Thinking about leaving my church - Baptism Class vent

[Debbie7452]

At my old church you had to retake the Baptism class with each child. By the 4th kid it got old! I went to the priest and requested a "waiver" for the last class and he was happy to oblige. Yes, I would have been irritated with your class, since most of the info was irrelevant for the audience. It is hard to juggle a baby for two hours of class time. Our OLD church did not allow us to bring children with us.

We moved to a new parish following a string of irritating lectures, mandatory parent meetings (more lectures), an overemphasis on "rules" and encounters with rude church staff members. Our new church is smaller and we have been VERY happy with the change.

 

[Freyja]

Is this even for real? You´re thinking of leaving your church for this? Wow. Waaaay overreacting IMHO.

 

[dogluva]

Well, I guess I'll be the voice of dissent here, but... I'd be totally irritated. I work. Time with my kids is precious and valuable and too short. If I wasted two hours being lectured to for no good reason, instead of spending time with my children, I'd be mad too. In additon, shoving opinions down my throat about parenting sytle, breastfeeding in particularly is offensive- just like having to sit in a classroom and listen to people's opinions about politics would be. I can understand why you're steamed, its a total disrespect of your time to make you sit captive while they soap box on and on with unwanted advice and opinion.

That said, I wouldn't leave the church over it. I'd let the pastor know (or elder in charge of the committee). In our church a complaint like that would be taken very seriously.

If there are other things bothering you about the church and this is just one more, that's a different kettle of fish.

I would be irritated, annoyed, whatever, but really, enough to leave to a church over it? Seems drastic.

 

[golfgal]

Well, you could have attended the Natural Family Planning classes at our old church that were taught by a single woman that used to be a nun

I agree with the others, don't let it bother you, they probably don't have anyone else to teach the class. Our baptism classes were taught by the Priest and it was more of a Bible Study then anything, as it should be.

 

[freepixie]

Sorry, but this is really a lame reason to leave a church. Those women were probably volunteering their time and are just really into it. To leave a church there would have to be some serious things going on. This seems minor and petty. Sorry, my opinion.

ITA! Back a few years ago during the Catholic priest scandals, I knew of several people who left the church because of it. I felt that was lame! Folks who leave a church due to petty things I feel are looking for an "excuse" to leave the church. Just my opinion. My religion is not between me and a priest, my religion is not between me and Baptism class teachers - MY religion is between me and my God.

I remember when I was going thru Confirmation classes - OMG - the teachers were all ancient! I remember the first class they gave us construction paper, scissors and glue, and we had to make construction paper Churches... yeah just what a bunch of 17-yr-olds wanna do on a Saturday night, make churches... and we all thought, well, maybe there is a lesson they are going to make out of all this... nope! After we each took a turn to show our church, they said, good job and good night! Wasted 2 hrs of my life to make a construction paper church! I went home and vented about it. Then I went back each week for class until Confirmation. In the grand scheme of my life, it was a small amount of time to spend, so its nothing I would ever leave church about.