Church discipline no longer practiced in most Protestant churches: Survey

Michie · Jul 8, 2025

While most U.S. Protestant churches have policies in place to address significant misbehavior by members, formalized church discipline is rarely practiced, according to newly released data from Lifeway Research.

The survey, conducted among over 1,000 Protestant pastors between August and September 2024, found that one in six pastors reported their church had disciplined a member in the past year.

“The infrequency of church discipline is not because church members aren’t sinning,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Church discipline typically occurs when a member is not repentant for a sin or is no longer qualified for a role because of sin.”

Continued below.

Church discipline no longer practiced in most Protestant churches: Survey

While most U S Protestant churches have policies in place to address significant misbehavior by members, formalized church discipline is rarely practiced, according to newly released data from

www.christianpost.com

jas3 · Jul 8, 2025

I can't think of any case where someone was disciplined in any of the Methodist or non-denom churches I attended. I really don't know what discipline a Methodist pastor could even enforce on a layman; with the practice of open communion, even denominational membership doesn't carry much meaning. I never transferred mine when I moved around, there was just no point in doing so.

RileyG · Jul 8, 2025

That’s too bad.

ozso · Jul 8, 2025

Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

jas3 · Jul 9, 2025

ozso said:
Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

In most cases it would probably be something like excommunication or loss of church membership.

Fervent · Jul 9, 2025

ozso said:
Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

From the quote in the OP, I'm guessing its stuff like being stripped of a Deacon position or other church appointment. Perhaps loss of membership in some cases, or in liturgical denominations denial of the Host if they practice closed communion.

Ignatius the Kiwi · Jul 9, 2025

Church discipline implies standards, it implies the application of principles to regulate the lives of congregants. Churches broadly are uncomfortable with that social power because Christians are broadly uncomfortable with that power and prefer to leave it to the individual to sort out his or her demons.

JustaPewFiller · Jul 9, 2025

ozso said:
Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

It can vary.

It can be all handed quietly between the person and the pastor and elders / deacons. For example, a Sunday school teacher gets arrested for something. The teaching role can be taken away, and whatever steps toward repentance and restoration happen.

OR

It can be handled very publicly involving public shaming / humiliation in front of the entire church and shunning to some degree. Of course, the church bylaws will usually have it couched that it is done "in love" with a goal of redemption / reconciliation. But yeah - that public shaming .

FWIW it is worth. I have seen the 1st one mentioned happen and work. I have heard of the 2nd being done. In a church I used to attend someone was highly in favor of the church discipline of the public shaming variety. Some years ago they'd made their 17 year old daughter get in front of the church when was pregnant. I asked how that worked out. No answer. I pressed again.. and got the response, that she no longer speaks to her parents and has never had anything to do with church or Christianity again. Probably not the result they hoped for. I admit, I am not in favor of the public shaming type of discipline and I don't know of any adult that would willingly put up with going through it in this day and age.

rebornfree · Jul 9, 2025

JustaPewFiller said:
It can vary.

It can be all handed quietly between the person and the pastor and elders / deacons. For example, a Sunday school teacher gets arrested for something. The teaching role can be taken away, and whatever steps toward repentance and restoration happen.

OR

It can be handled very publicly involving public shaming / humiliation in front of the entire church and shunning to some degree. Of course, the church bylaws will usually have it couched that it is done "in love" with a goal of redemption / reconciliation. But yeah - that public shaming .

FWIW it is worth. I have seen the 1st one mentioned happen and work. I have heard of the 2nd being done. In a church I used to attend someone was highly in favor of the church discipline of the public shaming variety. Some years ago they'd made their 17 year old daughter get in front of the church when was pregnant. I asked how that worked out. No answer. I pressed again.. and got the response, that she no longer speaks to her parents and has never had anything to do with church or Christianity again. Probably not the result they hoped for. I admit, I am not in favor of the public shaming type of discipline and I don't know of any adult that would willingly put up with going through it in this day and age.

I'm certainly in favour of the first method. Also in the example you gave, of the teaching role being taken away, the church could be told that the person is stepping back from the role for a while, unless the arrest is common knowledge already. No need to give more information than necessary.

Ignatius the Kiwi · Jul 9, 2025

JustaPewFiller said:
It can vary.

It can be all handed quietly between the person and the pastor and elders / deacons. For example, a Sunday school teacher gets arrested for something. The teaching role can be taken away, and whatever steps toward repentance and restoration happen.

OR

It can be handled very publicly involving public shaming / humiliation in front of the entire church and shunning to some degree. Of course, the church bylaws will usually have it couched that it is done "in love" with a goal of redemption / reconciliation. But yeah - that public shaming .

FWIW it is worth. I have seen the 1st one mentioned happen and work. I have heard of the 2nd being done. In a church I used to attend someone was highly in favor of the church discipline of the public shaming variety. Some years ago they'd made their 17 year old daughter get in front of the church when was pregnant. I asked how that worked out. No answer. I pressed again.. and got the response, that she no longer speaks to her parents and has never had anything to do with church or Christianity again. Probably not the result they hoped for. I admit, I am not in favor of the public shaming type of discipline and I don't know of any adult that would willingly put up with going through it in this day and age.

Was Saint Paul wrong to publicly shame the man in Corinth who slept with his father's wife?

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

Ignatius the Kiwi said:
Was Saint Paul wrong to publicly shame the man in Corinth who slept with his father's wife?

Nope!

Gregory Thompson · Jul 9, 2025

Yes, churches refuse to follow the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 18 and just follow the pattern of the world. The pattern tends to involve forming a consensus through gossip then shunning them.

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
Yes, churches refuse to follow the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 18 and just follow the pattern of the world. The pattern tends to involve forming a consensus through gossip then shunning them.

Through gossip?

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

ozso said:
Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

Not letting them receive communion until they are repentant. I think that’s actually occurred historically in many Churches.

Gregory Thompson · Jul 9, 2025

RileyG said:
Through gossip?

Usually through the prayer chain, the pastor, the higher ups.

They talk about someone without them present then decide their treatment.

This decision is not discussed with them.

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
Usually through the prayer chain, the pastor, the higher ups.

They talk about someone without them present then decide their treatment.

This decision is not discussed with them.

Ah, thanks for clarifying.

Gregory Thompson · Jul 9, 2025

RileyG said:
Ah, thanks for clarifying.

No problem, thanks for asking.

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

Gregory Thompson said:
No problem, thanks for asking.

You’re welcome

FireDragon76 · Jul 9, 2025

RileyG said:
Not letting them receive communion until they are repentant. I think that’s actually occurred historically in many Churches.

This can actually be counteproductive in the modern context. And it's also often used by people who resist their own kind of accountability.

RileyG · Jul 9, 2025

FireDragon76 said:
This can actually be counteproductive in the modern context. And it's also often used by people who resist their own kind of accountability.

Well...I guess it depends how people view Holy Communion in modern times? I dunno.

Church discipline no longer practiced in most Protestant churches: Survey

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Veteran

✦

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Dissident

Active Member

Senior Veteran

Dissident

Veteran

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Veteran

Veteran

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Veteran

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Veteran

Well-Known Member

Veteran

Similar threads