Commitment to Accountability, Restoration, & Church Discipline

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

Like all of our Relational Commitments, the principles and practices described below apply to all members of Calvary Church.

A.  Accountability and Discipline Are Signs of God’s Love

God has established the church to reflect His character, wisdom, and glory in the midst of a fallen world (Ephesians 3:10-11). He loves His church so much that He sent His Son to die for her (Ephesians 5:25). His purpose for His church is to present her as a gift to His Son; thus Scripture refers to the church as the “bride” of Christ (Revelation 19:7). For this reason, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are continually working to purify the church and bring her to maturity (Ephesians 5:25-27).

This does not mean that God expects the church to be made up of perfectly pure people. He knows that the best of churches are still companies of sinners who wrestle daily with remaining sin (1 John 1:8; Philippians 3:12). Therefore, it would be unbiblical for us to expect church members to live perfectly. What we can do, however, is confess our common struggle with sin and our mutual need for God’s mercy and grace. We also can spur one another on toward maturity by encouraging and holding each other accountable to love, seek after, and obey God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31; Hebrews 10:24-25).

We sometimes refer to this process of mutual encouragement and accountability as “discipline.” The Bible does not present church discipline as being negative, legalistic, or harsh, as modern society does. True discipline originates from God Himself and is always presented as a sign of genuine love. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6). “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach from your law” (Psalm 94:12). “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” (Revelation 3:19).

God’s discipline in the church, like the discipline in a good family, is intended to be primarily positive, instructive, and encouraging. This process, which is sometimes referred to as “formative discipline,” involves preaching, teaching, prayer, personal Bible study, small group fellowship, and countless other enjoyable activities that challenge and encourage us to love and serve God more wholeheartedly. 

On rare occasions, God’s discipline, like the discipline in a family with growing children, also may have a corrective purpose. When we forget or disobey what God has taught us, He corrects us. One way He does this is to call the church to seek after us and lead us back onto the right track. This process, which is sometimes called “corrective” or “restorative” discipline, is likened in Scripture to a shepherd seeking after a lost sheep.

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off (Matthew 18:12-13).

Thus, restorative or corrective discipline is never to be done in a harsh, vengeful, or self-righteous manner. It is always to be carried out in humility and love with the goals of restoring someone to a close walk with Christ (Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1), protecting others from harm (1 Corinthians 5:6-7), and showing respect for the honor and glory of God’s name (1 Peter 2:12).

B.  Most Corrective Discipline Is Private, Personal, and Informal

God gives every believer grace to be self-disciplined. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7; cf. Galatians 5:23). Thus discipline always begins as a personal matter and usually remains that way, as each of us studies God’s Word, seeks Him in prayer, and draws on His grace to identify and change sinful habits and grow in godliness.

But sometimes we are blind to our sins or so tangled in them that we cannot get free on our own. This is why the Bible says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently” (Galatians 6:1). In obedience to this command, we are committed to giving and receiving loving correction within our church whenever a sin (whether in word, behavior, or doctrine) seems too serious to overlook (Proverbs 19:11).

If repeated private conversations do not lead another person to repentance, Jesus commands that we ask other brothers or sisters to get involved. “But if they will not listen, take one or two others along” (Matthew 18:16). If informal conversations with these people fail to resolve the matter, then we may seek the involvement of more influential people, such as a small group leader, church leader, pastor, or elder. If even these efforts fail to bring a brother or sister to repentance, and if the issue is too serious to overlook, we will move into what may be called “formal discipline.”

C.  Formal Discipline May Involve the Church

If a member persistently refuses to listen to personal and informal correction to turn from speech or behavior that the Bible defines as sin, Jesus commands us to “tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:17). The process begins with informing specific church leaders who are equipped to assist in reconciliation and restoration; however, in cases in which the entire church is affected the entire church may be informed that discipline is necessary.  It is at this point that the peacemaking process becomes a formal restoration/discipline process.  The leadership has approved and adopted the following procedures:

1. A member may contact a pastor or the Elder over Restoration stating that he/she has an unresolved offense with another individual and would like to petition the church for assistance. The request should state the name of the individual with whom the dispute is shared, a very brief explanation of the nature of the offense, and the names of the persons who have assisted in resolution/reconciliation efforts. (NOTE: Members must follow the biblical steps of resolution/reconciliation before requesting the church’s intervention. To do otherwise goes against the pattern laid out by Christ in Matthew 18, Matthew 5:23-25, and Galatians 6:1. In fact, efforts to involve a pastor or any elder at the outset of a conflict may be viewed by the Restoration Council or the Elder Board as an effort to influence the outcome of the process.) 

2. Because each situation is different, the Restoration Council (RC) may take one or more of the following steps:

   • The RC may talk to any or all of the persons involved for clarification on the nature of the offense.

   • The RC may talk to the accused and request a written statement from him/her in response to the written explanation submitted by the petitioning member.  

