dishonest, but I'd be accepted because I'm a new convert, right? Even if I 'backslid' and 'came back' in another state, it seems I'd be more likely to be allowed to attend in some churches than if I honestly said 'I'm moving here without my pastor's consent.' The churches I know who require a letter also believe a person MUST attend an Apostolic church to be saved. It just seems these two teachings are in conflict.

[Dordrecht]

Posted earlier about people coming in without a reference letter:

And no one realizes they are wells without water until it's too late.

Well, there you go.

You expect everybody to come into
the building to be a tongue talking pentecostal?

Churches are for sinners to come in and to be saved
by the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That's exactly why He went to the cross, for crying out loud.

Do you want your church just to be a "bless me" club for tongue talking
united pentecostals?

Forget about "letters"...I love it when the "unsaved" come in!
The more the better.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Posted earlier about people coming in without a reference letter:



Well, there you go.

You expect everybody to come into
the building to be a tongue talking pentecostal?

Churches are for sinners to come in and to be saved
by the grace and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That's exactly why He went to the cross, for crying out loud.

Do you want your church just to be a "bless me" club for tongue talking
united pentecostals?

Forget about "letters"...I love it when the "unsaved" come in!
The more the better.

"Wells without water" are not unsaved, non-Spirit filled seekers looking to attend a church. They are false brethren coming in to do damage and lead astray.

Check the reference in Jude.

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

"Wells without water" are not unsaved, non-Spirit filled seekers looking to attend a church. They are false brethren coming in to do damage and lead astray.

Check the reference in Jude.

I've never heard that before-it looks like I have some study to do today once the sun is up.

I've never heard that before... but I have heard sincere people who moved to another church or disagreed with the wrong person called that. Kind of like the label 'Jezebel', 'wandering stars' and 'clouds without water' are overused in some circles of Pentecost. A person concerned with whether they need a letter of transfer isn't generally one who is looking for trouble-more likely thtt's a sign that the person wants to do right and doesn't want to cause trouble.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by missourimary

So... I've wondered off and on for some time: what would happen if I cut my hair, put on pants and makeup and some jewelry, moved to another state and walked into a church where no one knows me and no one is connected to my formeer church. I pretend I know no one and nothing, 'pray through' and am baptized. Then I'd be dishonest, but I'd be accepted because I'm a new convert, right? Even if I 'backslid' and 'came back' in another state, it seems I'd be more likely to be allowed to attend in some churches than if I honestly said 'I'm moving here without my pastor's consent.' The churches I know who require a letter also believe a person MUST attend an Apostolic church to be saved. It just seems these two teachings are in conflict.

All legalism in my book.

[votivesoul]

I admit it's been going on two years since I read it, so my memory is fuzzy. I must be remembering the word "guideline" and interpreted it as a code of ethics.

Thanks for clearing it up, n david. But according to what you posted, it doesn't look like an article required for continued licensing and fellowship.

So if a local assembly's by-laws require it, then they probably follow through. If not, then not.

[Dordrecht]

Instruction about what a "church" should
be like are in the Book of Acts.

Not in some instruction book written by men.

[n david]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

I admit it's been going on two years since I read it, so my memory is fuzzy. I must be remembering the word "guideline" and interpreted it as a code of ethics.

Thanks for clearing it up, n david. But according to what you posted, it doesn't look like an article required for continued licensing and fellowship.

So if a local assembly's by-laws require it, then they probably follow through. If not, then not.

Right. At first I thought it was, but it's clearly labeled as a sample or guide, not as an actual organizational requirement.

[Reader]

Originally Posted by n david

Right. At first I thought it was, but it's clearly labeled as a sample or guide, not as an actual organizational requirement.

This is incorrect. Please see my first post.