THE DISCIPLINE OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH By Order of the Annual Conferences of The Evangelical Church Printed in the United States of America 2014 Edition THE DISCIPLINE Prepared by the Commission on The Discipline, and approved by the East Central Conference, the Eastern Conference, the Four Corners Conference, the North Central Conference, the Pacific Conference, the Southeast Conference, and the Western Conference. COMMISSION ON THE DISCIPLINE Rev. Brian Eckhardt, Chair Dr. Bruce Moyer, Secretary Rev. Bryan Baker Rev. Glen Boring Rev. Russ Bozeman Rev. Russ Couwenhoven Dr. Carl Duhrkoop Rev. Clifford Good Rev. Tom Heins Rev. Bill Hughes Mrs. Margaret Hughes Rev. Ron Johnson Rev. Rodger Moyer Rev. Randall Myers Rev. Chris Neilson Rev. Roger Pauluk Dr. Richard Pettit Rev. Bradley Preston Rev. Steve Strutz Mr. Brad Walton Dr. K. Mark Weinert Mrs. Roberta White ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: DECLARATION OF FAITH .................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES ..................... 9 A. SPIRITUAL VALUES ............................................................... 9 B. MORAL VALUES ................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 3: HISTORICAL STATEMENT ................................. 17 A. Background ................................................................................ 17 B. Denominational Distinctive....................................................... 21 C. Purpose ....................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 4: CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ...................................... 23 A. The Meaning of Membership ................................................... 23 B. Local Church Membership ....................................................... 23 C. Duties of Members .................................................................... 25 D. Transfer and Withdrawals ....................................................... 27 CHAPTER 5: THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH ..................... 29 A. The Itinerancy ........................................................................... 29 B. Ministers’ Classifications .......................................................... 30 C. Entrance into the Ministry ....................................................... 39 D. Advancement to Order of Elder .............................................. 44 E. Duties of a Minister ................................................................... 46 F. Code of Ethics for Ministers of The Evangelical Church ...... 54 G. Ministerial Support ................................................................... 56 H. Transfer of Ministers ................................................................ 56 CHAPTER 6: JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION ........................... 59 A. Biblical Philosophy .................................................................... 59 B. Arbitration ................................................................................. 59 iii C. Limitation................................................................................... 60 D. Investigation ............................................................................... 60 E. General Rules Covering Trials ................................................. 60 F. Trial of a Lay Person ................................................................. 66 G. Trial of a Minister ..................................................................... 66 H. Order of Procedure ................................................................... 70 I. Judicial Committee ..................................................................... 70 J. Expelled Minister ....................................................................... 72 CHAPTER 7: THE LOCAL CHURCH ......................................... 73 A. The Essential Elements of a Local Church ............................. 73 B. Becoming an Evangelical Church ............................................ 76 C. The Organizational Structure of an Evangelical Church ...... 78 D. Property, Building and Finances ............................................. 93 E. Dissolution and Discontinuance of the Local Church ........... 95 CHAPTER 8: THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE .......................... 101 A. Organization of the Annual Conference ............................... 101 B. Administration of the Annual Conference ............................ 108 C. Other Program Agencies ...................................................... 131 D. Auxiliaries of the Annual Conference ................................... 131 CHAPTER 9: THE GENERAL CHURCH ................................. 137 A. The General Conference ......................................................... 137 B. The General Church Council ................................................. 140 C. General Superintendent .......................................................... 142 D. The Council of Superintendents ............................................. 144 E. The Commission on The Discipline ........................................ 145 F. The General Corporation........................................................ 146 iv G. Finances ................................................................................... 148 H. The General Board of Missions ............................................. 148 I. The Board of Harvest Ministries ............................................. 155 J. The Board of Kingdom Resource Ministries .................... 158 K. The Ministry Committee ..................................................... 161 L. Educational Institutions...................................................... 162 OFFICIAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE DISCIPLINE .......... 163 INDEX .......................................................................................... 167 v vi CHAPTER 1: DECLARATION OF FAITH Article I - The Triune God ¶101. The Holy Scriptures declare there is but one true and living God,1 an eternal being without a body, indivisible, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness. He is the Creator and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.2 He rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of all men, to the glory of His name. In this Godhead there is a Trinity3 of one substance and power, and coeternal, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 1 Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 8:58 2 1 Timothy 1:17 3 Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14 Article II - Jesus Christ, The Son of God ¶102. The Holy Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is truly God1 and truly man,2 in Whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh,3 the only begotten Son of the Father Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.4 As ministering Servant, He lived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead5 and ascended bodily into heaven to be with the Father, from whence He shall return.6 He is eternal Savior and Mediator,7 Who intercedes for us, and by Him all men will be judged.8 1 Acts 17:3; Colossians 2:9 2 Hebrews 2:16-17; Acts 2:22; 4:10 3 John 1:14 4 Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 5 Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 6 Acts 1:9-11; Acts 2:22-24 7 Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2-5 8 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15 1 Article III - The Holy Spirit ¶103. The Holy Scriptures declare that the Holy Spirit proceeds1 from and is one Being with the Father and the Son.2 He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.3 He leads men, through faithful response to the Gospel, into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, sustains, empowers and sanctifies the faithful, and guides them into all truth.4 1 John 15:26-27; John 14:16-17 2 Acts 5:3, 4 3 John 16:8-11 4 John 16:7, 12-13; John 14:26 Article IV - The Holy Scriptures ¶104. The Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired, inerrant, written Word of God.1 They alone contain the will of God as far as it is necessary for us to know it for our salvation, so that whatsoever is not contained therein, nor can be proved thereby, is not to be enjoined on any as an article of faith, or as a doctrine essential to salvation.2 By the Holy Scriptures we understand those sixty six canonical books of the Old and New Testament. In both the Old as well as the New Testament, everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, Who being both God and man, is the only Mediator3 between God and man. Even though Christians are not bound by the ceremonies and rites of the Old Testament4 they are nevertheless not exempt from the keeping of the moral laws.5 1 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21 2 Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19 3 1 Timothy 2:5 4 Galatians 3:11, 24-25; Galatians 4:9-10; Colossians 2:16 5 Matthew 22:37-40; James 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:5 Article V - Depravity and Prevenient Grace ¶105. The Holy Scriptures declare that through the transgression of Adam man is fallen from original righteousness1 and apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is not only entirely destitute of holiness, but is inclined to evil, and that continually,2 and except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.3 Man in his own strength, without divine grace, cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. The Holy Scriptures further declare that man is a free moral 2 agent and that he is responsible for his eternal destiny, and that, influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit and due to the prevenient grace of God4 is enabled to exercise his will for good and to the