The sermon this week addressed church discipline and the reasons behind it. In this post, we want to go a bit deeper. This is particularly important for those who are new to the church or have never seen discipline practiced in the life of a congregation. To help visualize how it would look at HCC, this post will walk through the steps outlined in our Policy on Church Discipline. These steps rely heavily on Matthew 18:15–20, with some modifications.
Process
Step One:
A brother privately confronts the one in sin in an effort to bring about repentance and reconciliation (cf. Gal. 6:1). If the sin is acknowledged and the individual repents, the matter is resolved and should go no further. If the sinning brother denies the allegation and there is no way to confirm it, the accuser should let the matter lie and pray that God would bring clarity and resolution.
Step Two:
If the sinning brother does not repent and there are witnesses who can confirm the allegation, two or three witnesses should be brought along to speak with the individual. If he repents, the issue is resolved and should go no further. If he does not repent, the matter is to be brought to the church—meaning, the elders are to be informed.
When the elders are asked to inquire into an accusation, the accused will be considered innocent until proven guilty. Scripture requires that every charge be established by two or three witnesses. Consequently, the elders are obligated to obtain all relevant facts and determine whether sin is genuinely present before proceeding further. If there is unrepentant sin, one or more elders will formally admonish the individual to repent and serve Christ. The goal of this admonishment is to bring about conviction of sin while preserving, as much as possible, the individual’s reputation. If the sinner repents, the matter is resolved and will not become public knowledge.
Step Three:
If the admonition of the elders is rejected, the third step is suspension from the Lord’s Supper. This suspension is normally public in nature; however, the elders reserve the right to suspend individuals privately if the situation warrants it.
The reasons for a public suspension will be communicated to the church (cf. 2 Thess. 3:6, 13–15). The purpose of this suspension is to awaken the sinner to the seriousness of his offense. The suspended individual is prohibited from participating in the Lord’s Supper and other church-sponsored fellowship activities, including—but not limited to—fellowship meals and special feasts. In cases of public suspension, the individual will typically be notified in writing of the following:
- That he is being publicly suspended from the Table,
- The date of the suspension,
- The reasons for the suspension, and
- The path to restoration.
In certain circumstances, the elders may also indicate a fixed period after which the suspension could lead to excommunication.
Note: Many churches do not include suspension from the Lord’s Table as a formal step in the discipline process. At HCC, this step may or may not be enacted by the elders, depending on the situation and the individual’s response. The Westminster Confession of Faith addresses this topic in Chapter 30 – Of Church Censures. A case can be made that including a suspension step allows the elders to act judiciously and gives the unrepentant individual additional time to repent before excommunication.
Step Four:
The final stage of formal discipline is excommunication—removing the individual from the covenant community. When someone refuses to listen to the church, Jesus teaches that they are to be treated “as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matt. 18:17b). In other words, they are no longer to be regarded as a Christian in need of correction, but as an unbeliever in need of evangelism (cf. Titus 3:10–11). The decision to excommunicate a brother or sister is the responsibility of the elders.
Response
- Excommunication does not create enemies—rather, it creates opportunities for evangelism. This is an important mindset to maintain, especially in light of what follows.
- Excommunication is different from “shunning,” as practiced in sects like the Amish. In those communities, shunning is a separate step that generally restricts all normal human contact. Excommunication, by contrast, removes one’s membership from the community, but does not inherently require full social isolation.
- Excommunication makes relationships more difficult, especially within families. Members should seek counsel from the elders on how best to navigate those situations.
Note: The underlying principle of excommunication is that the congregation—and especially those close to the individual—must recognize that things are no longer “normal.” Relationships cannot carry on as they did before.
- Excommunication is the counter-rite to baptism. Baptism is the rite of inclusion into Christ’s body; excommunication is the rite of exclusion from it.
- Excommunication is a delicate matter that requires a high degree of trust in the elders’ judgment.
Note: If a member believes the session has acted unjustly, they may appeal to Knox Presbytery, which will investigate the matter.
Restoration
At each step in the process, there is an opportunity for the individual to repent and bring the process to a halt. But what if repentance comes after suspension or even excommunication? What must happen before someone is restored to Christ’s body?
In the case of public suspension, the individual must:
- Take responsibility for their sin and confess it to the injured party or parties,
- Make appropriate restitution as required by the situation, and
- Demonstrate a genuine change of heart, evidenced by appropriate fruit of repentance.
In the case of excommunication, the individual must do all of the above, and additionally:
- Write a public statement of repentance and confession to be read before the congregation.
Note: Instead of a written letter, the individual may opt to give a verbal confession at a specially called church meeting.
Reminder: Restoration is a central goal of church discipline. The church must be fervent in prayer for this outcome. The elders must navigate the process with wisdom but should not unnecessarily delay restoration (cf. 2 Cor. 2:5–8).
Final Thoughts
Church discipline is never easy, but when handled faithfully, it can be a great blessing to the body. Above all, the glory and honor of God must remain the ultimate goal. As the book of Hebrews reminds us, all discipline is painful in the moment, but it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those trained by it.
If and when formal discipline is exercised at HCC, may the elders lead with humility, patience, and wisdom—and may we all be strengthened and instructed by the process.