Dr. Betters,
I'm a 20 year old ministry student, and recently I have struggled with how church discipline should be executed. If a situation with a member should get to the point where they were to be excommunicated, how does the church actually do that? I suppose that since I have grown up in a church that wouldn't go that far in order to keep members accountable, it boggles my mind to think of how that would work out. I hope that I have articulated my question so that you can understand my confusion; any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

Travis

Pastor Betters responds:

Travis,

In our church, and in most reformed churches, our members take the following vow publicly and sign it privately - "I will submit myself to the government and discipline of the church." This means that when and if discipline occurs they have already agreed to the process.

Discipline occurs in stages with two key principles in mind. First, it is done at the most private level possible. Second, it is done for the purpose of reconciliation not excommunication. But it does not always work out that way. Thus in our four stages of discipline they may become more and more public and more and more severe. Admonition is the first stage followed by rebuke, suspension from the sacraments, and then excommunication. The last stage is done either publicly before the membership of the church in executive session or less publicly depending upon the extent of the offense.

If someone were to be excommunicated notice would be given to the congregation of an executive meeting where only members could attend. In our constitution a two-week notice is required. At the meeting a statement would be read citing the offense, the individual's refusal to repent of the sin, and the imposition of the censure. The church would then be admonished that gossip is also a disciplinary offense. We then pray for the censured one and ask God to bring them back. No questions are permitted since our discipline process is conducted by the elders.

We do not shun them nor do we forbid them from any activities in the church unless their offense warrants them staying away from certain people such as is the case of a sexual offense. When the person repents we give them an audience in front of the church to read their statement of repentance, celebrate their return, and pray over them. All of this is done with broken hearts that are grieved at the fall, not with self-righteous judgmental spirits. For we know that we could fall into the same sins.

The offender also has a right to appeal the verdict to the presbytery and even beyond that to the general assembly of our denomination. This is done to preclude demagoguery on the session. I hope this answers your question.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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