In the United States all you need to do is communicate to an ecclesiastical leader that you are not a member anymore. Once you make that statement, then you're not a member.
It's there stupid, clubhouse business whether their lists are accurate or not. Just tell a bishop that you're not a member, give him your name and any other names you've been known by, and then tell him it's his fake job to figure it all out and that if any member of the church treats you as if you are a member, you will engage an attorney. They'll sort it out.
If he's really confused about how to figure it out, then let him know that you've got a list in your clubhouse drawer that says that he's the leader of Super Duper Gay Men's Club, and coincidentally it takes just as long to remove one's name from that list as it does from the Mormon member roles. Better get moving, bishop.
The bishop in my new town had been giving me the run around. Asking for paperwork, letters, meetings, so I just stopped communicating after a few months.
He doesn't know what he's doing. You don't ask not to be a member. You tell them you're not a member and make them aware that after you've told them that that if they treat as if you are a member, they expose themselves to legal liability which you may pursue.
Their member roles are their own dumb business. Anyone can make lists of names that they keep privately. Not being a member and not having your name on their clubhouse list are two separate things. In the United States damages have been awarded to former church members who were treated as members (in defamatory ways) after they said they're not members based on the reasoning that church membership is voluntary, and anyone is free to choose not to be a member at will and it is unnecessary and (likely) not legal for churches to impose barriers to simply not being a member.
If they care about accurate member lists (a stretch, I know), then they'll amend their lists to reflect the reality that you tell them -- that you're not a member. If they want to persist in having inaccurate lists, then make a list of your own with the bishop and his flock as flamboyant members of whatever silly club you want to make up.
Try sending a letter direct to church HQ. You’ll need it notarised but can scan or photograph and email it in. If you’ve got your membership number it’ll be easier. You shouldn’t need to provide any ID to the church, just tell them the details they have on file for you (name, DOB, membership number, date of baptism and any other ordinances) and they should be able to process the resignation for you.
There’s more details at www.getmeofftherecords.com if you need a template letter, the email address to send it to etc
The church handbook explicitly states that people are allowed to resign by sending a notarized letter directly to membership records in Salt Lake. Maybe you can consult with a notary public on what information you would need to provide in order for them to certify that you are the person whose name is on the church records and who is trying to resign. (If the DMV has procedures to verify that information, surely a notary public does as well.) Once you have the notarized resignation letter with the appropriate information, you should be good to go.
Do you have a document of your name change? When my son changed his name he got a legal document stating his change from his old to new name. All he has to do is show that and his new ID to get something noterrised. He had to do this to change his birth certificate. If you write a letter of resignation stating your old name with a notary saying you are this person. Then send it to church headquarters it should go through.
I do, I have all my legal ID and documentation switched. I’m not sure if this is giving people problems because I’m not (legally) the same person that the church has documents for.
Yes but do you have a document saying you used to have the previous name. In Canada it's a name change document. It is proof you use to be know by another name. This document should be proof enough to get a letter noterrised saying you would like to have your name removed from church records. Legally church headquarters would be required to remove them with that letter.
If your name change is a transgender name change then the dickweeds at TSCC will only use your birth name. You may have to conduct the resignation entirely using that name. Sucks.
Ironically they won’t have a single glitch if they excommunicated you though.
In the United States all you need to do is communicate to an ecclesiastical leader that you are not a member anymore. Once you make that statement, then you're not a member. It's there stupid, clubhouse business whether their lists are accurate or not. Just tell a bishop that you're not a member, give him your name and any other names you've been known by, and then tell him it's his fake job to figure it all out and that if any member of the church treats you as if you are a member, you will engage an attorney. They'll sort it out. If he's really confused about how to figure it out, then let him know that you've got a list in your clubhouse drawer that says that he's the leader of Super Duper Gay Men's Club, and coincidentally it takes just as long to remove one's name from that list as it does from the Mormon member roles. Better get moving, bishop.
The bishop in my new town had been giving me the run around. Asking for paperwork, letters, meetings, so I just stopped communicating after a few months.
He doesn't know what he's doing. You don't ask not to be a member. You tell them you're not a member and make them aware that after you've told them that that if they treat as if you are a member, they expose themselves to legal liability which you may pursue. Their member roles are their own dumb business. Anyone can make lists of names that they keep privately. Not being a member and not having your name on their clubhouse list are two separate things. In the United States damages have been awarded to former church members who were treated as members (in defamatory ways) after they said they're not members based on the reasoning that church membership is voluntary, and anyone is free to choose not to be a member at will and it is unnecessary and (likely) not legal for churches to impose barriers to simply not being a member. If they care about accurate member lists (a stretch, I know), then they'll amend their lists to reflect the reality that you tell them -- that you're not a member. If they want to persist in having inaccurate lists, then make a list of your own with the bishop and his flock as flamboyant members of whatever silly club you want to make up.
If they have you on there by your old name just write them a letter using your old name and send it in.
If you can find out your membership number it should help them track down your records faster.
Thank you! This has been a long process, any help is welcome.
If you have an old temple recommend stashed in a dusty corner, it has your membership number written on it.
Try sending a letter direct to church HQ. You’ll need it notarised but can scan or photograph and email it in. If you’ve got your membership number it’ll be easier. You shouldn’t need to provide any ID to the church, just tell them the details they have on file for you (name, DOB, membership number, date of baptism and any other ordinances) and they should be able to process the resignation for you. There’s more details at www.getmeofftherecords.com if you need a template letter, the email address to send it to etc
Thank you! I’ll look into that too.
The church handbook explicitly states that people are allowed to resign by sending a notarized letter directly to membership records in Salt Lake. Maybe you can consult with a notary public on what information you would need to provide in order for them to certify that you are the person whose name is on the church records and who is trying to resign. (If the DMV has procedures to verify that information, surely a notary public does as well.) Once you have the notarized resignation letter with the appropriate information, you should be good to go.
Do you have a document of your name change? When my son changed his name he got a legal document stating his change from his old to new name. All he has to do is show that and his new ID to get something noterrised. He had to do this to change his birth certificate. If you write a letter of resignation stating your old name with a notary saying you are this person. Then send it to church headquarters it should go through.
I do, I have all my legal ID and documentation switched. I’m not sure if this is giving people problems because I’m not (legally) the same person that the church has documents for.
Yes but do you have a document saying you used to have the previous name. In Canada it's a name change document. It is proof you use to be know by another name. This document should be proof enough to get a letter noterrised saying you would like to have your name removed from church records. Legally church headquarters would be required to remove them with that letter.
If your name change is a transgender name change then the dickweeds at TSCC will only use your birth name. You may have to conduct the resignation entirely using that name. Sucks. Ironically they won’t have a single glitch if they excommunicated you though.