We got kicked out of church ?!?

[wittzo]

She's not going back on Wednesday so I figured it would be okay to re-post it.

Magnolia has been going to Tupelo's First Presbyterian Church for more than two years. She joined them not long after we got married and became a member of their Fellowship committee and various other committees. We have been to dinner parties with several of the committee members. I thought we were close friends with several people there. A few months ago, the “lady” who is the head of the various children's committees asked Magnolia not to bring the kids to church any more because they are so “disruptive”.

I don't care what anyone thinks of me on this forum. It is a “persona”, it isn't me in real life.
In person, I am polite to strangers. I don't let my hair down until I know someone a bit better.
My kids are extremely polite, they say “please” and “thank you”; “ma'am” and “sir”.

Magnolia and I receive compliments all the time about how well behaved our kids are. They only rip and run when they are around other kids that rip and run.

There are kids at our church that my parents (or we) would have dragged out and beaten, but their parents don't say anything to them or attempt to control them, even when they do stuff like crawl under the pews. During the sermons, the worst thing that comes out of our kids is a sneeze or cough.

Two of the children are ADHD and are taking meds for it. The other three are extremely mellow, they don't get into anything unless someone else is doing something. They are just fitting in, our kids aren't doing anything that anyone else's kids are doing.

Magnolia has been a member of several committees in the past, she's been going just for handbell practice. I have spoken with the head of the Fellowship Committee about it. She broke down into tears, but nothing has been done about it. Magnolia told some people that Wednesday night was her last night at the church after she plays handbells. Some of the people from the children's committees actually told her that they thought it was a good idea that she not bring the kids or come any more.

They talk about how their membership is declining and getting older, then they kick out seven members for no reason at all.

It's not because we don't live in Saltillo, surely it's not because we make less money.

All I know is that Magnolia's heart is broken, the kids are upset, and I'm extremely angry about it. The only thing I can think of doing is to go to church this Sunday and stand up to announce how sorry they are.

[jaykay]

Magnolia has a right to be p;oed They want kids to be good little christians but don;t want them in church. Thats not right. Hang in there magnolia and witt this is the church;s bad deed not yours.And i would tell anyone who would listen. It just isn;t right.

[rockinrickus]

Hey witt, even though we haven't seen eye to eye, this isn't Cool. Good Luck to you and your family.

[granny2young]

I missed the post. Please catch me up on what happened. Well, actually it doesn't matter, there is no excuse for what happened! None whatsoever. I know a church in Saltillo that I have been going to the past few weeks that would love you and your children, and they have plenty of space for your kids to be kids, not little robots. Northstar has an excellent children's program and you and Magnolia would be welcome. Last week the ushers all had on flip flops, so you come as you are.

[zipzam]

wittzo said:

My wife asked me to remove this post until after Wednesday.

lemme know when you get to wear the pants again!

j/k wittzo... sorry to see yall had a bad experience. (still dunno what it was???). i'll check back thursday and see what's goin on.

[wittzo]

I talked to a former elder after I posted originally and talked with Magnolia some more. The elder was told some things that we weren't told about the situation. Someone is covering their butts over this.

Magnolia told me that now she can't bear to go back, there's too many hard feelings. I'm definitely not going back. My three go to their mother's church every other Sunday and they don't act up there, so I don't know what the deal is.

Leslie said the only thing one of the boys was doing was not participating in the chorus and my other son wanted to color all the time. The elder was told that one of my sons "mooned" the chorus. We were never told about that. The elder tried to brush that away, saying,"If I saw a kid rolling down the aisle, I wouldn't tell the parent. They probably just forgot to tell you about it."

She said she was going to set up a meeting so we could talk to everyone involved, but Magnolia said she didn't want to be "surrounded" by a ring of people after the handbell program was over.

That elder was spinning me so fast, I could have created a new form of alternative energy. She was trying to convince me that "kicked out" was too strong a term to use. They were just "making us feel unwelcome."

[Pontotocmom]

I don't care if your child mooned the preacher during the service that isn't a reason to boot someone out of church. Those idiots are not around many kids. My daughter mooned her grandpa on the court square one time. We laughed and went on. My children when small have popped up and asked the preacher to get finished because when he shut up she got to go to McDonalds. And one would not sit down at service, he stood all the time and when a member asked him why he said only fat lazy people sit down. The member was about 300 pounds. I've had children who read "their books" outloud during service, crawl under pews and say loudly hey you have my car. They have colored talked about people to the people. They do outgrow all of this. No one has booted any of us out. I agree with Magnolia I wouldn't have a thing to do with these people. And making you feel unwelcome is worse than just saying We don't want you all here. Magnolia you and all your kids can come to Pontotoc, I promise you your kids can not do anything that my kids or someone else's child hasn't done. I would tell those people off. I know it wouldn't help any but that is so wrong, I want to come to Saltillo and tell them myself. You don't kick babies out of church. They are not Christians.

[granny2young]

I couldn't have said it better myself mom. As a matter of fact, meet me in Saltillo and we will tell them!

[Lorri]

I sure hope you have found another church to attend - doesn't sound like that church was where God wanted you - doesn't sound like God was there at all!