Church Discipline
Church Discipline is the church's exercise of authority given by Christ, both to guide, control, and nurture its members, and for the correction and restraint of wrongdoing.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is made up of members and congregations and is led by presbyters who discern the will of God in each situation. Presbyters gather in the following councils: Session (of a congregation), Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. All councils higher than a Session convene a Permanent Judicial Commission to hear and decide cases arising within Church Discipline. A session functions as the Judicial Commission for a congregation should a case be filed against a member of a congregation.
The purpose of church discipline is:
- To honor God by making clear the significance of membership in the body of Christ;
- To preserve the purity of the church by nourishing the individual within the life of the believing community;
- To pursue and reveal the truth;
- To achieve justice and compassion for all participants involved;
- To correct or restrain wrongdoing in order to bring members to repentance and restoration;
- To uphold the dignity of those who have been harmed by offenses;
- To restore the unity of the church by removing the causes of discord and division; and
- To secure the just, speedy, and economical determination of proceedings.
Remedial Cases
Remedial Cases are challenges to council action alleging a decision or action contrary to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (known as an irregularity) or the omission or failure to act on a constitutional requirement (known as a delinquency).
Disciplinary Cases
Disciplinary Cases are corrections to individual action which constitutes an offense contrary to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or Scripture. These corrections are eccles ial only and may include public rebuke, public rebuke with supervised rehabilitation, temporary removal from office as a presbyter or deacon, and removal from office as a presbyter or deacon or removal from membership of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The primary Resource for persons engaging in Church Discipline Is the Book of Order. Other resources are listed on this page.
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) is a permanent commission of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that exercises church discipline through judicial process.
The responsibilities of the GAPJC are described in the Rules of Discipline section of the Book of Order.
Judicial Process
Trauma-Informed Guidance
Flor Vélez-Díaz
Manager for Judicial Process & Social Witness
Office: (502) 569-5432
Mobile: (502) 240-2570
Flor.Vélez-Dí[email protected]
Laurie Griffith
Assoc. Director for Constitutional Interpretation
Office: (502) 569-5432
Mobile: (502) 386-3983
[email protected]