Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

Churches prone to disfellowshipping often seem to have a resident Torquemada - an elder, or maybe a deacon who is eager to move up to elder - who ferrets around for signs of members who don't strictly adhere to the congregation's party line. They see it as protecting the flock from grievous wolves; ...

When I think about all the families that the CoC has ripped apart due to their ridiculous disfellowship rules or other nonsense, it makes me sick. I often wonder how many people are still in the CoC out of total fear of leaving because of stuff like this. I also think it's kind of funny how most of...

My cousin's childhood congregation had a situation where there was a daughter living as a caregiver with an elderly, disabled mother - daughter was disfellowshipped for forsaking the assembly...mother still considered member in good standing, although she hadn't been in the assembly for a couple of ...

B.H. wrote:What would all of you do if I tried to disfellowship you?

Send you a certified letter stating we could no longer fellowship you over lunch at the Old Country Buffet.

Oh yes, enough times that I can't remember how many. As KLP notes, often it was for "forsaking the assembly", and would be read after someone had been gone for a year or longer. The elder in charge of reading the letter would always make sure that the congregation knew the erring sinner ha...

Welcome. Never Again is right, sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised at family functions, but being prepared with a calm redirecting statement is a great idea, too.

Welcome. Yes, those old issues can pop up from time to time, even when you think you've got a good handle on it. I've got my FB feed down to just those people who I genuinely want to interact with...there are very few family members on it, by the way.

That darn slippery slope! Apropos of discussion on polygamous marriages: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/ ... 19469.html

I am personally quite happy with the supreme court's decision. Although, I did have to listen to the preacher at my family's church bluster about the evils of homosexuality and kind of endorse taking up arms against the government in response. Don't he realize that tha gub'mint beareth not the swor...

They have nearly completely taken over the town of Provincetown. I have also had similar experiences downtown Chicago on Michigan Ave. next to WGN. They show up in large groups (like a flash mob) and verbally get in your face. Also, in most cases they were nearly totally nude, wearing leather speed...