Wednesday, June 08, 2005

This is from the Constitution of Grace Bible Church in Tulsa, OK. Having trouble telling where the grace is in here:

The accountability of church discipline will follow the outline of Matthew 18:15-20, without partiality. Once the Elder Board has been informed of a member's unrepentant sin and having investigated these charges, finds them to be true, they will privately appeal to the church member through several appointed Elders. If the member does not turn from the sin(s) in question after a period of time set by the Elders, then the Elder Board will send the offending member a letter stating that at a regularly called meeting of the church, the Pastor or Chairman of the Board of Elders will announce the person and transgression to the Church. Then after continued refusal to repent, again with sufficient time given, the Pastor or Chairman of the Board of Elders will excommunicate the offender by public announcement. Excommunication prohibits fellowship with or attendance at the Church, until the Elder Board is satisfied the person has demonstrated a lifestyle of genuine repentance.

That follows an earlier comment that membership in the church is a privilege. I don't disagree with that statement - I just thought God was the one controlling access, and he's pretty much just giving away. Oh, well, I assume there will never be a shortage of people trying desperately to condemn all the people God hasn't gotten around to yet.
posted by Unknown 2:01 PM | 0 comments