Church Discipline, Postscript

Our original intent when we began discussing church discipline was to contain the subject in two parts, but it occurred to us as we were finishing off Pt. 2 that there was one more aspect of the subject which belonged to Pt. 1 that had been overlooked. So, here we are to take care of it. The missing piece is the “other side” of the abstract discussion. What, if any, disciplinary ramifications might there be for a congregation that refused to operate in harmony with the Church Manual?

“Church status is not necessarily perpetual. A church may be dissolved or expelled from the sisterhood of churches for the following reasons:
1. Loss of members…
2. Discipline—Occasions for expelling churches for disciplinary reasons are rare because the mission of the church is to seek and to save. Where serious problems such as apostasy, refusal to operate in harmony with the Church Manual, or rebellion against the conference persist, earnest efforts should be made to avert the need for expulsion. …However, if all efforts to preserve the church fail, the conference committee should give careful study to the question of expulsion. If such action is decided upon, the conference shall follow the following procedure…” (Church Manual, pp. 41, 42).

Quite simply, congregations are not completely free to act however they like. There are certain actions which, if taken by a congregation, constitute a breach of what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist congregation—a breach so serious that if it cannot be remedied warrants the expulsion of that congregation from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This list of unacceptable behaviors includes refusal to operate in harmony with the Church Manual.

Now, whether the contemplation of discipline is corporate or individual, abstract or concrete, the preferable outcome is always that of resolving the issue over which discipline would be contemplated. However, the unwillingness of the involved parties to work toward such a goal sometimes makes such an outcome impossible. This discussion of discipline (in all its parts) assumes that such efforts have already proven unavailing. In such circumstances, where a congregation persists in ignoring the operations and principles stipulated by the Church Manual, it would be within the authority and duty of the conference to pursue disciplinary action against that congregation.

“The Church recognizes the need of exercising great care to protect the highest spiritual interests of its members, to ensure fair treatment, and to safeguard the name of the Church. It cannot afford to deal lightly with such sins or permit personal considerations to affect its actions, and at the same time it must strive to reclaim and restore those who err” (Church Manual, p.61).