On Being On and Off the Rolls: Religious Community Membership

Re: Church membership

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawud   While as Baha’is we’re supposed to be clear about our religion–that we’re Baha’is and not a combination of other memberships–I think it’s encouraged to visit churches, synagogues, and mosques. + “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.” -Baha’u'llah I have a Baha’i membership card and have even made a public declaration in a newspaper with an article about an interfaith group I started a few years ago. I was clear in the article that I have been a Baha’i since the summer of 2000. And even though I was clear and made a public declaration, I think the church I formerly belonged to continues to keep my name on their records.

Thanks Dawud …

Hmm.. well I guess if they want to keep you on their rolls that’s up to them… but you’ve already made it clear you’re Baha’i anyway …  

- Art

A little over a week ago I took care of an important bit of personal business.  Those who know me personally know that I was a Baha’i prior to becoming an Orthodox Christian…. While I consider that I ceased to be a Baha’i with my baptism and chrismation, the Baha’is happily continued to send me mail, email, and their bi-monthly magazine because I was officially on the rolls.

So, on the 22nd I mailed off letters to both my local assembly and the national records office informing them that I had become Orthodox and that yes, that meant I was no longer a Baha’i, and they should delete my name from the membership roster. I also mailed off a letter to the elderly Baha’i lady who introduced me to my wife, and who graciously permitted us to have our wedding at her house. I had hoped to avoid telling her, as I knew she would be disapppointed, but ultimately I decided that I owed her the courtesy of an honest explanation, and as it happened she took it well.

There isn’t much more to say about this, except that I have finally cast off the last remnants of my former religious identity.  Now that I’ve gone public, I can be more open about my Baha’i experience, and if I can ever get it down in coherent form, I’ll blog about my experience leaving the Baha’is. For the most part, though, I’d much rather look ahead than look back, so don’t hold your breath. In the meantime, I can basically endorse most of what is said [in a resignation letter posted on the Internet.] It was written by someone who resigned nine years ago, but much of what she wrote is still valid [to me] today. There are others out there, written by people who are basically professional ex-Baha’is, but that’s a path I don’t want to go down. It doesn’t seem spiritually healthy.

This is, however, a signpost along the path of my life, and I thought I’d mention it. You may now return to whatever you were doing before reading this.