Most churches thin their membership lists every so often. If they haven't seen in in a year or two, they figure you've left.You can always write a formal letter to your local church board stating your request and the reasons why. If they send you mail or email, you ask them to remove you from their list. Done. For Catholic parishes, it works the same. Recommended Reviews - Hopewell Baptist Church ; 2050 Lincoln Ave. I am looking for some advice on how to resign my membership at my church, on good terms, but still occasionally attend. Early Japanese immigrants to the U.S. journeyed to Alameda, California, in the late 1800s and then to a Methodist women's mission formed there in 1898.