Termination of membership: Withdrawal

305

(1) Voluntary withdrawal.

575. When any member shall request a letter of transfer to another Wesleyan church, the pastor and local church secretary shall grant it on the proper form as given in 6000–6020 providing the member is neither under discipline nor under charges. Both pastor and secretary shall sign the letter, and shall forward it to the pastor and local church secretary of the church to which the member is transferring. The letter shall be presented to the local board of administration of the receiving church at its next session, but not later than thirty days from the date of issuance, and acted upon in the manner indicated in 578. When the member has been duly received, the second part of the form shall be completed by the receiving church and forwarded to the church granting the transfer. The date the returned letter is received shall mark the expiration of membership in the church granting the letter, and in the official membership record the local church secretary shall enter opposite the member’s name: the date and "Withdrawn by letter of transfer." 585

(1) Voluntary withdrawal (see also 553:3).

590. When any member requests a letter of recommendation to some other denomination, the pastor and local church secretary shall grant it on the proper form provided in 6030 if the member is neither under discipline nor under charges. Such a person’s membership in the local church granting the letter shall cease immediately, and the secretary shall enter opposite the member’s name: the date and "Withdrawn by letter of recommendation." 592. When any member requests a letter of withdrawal, the pastor and local church secretary shall grant it on the proper form provided in 6040. The secretary shall enter on the record book (610), opposite the member’s name, the date the letter was granted and "Withdrawn by letter of withdrawal." If the member’s request occurs during the course of a judicial investigation, the secretary shall note on the membership record, "Withdrawn under accusation," and if withdrawal occurs during the course of a hearing, "Withdrawn under charges." 595. When any member joins another denomination, or other religious body exercising the functions of a church, no hearing is necessary to remove such a member. The pastor, having investigated and ascertained the facts, shall report the same to the next session of the local board of administration, and upon the board’s order the local church secretary shall enter opposite the member’s name the date of the session and "Withdrawn having joined another body." 5048. Whenever in the course of an investigation or hearing, the accused person shall request a letter of withdrawal from the Church, the same shall be granted and the matter shall end. It shall be noted on the membership records of the local church, and, when the accused is a minister, on the membership record of the district, as “withdrawn under accusation” whenever such request is during the investigation, and “withdrawn under charges” when such request is during the hearing (cf. Disc. 592). 6040. Letter Given to Person Desiring to Withdraw from the Church (592; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5048).

This certifies that ____________, the bearer, has been up to this date a member of the ______________ Wesleyan Church, and being desirous of withdrawing from said Church, is hereby declared to be withdrawn.

By authority and in behalf of the ______________ Wesleyan Church, this ______ day of __________, AD ________.

________________________ Pastor ________________________ Local Church Secretary

_______________________
^{(It is understood that this letter of withdrawal terminates the bearer’s membership in The Wesleyan Church immediately.)}