Church Manual - General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

xvi
CHURCH MANUAL
Reading ......................................................................................... 177
Radio and Television ..................................................................... 178
Recreation and Entertainment ....................................................... 178
Music ............................................................................................. 179
Social Relationships ...................................................................... 180
Chaperonage .................................................................................. 182
Courtship and Marriage ................................................................. 182
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 184
CHAPTER 14
Church Discipline ............................................................................. 185
General Principles ......................................................................... 185
Dealing With Erring Members ................................................. 185
To Seek Reconciliation ............................................................. 186
Authority of the Church ............................................................ 188
Church Responsible for Dealing With Sin ............................... 188
Unconsecrated Resist Church Discipline ................................. 189
Rules and Regulations Necessary ............................................ 190
Self-appointed Organizations .................................................. 190
Safeguarding the Unity of the Church ........................................... 190
Settlement of Differences Among Members ............................. 191
Settlement of Grievances of Members Against the Church ...... 192
Settlement of Grievances of the Church Against Members ...... 192
Administering Discipline .............................................................. 193
Discipline by Censure ................................................................... 194
Discipline by Removal From Church Membership........................ 194
Reasons for Which Members Shall Be Disciplined ...................... 194
Timeliness in the Disciplinary Process .......................................... 196
Caution in Disciplining Members ................................................. 196
Ministers or Churches Not to Establish Tests of Fellowship .... 196
At a Duly Called Meeting ......................................................... 197
Majority Vote ........................................................................... 197
Church Board Cannot Remove From Church Fellowship ....... 197
Right of the Member to Be Heard in Defense .......................... 197
Lawyers Not to Represent Members ........................................ 197
Members Not to Be Removed From Church Membership
for Nonattendance .............................................................. 198
Members Moving Away and Not Reporting ............................. 198
Members Not to Be Removed for Pecuniary Reasons............... 198
Removing a Member From Membership on Personal Request 199
Notification to Persons Removed From Membership .............. 199