Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
It seems that they want to look out for his spiritual good.
No, and this highlights the distinction:
Our elders would inquire
If they were interested in his spiritual well being, they would have a couple of elders meet with him to find out what was going on, and what were his concerns. They would, as Mr. Zartman suggests, have inquired.
The fact that they jump to dragging him before a disciplinary hearing with charges of having violated man-made rules suggests that the issue is one of control, and does bring to mind how cults operate.
I can't see where this is likely to have a good outcome. It probably isn't worth the expense of showing up with a lawyer and a court reporter. If I was the friend, I'd probably contact the church visited and ask if they were willing to take me into membership despite the pending disciplinary proceedings for having committed the sin of having visited their church for worship.
I wouldn't be surprised, however, if his present rulers ordered friends and family remaining in their church to shun him going forward.
In short, the leaders of his present church have probably taken a situation which they should have properly addressed, and escalated it to a point where there is no good outcome.