GracieLou

Well, the Stake President's secretary called today to cancel our appointment for a week from Sunday. He said someone would get back to me to reschedule.....I thought he would be the one to reschedule...I really hope he does call back. Gracie

That is good advice :) I am only saying that there are times when the Bishop's way may not be the Lord's way, due to human weakness. More often than not though, the Bishop's way IS the Lord's way, though we may not see it at the time. Gracie

I disagree - in some cases. Every bishop and member is different. We like to think that all bishops are called of God and never make any mistakes and are well suited to their calling. I would like to say that in the vast majority of cases this is true. However, by the mere fact that bishops are also human they do have the ability to err. Sometimes it is not a matter of being confornted with something we don't understand or like. Sometimes it is a matter of actually having a bishop be not fit for the position in one way or another. We all bring our human weaknesses to the table - even church leaders. I am not just hearing something I do not understand or like. The fact is that due to other things that I really cannot mention here, I do not trust this bishop at all. This is the first time that this has happened to me. I am meeting with the Stake President soon so hopefully it is all a misunderstanding and can be resolved. If I need to wait a year then that is what I will do. But I want to be able to trust such a decision and the person giving it. Anyone who trusts another person BLINDLY - no matter who they are is not using their God given brains. Gracie

Thanks :)

It sounds a bit ironic that a decision I made based on fear and pain would keep me awy from the church longer than comitting a serious sin worthy of excommunication:( go figure.... Will be talking to stake president a week from Sunday about all this... Gracie

this is from page 187 of the church handbook. I never had the 30 day option. I wish I had. I changed my mind almost immediately and notified the Stake President. No response. Removing Names from Church Membership Records file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/pphillips/Desktop/tmp/chi99.htm (158 of 200)5/7/2008 2:40:55 PM Church Handbook of Instructions An adult member who wishes to have his or her name removed from the membership records of the Church must send the bishop a written, signed request (not a form letter). A request that Church representatives not visit a member is not sufficient to initiate this action. The bishop makes sure that a member who requests name removal understands the consequences: it cancels the effects of baptism and confirmation, withdraws the priesthood held by a male member, and revokes temple blessings. The bishop also explains that a person can be readmitted to the Church by baptism only after a thorough interview (see "Readmission after Name Removal" on this page). If the bishop is satisfied that the member understands these consequences and is not likely to be dissuaded, he completes a Report of Administrative Action form and forwards it to the stake president. The bishop forwards the member's written request and membership record with the form. If members of the stake presidency concur after reviewing the matter, they ask the bishop to send the member a letter stating that his or her name is being removed from the records of the Church as requested. The letter should state the consequences of name removal. It also should state that the request for name removal can be rescinded only if the member sends the stake president a written request for recision within 30 days (the stake president's name and address should be included). If the stake president does not receive such a request, he submits the completed Report of Administrative Action form and other documents requested on the form. Instructions for submittal are on the form. The person's name is then removed from the membership records of the Church.

WONDERFUL explanation! Thank you very much :) For me it was a matter of two days that I realized that I had made a mistake. I had a personal trauma going on and that is why I left. I felt there was nobody who cared at all. I sent my request via email and they processed it in less than 48 hours. THere was no cooling off period at all. The bishop did not try and talk to me and neither did the stake president or any other members who knew what was going on. Iblame nobody but myself, but I hear that other people get a "come back" type of pamphlet in the mail and that there is a mandatory waiting period of 30 days before processing the request in case someone does change their mind. Sure wish I had the pamphlet and time to think about it. I was hurting terribly and acted on the pain not the faith. Oh well. Onward I go :) Gracie

I guess that is not true in all cases. That is why I am asking the question. A family member was rebaptised a mere few months after requestiong to get rebaptised.....Which obviously means that is not the same in all cases. Now I DID hear that it was required to wait a year for re baptism if you had been excommunicated but I was NOT excommunicated or diciplined in any way. THat is why I am confused. Gracie

Thank you for your response :) I am not concerned about whether he is worthy. I chose to leave the church for personal reasons and I did not do anything to m make myself less worthy than I was the day I was originally baptized. When we first met he started out by calling me by my first name and did not like it when I said that if he used my first name (instead of Sister so and so) then I would call him by his first name. He did not like that. In 19 years I have NEVER had abishop address me by my first name. Anyway, this is the only thing that could have rubbed hime the wrong way and I do not see how that makes me such a trouble case that I need to wait a year ~with no explanation~! He won't tell me why he wants me to wait a year - that is the problem. If he gave me a reason so that I could work on whatever he saw as a problem then I would understand. I just really wanted to know what the required/standar waiting time was. He intimated that everyone waits at least a year. I know that is not true because I have a family member who was rebabptised a mere few months after her request to return. THanks again for your response - Gracie

THank you :) I understand that the bishop has discression insuch matters, I just wanted to know what the church handbook had to say or what the official word was. The bishop in this case has made it abundantly clear that he does not want to bother with this again for a year, which seems to me a little bit "off". If I actually trusted his judgement (previous problems cause the distrust) I would have no problem with the year. However, I believe that he is doing this to punish me on a personal level. No I am not paranoid; he has done this to tohers before.... I honestly haveno idea how he became bishop. The previous bishop was awesome! Gracie

Hello - I was wondering if anyone here knew of the OFFICIALchurch teaching regarding my question. My question is: How long must one wait to be rebaptized after voluntarily leaving the church? I had my name removed from church records and have since realized that I wish I hadn't:). My bishop (who is a newbie bishop) says that I MUST wait one year from the time I decided to rejoin. All the information I can find seems to indicate that this year long waiting period is only required when one has been excommunicated, which I definately was not! Can anyone shed any light on the actual REQUIRED waiting time? Gracie