OT: Straight out of The Onion? Nope...

I don't know, doesn't strike me as a good way to rebuild, but maybe others feel differently?

All churches review their membership rosters (for various planning and budgetary purposes) and usually call or send correspondence to members who haven't been attending.  Sometimes church elders will visit these members.  In most cases, most have moved or attend other churches,  and often fail to notify the church office of their intent. 
Members who have found another church home should send an email or letter to their church asking for "voluntary release" if they do not want to be members any further.  But for a pastor to revoke memberships without corresponding with his congregants seems extreme.

$$$$$$

When I was young in our Catholic Church, they posted in a bulletin monthly how much each family gave to the church. Unreal.

For what it's worth...
As most of you know, I'm a pastor.  And these kinds of situations can be tricky (as I know from experience).  On the one hand, you don't want people to think that "being on the church rolls" = "good with God".  Church is not some kind of club.  On the other hand, when you're dealing with people, there are always opportunities for things to not be communicated well... or for people to refuse to listen to what's being communicated.  Add on to that our inherent pride (which we all have to some degree), which doesn't like being "told no"... and you've got a potentially toxic situation.  Removing people from church membership is- at times- a necessary part of the job.  But it needs to be done patiently (not rushed into) and lovingly.  The ultimate goal is to help people in their relationship with Christ, not put stumbling blocks up in their way.  

I can tell you this, though: I would NEVER make a person's offerings part of any communications regarding removing them from the church membership rolls.  In my opinion, that is dangerous- and, potentially- wrong.  Yes, it is our Christian duty to give offerings to God (which, in turn, are used to support the ministries of our given church); but those are REALLY private things between that person and God.  I, personally, wouldn't have anything to do with that aspect of their church membership.  In fact, I've made it my personal policy to never know anything about the giving practices of any of the members of my church.  I don't want to know.

We are struggling with this problem probably like every other church does.  I know that our pastors biggest problem is that people don't attend church and don't want to be visited so he is unsure of their beliefs.  Then they pass away and the family wants a Christen funeral where he is supposed to speak as if the deceased was a believer.  
We are a small but very old church and most people are cousins or related in some way.  If the family became upset the whole thing would blow up and split the church.
We have found that there is many reasons why people don't attend ranging from moving away and attending a different church (as already mentioned), work schedules, "Chreasters", to just not interested in religion.

As churches close in Minnesota, a way of life fades
La Salle, Minn. -- For 100 years, Lutherans in this farming community on the Minnesota prairie have come to one church to share life’s milestones.

They have been baptized, confirmed and married at La Salle Lutheran. Their grandparents, parents and siblings lie in the church cemetery next door.
But the old friends who gathered here early one recent Sunday never imagined that they would one day be marking the death of their own church.
When La Salle Lutheran locks its doors in August, it will become the latest casualty among fragile Minnesota churches either closing, merging or praying for a miracle. Steep drops in church attendance, aging congregations, and cultural shifts away from organized religion have left most of Minnesota’s mainline Christian denominations facing unprecedented declines.

“Sunday used to be set aside for church: that’s what families did,” said Donna Schultz, 74, a church member since grade school at La Salle, in southwest Minnesota. “Now our children have moved away. The grandkids have volleyball, dance on weekends. People are busy with other things.
“I’m really going to miss this,” she added quietly, gesturing to her friends in the lobby. “We’re like family.”
The rising toll is evident in rural, urban and suburban churches across the state.
http://www.startribune.com/as-minnesota-churches-close-a-way-of-life-fades/486037461/


About the series This is the first in an occasional series about Christianity at a crossroads — a time of unprecedented decline in church membership and a changing future for the faith. 

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ. --Mahatma Gandhi

@"MaroonBells" said: I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ. --Mahatma Gandhi

@"purplefaithful" said:

As churches close in Minnesota, a way of life fades
La Salle, Minn. -- For 100 years, Lutherans in this farming community on the Minnesota prairie have come to one church to share life’s milestones.

They have been baptized, confirmed and married at La Salle Lutheran. Their grandparents, parents and siblings lie in the church cemetery next door.
But the old friends who gathered here early one recent Sunday never imagined that they would one day be marking the death of their own church.
When La Salle Lutheran locks its doors in August, it will become the latest casualty among fragile Minnesota churches either closing, merging or praying for a miracle. Steep drops in church attendance, aging congregations, and cultural shifts away from organized religion have left most of Minnesota’s mainline Christian denominations facing unprecedented declines.

