ARTICLE 68: Excommunication

Anyone who obstinately rejects the admonition by the consistory or who has committed a public sin shall be suspended from the Lord’s supper. If he continues to harden himself in sin, the consistory shall so inform the congregation by means of public announcements, in order that the congregation may be engaged in prayer and admonition, and the excommunication may not take place without its cooperation.

In the first public announcement the name of the sinner shall not be mentioned.

In the second public announcement, which shall be made only after the advice of classis has been obtained, the name and address of the sinner shall be mentioned.

In the third public announcement a date shall be set at which the excommunication of the sinner shall take place.

In case a non-communicant member hardens himself in sin, the consistory shall in the same manner inform the congregation by means of public announcements.

In the first public announcement the name of the sinner shall not be mentioned.

In the second public announcement, which shall be made only after the advice of classis has been obtained, the name and address of the sinner shall be mentioned and a date shall be set at which the excommunication of the sinner shall take place.

The time between the various announcements shall be determined by the consistory.

Texts of Implementation
Texts of Application
Withdrawal

GS 2010 – Article 93

3. Considerations

3.3       Furthermore Regional Synod East 2007 considers that withdrawal can happen by word, or by letter, or by the actions of the appellant. Then Regional Synod cites a number of Scripture passages, Lord’s Days, and articles from the Church Order, but fails to prove that the decision of the church at Owen Sound namely “that by their actions they have withdrawn” was in conflict with Scriptures, Confessions, and Church Order.

4. Recommendation

4.2       That Regional Synod fails to prove that the actions of the church of Owen Sound were in conflict with Scriptures, Confessions, and Church Order.

ADOPTED

Section 2
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Texts of Commentary