When Did The Current Practice Of Resigning From The Church Via Letter Begin

[bluebell]

I was talking to someone online and they said it didn't exist in the 1980s when they tried to leave. Is that true?

[Calm]

Yep, I believe originally to resign one had to go through an excommunication process, but someone should check me on this.

I think it started in the 90s but am unsure about precise time.

Edited October 9, 2012 by calmoriah

[Saints Alive]

I think writing a letter has always been the was to resign from the church. It is just recently that resignation doesn't automatically result in excommunication. Basically, if you wrote a resignation letter they would call a church discipline counsel and you would be excommunicated. Now they skip the discipline counsel and just call it "resignation" or name removal. The effect is the same either way, and the process to be rebaptised is almost identical. Also if there was any suspicion, no proof required, of sin before your name removal that must be cleared up, including a disciplinary counsel, before you may be rebaptised.

[blueadept]

I'm curious about this question as well. My LDS father was baptised into the RCC in '67 but wasn't aware of the need to submit a letter of resignation until '96 and dealt with the 'annoying' missionaries who seemed to always track him down whenever he moved.

I always thought the need for a letter of resignation was always part of the process. Now I'm inferring that it wasn't.....very interesting.

[Saints Alive]

That right, there really wasn't a formal resignation process until recently. Not that the church didnt want people to resigne, they just hadn't had a reason to have one.

[bluebell]

Thanks everyone.

[Duncan]

I think...in 1989 a fella from Arizona succesfully sued the Church for putting down on his record or something that he was excommunicated, implying wrongdoing. Since around then you can just have your name removed without further hubbub

[Damien the Leper]

When I resigned, I had to mail or deliver a copy of my letter of resignation to my former bishop. He didn't ask questions as to why I was doing so nor did he try to encourage me to rethink my decision. I have a great deal of respect for him for giving me that courtesy. He then sent the letter to SLC and within 2 weeks I received confirmation that all information concerning me was removed and disposed of. IOW, I impressed on SLC to not hold onto any documentation concerning me with exception to the primary sources being other family members. As of now, it is as if I was never a member of the church. I took this extra measure so as to avoid any unnecessary or unwanted visits from other members of the ward.

[emeliza]

When I resigned, I had to mail or deliver a copy of my letter of resignation to my former bishop. He didn't ask questions as to why I was doing so nor did he try to encourage me to rethink my decision. I have a great deal of respect for him for giving me that courtesy. He then sent the letter to SLC and within 2 weeks I received confirmation that all information concerning me was removed and disposed of. IOW, I impressed on SLC to not hold onto any documentation concerning me with exception to the primary sources being other family members. As of now, it is as if I was never a member of the church. I took this extra measure so as to avoid any unnecessary or unwanted visits from other members of the ward.

I believe if you hand deliever the letter, the Bishop can leave it alone, but if you mail it, he has to make sure it really came from you and was what you wanted and not someone doing it for you.

Personally I sometimes wish more people were willing to go thru that process if they really want to be left alone by the church. The church computer systems don't really have a way to keep track of who doesn't want to be contacted so the only real way to be left alone is to have your name removed. You still might get tracted, but it won't be as often.

[Damien the Leper]

I believe if you hand deliever the letter, the Bishop can leave it alone, but if you mail it, he has to make sure it really came from you and was what you wanted and not someone doing it for you.

Personally I sometimes wish more people were willing to go thru that process if they really want to be left alone by the church. The church computer systems don't really have a way to keep track of who doesn't want to be contacted so the only real way to be left alone is to have your name removed. You still might get tracted, but it won't be as often.

I hand delivered the signed original to my bishop with a witness signature and had a copy made with a fresh witness signature by the same witness. I have that copy in my possession so that there won't be any confusion. I understand that I may run into the missionaries from time to time and I will kindly decline a spiritual message but offer to buy them lunch or dinner. The kids have gotta eat!

[Walden]

I believe if you hand deliever the letter, the Bishop can leave it alone, but if you mail it, he has to make sure it really came from you and was what you wanted and not someone doing it for you.

Personally I sometimes wish more people were willing to go thru that process if they really want to be left alone by the church. The church computer systems don't really have a way to keep track of who doesn't want to be contacted so the only real way to be left alone is to have your name removed. You still might get tracted, but it won't be as often.

Yes, this is how I resigned a couple years back. I sent a letter to SLC, bypassing my local bishop, and then received a call from the bishop a few weeks later regarding my letter of resignation. He wanted to confirm that it was my intention to actually resign (he seemed genuinely blown away that anyone might do such a thing, but maybe that's part of his resignation persona, as i am sure that I wasn't the first resignation that he had dealt with).

[Damien the Leper]

Yes, this is how I resigned a couple years back. I sent a letter to SLC, bypassing my local bishop, and then received a call from the bishop a few weeks later regarding my letter of resignation. He wanted to confirm that it was my intention to actually resign (he seemed genuinely blown away that anyone might do such a thing, but maybe that's part of his resignation persona, as i am sure that I wasn't the first resignation that he had dealt with).

It isn't necessary to go through the bishop first. I chose to do so because of the relationship my former bishop and I had. I didn't want it to be a surprise to him.

But it is a case by case situation.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Yep, I believe originally to resign one had to go through an excommunication process, but someone should check me on this.

I think it started in the 90s but am unsure about precise time.

"Free Will" is a knife that cuts both ways, sadly it is much the wat divorce works in our day and age. Does the letter require someone to at least discuss it with their Bishop? I know once done it is a hard road back.

[Damien the Leper]

"Free Will" is a knife that cuts both ways, sadly it is much the wat divorce works in our day and age. Does the letter require someone to at least discuss it with their Bishop? I know once done it is a hard road back.

