What We Believe About Church Disicipline
This Sunday we continued our sermon series through 1 Corinthians, addressing the mandate given to the church in Chapter 5 to "purge the evil person from among you."
Working from our official statement on church discipline, Pastor Eric said that this has nothing to do with “shunning” a person. It involves first confronting in love and gentleness and then, if unsuccessful, withholding fellowship. It is not rejection of a relationship but a change in the nature of a relationship.
If a person under discipline is not factious or disruptive or a harmful influence, he is welcomed to attend all church meetings that are open to unbelievers with the exception of small groups that meet for the purpose of fellowship.
Once the church leadership makes a sin publicly known, they commit as well to inform the church of repentance and restoration to fellowship as appropriate to the situation and the good of the church.