Members of this local church are those who freely and voluntarily subscribe to the basic principles set out in this Statement of Faith, understanding and consenting to the fact that should they violate such principles, they may be required by the leadership of the local church to either accept the leadership’s counsel and discipline or to forfeit their membership. The leadership of the local church has the authority from the Scriptures to withdraw the membership of any member for serious, unrepentant misconduct or similar cause. (Matt 18:15-18; Rom 16:17; 2 Thes 3:6, 14; 1 Tim 6:3-5; Titus 3:10, 11; 1 Cor 5:11, 5; 1 Tim 1:19, 20)   Dominion Church also believes a primary responsibility of leadership is to model and maintain a standard of biblical behaviour in the local church. We believe according to scripture that the Lord has given appointed leaders in the church the responsibility to provide spiritual oversight for those who join the church. His command in 1 Peter 5:1 to “shepherd the flock of God” is something we take seriously. Although we do not believe God has given the appointed leaders absolute responsibility or authority in an individual’s life, we believe there are three specific areas in which we are responsible to give spiritual oversight. Because we believe we are responsible before God to provide this spiritual oversight, we will confront our members on their behaviour in these areas. If the situation is not subsequently resolved in a satisfactory fashion, a formal process of church discipline will be initiated as set out in the Dominion Church Statement of Faith. The areas of spiritual oversight are as follows:   Area 1: Open and Blatant Sin 1 Corinthians 5:1–2 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who had done this deed might be taken away from among you.” (NKJV)   Area 2: Issues Involving Doctrinal Error 1 Peter 2:1–3 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” (NKJV)   Area 3: Divisive and Contentious Behaviour Within the Congregation Titus 3:9–11 “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition…” (NKJV)   Every effort will be made to meet with the member who is involved with any of these issues. Our desire is to help our members grow to maturity through compassionate mentoring. The biblical model of confrontation and correction is not meant to punish people but rather to protect the body of Christ from the wages of unrepentant sin. Biblical authority is not a license to exert control; it is a responsibility to exert influence for God’s will to be accomplished.   Matthew 18:15–17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” (NKJV)   Our approach to confronting a member of the church involves the following steps:   Begins with personal confrontation. Expands to church leadership confrontation. Broadens to group confrontation. Ends in removal of membership privileges.   In confronting sin, it is vital for us to remember:   The purpose is redemption. The attitude is humility. The result is accountability.   The Bible teaches the principle of being in submission to authority. As such, it is understood that church membership shall be subject to submission to authority in matters pertaining to church governance, doctrine and personal behaviour. (Heb 13:17; 1 Thes 5:12, 13; 1 Pet 5:2-5)   The Bible teaches heterosexual relationships between a natural man and a natural woman within the confines of lawful matrimony. Adherence to this stated principle of sexual behaviour is an inherent requirement for membership in this local church. God’s original intent for marriage was one man joined with one woman in a legal union for life. Jesus came to confirm, endorse and restore this ideal. (Gen 1:27,28; 2:24, 25; Lev 18:20, 22; 20:10, 13; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; 1 Tim 1:8-11; Matt 19:4-6; 1 Tim 3:2, 12)   The primary mission of the Church is to be a corporate body bringing praise and worship to God; to be a gathering where the saints can be equipped, edified and perfected in the image of God’s Son; to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world; to be a demonstration of God’s love and goodness to all; to be a foundation upholding God’s wisdom and truth; to be a catalyst of constructive social change and justice in the community, ministering to the poor and oppressed; and to be an instrument enforcing Satan’s defeat through God’s power. (Eph 1:6, 12, 14; 4:11-16; 3:10; Matt 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8; Gal 5:13, 14; 6:9, 10; 1 Tim 3:15; Matt 25:35-40; Acts 20:35; Rom 16:20)   Conclusion: Biblical government is designed to represent heaven accurately and attack hell successfully. The governmental DNA of the Church is produced by pure biblical standards that have not been distorted or damaged by negative influences. The local church is the hope of the world and the hope of the local church is the Lordship of Christ through biblical government that operates under the blessing and favour of God.