The Elders and Discipline (3)

Article 74 of the Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches speaks of the last step required by Christ in Matthew 18:15-17: "If anyone, having been admonished in love concerning a secret sin by two or three persons, does not give heed … the matter shall be reported to the consistory." This article also stipulates that "public sins" must be reported to the consistory. It is possible that the sin is so public that the consistory is aware of it even before someone reports the matter. In any...