TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WAUKESHA, WI

CONSTITUTION

Preamble
We, the members of Trinity Presbyterian Church, do hereby establish and submit ourselves to the following Constitution as the governing document over the affairs of this local assembly of the Christian Church. In the Church, all things are to be done decently and in order. This pertains to the government of the church as much as to the corporate worship. Convinced that Jesus Christ, the Head of church, will protect and guide her, we seek to obey God’s Word through the following standards for the orderly, biblical government of our congregation. These standards do not supplant Scripture, but rather are an expression of biblical church government under God.
Article I. Name
The name of this congregation shall be Trinity Presbyterian Church Waukesha, WI, hereafter abbreviated as TPC.
Article II. Standards of Faith and Practice
1. TPC is a congregation of Christian believers who have assembled for the following purposes, in keeping with the commands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

• a. To worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ as we are commanded in the Scriptures. 
• b. To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ fully and faithfully in our worship and public witness.
• c. To participate in the Great Commission, given by Christ to His Church, to make disciples of all the nations.
• d. To strive to live our lives in accordance with God’s command to love Him with our whole heart, and our neighbors as ourselves.
• e. To promote the spirit of unity and the bond of peace among Christians and Christian churches, and labor together with them toward our common purposes in Christ.
• f. To stand for God’s truth in the public sphere, declaring that God’s rule extends to the entirety of His creation.

2. TPC acknowledges the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and conduct. We uphold the standard of sola scriptura as articulated by the Protestant Reformers, that Scripture is the ultimate and only infallible authority.

3. TPC stands in the distinct religious history of the Reformed churches of the Protestant Reformation. Accordingly, we also uphold the doctrines of sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, and soli Deo gloria, holding that eternal salvation comes by faith alone through grace alone granted by Christ alone for the glory of God alone.

4. As inheritors of that Reformed history, we recognize as our primary creeds and confessional standard of doctrine and life:

• a. The Apostles’ Creed (AD 2nd century) 
• b. The Nicene Creed (AD 381)
• c. The Definition of Chalcedon (AD 451)
• d. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) and Catechisms (1648).

5. We also recognize and find useful the following secondary standards, though we defer to our primary standards in any perceived or real disagreement between these standards:

• a. The Three Forms of Unity:
• i. The Belgic Confession (1561).
• ii. The Heidelberg Catechism (1563). iii. The Canons of Dort (1619).
• b. The Second Helvetic Confession (1566).

Article III. Organization and Governance
1. As in all matters of doctrine and practice, TPC seeks to govern itself according to the precepts, patterns, and principles found in the Bible. This means that while we recognize the authority of leadership, we first acknowledge its responsibilities. Those responsibilities are primarily to:
a. Uphold biblical standards in the worship and work of the church.
b. Love, teach, and serve as faithful under-shepherds the believers who join our covenant
community.
c. Offer protection, support, correction, encouragement, counsel, and reproof to members
of the congregation as such needs arise.
d. If the Session of elders is engaged in dealing with a member or members in a matter of
discipline, Session recognizes the member or members may request counsel from other churches or Christian counselors. However, while the Session may be advised by or listen to whatever counsel is provided outside of its own, the TPC Session’s ruling in the discipline matter will be the final ruling in the matter.
2. TPC is a member congregation of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) and submits to the governing authority of the CREC as defined in its Constitution.
3. TPC participates in Tyndale Presbytery of the CREC and is subject to its oversight as defined in the CREC Constitution. As such, any member of TPC may appeal to Tyndale Presbytery should legitimate need arise.
4. Locally, TPC is governed by a Session consisting of teaching elders and ruling elders, to which members agree to obey and submit.
5. The elders of TPC, whether teaching or ruling, shall constitute the Session and also shall serve as the Trustees of the congregation for the purposes of transacting business.
6. TPC operates as a Presbyterian congregation. Specifically, this means we maintain a representative form of church government.

