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GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH APPENDIX TO CHURCH BYLAWS:
PROCESS FOR CHURCH DISCIPLINE
 

 

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it before the church body; and if he refuses to listen even to the whole church,
treat him as you would
a pagan or a tax collector."

...Matthew 18:15-17

 

APPENDIX C:
DISCIPLINE. If any member shall consistently conduct himself/herself in a manner which is in direct violation of clear biblical commands or is in denial of any of the 12 points included in the Church Constitution's Statement of Faith or has violated one of the provisions of the Church's Bylaws and does not show evidence of repentance at the end of the following steps of discipline, that member may be removed from the membership rolls.

The purpose of the discipline procedure is the restoration of the erring member to a spiritually healthy condition and full participating membership in the Church. In progressing through these stages of Church discipline, ample time for repentance must be allowed at each step. If the erring member is an Elder or Pastor, the process described above remains appropriate (I Timothy 5:19).

  1. STEPS OF DISCIPLINE FOLLOWING THE OUTLINE OF MATTHEW 18:15-17: (See also Galatians 6:1, I Corinthians 5:1-5, Acts 5:1-11, II Thessalonians 3:6, Titus 1:13, Titus 3:10, Romans 16:17.)
    1. Private confrontation. The erring member should be directly approached in private by one concerned and informed person and confronted with his/her sin. If repentance does not follow this step then the second step should be followed.
    2. Private conference. If the erring member is unrepentant then two or three believers should confront him about his/her sin. If repentance does not follow this step then the third step should be followed.
    3. Public meeting. After step two, the Elders of the Church should be made aware of the situation and should determine whether or not the biblical ideals of discipline, love and concern have been communicated to the erring member. If the Elders determine that the erring member is unrepentant after being given ample warning and time, then the Elders shall present the matter to a public meeting of the Church members (members only should be in attendance--discipline is a family matter). If the erring member refuses to listen to the Church then step four should be followed.
    4. Public exclusion. When the Elders and congregation of members have made consistent efforts to bring the erring member to repentance without results, they may then disassociate the erring member from Church fellowship. The erring member will thus lose his/her membership in the Church and will be asked to stay away from any Church activity.
  2. If the Board of Elders, when initiating investigation of a member's conduct, deems such conduct to be potentially harmful in any way to the well being of other Church members, the Church's ministries or the Church's public testimony and reputation, the Board of Elders, by majority vote, may remove the member under investigation from any role of Officer, Trustee, Pastor, Ministry Leader, or other role of service in the Church until the disciplinary issue is resolved according to the Steps of Discipline under A above.
 
     
  Contact us. If we can be of any assistance to you in your spiritual journey, feel free to e-mail Grace Community or phone [608] 849-1533. It is our prayer for you, too, may come into His Grace.  
     
 

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"I am come
to give you life...
and life abundant."
..............John 10:10

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