How Many Churches Can I Join?

Some people do not belong to any churches. Yet some people belong to Multiple Churches. You will remind me that we all belong to more than one Church. But how many Church memberships can I have?

When we ask what the Church is, it is often defined as a Denomination, Congregation or Building. The Explanation to the Small Catechism even says there are Visible and Invisible Churches. But how many can I be a part of?

I do not think you are some kind of building material or wish to be buried in the wall or floor of your church. So we will have to exclude the Building itself. Next we have congregations. People join congregations and these congregations even may have different levels of membership. So you can belong.

Denominations generally speaking are groups of congregations that join together. They may join together for different reasons but their membership is as far as I am concerned only Congregations not individuals. Thus, unless you are group of people you are not an actual member.

Next we get this Invisible and Visible nonsense. So I am not going to about that here but I want to get back to How many Congregations can I Join.

Over the years I have joined several Congregations. I was Baptized in one. Then grew up in another. I was confirmed in a Third. Now I wonder where my membership is. When I moved my membership transferred after me. But what if I didn't transfer it. Would I belong to three different Churches.

What happens when I change denominations? Do I get to belong to multiple Congregations? Thoughts should vary because practices vary. God tells us we are either his or not his, but where do we belong. When you move or join another congregation you should make sure to remove your name from your previous Congregation(s).

You belong to the Congregation you attend or to the congregation you confess with or believe what that church believes. I would tell you attendance indicates membership but so also does confession. The church you attend will teach you what they confess. Thus, your belief will change the longer you attend that congregation whether it grows or weakens. But you can not attend multiple Churches at the same time. Maybe I go to one service at 8:30 and another at 10:30 but which one will define you. You will be molded and help mold others in one congregation and that should be where your membership is.

Note a congregation is any group of people that gathers and discusses theology. Not attending a Church on Sunday indicates that you are joining another Congregation.

Thank you for Reading this.

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