Churches do not “Check I.D’s when you enter. Most do not if any have facial recognition cameras. Just go to church, enjoy, go home. You do not have to fill out paperwork, apply to work there or join private in home groups. That is the only way they find out who you are .
I have been attending the same church for 20 years and not joined any groups. Don’t stay afterwards to chat. Just shake a few hands on the way out and head home.
If one of us ever got arrested for attending church, (Other than if we did something bad there ) I would personally head to Washington D.C and rip the original copy of the constitution in half, burn it and spread the ashes on the graves of our founding Fathers.
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. ”
Revelation 14:12

The anchorman, “A new bill to allow them (RSO) to attend church is on the table.” Problem: RSO already have the right to attend church. The law is a restriction on church! Travis Cummings is a journalism failure! Here is why: He reached out to “many”, “churches”. How many is “many”? What kind of churches? Catholic? Wicca? Jehovah’s Witness? Who did he speak to? “They refused to comment.” Was that the church secretary? How is a RSO supposed to freely choose a church when by Travis Cummings account, out of “many” churches, there was only one where an RSO would be officially welcomed? How would an RSO get authorization to attend church when out of the “many” churches interviewed, only one would even comment!? What kind of church is secretive about their doctrine? Did Travis Cummings ask if there is a RSO policy? So many unanswered questions!

Capt.,
You make a very important point. The Church is the entire body of those who repent, believe and follow Christ. It’s not a building, local congregation or a denominational group. Too many think there are all sorts of churches, but in truth there is only one Church. If any assembly of folks calling themselves Christians reject another professing Christian based on sins in the past that he/she has repented of, then the assembly is the one operating outside of God’s will – not the one whom the assembly rejects.

Sarah, in a world where wedding vowels don’t mean ‘crap’ to people and the legal system, I honor you for standing by your husband Ed. He is a very fortunate and truly blessed individual. May God bless you and get you settled into a peaceful home with kind neighbors. It can be done…I know.

Our Via de Cristo reunion men’s group had a discussion about tithing one day. My position was that the ‘church’ is not a building but a compilation of people doing God’s work. That is why my monthly category of tithing comes under the heading of “God’s Kingdom”. I give to my church but part of my 10% goes to organizations that are doing God’s work…feeding and clothing the homeless, educating people about about the Word of God outside the confines of the ‘church building’, supporting programs that build up families, support policies that are pro-life, and yes, support law firms that takes a stand in court for Christians who have their convictions condemned by the ‘world’. I tithe to “God’s Kingdom”.

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Speaking of not giving to the church. As one who is called to reach others, I can tell you, when God tells us to tithe, it does not always mean you have to give it to the church. Although if you do attend a church, it is important to support them.
If you still want to tithe and and cannot find a church that wont treat you and your family like a Pariah, read the following posted by a group called learning to give.

By their very nature and mission, most religious institutions are philanthropic, attempting to help others and make the world a better place. This is especially true when considering the Jewish directive to repair the earth and the Christian objective to redeem it. Through these aims, churches and synagogues often pass on some of the tithed funds to other organizations that are involved in charitable works in their communities. For example, a church that gives a portion of its tithes to the American Red Cross to provide food and water for people in a hurricane-stricken city.

So basically by donating to worthy causes, you are still giving of your fruits ( money, clothing, time etc ) as long as it is going to help others in need.
I would not give a dime to church that turns someone away just because of something they did in the past. I can understand they want to protect others there but what about those hiding in the pews they do not know about?

Two things Sarah.
#1 Bless you for standing by your man and not giving up on him, even with the threat of your own family disowning you. That is grand loyalty.
#2 Do like I do. You do not have to “Join” a church. Just attend and keep people out of your business. Go to church, when service is over, go home or out to eat. You do not have to join groups, go out to eat with members etc.
I know this sounds antisocial but I go to church and then leave. I am nice to the people sitting around me but none of them need to know my business. When service is over I head home.
Blessings for your and your husband. Will keep you, your family and your situations in my prayers.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Reading your testimony has “made my day”.

After being forced out of Clay County because of their new 2000-foot residency restriction, I now reside in Gainesville, with my husband being released Thursday of next week. We will be living together in a neighborhood where there are eight other registrants. They have all been such a blessing to me. My family has pretty much written me off because I will not divorce my husband, but I have found a new “family”.

We want to attend a church but have been told it will first require an interview for my husband, church member notification, and then a security team with us at all times. We are only seeking one service a week to attend and will give financially to the church. We would never expect to join or attend any of the other functions. I would be with my husband at all times. I am not willing to go through all that they would be asking of us.

I cannot even count all that God has done for me, especially during these past two months. Every day that I get up and say thank you to Him no matter what happens throughout the day, the good and the seemingly bad, He has worked miraculous blessings for me. My faith has only grown stronger and would not want to undertake any task without first committing it to His will, trusting that His ways are far better than my ways.

With all of that said, having always been in a church since I was born, I have become dismayed at what is happening to registrants when they want to worship God with other people. I find myself becoming a little bitter. There are people who will roll out the welcome mat to you if they find out that you do not attend church anywhere. I have seen some of these people try to make others feel guilty because they are not attending a church. I am just waiting for that to happen to my husband and me, and I will let them know in no uncertain terms that we are not attending their church because they would not have us.

I will now only give financially to churches that take in registrants with open arms. MJ gave me a good church to attend in Jacksonville, but we now live too far away to attend there. There is also one in the Tallahassee area, but we need one in Alachua County. If anyone knows of a body of believers that regularly meet for worship in Alachua County and receives registrants in the manner that Christ taught, please let me know about it. Thank you.