Sample Church Discipline Letter to Individual (unbiblical divorce)
Related Mediaxx-xx-xx
Dear _____,
It is with great sadness and heaviness of heart that we are writing to you today. As you know, your membership at XYZ Church calls for you to abide by certain moral standards. Certainly perfection is not required of any church member or leader at XYZ Church. But our church community expects each member to respond to sin—our own and others—from a position of brokenness and remorse. Pastor _____, Pastor _____, and certain elders have each met with you and offered consistent counsel that you passionately pursue your wife and refrain from pursuing an unbiblical divorce.
Because of your decision to pursue an unbiblical divorce against this consistent counsel of the church leadership and against the membership “Covenant on Conduct” recorded in the church by-laws (Article VII), we are forced to continue with a biblical process that publicly calls for your repentance and restoration to your family. On THIS DATE, a letter will be read before the rest of the Church membership inviting them to pray that you would stop pursuing this unbiblical divorce and would seek restoration with your family. Our hope is that this gesture will encourage you to reconsider your decision, ideally before the letter is even read.
If you continue in your present course after the letter is read, then the membership will be asked to make the difficult decision to remove you from membership at our next church business meeting scheduled for THIS DATE. This would also remove the privilege to participate in any church-wide functions and fellowships.
If, on the other hand, you want to reconsider your decision, please know that a wonderful celebration lies on the other side of repentance. Again, perfection is not required of any church member or leader at XYZ Church. What is expected is a humble acknowledgment of our faults and a willingness to strive to honor God by living biblically.
We have been praying for you and will continue to do so. We each remain available to meet with you at your convenience if you would like to discuss a biblical course of action.
The Elders of XYZ Church
Related Topics: Church Discipline, Administrative and Organization