Helping People Leave the Church Well
The Church Covenant, written by J. Newton Brown in 1853, was one of the most widely used covenants for Baptist churches in America after the Civil War. Like many previous ones, it summarized much of the New Testament’s teaching on what life together in the church should be. But the Covenant encompassed more than just one’s involvement in that particular church. Rather, it involved the rest of one’s life.
“We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God’s Word.”
This reflects the Christian conviction that following Christ is a life-long commitment. If our belonging to a local church is a visible sign of our belonging to Christ, then a normal part of our discipleship should involve, as far as possible, being part of a church for the rest of our lives. Baptist churches reflected this belief in how they cared for members not only as they came in but also as they went out. We see these convictions played out in the remarkable ministry of C. H. Spurgeon.
Spurgeon pastored a transient population in London in the 19th century. As much as they loved his preaching, his church members often needed to move to another city, or even country, for work, family, and all kinds of other reasons. Over the 38 years of ministry, Spurgeon took in almost 14,000 people into membership. Even more impressively, he removed 9,281 people from membership. In other words, Spurgeon worked hard to ensure that the membership rolls accurately reflected who was regularly attending and removing those who had left. What are some lessons we can learn for how to help members leave the church well?
Involve the congregation
In the case of Metropolitan Tabernacle, the congregation approved every membership removal (except for deaths). This meant that a significant portion of each congregational meeting was taken with reading letters of transfer and resignation and voting to accept them.
“On receipt of application from any church for a transfer, the letter is read to the church, with the detailed account from our books, giving a brief but complete history of the case, when and how received, the attendance of the person while a member with us, and reasons for seeking removal. The church is then advised to authorize the usual letter of dismission to be sent.”
This reinforced the belief that, ultimately, every member is accountable to the church’s authority. It is the congregation that approves every addition, and it is the congregation that approves every removal. There were no shortcuts that enabled one to bypass that accountability. This also reinforced the need for the elders and the congregation to look after their members. The Tabernacle implemented a system of communion tickets that helped the elders keep track of members who had not attended for several months so that they could pursue them for pastoral care. In those cases, church members were often pulled into caring for those who needed help.
Encourage departed members to join other churches
At the same time, Spurgeon did not want to make it hard for people to leave the church. In general, if a member had left and found another gospel-preaching church, the elders were happy to recommend that the congregation accept those resignations. If someone was struggling to attend the Tabernacle due to distance or any number of reasons, Spurgeon much preferred that they would find another gospel-preaching church where they could happily be involved. “We much prefer commending our brethren to the fellowship of other churches, where they may be of service, than to have them linger out a merely nominal connection with us.” In cases where people were walking in unrepentant sin or with some serious unresolved conflict, there might be reason to slow down their departure to help walk with them towards repentance. However, in most cases, pastors would do well to be gracious towards those who desire to leave, entrusting them to the Lord and another church that will take up the baton in caring for them.
Use departures to give people a bigger vision of God’s kingdom
With all these removals, it can be easy for a congregation to become discouraged. Spurgeon, however, saw them as teaching opportunities. The kingdom was bigger than any one church. Every member was a temporary stewardship until death or the Lord moved them elsewhere. If they went elsewhere, then the Lord will use whatever good they’ve gained in your church to bless a church elsewhere. As so many of the members departed for distant lands, Spurgeon reflected.
“For my part, I thank God for the many whom we lose by emigration. I am glad that some friends have gone to America… Salt ought not to be kept in a box; it is meant to be rubbed into the meat, and Christians are intended to be scattered all over the carcass of this world, to salt it all, and act with purifying and preserving power in every place.”
Many of his former members would go on not only to be members but elders, deacons, and even pastors of other churches all over England and beyond. As much as it grieved them to see dear brothers and sisters depart, Spurgeon taught his congregation to rejoice in knowing that the kingdom was being strengthened.
“If your brethren and sisters are gone where they can be more useful, God speed them! Freely and cheerfully let them go. A heart that should try to keep all the blood within itself would be no source of life to the body; nay, it could not itself live; but the heart that continually pumps in the blood and then pumps it out again, is the one that is serving its proper purpose. That is how churches should do; let them not be parsimonious, but rather prodigal in the cause of God.”
Conclusion
Churches these days place a lot of emphasis on church growth and adding new members to the church. Insofar as that comes from our desire to be fruitful in the work of the gospel, that is a good thing. At the same time, we must recognize that every new member is a temporary stewardship, not a permanent possession. While they are with us, we should strive to ensure that they grow in the Christian walk, are involved in relationships, and are engaged in the church’s ministry. And when their time with us should come to an end, rather than being territorial about our members or letting them “linger out a merely nominal connection,” we should help them transition well to other churches. Don’t try to hang on to sheep that have moved on to other flocks, but “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2), and look forward to the chief Shepherd who will bring his reward.
©2023 Geoffrey Chang. Used with permission.
About The Author

Geoffrey Chang
Geoffrey Chang is assistant professor of historical theology and curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. He is the editor and author of Spurgeon the Pastor.