   • The RC may determine that the persons involved need to make additional efforts to resolve the conflict and urge them to do so.

   • The RC may appoint additional “peacemakers” from the leadership to sit down with one or all individuals involved. They will issue a written recommendation that, if approved by the Elder Board, should be respected by all parties.

   • The RC may involve other leaders, especially if discipline or reproof may be necessary; and in some cases the Elder over Restoration may inform the full Elder Board of pending action by the RC, especially when an individual is non-cooperative in the process.

   • The RC may request that the individuals pursue biblical counseling.

   • In rare cases, the Elder over Restoration may issue a “summary judgment” to one or both parties that the offense has not risen to the level of discipline and that the matter will not be heard by the leadership.

   • The RC may request that individuals involved remove themselves from leadership or ministry positions during the restoration process.

3. Because of the seriousness of unresolved conflict and the potential damage it may cause, any member refusing to cooperate with the Elder over Restoration, persons appointed by him, or the pastors, if their involvement is requested, may be notified of further measures to encourage restoration.

4. It is important to note that accusation is not equated with guilt. When members accuse other members of an offense, they do not possess the authority to declare guilt. This responsibility lies with those who have been given the authority to “watch over the church.” (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5)

5. Persons sometimes leave the church community before they have properly resolved conflict and choose to speak ill of leaders who did not side with them in conflict situations. In that situation, the Elder over Restoration is authorized to draft a written statement of the facts that may be shared, upon elder board approval, with the entire church community. Since the member has, in effect, made disagreement known to others by leaving, the leadership may choose to disclose any details necessary in order to provide accurate information to the rest of the community, or a portion of the community, with the goal of preserving peace and unity. As outlined in these Relational Commitments, members under discipline may choose to resign from membership while under formal church discipline, however, a request for resignation of church membership is valid only when put in writing, and it will be noted as a “withdrawal of membership while under discipline.”

If the straying member does not begin to move towards discernible marks of repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-11) in response to private appeals from our leaders, leaders may choose to communicate with those in the church who are in the member’s sphere of influence and can provide prayer support. (Prior to sending said communication and if the leaders determine it is necessary, they will pursue legal counsel concerning the appropriateness of the communication.) This may include people who might be harmed or affected by that member’s behavior. This communication step may include close friends, a small group, a ministry the individual serves within, or the entire congregation, if our elders deem it to be wise and appropriate (Matthew 18:17, 1 Timothy 5:20).¹ The goal in increasing communication to spheres of influence in the church is always to increase the potential to stir a straying member towards repentance. The Restoration Council carefully manages the process in accordance with the Restoration Guide and with the oversight of the elders.

If, after a reasonable period of time, the member still refuses to change, then our elders may formally remove him or her from membership and normal fellowship. They also may discern that it is necessary to inform those in the sphere of influence, or the entire church body² of their decision and advise those persons to treat the individual as an unbeliever. We will encourage those individuals to look for opportunities to lovingly bring the gospel to him/her, remind him/her of God’s holiness and mercy, call him/her towards grace and towards repentance, and to put his/her faith in Christ (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20). Again, the heart and goal behind removing a member from the church is never punitive. This measure is taken to protect the church (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) and to encourage the individual toward repentance and restoration.

We realize that our natural human response to correction often is to hide or run away from accountability (Genesis 3:8-10). To avoid falling into this age-old trap and to strengthen our church’s ability to rescue us if we are caught in sin, we should agree not to run away from this church to avoid corrective discipline. Therefore, we should willingly waive our right to withdraw from membership or accountability if discipline is pending against us. Although we are free to stop attending the church at any time, we should agree that a withdrawal while discipline is pending will not stop God’s process of discipline in your life, and our desire for your repentance and restoration to God and His church, as described in these Commitments (Matthew 18:12-14; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 13:17).

If a member leaves the church while discipline is in effect or is being considered, and our elders learn that he or she is attending another church, depending on the nature of the sin and whether it could be deemed harmful to the other church leaders or community, they may choose to inform that church of the situation and ask its leaders to encourage the individual to repent and be reconciled to the Lord and to any people he or she has offended. This action is intended both to help the individual find freedom from his or her sin and to warn the other church about the harm that he or she might do to their members (see Matthew 18:12-14; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 3 John 1:9-10).³

Loving restoration always stands at the heart of the disciplinary process. If a member repents, and our Restoration Council or elders are able to discern his or her sincerity, then we will rejoice together and gladly imitate God’s forgiveness by working with the individual to restore them to fellowship within the body (see Matthew 18:13; Luke 15:3-7, 11-32; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Colossians 3:12-14).

People who have been excluded from another church will not be allowed to become members of Calvary Church until they have demonstrated marks of repentance and made a reasonable effort to be reconciled to those who have been hurt or offended. In some cases, our elders may determine that the discipline of the former church was not biblically appropriate and membership at Calvary will proceed normally.

As we pursue the blessings of accountability and church discipline, we will hold fast to the promise of Scripture: “They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11).

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