“Sunday used to be set aside for church: that’s what families did,” said Donna Schultz, 74, a church member since grade school at La Salle, in southwest Minnesota. “Now our children have moved away. The grandkids have volleyball, dance on weekends. People are busy with other things.
“I’m really going to miss this,” she added quietly, gesturing to her friends in the lobby. “We’re like family.”
The rising toll is evident in rural, urban and suburban churches across the state.
http://www.startribune.com/as-minnesota-churches-close-a-way-of-life-fades/486037461/


About the series This is the first in an occasional series about Christianity at a crossroads — a time of unprecedented decline in church membership and a changing future for the faith. 

I can feel guilty at home, doesn't cost me anything. 

Flip Wilson did this great skit...this minister is preaching to his congregation..."plate shot around the room, came back nothing in it"

"Now brothers and sisters, we can't have this, I'm gonna sent the plate around again, and give you all a chance to fix this up"

plate shot around the room...nothing again.

Reverend said, "folks, a church is like a child...you've gotta teach them to crawl"
The inspired congregation yells in unison: "let it crawl Rev....let it crawl"

then he said: " then it's gotta stand up and WALK"
congregation yells: "Make it walk Rev!  Make it walk!"

"Then that child & church needs to RUN"
"Make it run Rev....Make it run"

"For this church to run.....it's gonna take MONEY!"
congregation: "Let it crawl Rev!"

I think social media and technology has played a role. You can watch service on tv and online. I think the megachurches have had an impact too. Also way of life and sense of community has changed for a lot of people. I get the rationale for booting the members but I disagree with making it related to giving, that's not very Christ-like. You can give in multiple ways.

@"StickyBun" said: $$$$$$

When I was young in our Catholic Church, they posted in a bulletin monthly how much each family gave to the church. Unreal.

Another one of his tactics?  They used to have what they called a "parish bazaar" event, (think like a farmer's market with crafts, food and so forth) that raised thousands of dollars each year.  But the bazaar was a lot of work, and he cancelled the bazaar altogether and instead instituted a "Bazaar collection", that dispensed with the work, and yielded the cash.  

Kind a like getting screwed and not kissed.  

He was the only clergy my mild-mannered Dad ever got pissed off at and had a verbal confrontation with.

@"Montana Tom" said:

@"StickyBun" said: $$$$$$

When I was young in our Catholic Church, they posted in a bulletin monthly how much each family gave to the church. Unreal.

Yes, in our church, they published it annually.  Like a "look who has given the most" and "you should be embarrassed" public listing.  That particular parish priest managed to pay off an entire new grade school early, by pushy tactics like this.  

Another one of his tactics?  They used to have what they called a "parish bazaar" event, (think like a farmer's market with crafts, food and so forth) that raised thousands of dollars each year.  But the bazaar was a lot of work, and he cancelled the bazaar altogether and instead instituted a "Bazaar collection", that dispensed with the work, and yielded the cash.  

Kind a like getting screwed and not kissed.  

He was the only clergy my mild-mannered Dad ever got pissed off at and had a verbal confrontation with.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"Montana Tom" said:

@"StickyBun" said: $$$$$$

When I was young in our Catholic Church, they posted in a bulletin monthly how much each family gave to the church. Unreal.

Yes, in our church, they published it annually.  Like a "look who has given the most" and "you should be embarrassed" public listing.  That particular parish priest managed to pay off an entire new grade school early, by pushy tactics like this.  

Another one of his tactics?  They used to have what they called a "parish bazaar" event, (think like a farmer's market with crafts, food and so forth) that raised thousands of dollars each year.  But the bazaar was a lot of work, and he cancelled the bazaar altogether and instead instituted a "Bazaar collection", that dispensed with the work, and yielded the cash.  

Kind a like getting screwed and not kissed.  

He was the only clergy my mild-mannered Dad ever got pissed off at and had a verbal confrontation with.

There was a priest in a little town south of me that learned the hard way about greed.   There was a wealthy local farmer that tithed his 10% religiously,  good years and bad the church got theirs first.   The intersting thing about this farmer was that he took his 10% off the gross sales,  not the adjusted net after expenses and deductions and stuff like everybody else would,  he was likely funding a major portion of the church himself.  Well father dipshit was wanting (not needing) a lot of money for some pet project and the parishioners were not really stepping up with the money like he wants to the priest went to this wealthy farmer and tried the guilt trip on him... pointed out how well he lived and how nice his farm and equipment were and how good God had been to him.....everybody has their breaking point and apparently this was the farmers.   He politely asked the priest to leave and never wrote another check to that Catholic church again.  It was later reported that that local parish was in his will for what would have amounted to several million dollars upon his and his wifes passing... but that was changed as well.

as far as a church (or any non profit) disclosing who donates what... if I ever saw that I it would be the end of my contributions to that association and likely the end of my affiliation.  that is no way to run an organization and especially a faith based one that should promote equality among its members... nothing creates division quicker than money.

if youre not attending are you really a member?  i think this is a big tado about nothing. someone tocked the wrong person off...course i also refuse to sign the attendance sheets because the big man upstairs is the only ine i care about keeping track and ive been an elder.  pastor wasnt pleased when i told him i wouldnt sign the sheets. 

