I would like to request my withdrawal from the Knights of Columbus. I am currently a member of Council ####. My member number is #########. You claim to wish to attract young new members but then do not provide any reason for them to attend. I asked this of my council leadership before, “Why should I take time away from my wife and baby every two weeks to attend those meetings?”
The council claims to have over 150 members and yet outside of the officers only about 5 attend the meetings. So, it isn’t for the fellowship.
During the meetings, there has been nothing but bickering and one up man ship displayed by the men there. So, it isn’t to learn how to be charitable to my brothers.
When I have attended the meetings, I have seen nothing but discussions of bringing back Bingo, since Bingo was shut down due to poor money control policies, and how we have written another check to another charity. Like many in my generation we care very little about writing checks. I don’t need a fraternity to write a check, I can and do write them on my own. So, it isn’t to learn true service to my community.
Outside of a prayer at the beginning of and end of the meetings, there is no talk of how better ourselves spiritually. So, it isn’t to learn how to grow closer to God.
The last bastion of hope I had of being a Knight came from working on a Parish staff as the Director of Faith Formation. I thought the Knights would relish the opportunity to partner with the parish to help bring about the Kingdom of God. Instead the council had no intentions more than continuing business as normal and was hostile to any change the Parish Pastor suggested. To the point of a campaign of misinformation against the pastor and multiple unfounded complaints sent to the Bishop. So, it wasn’t to be the strong right arm of our Parish.
So again, I ask…” Why should I go to a meeting? Why should I remain a Knight?”
My generation wants to do true service for our community and for the Lord. We want to become better men. We want to be better disciples. Never once have I gone to a Knights meeting that afterwards I felt a better man for attending. Instead, I regretted taking time away from my pregnant wife, my family, my friends, and the Church. The Supreme organization may have an amazing vision and does great things but somewhere along the way this Council has lost that vision and their way. I will look to do service and improve as a man through one of the local secular organizations, Rotary International.
Please consider this my resignation from this organization.
Theology Teach 
I wanted to thank you for this. I’ve just come home from yet another contentious officer’s meeting and immediately Googled “Knights of Columbus resignation”. You’ve put some thought into your post, I can see. Thank you and God bless.
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Brother Ken and Richard,
I am sorry to hear that you both have suffered for your faith within the fellowship and brotherhood of your respective Councils and parish communities. I believe you and have endured many hardships myself and equally disappointed with the Knights of Columbus, our Council and Parish Priest.
However – I will ask you to consider the same questions needed to face in my life and ask you at what point in your lives as Catholic Men are you willing to concede and give-up everything you believe in and resign from being the man God created and intended you to be?
Why should you or any of us give up, or walk away in despair when we are mistreated, confused and hurt?
St. James wrote in his epistle that – Faith without Works is Dead.
How much more is our Love for Jesus without relationships or fraternity, without family and the friendships that support, develop and refine a man’s character?
In your struggle against sin, have you resisted to the point of shedding your own blood as Jesus our Lord has done for us one the Cross. Have you laid down your own life for your Brother, or suffered for those who have persecuted you – as our Lord has done for us?
Jesus said – anyone that does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me… if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Young or old, wise or simple – a Catholic man must show up, grow up and become an adopted Son of our Heavenly Father; a Brother in Christ; a loving devoted Husband and Father to his family and children.
Through the formation of our Faith, acts of charity and opportunity to grow and develop relationships with our worthy brothers and parish family and communities – we can become Catholic Gentlemen and enjoy the benefits and embrace the challenges and accept the responsibilities of living for Christ in these difficult times.
Yes, many KofC Councils have a lot o grumpy old men that can argue and banter.
Yes, the relationships between the Council, Parish and Pastor are vital to the health and growth of the parish and community.
Yes, you can serve and our Lord!
And you can resign from the Knights of Columbus, and even leave your parish – or light a candle, and put it under a bushel…
Or you can, stand up for what you believe and our Lord has said… let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
As Nelson Mandela once said – “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up”
And St. Paul wrote: “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run; but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. … Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
If you ever need someone to talk to, or need someone to help you find the answers you need to the difficult questions, constant opposition and the haunting mysteries and suffering you may face send me an email and call me…
And let me help you, and encourage each other in living our faith together… and to lay aside every weight and the sin that may cling to us,
To get up and run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God… and remember Him (our beloved Savior) and how He endured such hostility against Himself from sinners,
So that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
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