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Provide your members with thorough preaching and teaching on the biblical basis and process for church discipline.

Revise your bylaws and membership guidelines so they explicitly set forth your church's commitment to carry out biblical church discipline. In particular, specify whether you will inform members of the problem, whether you will continue with the disciplinary process even if someone attempts to resign from the church, and whether you will contact another church to which someone flees and seek its assistance in promoting repentance and restoration.

Gain support for and consent to these revisions through a careful educational process, open discussions, and congregational meetings.

Ask all members to sign a written covenant that makes reference to your disciplinary commitments. Although a written agreement is not required, it makes proving informed consent easier, and gives you something to fax to a threatening attorney to show him that this is a case he probably can't win.

Refresh your congregation's understanding of and commitment to these policies on a regular basis through an annual "Reconciliation Sunday."

A church that has done its work both biblically and legally will not have to look over its shoulder fearfully as it seeks to restore wandering sheep. Instead, it will be able to minister confidently and boldly as it works to guard its people not only from predatory wolves, but also from the plague of division and divorce that so often cripples our witness for Christ.

Ken Sande is an attorney who serves as president of Peacemaker Ministries. Resources for the educational and risk management steps mentioned in this article are available in the Church PeacePack, available at Peacemaker.net after September 15.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Previous articles in this series include:

How Discipline Died | The church should stop taking its cues from the state. (July 22, 2005)

Shaping Holy Disciples | Mark Dever says church discipline is not about punishment or self-help. (July 25, 2005)

Spheres of Accountability | The dynamics of discipline in the megachurch. (July 26, 2005)

More articles on church discipline or the need for it from CT includes:

To Judge, or Not to Judge | Christ commanded us not to judge others, but aren't there times when common sense or prudence requires it? (June 29, 2005)

The Evangelical Scandal | Ron Sider says the movement is riddled with hypocrisy, and that it's time for serious change. (April 13, 2005)

Canterbury Crackup | Eschewing church discipline has come back to haunt Anglicans. A Christianity Today editorial (Dec. 03, 2004)

Weblog: Debates on Debates on Church Discipline | Catholic bishops will issue statement on Communion as a Matthew 18 lawsuit is reinstated against a Texas Bible church. (June 18, 2004)

Articles from our sister publication, Leadership Journal, include:

Taking Church Membership Seriously | Why it's time to raise the bar. (April 18, 2005)

Church Discipline Really Works (pt. 1) | When you make it loving and redemptive. (Jan. 24, 2005)

Church Discipline Really Works (pt. 2) | How to find courage (and avoid lawsuits) when confronting sinning believers. (Jan. 31, 2005)

Mark Dever's Nine Marks site has a section on church discipline.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Theological Seminary, wrote a series on church disciple. It is available on his website:

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August 2005, Vol. 49, No. 8