Policy Statement on Church Discipline
Grace Community Bible Church
Adopted January 2004

Statement

Church discipline is plainly taught in the Scriptures. It is one of the primary means that the Lord has ordained for bringing about repentance and restoration in the lives of his erring children. When practiced according to Scripture, church discipline glorifies the Lord 1, serves as a deterrent to sin 2, preserves the purity 3 and reputation 4 of Christ's church, and helps to clear the conscience 5 and reputation 6 of the repenting member. In practicing church discipline, each member of a church assumes the responsibility of lovingly watching over 7 the other members of the church for the purpose of encouraging holiness 8 and discouraging disorderly behavior in each member 9 and in the church as a whole 10; and each member consents to being so watched over 11. When other Biblical measures prove ineffective 12, those members of the church who refuse to repent of sin and submit to the church 13 will be expelled from the church 14 and turned over to Satan 15. When the disciplined member gives sufficient evidence of genuine repentance, the church is to heartily express forgiveness and receive the offender into fellowship again 16. Each member of Grace Community Bible Church agrees to submit to and participate in the discipline of the church.

Addenda:

  1. The decision as to whether or not it is necessary for a repenting member to confess his sin to the entire church rests with the elders of the church; but the general principle is: the repentance ought to be as public as the sin is notorious. That is, publicly known sins are to be repented of publicly.
  2. Any member who willfully and habitually absents himself from the appointed gatherings of the church will be liable to church discipline.
  3. Any member who seeks a transfer of membership or any other removal of his name from the church roll while subject to any stage of church discipline will not have his name removed from the church roll without the consent of the elders. The disciplinary process will continue to completion.
  4. Each member of Grace Community Bible Church agrees that he will not initiate or pursue legal action against the church, nor against the pastors, deacons, or church staff in connection with their performance of official duties. Any Christian considering legal action against another Christian is encouraged to heed 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.
  5. Should the elders find it necessary, they will not hesitate to seek godly wisdom and counsel from the elders of a doctrinally like-minded church.

(1) John 14:2,23
(2) 1 Timothy 5:20
(3) 1 Corinthians 5:6,7
(4) 1 Corinthians 6:5,6
(5) 1 John 1:7-10
(6) 2 Corinthians 2:6-7
(7) Hebrews 12:14-16
(8) Hebrews 10:24,25
(9) Galatians 6:1,2
(10) Acts 20:28-31
(11) Ephesians 5:21
(12) Corrective measures that are less drastic than excommunication include those outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, namely; 1. Private attempts to restore the erring brother (v.15). 2. Restoration attempts made in the presence of one or more witnesses (v.16). 3. Public rebuke from the church (v.17). The usefulness and responsibility of public rebuke from the church are also addressed in 1 Timothy 5:20 and Titus 1:13
(13) Hebrews 13:7,17
(14) 1Corinthians 5:12,13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14,15; Matthew 18:17
(15) 1 Corinthians 5:5
(16) 2 Corinthians 2:6-7