Saying goodbye is not easy, but sometimes it's necessary. Contrary to what many people may claim, church membership is not a lifelong commitment. There are many reasons you may decide to leave your church, and doing so gracefully can help you protect the relationships you want to preserve and depart on good terms. Follow these tips for making your move a smooth transition.

Understand Your Reasons

People leave their churches for a variety of reasons:

• Doctrinal disagreement
• Too much conflict
• Job relocation
• Family concerns
• Disinterest

To be clear, you have the right to end your membership status no matter what. Simply wanting to leave is reason enough. It is likely that there will be those who want you to stay, particularly if you are very involved or a significant financial contributor. Understanding your own reasons for leaving before you tell others can help you during conversations in which they try to convince you to stay.

Resolve Conflicts

One reason people tend to leave their churches is to avoid dealing with existing conflict. While this approach can feel like it alleviates a sticky situation immediately, it isn't usually the healthiest choice. Reaching out to people with whom you have had disagreements may be uncomfortable, but it communicates respect. It tells them that while you may not like their position, you value them as friends. It may even have the added benefit of giving you a reason to reconsider your departure. If you can rekindle the reason you loved the church so much in the first place, perhaps you will find that you don't want to leave after all.

Tell Your Friends

The people with whom you have built special relationships deserve to know what is going on. An announcement during your last service inviting the entire congregation to your farewell reception should not be the first time they are hearing about it. Let your close friends in the church know what you are planning to do. This gives them the opportunity to ask questions, and it also allows you the chance to explain why you made the decision so that they know it's not about your relationship with them. It also gives you the chance to make plans on how you are going to maintain your friendships despite no longer worshipping together every week.

Talk To Leadership

Many church members don't think that their presence is noticed or would be missed. Unless you are significantly involved in many church activities, you may be under this impression. Most churches, however, keep good records of which members attend services regularly, so they are likely to notice if you suddenly disappear. You may receive a phone call or letter in the mail inquiring about your well-being and asking if there is anything you need from the church. If you have stopped attending because you're leaving, this can be an awkward conversation that could have easily been avoided. Once you have decided to leave, make an appointment with the pastor or another church leader to inform him or her of your intention. While you may not look forward to this discussion, particularly if you suspect leaders are going to try to convince you to stay, it will probably make your departure more seamless in the long run.

You are not obligated to continue membership in a church that is not close to where you live or one where you no longer feel like you belong. No matter the reasons behind choosing to leave your church, there is generally a graceful way to do it. By understanding your own viewpoint and then communicating it clearly to others, you are more likely to depart on good terms.