However, even those without such ties will find outside confirmation to be helpful. When leadership is disciplined, leaders often have influence beyond a local congregation. Unrepentant leaders can use such influence to avoid discipline and its benefits. When for any reason the congregation does not have credibility adequate to see its discipline upheld. This can be either a credibility problem within or without the community.
Outside confirmation helps establish credibility.
Such confirmation includes persons likely to be touched by the sphere of the disciplined party. These guidelines greatly enhance the chances that abusive discipline will be maximized. Furthermore, they protect persons from summary disfellowship and exclusions with no due process. We live in a day of great flux. One of the great losses today is in the area of wisdom in communities due to a loss of historical sense.