Changes to Church Discipline - Chapter 7
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Changes to Church Discipline
Appears in Chapter 7 |
| The 59th GC Session approved the inclusion of the following texts to the section, Discipline, which starts on page 56 in the (18th edition) and ends on page 67. |
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| Fundamental Rights of the Members - Members have a fundamental right to prior notification of the discipline heeting and the right to be heard in their own defense, introduce evidence, and produce witnesses. No church should vote to remove a member under circomstances that deprive the member of these rights. Written notice must be given at least two weeks, before the meeting and include the reasons for the disciplinary hearing. ( page 64, 65 ) |
Below is the wording in the 17th edition, which was approved by the 58th GC Session in 2005
| Right of the Member to be Heard in Defense - It is a fundamental principle of justice that every member has the right to be heard in hes/her own defense and to introduce evidence and produce witnesses. No church should vote to remove a member from church membership under circumstances that deprive an individual of this right, if one chooses to exercise it. Due notice should be given by the church to the member of its intention to consider the problem, thus giving the opportunity for the individual to appear. ( page 197.) |
Another change was made to
the wording in the 17th edition, regarding appeals for Reinstatement
| Right of Appeal for Reinstatement - In a case where the church officers refuse to consider the application for reinstatement from a dismissed member, such an individual has a right to appeal to the church for a hearing. The church should not neglect or refuse to grant such a hearing. It is does, the individual has the right to appeal for a hearint to the executive committee of the conference/mission/field in which the church is located. If, after a full and impartial hearing, the conference is satisfied that an injustice is being inflicted by the church, the committee may recommend the reinstatement of the dismissed member. But if membership is still refused by that church, then the committee may recommend the individual to membership in some other church. On the other hand, if it finds good grounds for sustaining the church in refusing to reinstate the member, it will so record its decision. ( page 200 ) |
This has been changed by the 59th GC Session to read
| Right of Appeal for Reinstatement - o ( page 67 ) |
| Conference a ( page 124 ) |
Below is the wording in the 17th edition, which was approved by the 58th GC Session in 2005
Church
(See Notes, #9, p. 99.) |
