01.04. Appendix

APPENDIX TULSA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE The following document is the church discipline procedure document that is presented by Tulsa Christian Fellowship to each prospective member of the congregation. Each person assents to this procedure before becoming a member of the congregation.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE When the elders become aware of the persistent practice of a sin (acts that Scripture clearly prohibits and/or labels as sin) by a member of the congregation, they shall take the following steps in an effort to motivate the member to forsake his sinful behavior. The purpose of this action is to insure the salvation of the member and to preserve the holiness of the congregation.

SECTION I Elders’ efforts to obtain repentance 1. The first action by the elders shall be as follows, A. If the sinning member is a male, one of the elder shall go to him and reason with him concerning his sin, calling him to repent and to forsake his sinful practice.

B. If the sinning member is a female, an elder and his wife shall go to the woman and reason with her concerning her sin, calling her to repent and to forsake her sinful practice. The purpose of this first step is to deliver the straying member from his sinful practice without causing public embarrassment. The elder shall report to the council of elders the results of his efforts in behalf of the sinning member. If the result is repentance and the forsaking of sin, then the matter shall be dropped. However, the elder who made the contact shall continue to aid the repentant member in rehabilitation through accountability, encouragement, and support. Should this first action by the elders fail to produce repentance and the forsaking of the sinful practice, step two shall be initiated.

2. The second effort by the elders shall consist of two or three elders going to the sinning member (male or female) and reasoning with him, urging him to repent and to forsake his sinful action. The purpose of this second effort by the elders is to follow the Scriptural pattern in Matthew 18:15-16 and to deliver the straying member from his sinful practice without causing public embarrassment. The elders making the contact shall report to the council of elders the results of their efforts in behalf of the sinning member. If the result is repentance and forsaking of sin, then the matter shall be dropped. However, at least 23 one of the elders who makes the contact shall continue to aid the repentant member in rehabilitation through accountability, encouragement, and support. Should the second effort by the elders fail to produce repentance and the forsaking of the sinful practice, step three shall be initiated.

3. The third effort by the elders shall consist of two or three elders (the same ones in step two or, should wisdom dictate, two or three elders other than the ones who made the contact in step two) going to the sinning member (male or female) and reasoning with him, urging him to repent and to forsake his sinful practice.

A. If the sinning member does not express repentance at the time of the visit, the elders shall read or recite Hebrews 13:17 to him, explaining that they must give account to God for his soul. Then they shall recite or read Acts 20:28, explaining that they are responsible for the local congregation and must answer to God for this body of believers.

B. If this reasoning does not produce cooperation on the part of the sinner, then 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 shall be read, recited or summarized for the sinner. The elders then shall state that they have no choice but to obey this Scriptural command and that, should the sinning member not forsake his sin, he shall be given seven days in which to contact the elders and express repentance.

SECTION II The act of disfellowshipping an unrepentant sinning member If during the seven day period referred to in SECTION I, 3. B, above, the sinner does not contact the elders and express repentance, the elders shall proceed as follows, On the first Sunday following the above mentioned seven day period, a letter shall be read to the congregation, stating that the sinning member is disfellowshipped. Unless the elders deem necessary, the sin shall not be specified in an effort to protect the privacy of the individual, especially where the elders have privileged information. Should the sinning member repent and forsake his sinful practice prior to the reading of the letter to the congregation, the elders shall go to him, expressing their acceptance and at least one elder shall continue to aid him in rehabilitation through accountability, encouragement, and support.

SECTION III A false statement of repentance If during procedures 1, 2, or 3, the sinning member expresses repentance but continues to practice sin, the elders shall contact him and notify him that the next step shall be taken unless he can convince the elders that he has forsaken his sin.24 SECTION IV

Non-publication of disciplinary action The action of disfellowshipping a member shall not be published outside of the local congregation unless another church requests transfer of membership. Should another church request transfer of membership for a disfellowshipped member, the following letter shall be sent to the requesting church, did not leave our church in good standing. We cannot recommend him for membership in your church.

SECTION V

Withdrawal of membership during the disciplinary process Should a sinning member inform the elders that he wishes to withdraw from membership while steps 1, 2, or 3, are in process, the elders shall take no further action, except to advise the sinning member that they will respond to any requests for transfer of membership by sending the requesting church the following letter, did not leave our church in good standing. We cannot recommend him for membership in your church.

SECTION VI

Restoration of a disfellowshipped member Should a disfellowshipped member contact the elders, expressing repentance, he shall be asked to appear before the council of the elders where he will be asked to confess his sin and to confirm his forsaking of it. When this is done, the elders immediately shall extend to him the hand of fellowship and shall on the next Sunday announce to the congregation the reinstatement of the formerly disfellowshipped member.

SECTION VII

Restoration of a sinning member who has withdrawn from fellowship Should a sinning member who has withdrawn fellowship request reinstatement in the congregation, the elders shall deal with him on the basis of a disfellowshipped member who has contacted them, expressing repentance (SECTION VI).