The Matthew 18 Process - A three step process

The Matthew 18 Process - A three-step process

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. –Matt 18:15-17

God designed this process to quickly and quietly retain everyone in the Salvation Process. It is designed to maintain love, forgiveness and harmony in the Church of God. Members should not be easily offended and look for opportunities to forgive. Alleged offenders should look for a quick end to situation taking responsibly if they did commit an offense.

Step One - 95% of all instances
Offended		Alleged Offender
	The offended party approaches offender as soon as possible after the offense takes place with one single fault.		The alleged offender looks to end the situation quickly, even to the point of taking the wrong. "I'm sorry."
The offended tells no one of this incident.		The offender tells no one of this incident	If the offender denies the offense or abuses or rejects the offended, we go to step 2.
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Step Two - 3-4% of all instances
Offended		Alleged Offender	one or two witnesses
	In this Step 2, the offended obtains one or two witnesses to hear the matter.
The offender tells no one of this incident or this process.	The offended does not pick ministers or close friends of either party.	The offender tells no one of this incident or process.	The two witnesses are told nothing of the process or who the offender is until the sit-down meeting to hear the matter.
	The duty of the witnesses is to impartially hear both sides and declare their conclusion of the matter and whether an offence took place.	No one asked to be a witness in step 2 is obligated to serve in this capacity.	If the offender denies the offense or abuses or rejects the offended and witnesses, we go to step 3.
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Step 3 - 1-2% of all instances
Offended		Alleged Offender	The Church
	The process being unresolved in Steps 1 and 2 takes the matter goes to the church.
The offender tells no one of this incident or this process.	Depending on the situation, this may mean the offended goes to his local minister, the AC or to the ICG Board of the church.	The offender tells no one of this incident or process.	The minister (s) and/or Board tell no one outside the incident of the matter or process.
		If the offender continues to abuse the process and those involved and/or continues with the offence, the church is directed to counsel the offender about being disfellowshipped.
The congregation should rarely, if ever, even know a Matthew 18 process is going on. Everyone should understand this is a POSITIVE process designed to maintain love, forgiveness and harmony in the church. It is not an inquisition, investigation, or prosecution. It is not designed to remove people from the church, ministry, ordination, duty position or fellowship. See main text for much more detail.