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The synod has adopted expectations for reconciliation, based on Matthew 18: 15-20.  The expectation is that congregations
 and
 their members 
first
 seek
 to resolve disagreements among themselves.  Clearly, parking lot meetings, gossip, complaining to other members, personal attacks, and quiet withdrawal are ineffective and inappropriate methods for dealing with grievances.

Following
 St.
 Matthew’s
 counsel,
 persons
 with
 disagreements
 first
 take
 them
 directly
 to the
 person
 with 
whom 
they
 are
 having 
a
 difficulty.
  They
 complain 
not
 to
 others
 but
 rather
 go
 directly 
to
 the 
other congregation
 member,
 the
pastor,
 or
 the
 member
 of
 the
 congregation’s
 staff
 with
 whom
 they
 are
 having
 a
 difficulty.
  Their
 goal
 is
 reconciliation,
 the 
restoration
 of
 the
 relationship
 between 
two 
or
 more
 parties.
  If
 reconciliation
 cannot
  be
 achieved,
 the
 person 
takes
 one 
or
 two
 other
 persons
 with
 them —i.e.,
 a
 wise,
  dispassionate,
 unbiased
 person—again
 for
 the
 sake
 of
 reconciliation. If
 this,
 too,
 fails,  then
 the
 aggrieved 
person

 follows
 the
 procedures 
established
 by
 the
 congregation
 to
  resolve 
conflicts.
 If
 no
 local
 procedures
 have
 been
 adopted,
 utilize
 the
 following:

  • If
 the
 conflict
 does 
not
 directly
 involve
 the
 pastor,
 make 
an
 appointment
 with
  the
 pastor
 and
 seek guidance.  Conflicts 
involving 
the
 pastor 
should
 proceed
 to
  the
 next
 step,
 assuming
 St.
Matthew’s
 counsel
 (above)
 has
 been
 followed.
  • Secret
 meetings
 among
 members
 without
 involving
 the
 congregation’s
  leadership,
 or by the
 congregation 
council
 without
 the
 pastor,
 should 
not
 be held.
  All
 parties
 should actively
 and
 openly
 participate 
in
 the
 process
 of 
seeking reconciliation.
  • Most
 congregational
 constitutions
 provide
 for
 a
 Mutual
 Ministry

 Committee.  Its
 assistance 
may
 be 
sought
 by 
contacting
 the
 chairperson
 of
 the
 Committee. Click here for a copy of the synod’s Mutual Ministry Handbook.
  • If
 there
 is
 no
 Mutual
 Ministry
 Committee,
 or 
if 
this, 
too, 
fails 
to 
accomplish
  reconciliation,
 the
 aggrieved 
person
 should
 approach 
the
 president 
of
 the
 congregation
 council 
for
 seeking
 the
 council’s
 assistance
 in
 mediating
 the
 grievance
 for
 the
 sake
 of


 reconciliation.
  • If
 this,
 too,
 fails,
 the
 pastor
 or
 the 
council
 president
 with
 the
 knowledge
 but
 not  necessarily
 the
 permission
 of
 the
 other,

 should
 contact
 the
 bishop
 and/or 
the
 synod’s
 discernment 
team
 for 
advice,
 referral
 to
 resources,
 or 
direct



 intervention.  The synod’s Discernment Team works with congregations who desire to manage conflicts in their faith communities, working toward reconciliation of all parties. The team consists of lay and ordained members who have trained to consult with and support congregations engaged in this process.  For more information, contact Pastor James Park Bricker at 717-535-5416 or gymbri@embarqmail.com.
  • If
 neither
 the 
pastor
 nor
 the
 congregation
 council
 president
 agrees
 to
 bring
 the
  matter
 to
 the
 attention 
of
 the
 bishop
 after
 having 
been
 requested
 to
 do
 so,
 the
 aggrieved
 party
 or
 parties 
may 
bring
 the
 matter
 directly 
to
 the
 bishop 
after
  informing
 the
 pastor 
and
 council 
president 
of
 their


 intention.

Throughout
 this 
process, 
it 
is 
incumbent 
upon 
all 
Christians
 to 
remember
 that
 they 
are
  called
 by 
Christ 
to 
be 
God’s 
church
 and 
to 
show
 God’s
 love 
and 
forgiveness.
  Jesus’
  directive
 to
 us
 is
 to
 “love
 one
 another
 even
 as
 I 
have
 loved
 you.”
 At
 all
 times
 as
 we
 deal
  with
 differences,
 we
 need
 to
 seek
 God’s
 guidance 
in
 prayer,
 asking  that
 the
 Holy 
Spirit
 would
 guide
 us
 and
 that
 our
 actions
 would
 further
 God’s
 purposes
 and
 not
 necessarily
 our
 own.

Allegationsof

 Misconduct


Persons
 accusing
 a
 pastor 
or
 other
 rostered
 leader
 of
 serious
 misconduct 
should
 contact  the
 office 
of

 the
 bishop
 directly.
  Matters
 of
 misconduct 
are
 handled
 differently
 than
 the
  procedure
 described 
herein.
  All
 allegations
 of
 misconduct
 that
 could
 lead
 to
 official
 discipline
 or 
legal
 action
 are
 taken
 seriously
 and 
investigated 
immediately.

  For
  information
 regarding
 the
 misconduct
 process,
 please
 contact
 the
 synod
 office. Allegations
 of
 serious
 misconduct
 by
 officers
 of
 a
 congregation
 (e.g.
embezzlement)
 also  should
 be 
reported
 immediately 
to
 the
 office 
of
 the
 bishop.

 

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