The Church Manual (Church of the Brethren)/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
RULES FOR MEMBERS IN CASE OF OFFENSES.
Our rules are modeled after those given in the 18th chapter of Matthew, and are as follows:
1. When an offence is given to a member, in language or conduct, if the offense relates only to himself, the offended shall, without consulting any one, go to the offender with an honest purpose to be reconciled, if possible. If satisfaction is given, he shall forgive and no more be said about it.
2. If satisfaction be not given, it shall be the duty of the offended to select one or two to go with him, choosing such as he may deem best adapted to effect a reconciliation, with whom he shall again converse with the offending brother. If satisfaction then be given, the matter shall be forgiven and no further complaint be made.
3. If these efforts both fail to secure a reconciliation, it shall be the duty of the offended to lay the matter before the church, and submit to her action in the case.
4. If any member of the church shall be publicly guilty of any crime or gross impropriety, it shall be the duty of the member, knowing the transgression, to inform the elder, who shall see or write to the offender, and inform him that the matter will be laid before the church, that he may appear in his own defense.
5. When common report charges a crime against a member, it shall be the duty of the one hearing it to report it to the elder, who shall have the member visited or informed of the report, and if there is reason to believe that it is true, to have the most judicious steps taken to ascertain its correctness, and then lay the report and its evidence before the church for action in the case.
6. When circumstances are impracticable to have a member who is reported to have been guilty of crime visited, it shall be the duty of the elder, hearing of such crime, to take the most judicious measures to ascertain the truth in regard to the report, and lay the matter before the church.
7. If a member, having erred, shall voluntarily confess it to the church, and manifests satisfactory repentance, no further proceedings shall be taken against him except in cases of public scandal or gross immoralities.
8. Every member against whom any charge is preferred, shall have the privilege of speaking in his own defense.
9. Written testimony of individuals who are not members, and have good moral characters, may be admitted as confirmatory evidence in cases of discipline.
10. If members fail to give satisfaction to the church in relation to charges preferred against them, or persistently refuse to appear before the church when called to do so, they shall, by a majority vote, be expelled.