@"AGRforever" said: if youre not attending are you really a member?  i think this is a big tado about nothing. someone tocked the wrong person off...course i also refuse to sign the attendance sheets because the big man upstairs is the only ine i care about keeping track and ive been an elder.  pastor wasnt pleased when i told him i wouldnt sign the sheets. 

@"Vikergirl" said: I think social media and technology has played a role. You can watch service on tv and online. I think the megachurches have had an impact too. Also way of life and sense of community has changed for a lot of people. I get the rationale for booting the members but I disagree with making it related to giving, that's not very Christ-like. You can give in multiple ways.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think social media and technology has played a role. You can watch service on tv and online. I think the megachurches have had an impact too. Also way of life and sense of community has changed for a lot of people. I get the rationale for booting the members but I disagree with making it related to giving, that's not very Christ-like. You can give in multiple ways.

I still prefer a smaller church. However after attending a mega-church or Christ-mart as I used to call them. For crushing all the smaller ones.  I've kinda changed my outlook on these huge auditorium style churches . They have the ability to provide so much more to the community then just service on Sunday. There might be some of the social media effect going on here. In a time when people judge themselves on how many "friends" and "followers" they have. They've walked away from friends and what they should follow for the anonymity of the huge auditorium. That I think is a top reason why many smaller churches in cities fail. Also why I still prefer a small church feeling. In rural areas it could be declining population. I don't know haven't spent enough time in the country these days. I've witnessed a big auditorium at 75% capacity for 3 services a day on somedays. Easter and Christmas full or standing room only and services or something going on all day and into the night. Seems there's still quite a few believer's. How they are showing it has evolved.

@"Vikergirl" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think social media and technology has played a role. You can watch service on tv and online. I think the megachurches have had an impact too. Also way of life and sense of community has changed for a lot of people. I get the rationale for booting the members but I disagree with making it related to giving, that's not very Christ-like. You can give in multiple ways.

I still prefer a smaller church. However after attending a mega-church or Christ-mart as I used to call them. For crushing all the smaller ones.  I've kinda changed my outlook on these huge auditorium style churches . They have the ability to provide so much more to the community then just service on Sunday. There might be some of the social media effect going on here. In a time when people judge themselves on how many "friends" and "followers" they have. They've walked away from friends and what they should follow for the anonymity of the huge auditorium. That I think is a top reason why many smaller churches in cities fail. Also why I still prefer a small church feeling. In rural areas it could be declining population. I don't know haven't spent enough time in the country these days. I've witnessed a big auditorium at 75% capacity for 3 services a day on somedays. Easter and Christmas full or standing room only and services or something going on all day and into the night. Seems there's still quite a few believer's. How they are showing it has evolved.

It's amazing how many have popped up just off of various highways with their electronic billboards. I know some are legit but some of them are kind of shady too. Christ-mart is an accurate name for them. I think some people like the anonymous nature of the big church. It's easy to get swallowed up in it because of the numbers. There is no way that all the members know each other. And some people like the showiness of the big church. That whole bigger is better mentality is on full display. Some bigger churches provide services for their communities I get that and that makes a difference. Regardless of the size, if the church is working in the community to make a difference that's a good thing. 

And there are definitely clubs in church. There's the golden givers club, the church ladies club, elderly club and so on. Steve Harvey does a bit on the 40 year building fund. There is also the scandal factor that has jaded some people. No one wants to be conned or played for a sucker. There is also the idea of some higher ups in the church not practicing what they preach. Also a scandal in the church can do major damage. There is a sense of betrayal because trust is broken. That has a powerful impact. Hypocrisy and lies kill any sense of community, no matter what size the church is. 

I go to church for purely selfish reasons.  I walk out in a much better 'frame of mind' than when I entered.  Never fails. 

The most powerful service I ever attended was when my  'Pastor Ken'  (clearly irritated by earlier criticism) dropped the mike on the stool in front of the congregation, saying 
his church was lame. 

Before you know it, a line snaked around the aisles with congregants 'witnessing' to the good done by the Pastors & the church. 
Not enough kleenex.  

My govt DEMANDS 27% of my income, under penalty of imprisonment.  My God ENCOURAGES 10%, should I be so inspired. 
The US govt has sent it's representative to my home to question the legitimacy of my 'charity'.  My church... never.  

I don't know when in American history those %'s were flipped, but I'll lay odds that's when America began to question it's direction.