               a. Ruling elders are men/ males selected from the membership of the church; approved by the Session; and ordained to their office publicly during a regular worship service.
              b. A man may not be placed on the ballot for ruling elder without the unanimous consent of the current Session and without first being examined on his doctrine and life by the Session. Once on the ballot, the man must be confirmed to office by a majority vote of the full roster of member households who are eligible to vote at the time of appointment.
             c. This constitution assumes, and the norms of biblical church order requires, that
a plurality of elders oversee this local church. Therefore if there no longer exists a plurality of elders in office, and this cannot in a timely way be supplied, the remaining elder (or the electors of the church, if there are no elders), shall seek the temporary oversight of the elders of a trusted sister church with similar doctrinal standards and practices. The purpose of such an arrangement is to provide care and leadership. Should this arise because an Elder is inactive, he may be asked to become active. When a plurality of resident elders is raised up the oversight arrangement described shall immediately cease.
           d. Qualifications of elders include:

•  i. Meeting the biblical requirements for leadership in the Church (1 Tim 3:1-7;
• Titus 1:7-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
• ii. Being members in good standing of TPC, or in the case of a teaching elder, in
• good standing of the church from which he comes.

         e. Responsibilities of elders/ Session include:

• i. Oversee the conduct of regular worship services (1 Tim 3:14-16; 5:17). ii. Labor with the pastor in shepherding and equipping the congregation
• (1 Pe 5:1-2; Ep 4:11-12).
• iii. Prayer/ fasting (Acts 6:4;13:1-3).
• iv. Exercise moral discipline over members by sitting in judgment of charges of
• offense, obtaining evidence, applying discipline and restoration (1 Cor 5:1-5). v. Prayer for the healing of the sick (Jas 5:14-15).
• vi. Oversee evangelism in obedience to the Lord’s Commission
• (Matt 28:16-20).
• vii. Maintain the membership roll of the church.
• viii. Resolve questions of doctrine and discipline reasonably proposed. ix. Act upon complaints addressed to the Session.
• x. Oversee the business affairs of the church, including church finances. xi. Oversee the deacons in the performance of their duties.
• xii. Oversee the training of ministerial students & training for officers.

          f. In addition to the responsibilities listed above, teaching elders are responsible for planning and leading worship (including reading the scriptures, unless he delegates this to an elder or other man in the congregation), and administering the sacraments (Matt 28:19-20;
1 Cor 11:23-26).
         g. The moderator of the Session will normally be the minister. The Session will normally meet monthly, but at a minimum quarterly. Meetings shall be announced beforehand at the morning service or listed in the church bulletin. In all meetings of the Session, each has one vote (there is no distinction of rank among the elders). A quorum shall be one-half of the elders serving in office, plus the moderator.
         h. Individual elders are responsible for those duties delegated to them by the Session, and recorded in the minutes, with due regard to their gifts and desires. Elders with such a charge will serve willingly, and without domineering in the discharge of their assigned duties (1 Peter 5:1-3). The elders principally function in the government of the church and in teaching and instructing from the Word, and are called to support and care for the
pastor in his ministry.
7. Teaching elders/ pastors are men/ males that may come from the congregation or from another local church, but in all cases must meet the following requirements:

• a. When the church has no teaching elder/ pastor it should seek to secure one without delay. All candidates must meet the qualifications for the office set down in Scripture (I Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Pet 5:2-4). The church shall proceed to call and elect a pastor in the following manner: the Session shall call a heads of households meeting to elect a pulpit committee which may be composed of members from the congregation at large or the Session, as designated by the electors. When a candidate has been selected and approved by the committee, and approved by the Session, the Session shall order a heads of households meeting to convene at the regular place of worship. Public notice of the time, place, and purpose of this meeting shall be given at least two weeks prior to the time of the meeting.
• b. Unless previously ordained, they must be examined and recommended by a committee of Tyndale Presbytery.
• c. They must be confirmed to their office by a majority vote of the full roster of member households who are eligible to vote at the time of appointment.
• d. They serve at the pleasure of the Session, and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the Session. However, a teaching elder so removed has the right of appeal to Tyndale Presbytery. In such cases, the Presbytery ruling shall be final.
• e. A teaching elder may be appointed for a specific period of time as determined by the Session, or to an open-ended appointment by mutual agreement of the Session and the teaching elder.
• f. A teaching elder may resign his position at any time. Teaching elder resignations are not subject to a vote of the Session.

