Church discipline (averted)

[De Jager]

If there is no local reformed church you can be a part of in good conscience, then I would take this as a sign that you should move to a place where you can. I am not saying that you should leave immediately...go through whatever channels you can to protest to member in question, and then to the church with the established procedures in place. If that is unfruitful you still don't *have to* leave as there may be a place for you to call the church to repentance, even repeatedly. It depends on the situation.

 

[JLB]

If there is no local reformed church you can be a part of in good conscience, then I would take this as a sign that you should move to a place where you can. I am not saying that you should leave immediately...go through whatever channels you can to protest to member in question, and then to the church with the established procedures in place. If that is unfruitful you still don't *have to* leave as there may be a place for you to call the church to repentance, even repeatedly. It depends on the situation.

I would move in a heartbeat, but my wife would not move for that reason. She's actually wanting to move closer to her parents and that area is full of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and your typical Evangelical Churches. There is an Anglican branch-off denomination but allows women to be ordained.

(This is a daily struggle for me but isn't the point right now.)

You mentioned repeatedly calling the Church to repentance - in your opinion how would one do that without inviting hostility or apathy towards what I'm saying?

 

[De Jager]

I would move in a heartbeat, but my wife would not move for that reason. She's actually wanting to move closer to her parents and that area is full of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and your typical Evangelical Churches. There is an Anglican branch-off denomination but allows women to be ordained.

(This is a daily struggle for me but isn't the point right now.)

You mentioned repeatedly calling the Church to repentance - in your opinion how would one do that without inviting hostility or apathy towards what I'm saying?

I'm not going to push too hard on the moving thing, I understand that sometimes a husband and wife don't see eye to eye on church matters, but it is not a democracy. You are the head. Just remember that.

Now, in terms of calling the church to repentance...first it means going through the discipline process as outlined above. Make sure your approach is bullet proof and follows the church order so no can dismiss it on a technicality. But absolutely make sure that if it is not resolved locally that it is brought before the wider assemblies. I am not ready to believe that the CanRC would not act to rectify this situation. If they don't, things are much worse than I thought. Even then, you have options for protest. In any elders visits you have the opportunity to raise concerns. You can write letters. You can even be ordained an elder which could give you a position of leadership.

Don't give up. And most importantly pray to God that he would bring His people to repentance.

 

[JLB]

I'm not going to push too hard on the moving thing, I understand that sometimes a husband and wife don't see eye to eye on church matters, but it is not a democracy. You are the head. Just remember that.

Now, in terms of calling the church to repentance...first it means going through the discipline process as outlined above. Make sure your approach is bullet proof and follows the church order so no can dismiss it on a technicality. But absolutely make sure that if it is not resolved locally that it is brought before the wider assemblies. I am not ready to believe that the CanRC would not act to rectify this situation. If they don't, things are much worse than I thought. Even then, you have options for protest. In any elders visits you have the opportunity to raise concerns. You can write letters. You can even be ordained an elder which could give you a position of leadership.

Don't give up. And most importantly pray to God that he would bring His people to repentance.

Thank you for the advise.

I will add that my wife is not a believer, but I'm praying for her - So becoming an elder is not an option.

My flesh wants to wash my hands of it, but the spirit is willing me otherwise.