I was under the impression that the road back after resignation is similar to that of excommunication. A SP that I know said that the candidate would have to be rebaptized and then a year later all their blessings would be restored. However, getting to the point of rebaptism is probably the most difficult. Good luck to anyone who decides to make this effort.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I was under the impression that the road back after resignation is similar to that of excommunication. A SP that I know said that the candidate would have to be rebaptized and then a year later all their blessings would be restored. However, getting to the point of rebaptism is probably the most difficult. Good luck to anyone who decides to make this effort.

It is a serious matter. I think the idea is to impress upon those seeking re- baptism, is to not end up at the same crossroad again. In short so people do not end up under obligations they cannot keep; "unto whom much is given, much is required".

[Damien the Leper]

It is a serious matter. I think the idea is to impress upon those seeking re- baptism, is to not end up at the same crossroad again. In short so people do not end up under obligations they cannot keep; "unto whom much is given, much is required".

It makes sense. It is serious because we're talking about life commitments that one has to accept as important and/or redemptive in nature. I couldn't commit because I can't and don't believe anymore but I wish others on their path back the best.

[Buzzard]

If memory serves, the process used to be more informal, it was not unusual for bishops to sit on a resignation letter to see if the person followed up. During the Ed Decker era, someone crafted a letter written by an attorney that basically said do what I tell you to or I will sue. When the internet came along, they posted it and it kind of turned into a form letter for resigning.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

It makes sense. It is serious because we're talking about life commitments that one has to accept as important and/or redemptive in nature. I couldn't commit because I can't and don't believe anymore but I wish others on their path back the best.

The fact that you wish others well speaks well of you. Don't close that door completely, leave it partially open some some light can shine in...you may feel like you know longer believe in God, but he believes in you, as do I, my friend.

[Damien the Leper]

The fact that you wish others well speaks well of you. Don't close that door completely, leave it partially open some some light can shine in...you may feel like you know longer believe in God, but he believes in you, as do I, my friend.

I've heard this invitation before and I appreciate it. I really do. But I can't believe in something that no longer makes sense to me. The best I can do is be sensitive to the spiritual needs of others. A religious life no longer works for me. It became too overbearing. I felt as though I was suffocating.

Thank you for your concern nonetheless.

[Saints Alive]

...But I can't believe in something that no longer makes sense to me...

I think you just highlighted the difference between those who do and don't believe... Willingness to accept and believe things that don't make sense. I don't think planetary orbits or gravity make sense but I accept their reality.

[DH]

There's a difference between resigning and being excommunicated. When a person resigns, they choose to leave the Church. When a person is excommunicated, the Church boots them out. Technically, when a person resigns, excommunication is not necessary, because having resigned, the person is no longer a member of the Church, and how can you excommunicate someone who's not a member?

However, I recognize that the Church often has its own way of doing things, and in the past may have convened disciplinary councils for people who were resigning. I don't know all the history, but I suspect that people who were resigning from the Church didn't want all the trouble of a church court, and started writing letters in order to avoid all the face-to-face discussions that go with that.

[Saints Alive]

I don't know all the history, but I suspect that people who were resigning from the Church didn't want all the trouble of a church court, and started writing letters in order to avoid all the face-to-face discussions that go with that.

Actually they didn't want the stigma of being "excommunicated" when they left of their own free will.

[DH]

Actually they didn't want the stigma of being "excommunicated" when they left of their own free will.

I wouldn't attribute the same motives to every person who resigns from the Church, but yes, I agree with you that some people might do it in order to avoid the stigma. But I still think that others who leave the Church see no point in going through the church court process. I mean, why bother with all that, when it is sufficient to simply tell Church leaders you resign?

Edited October 14, 2012 by DH

[Stargazer]

When I resigned, I had to mail or deliver a copy of my letter of resignation to my former bishop. He didn't ask questions as to why I was doing so nor did he try to encourage me to rethink my decision. I have a great deal of respect for him for giving me that courtesy. He then sent the letter to SLC and within 2 weeks I received confirmation that all information concerning me was removed and disposed of. IOW, I impressed on SLC to not hold onto any documentation concerning me with exception to the primary sources being other family members. As of now, it is as if I was never a member of the church. I took this extra measure so as to avoid any unnecessary or unwanted visits from other members of the ward.

I believe it is customary (and may be an actual policy) that the bishop verify that the person who apparently sent the letter actually did in fact send it and does in fact want their name removed. One of the bishops of our ward years and years ago received such a letter from a member whom he had known well while growing up and could not bear to take action on it -- action was later taken by the next bishop. I guess that first bishop's reluctance was understandable (hey, both the bishop and the one who resigned were friends of mine, so I can understand it, at least).

I have come to a state of peace over one of my sons who may have had his name removed (as a part of joining his wife's church), since one may reverse course on the name removal without a great deal of difficulty, just a delay. I don't know if he had his name removed because I don't want to know, and he hasn't said anything about it. In this case ignorance is at least a small amount of blliss.

[Stargazer]

There's a difference between resigning and being excommunicated. When a person resigns, they choose to leave the Church. When a person is excommunicated, the Church boots them out. Technically, when a person resigns, excommunication is not necessary, because having resigned, the person is no longer a member of the Church, and how can you excommunicate someone who's not a member?

However, I recognize that the Church often has its own way of doing things, and in the past may have convened disciplinary councils for people who were resigning. I don't know all the history, but I suspect that people who were resigning from the Church didn't want all the trouble of a church court, and started writing letters in order to avoid all the face-to-face discussions that go with that.

No, I can confirm the earlier post that indicated that the church instituted the resignation process in response to a lawsuit over "excommunication". I recall that very clearly.