8. One teaching elder will normally hold the additional title of senior pastor.

• a. The senior pastor is the primary minister of worship and the gospel in the church, and carries the primary responsibility of shepherding the congregation.
• b. The Session may also designate other teaching elders as a pastor, for instance, a pastor of missions, assistant pastor, etc.
• c. A teaching elder may resign a position as pastor and remain as a teaching elder, by a majority vote of the Session. The teaching elder in question does have a vote in the question.

9. TPC provides a third congregational office, deacon, which is not part of the governing Session, but which carries important responsibilities within the congregation.

• a. As with ruling elders, deacons are men/ males selected from the membership of the church, approved by the Session, and ordained to their office publicly during a regular worship service.
• b. The deacon’s qualifications and responsibilities are summarized in Acts 6:1–6 and 1 Timothy 3:8–18.
• c. The deacon’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

           i. Showing compassion and mercy toward saints and strangers who are in need or distress.
          ii. Collecting and disbursing funds for the relief of the needy.
          iii. Organizing and encouraging church members to engage in such services to others.
          iv. Caring for the property, grounds, and buildings owned or used by the congregation.

• d. A man may not be placed on the ballot for deacon without the unanimous consent of the current Session and without first being examined on his doctrine and life by the Session. Once on the ballot, the man must be confirmed to office by a majority vote of the full roster of member households who are eligible to vote at the time of appointment.
• e. Deacons may be removed by a majority vote of the Session.
• f. Deacons may resign their office at any time.

10. Elders and deacons annually affirm the Constitution:

• a. Every year, all elders and deacons shall each read the Constitution as well as the primary Standards of Faith and Practice (as specified in Article II), and affirm in writing their continued agreement with these documents before the Session.
• b. Any personal disagreement or concern with the Constitution or the primary Standards of Faith and Practice must be reported in writing and presented to the Session. Failure to affirm the Constitution or the primary Standards of Faith and Practice may be grounds for removal from office.
• c. The Session shall report to the members of TPC once the annual affirmation has been conducted.

           Article IV. Membership
1. Membership in TPC consists of households, defined as:

• a. Father, mother, and children living together in the same physical household, including children living temporarily in other circumstances, but subject to the authority of their parents.
• b. Mother and children living in the same physical household, absent a father by reason of death, divorce, abandonment, or unbelief. The same provision applies to single fathers.
• c. Single individuals living independently, who are at least 20 years of age, including widows and otherwise unmarried men and women. This provision applies to children of members who establish themselves as independent households.
• d. Single men and women attending college are considered members of their parents’ household unless their parents and the Session agree to different arrangements.
• e. Each household is represented by the head of household in matters requiring a vote of the membership. In all cases, an elector must be:

          i. at least 20 years of age (Num 1:2-3, 18, 30ff; 14:29; 26:2, 4; Ex 30:14; 38:26; 2 Chron. 25:5); and
        ii. in faithful and regular attendance and in good standing as a communicant member;
      iii. in agreement with and must uphold the constitution of TPC including its

      Statement of Faith. Any exception to these requirements must be approved by the decision of the Session of elders.
      2. Households become members of TPC by:

• a. Petitioning the Session for membership.
• b. Testifying to their personal faith in Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9-10); their manner of life is consistent with a Christian profession (Matt 7:22-23); having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 29:19); submitting to the government of this church (Philemon 2; Heb 13:7,17)
• c. Declaring their agreement with the governing documents of the church.
• d. Affirming membership vows before the congregation at a regular worship service (see Appendix A of this Constitution, Membership Vows)
• e. Signing the TPC membership vows

    3. The Session of the church recognizes, through admitting the household into such membership, that the household head is responsible before God for the spiritual condition of that household. Under the headship of Christ, the administration of church ordinances and discipline remains with the Session. However, in such administration, the Session is to respect the spiritual responsibility of the head of the household.

4. Members of TPC carry the following responsibilities:

• a. Participating in the regular worship, fellowship, and external ministry of the church.
• b. Praying for and encouraging TPC officers.
• c. Supporting the church financially through tithes and offerings, or seeking an exception from the Session based on their particular circumstances.
• d. Holding one another accountable for their conduct and attitude as brothers in Christ, in keeping with the pattern of Matthew 18.
• e. Upholding one another in prayer and service, particularly those experiencing difficult circumstances and challenges.

