CHAPTER 24

Discipline of Church Bodies

¶721 Introduction

All organizational entities of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, are expected to follow and uphold the standards set forth in the Discipline. When individuals and organizational entities disagree with those standards, the proper recourse is to submit proposals for change to the US National Conference. Non-compliance with the standards agreed upon by the broader church is not a valid option.

¶722 Offenses Requiring Church Discipline

Any local church or other body or agency of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, may be subject to church discipline for any of these offenses:

1. Disseminating or tolerating the teaching of doctrines contrary to the doctrines of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, as stated in the Discipline.

2. Disobeying the provisions of the Discipline, or tolerating such disobedience.

3. Infringing on the rights of United Brethren members, as stated in the Discipline.

4. Insubordination or willful refusal to recognize church authority, whether at the local or national church level.

¶723 Jurisdiction

The US National Conference is responsible for discipline involving the actions or decisions of:

1. Local churches in the national conference.

2. Pastors and licensed ministers in the US National Conference.

3. The Executive Leadership Team.

¶724 Process of Discipline

1. Situations of a corporate nature which require discipline must be handled on an individual basis. The principles of conflict resolution outlined in chapter 22 should be followed as much as applicable. The persons involved in dealing with the situations will vary, depending on the level—local or national—and the specific bodies or persons involved. Therefore, it is impractical to outline specific procedures intended to address all possible situations. Rather, the relevant governing body shall have discretion in how it proceeds.

2. Depending on the situation, such actions as the following might be appropriate:

a. Private rebuke of the group in question, or its leader(s), by a national leader.

b. Rebuke of the group in question, or its leader(s), before two or three witnesses.

c. Rebuke before the appropriate governing body.

d. Removal of group members from their positions.

e. Disbanding of the group.