Discipline Policy
All regular attenders of this church should be aware of the fact that they are responsible to higher authorities and ultimately to God. God has appointed the Ruling Elders as authorities within the local church to narrow the gap between what God desires for His people and the actual performance of His desires by His people. Thus the Ruling Elders have been charged with the responsibility to ‘reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine’. (2 Timothy 4:2).
The purpose of Church Discipline should always be to rescue the believer from sin and to seek that one’s reconciliation with fellow believers (Matthew 18:15; Jude 22-23), as outlined in this church’s Constitution, Doctrinal Statement, and By-laws Article III. Section 4c: “It is the right and in harmony with the Scriptures to exclude from this fellowship any who hold false or heretical doctrine, or who live inconsistent with the church’s profession (Galatians 1:8-9) or in violation of the laws of public morals, or walk disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11) or a person who disturbs the unity of the church (1 Corinthians 6:11-13). This is only to be exercised with the utmost care and to be entrusted to the Pastor and Deacon Board to deal with after much prayer for the mind of Christ in this matter. These efforts shall be considered in the light of Matthew 18:15-18. Expulsion is to be resorted to only after every possible means of straightening out the matter has failed.”
The following procedure will be considered normal practice for dealing with discipline issues within the church:
It is certainly our desire that any believer found in such an offense would be repentant and thus turn from the offense. Should a person not be repentant after the above steps, than the following action will be taken:
Adopted: 10/39
Revised: 09/11/04
The purpose of Church Discipline should always be to rescue the believer from sin and to seek that one’s reconciliation with fellow believers (Matthew 18:15; Jude 22-23), as outlined in this church’s Constitution, Doctrinal Statement, and By-laws Article III. Section 4c: “It is the right and in harmony with the Scriptures to exclude from this fellowship any who hold false or heretical doctrine, or who live inconsistent with the church’s profession (Galatians 1:8-9) or in violation of the laws of public morals, or walk disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11) or a person who disturbs the unity of the church (1 Corinthians 6:11-13). This is only to be exercised with the utmost care and to be entrusted to the Pastor and Deacon Board to deal with after much prayer for the mind of Christ in this matter. These efforts shall be considered in the light of Matthew 18:15-18. Expulsion is to be resorted to only after every possible means of straightening out the matter has failed.”
The following procedure will be considered normal practice for dealing with discipline issues within the church:
- On the 1st offense, two members of the Ruling Elders will personally meet with the guilty party, outlining the offense, seeking to reprove the individual of their offense.
- On the 2nd offense, the Ruling Elders will send a letter restating the offense with a rebuke of the individual for continuing in the offense.
- On the 3rd offense, the Ruling Elders will send a letter again restating the offense with an exhortation to the individual to cease and desist from the offense as well as requesting them to come before the Deacon Board.
It is certainly our desire that any believer found in such an offense would be repentant and thus turn from the offense. Should a person not be repentant after the above steps, than the following action will be taken:
- On the 4th offense, the Ruling Elders on the authority of Matthew 18:17 will call the individual before the church in a special members meeting. Again the stated purpose of this action is for repentance and reconciliation.
- Should the individual refuse to present themselves before the church membership or refuse the recommendation of the membership they will be removed from membership.
Adopted: 10/39
Revised: 09/11/04