5. Members participate in the governance of TPC by:

• a. Recommending men for leadership positions in the church. Also, a man may aspire to the office of elder or deacon and make his desire known to the Session (1 Tim 3:1).
• b. Approving revisions to the TPC Constitution.
• c. Confirming appointments to the offices of ruling elder, teaching elder, and deacon, as specified in Article III.

6. Heads of household are eligible to vote by: 

• a. Being in good standing (i.e., not under church discipline) 
• b. Attending Sunday worship at least 50% of the time.
• c. Electors may petition the Session at any time to call a heads of households meeting for the purpose of electing additional elders, or deacons, in accordance with Article III.7,10.

7. Conditions for receiving new members into the church:

• a. New converts to the Christian faith must be examined by the Session for their profession of faith and understanding of the implications of following Christ. Upon approval of the Session, the new converts will be baptized, and affirm membership vows before the congregation, whereupon they will be received into membership.
• b. Persons applying for membership who are coming from other Christian churches may transfer their membership, provided they are leaving their former church in good standing, meaning not under discipline. The Session will confirm the status with the former church, and request a letter of transfer.
• c. Persons applying for membership without a formal transfer may be received into membership according to their particular circumstances. In such cases, the Session will investigate the circumstances, and reach a decision based on its findings.
• d. A non-member who marries a member of TPC will be required to take membership vows individually in accordance with their status as defined in paragraphs a., b., or c. above.
• e. Children of members who establish themselves as independent households will be required to affirm membership vows individually to qualify as member households.

8. Once membership is established at TPC, a person shall remain a member and under the oversight, rule, and care of the TPC Session unless removed by order of the Session due to death, moral discipline, proper transfer of membership to another church, or upon approved request for release.

• a. Unless an extension is requested of and approved by the Session, members seeking to join another church will be given 6 months to become a member of a new church.
• b. Those members seeking a new church home must remain in contact with the Session and give a monthly update on their progress and the spiritual state of their household.

   Article V. Sacraments
1. TPC acknowledges two sacraments bequeathed to the Church in the Scriptures: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2. Sacraments are signs and seals of God’s covenant of grace.

• a. Baptism is the sign and seal of an individual’s admission into the covenant. It is administered to new converts to the Christian faith, as well as to the children of believers.
• b. The Lord’s Supper is the continuing sign and seal of membership in the covenant. It is administered as part of our weekly worship service, to all baptized believers in good standing and their baptized children who are able to physically eat and drink the elements, either members of TPC or of other Christian churches. Under the headship of Christ, the responsibility for administering the sacraments remains with the Session. When a baptized child begins to take the Lord’s Supper, we ask that a parent notify one of our elders. However, for those that hold to credo communion, the Session shall defer to the view of the head of each household.

   Article VI. Discipline
1. The Nature of Discipline
Discipline is a censure or correction that is required of the church by Scripture for the purpose of simple obedience. Church discipline is a matter of unique sensitivity that has historically been neither consistently nor properly conducted, thus bringing reproach upon the church. Discipline will therefore be given serious attention by TPC.
2. Types of discipline

• a. Informal discipline is that which is applied by individual members or by a part of the church, without the action of the Session or the church as a body. The Session of TPC will, through teaching and example, encourage the members of TPC to discipline one another through the following practices:

       i. Exercising self-discipline; e.g. applying self-correction.
       ii. Overlooking, in love, the failings of one another (I Peter 4:8).
       iii. Admonishing a brother when necessary (Matthew 18:15).
       iv. Taking one or two other witnesses if the admonition is rejected (Matthew 18:16). v. Bringing the issue to the church through the Session if the admonition is rejected (Matthew 18:17).

