Thinking of Changing My Denomination? Have You Ever?

Yup. I sure did.

Switching faiths was not really the challenge for me. I knew how much better I felt in the new environment. I had a harder time accepting that others in my family might not understand. In fact, when my husband and I were dating, we had near-violent discussions while we worked to understand each other's viewpoints. You see, he'd been raised in one faith and one church his entire life and he had a really hard time understanding, at first, that it really is okay to seek your path wherever it may be.

Once he got comfortable with that idea, though, he started participating in my activities because he felt drawn to it. I NEVER tried to draw him in, for the record. I don't believe in proselytizing, if you want to get right down to it.

Now he's switched too, his parents know, my parents know, they don't get it, they've asked how we plan to raise our kids outside of the family's traditions, but they aren't bothering us about it either so we're all very respectful when our beliefs differ.

Anyway, once we had kids, we did a lot of research and questioning about what we wanted our family to look like and started a search for the perfect family home community. We haven't quite found it, but we're happy where we are for now.

Good luck. I firmly believe that you need to be where your spirit sings. The higher powers want that too, if anyone's asking my opinion.

I just went to various services until I found a place I felt at home, then inquired of the pastor what was involved in the process of joining the church. Some churches require classes, others require nothing more than signing a membership card.

We changed...

Hubby grew up in the Catholic church, I grew up in the United Church of Christ (also sometimes called "Congregational").

When we married, we usually went to my church, but he also went to Mass. We moved to Iowa, and found a Congregational Church there. When we were transferred to Texas, there weren't many Congregational/UCC churches down south, so we started shopping.

We also found the Methodist church.... we really liked the activities they had for children. Hubby also joined this church, also, much to the dismay of his M..

We've been with the same Methodist church for 19 years, now.

Do what YOU need for your religious home..... I would hope that your family would be happy that you are still involved with a church!

We've told our kids it doesn't matter what church.... they need to find what fits them.

Religion is a deeply personal thing. No one has the right to take you from your personal path. I understand that with a grandfather who is a minister you have probably been raised to believe that Luthern is the only way to go. But if this is not satisfying and fulfilling for you then it's perfectly okay for you to look for the satisfaction and fulfillment you need.
I would contact the paster of the church you have been attending and ask his advice.

How do you change? You just start going to that church. I have never heard of taking classes to 'switch' except for Catholicism and Judaism. You can always attend the adult classes the church offers, but you don't HAVE too. I was baptized Catholic, but I attend Methodist w/ my husband. I have never taken a class or even asked to take one. It is your journey.......take the leap and follow your heart. Ask how you can be involved and meet with the pastor and go from there.... Blessings to you!

Hi,

My experience changing denominations? I'm so glad I did!

I grew up in the Roman Catholic church, including parochial schools through high school, so I went through lots of denomination-specific religious education. My family went through periods of regular church attendance and periods of holiday-only attendance. We never talked about anything spiritual, rarely prayed outside of church, and God was never a topic of conversation.

In college, I had a bit of a crisis over what my religious identity was. I hand't gone to a Catholic church in over a year, and I didn't miss it. I started asking myself questions, nothing too serious, but questions. Meanwhile, I met a guy. Dated the guy. He was a Christian, and church and spiritual growth were VERY important to him. Eventually, he convinced me to go to his nondenominational college church (that met in a junior high auditorium). I felt incredibly out of place and uncomfortable, but other people kept trying to put me at ease. The service was cool, using popular music as an outreach tool, and the pastor's message was very relevant. After services, people ate meals together and talked about their lives. Their lives included God.

The next week, I tried the local Catholic church. No one spoke to me. Everyone went to their pews, fulfilled their obligation and left. That brought a whole new group of questions.

Eventually, I made a decision for Christ (I'd missed that important step during all my education). I chose the nondenominational church as my home. I talked about God. I read the Bible. I started to grow spiritually after 22 years of going through the motions. I married the guy. The hardest part was my family. They felt like I was abandoning something that identified me with them. Not a spiritual problem, a label. They worried I was joining a cult. They always became quiet when I mentioned going to church. And by now they've accepted it.

In the end, I'm glad I made the change. I can go back to a Catholic church and find the spiritual messages I missed all those years ago. The legalism there still bothers me, but the gospel message is there, and that's the important part. I don't take communion there because my husband isn't allowed to as a non-Catholic. I'm raising my daughters to love God. That's more important than the labels.

