Hello Jeffrey,<\/p>\n
Thank you for your excellent work on the La Vista Church of Christ website. Over the years, I have learned very much from your sermons and the question-and-answer section posed there.<\/p>\n
I am writing because an elder asked me to choose to be a member of the congregation that meets where is an elder or the one where I currently have my membership. I live about 30 miles from the location of my membership. I am elderly and do not like to drive at night. So, I attend Sunday morning services at my membership congregation. On Sunday night and Wednesday night, I attend the other one. This is not unusual.<\/p>\n
The issue is that I participate in some of the activities at the visiting congregation. Just recently, I have begun to lead the devotional at the monthly ladies’ day meeting. This evening I asked if I could sign up for a new group that would visit their members once a month.<\/p>\n
I am a widow and cherish all my brothers and sister in Christ. I happen to live about five minutes from the other congregation. I work where there is an opportunity that I can fulfill. Both congregations constantly admonish us to be family. Does being a family stop at the church door?<\/p>\n
Thank you for your thoughts on this matter.<\/p>\n\t
It appears you are trying to be a member of two different congregations simultaneously. I assume both congregations are equally faithful to the Lord since you are attending both. Whether one congregation has elders or not doesn’t make a difference in regard to your question.<\/p>\n
All Christians are a part of the family of God (I Timothy 3:15). This relationship is universal to all Christians and is not limited to a local congregation.<\/p>\n
Since you are having difficulty driving at night, it makes more sense to be a member of the congregation closer to your house. Visit your brethren at the other congregation as often as you can, but be involved in your local congregation.<\/p>\n\t
Thank you very much.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hello Jeffrey, Thank you for your excellent work on the La Vista Church of Christ website. Over the years, I have learned very much from your sermons and the question-and-answer section posed there. I am writing because an elder asked me to choose to be a member of the congregation that meets where is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[544],"class_list":["post-60045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-membership"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41570,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-leave-a-congregation-with-no-elders-for-one-that-has-elders\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":0},"title":"Should I leave a congregation with no elders for one that has elders?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I worship at a church of Christ that has no elders. There are qualified men who do not desire the office. There is a sound church of Christ nearby that has elders. Am I putting my salvation in jeopardy? Should I move my membership? My desire is to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92373,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-a-church-have-the-right-to-remove-from-its-roll-a-member-who-no-longer-lives-in-the-area\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":1},"title":"Does a church have the right to remove from its roll a member who no longer lives in the area?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Sir, I have been reading your articles and learning a lot from your Bible teachings. Thank you for all you do and for your heart to spread the Truth. Here's my question: There's a sister in our Church who was reached out while working as a house helper\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25239,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/must-a-person-formally-place-membership-with-a-local-church-before-they-participate-in-the-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":2},"title":"Must a person formally place membership with a local church before they participate in the work?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 11, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What are your thoughts regarding \"placing membership\" with a local congregation?\u00a0 I understand the biblical authority for someone working under the oversight of the elders of a congregation.\u00a0 If someone has been attending a congregation regularly for a period of time, can it be assumed they wish to work\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53654,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/would-it-be-a-sin-to-leave-a-congregation-that-accepts-sin-among-its-members\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":3},"title":"Would it be a sin to leave a congregation that accepts sin among its members?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I worship at a congregation where there is no preacher, elder, or deacons. The brothers serving on the Lord's table are living with girlfriends, playing the lottery, and drinking. I'm a sister in the congregation. I'm trying to go to heaven. I can't worship properly with all this before\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34542,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-a-congregation-retains-an-elder-who-is-a-widower-should-we-leave\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":4},"title":"If a congregation retains an elder who is a widower, should we leave?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: We're conducting a class in which we're going over the basics of Christianity and just last night, we started discussing the qualifications of elders and deacons. I almost fell out of my seat when our minister stated it's OK for an elder to keep on serving after his wife\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15712,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-withdrawing-removing-someone-from-a-churchs-membership-role\/","url_meta":{"origin":60045,"position":5},"title":"Is withdrawing removing someone from a church’s membership role?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 10, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read your\u00a0previous\u00a0answer on a divorce and remarriage in a congregation involving an elder's son. I have read through I Corinthians 5.\u00a0 I have never been in a situation where a particular member was withdrawn from. 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