• b. Formal church discipline is the exercise of authority given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, to instruct and guide its members and to promote its unity, peace, purity, and good order. Therefore, godly church discipline should be exercised with a positive view toward glorifying God, and should result in the removal of scandal and offense, the vindication of the honor of Christ, and the reclaiming and restoring of disobedient sinners to the love of God and fellowship of the church through confession, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

   Formal church discipline is applied through the formal action and unanimous judgment of the elders. Except in cases of scandal requiring immediate action, the pattern    of church discipline will generally include formal private admonishment by two or more (Matt. 18:16), formal public admonishment and suspension from the Supper (2     Thess. 3:14-15), and a formal hearing which may result in excommunication (Matt. 18:17). The procedure for formal discipline is described in Appendix B of this   Constitution.

• c. Subjects of discipline:

           i. Communicant Members.
           ii. Non-members: Professing Christians who attend TPC regularly but who are not members.

          iii. Professing Christians under discipline by other churches: If another church has disciplined one of its members, and that person subsequently comes to TPC, then the Session of TPC will decide whether to honor the discipline of the other church after due consultation with the person concerned and after appropriate information is obtained from the disciplining church.

• d. Prerequisites for formal discipline: If informal discipline does not result in satisfactory correction, then those who are aware of the need for discipline are expected to call the matter to the attention of the Session. In the case of open and scandalous sin, there is no requirement to attempt private resolution of the matter and it should be brought to the Session without delay. Discipline will be imposed only after Scriptural prerequisites have been satisfied and the Session has made sufficient inquiry.
• e. Restoration: Excommunicative censure shall be ended when, in the opinion of the Session, the one under discipline has been restored through repentance and rededication or conversion. The Session shall announce the end of the disciplinary action to the church.

3. A complaint is a written representation made for a serious grievance other than those that necessitate an accusation and judicial trial. Any member of the church in good standing shall have the right of complaint, provided that the individual attempts discussion and gives due notice to the party against whom the complaint is made. Complaints shall go to the Session, before being referred to any federation, alliance, or denominational entity.
Article VII. Congregational and Heads of Households meetings
1. The Session shall call a congregational meeting annually, for the purpose of reviewing the past year’s progress, and the presentation of the next year’s budget and ministries.
2. Heads of households meetings shall be called by the Session at any time, or whenever 25% of the electors presently attending shall request such a meeting. A meeting shall be held within 4 weeks of receipt of a valid petition requesting it and presented to the Session.
3. No business shall be voted on at heads of households meetings except that which was stated in the call. No business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of at least 25% of the regularly attending electors (although members should attend weekly services with consistency, for the purpose of elector eligibility, less than 3 times in 2 months is not regular attendance.) A two (2) week notice for all meetings shall be given in the church bulletin and/or announced at the morning service(s).
4. The financial report of the prior year & annual budget and pastors compensation, (including benefits) for the coming year will be reported by the Session to the congregation each year.
5. Purchase or sale or real estate, major construction projects, and similar sales or purchases, and denomination, federation, or alliance affiliation or disaffiliation, shall be approved at a heads of households meeting by a majority vote.

Article VIII. Marriage, Sexuality, Gender, and Life
1. As in all other matters governing the faith and life of TPC, our views of marriage, sexuality, gender, and life are informed and commanded by the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Accordingly, we believe that:

• a. God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26, 27). Therefore, rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
• b. The term “marriage” has only one acceptable meaning in the Christian Church: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union (Gen 2:18–25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18, 7:2–5; Heb 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
• c. Any form of sexual immorality—including adultery, fornication, homosexual or bisexual behavior, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, polygamy, and use of pornography—is sinful and offensive to God (Lev. 18; Matt 15:18–20; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19-21).
• d. In order to preserve the function and integrity of TPC as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the TPC members, as well as to the larger community in which TPC resides, it is imperative that all persons employed by TPC in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to abide by this provision of our Constitution (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14–16; 1 Thess 5:22). Further, all persons seeking membership in TPC shall affirm their agreement with this article as part of their membership vows.
• e. God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sins, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19–21; Rom 10:9, 10; 1 Cor 6:9–11). Accordingly, it is our duty to admonish those engaging in any sin, including sexual sin, and call them to repentance (Mt 9:13; Mark 2:17). We do so while affording to every person compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31). We repudiate all ungodly behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual engaged in any unbiblical sexual activity. We stand ready to receive them as brothers and sisters in the household of Christ upon their sincere repentance and repudiation of their sin.