Find your church home. Find people who understand and share your desire for spiritual growth! God's a big boy. He can handle it. :)

When I was young my M. took us to a church. It was called Assembly of God, but Im not sure what denomination it was.. It was fine for a while and then some strange stuff happened and we switched to a baptist church. It was fine until I decided to not attend church at all (teenager years). I married in that building because it was the last place I had attended and my M. still did. Then years later, I started going to a non-denominational church and enjoyed it for years. Things happend that made me really question my motives for going and the other peoples motive for wanting me to be there so I stopped going. Im still a Christian, still a believer, still worship God, but dont attend a church building. It has nothing to do with the denomination of a church group, but your faith and belief in God. If you enjoy, need, seek out that fellowship with others, lets say on Sunday mornings, then you can attend any church that makes you feel uplifted, secure in your faith, and helps build your knowledge and love for Christ. If they promote salvation and the word of God in the Bible and that is whats important for you, then you attend. Its a personal decision but shouldnt be made by the name of the denomination they call themselves. You just walk in and sit down and see what they do, how the service runs and if the people are loving and give a sense of fellowship to you. I attended a church for the first time several years ago. I did not hide in the back and try to go unnoticed. Not one person came up to me to say hello. No one asked if I was new. no one even made eye contact with me as I tried. They were all so rude I had a good feeling this was NOT the church body for me. You need to go where you feel welcomed and loved and can learn more about and grow your faith.

Changing denominations isn't a huge deal. You can transfer your membership from the Lutheran if you want or just let it lapse.
LBC

I grew up in the Baptist church. I was not really raised any religion but a friend invited me when I was in 4th grade and I started going. Stayed with that until highschool when I pretty much just stopped going anywhere. When I met my husband we "shopped" around churches. He was raised lutheran. I was pretty much set against that as I was not comfortable with a female pastor. (sorry don't mean to offend anyone just my own thing) My husband had converted to the catholic church for his first marriage. So after trying a bunch of others we went to the catholic church. I went into the first mass and felt like I had come home. Sort of like wow why did I stay away so long which was weird as I had not been raised that. But I did switch took the classes and converted. Not sure if Methodist has the classes etc like the catholic church but you could find out on the website. Or just ask your friend.

I think the first step is normally to talk with the pastor of the church you're going to. Sometimes there are group classes, sometimes it's one on one sessions. I think it's normally a pretty straight forward process.

You'll still be a Christian. What is the big deal. Everyone once they grow up has to be in the religion of their heart. If you were converting it might be something to agonize over. You will remain a Protestant. You must be comfortable in the church you choose. If you are happy among the Methodists for all good sense go there. Believe me The Holy One does not care where you worship.

i grew up presbyterian and am now in the process of joining the episcopalian church. similarly to your story, i wasn't feeling connected to the pres. church the way i had previously, resulting in a dramatic decline in my investment and motivation to be involved. after a pretty extensive church search, i found a episcopalian church that truly spoke to me. i believe god wants us to feel fed and nourished in whatever church community serves our needs. it i is about our faith being fed, not about the a specific denomination. good luck.

I would talk with the pastor. I've never changed religions, but I've changed parishes. Our church has an office with pretty knowledgeable staff and are always helpful when I have questions.

Simple... talk to the Pastor/Reverend/Minister for the church you wish to switch to.

We have changed when we have moved and do not find it to be a big deal. Different churches have different ways to join, so talk the pastor at the one you want to attend. You may have transfer or resign you current membership just as a courtesy.

I changed denominations, twice in fact. I changed from the denomination I was raised and then several years later I changed back to that denomination. Both times it was simple, only a matter of attending the church and getting to know the people. I took some classes for about 2 months, then one Sunday stood up with the minister and the church publicly voted (by saying Amen) that they accepted me as a member. A short time later is I went through the baptism ceremony.

When I changed back to my original denomination I realized that no denomination fit exactly what my own personal beliefs are. It is okay to not agree 100% with your denomination or your church. Personally I do not think that any one religion has it all right. In the end your salvation depends on you, not the beliefs and way of doing things within your denomination and church.

It is important to feel comfortable in your church and denomination, and to continue to grow spiritually, but I think that has more to do with the individual than the denomination or congregation.