2. In addition to our affirmation of God’s plan for marriage and sexuality, we affirm biblical revelation on the value of human life. Accordingly, we believe:

• a. That all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other state or condition from conception through natural death.
• b. That we are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life. This respect for life requires us to reject all forms of elective abortion, while offering love, compassion, and support to those experiencing difficult pregnancies, or having undergone an abortion in the past (Ps 139)

   Article IX. Amendments
1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by TPC officers, or by membrs of the congregation presenting proposed amendments to the Session.
2. Procedure for amending the Constitution shall be:

• a. Approval of the amendment by majority vote of the Session.
• b. A first and second reading at two consecutive heads of household meetings, with review and comment from the congregation.
• c. Confirmation by a majority vote of the heads of household in a meeting subsequent to the second reading.

Adopted September 6, 2022
Amended December 3, 2023, Article V, 2b

                                                                                                APPENDIX A 

                                                                                        Membership Vows 

After meeting with the Session and the Session welcomes the individual or the household seeking membership with the church, the following questions will be addressed to the individual/household and the congregation. Vows with affirmative response to these questions officially welcomes the individual/household to the church as covenant members with full privileges granted in our church constitution:

1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

3. Have you been baptized in accordance with His Word, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?

4. Do you swear in the name of God, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, to live in a way that becomes the followers of Christ?

5. Do you swear in the name of God to support the ministry of this Church in its worship to the best of your ability?

6. Do you swear in the name of God to submit yourself to the government and discipline of this Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

When the questions are addressed to the head of a household, he will also be asked if he speaks on behalf of his household. When an affirmative answer has been given, the members of the congregation will be asked to welcome the individual or household into this covenant relation of membership together with them:
“As a congregation of Christ, do you receive [this Christian/these Christians] into the covenant fellowship of this local church together with you, renewing your membership vows as you do so?”
They will signify agreement with a corporate “Amen.”
Signatures ________________________________________________________________________ Date ______________________________

                                                                                                                APPENDIX B
Procedure of Church Discipline
Any communicant member of a member household, and professing Christians who attend TPC regularly but who are not members, may receive formal discipline by the church. Un-baptized (non-communicant) members of member households may receive pastoral admonishment from the church. If another church has disciplined one of its members, and that person subsequently comes to our church, the elders will decide whether to honor the discipline of the other church after due consultation with the person concerned and after all appropriate information is sought from the disciplining church.

The elders shall establish the specific procedures for all formal discipline on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate to the circumstances and individuals involved. Normally these procedures include a clear and timely warning of the individual that he is in the process of formal discipline, two or three visits or communications involving two or three witnesses, and clear records and/or minutes of the entire proceedings kept by the elders. However, in an unusual situation, the process of excommunication may be either extended or abbreviated at the discretion of the session of elders. In the case an accused person refuses to cooperate with the disciplinary procedure or does not respond to attempts by the elders to contact him, discipline may be conducted by a trial without the presence of the accused.
When the elders determine that a hearing is necessary, they will establish the specific procedures for each trial on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate to the circumstances and individuals involved. However, at minimum these procedures should include informing the accused in writing of the specific charges, the time, place, and date of the trial, and ample time for the accused to prepare a defense.

The heads of households meeting will be informed of the hearing at the first opportunity. At the hearing, one of the elders will present a solemn charge from the Scriptures on the responsibilities of those present, the evidence against the accused will be presented, and the accused will have time to make a reasonable defense, including the right to question any witnesses.
At a separate meeting of the elders, a vote will be taken on each of the charges. The elders will declare their verdict to the congregation on an appointed Lord’s Day, following an appropriate exhortation. The accused will be given a written copy of the verdict.

The elders will establish an official file containing all the records pertaining to the hearing, including all pertinent correspondence, transcripts, and minutes. If he requests it, the accused will be given one copy of this file at the expense of the church. Any appeals to presbytery will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the denomination to which TPC belongs.
Excommunication will end when, in the unanimous opinion of the elders, the one under discipline has repented. A confession of this repentance will be read to the congregation on the Lord’s Day, and the elders shall formally announce the end of the discipline and restoration of fellowship.