BOOK OF DISCIPLINE TASK FORCE

SUMMARY OF WORK

1. Sent a first draft of a revised Book of Discipline to presbyteries and sessions in the fall of 2025 for review and comment.

2. Received and carefully reviewed 320 comments from 42 individuals on the first draft for potential inclusion in a second draft.

3. Completed a second draft revision of the Book of Discipline and submitted it to the Permanent Judicial Commission for review.

4. Received comments from the Permanent Judicial and published a proposed revision of the Book of Discipline for approval by the 46th General Assembly.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Book of Discipline Task Force, through the National Leadership Team recommends that the 46th General Assembly approve the revised Book of Discipline as an entire report without further amendment at this time; and that the requirement to read the report in its entirety be waived (Rules for Assembly 14-2); and Rules for Assembly 14-3 be suspended in order that the report may be adopted as a whole. 

The Book of Discipline Task Force, through the National Leadership Team recommends that the 46th General Assembly approve all ecclesiastical judicial procedures in process on the date the revised Book of Discipline is ratified. It shall continue to be processed under the provisions of the current (2026) Book of Discipline. 

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

This work was submittee by The Book of Discipline Sub-Task Force members:

Betsy Rumer                                                                
TE, Presbytery of the Alleghneies
Ed McCallum                                                                
TE, Presbytery of the West
Bob Garment
TE, Presbytery of the Florida and Caribbean
Neil Smith
TE, Presbytery ofthe East

1. The Task Force for simplifying, clarifying, and organizing the Book of Discipline was formed by the National Leadership Team. There has been a general sense in the denomination that Book of Discipline:
• Is hard to follow.
• Has places that are unclear and/or inconsistent,
• Does not address some situations that have arisen in practice and does not address the problem of abuse (physical, emotional, or spiritual).

2. Values behind the proposed revision of the Book of Discipline
• Create an easy to follow, step by step organization eliminating the need to skip from one place to another to find information on a topic or process.
• Clarify and simplify language by eliminating wherever possible the “legalese” so those untrained in law can easily understand.
• Fill in gaps that experience in using the Book of Discipline has shown to exist.
• Correct any inconsistencies.
• Reflect our current cultural context and concerns where needed.
• Add footnotes to help the reader navigate relevant sections of the Book of Order and, if necessary, explain any terminology.

3. Substantive Changes in the proposed revision of the Book of Discipline
D.1-6B – Abuse has been added as one aspect of immorality
One of the grounds for discipline is immorality, defined as “conduct inconsistent with the biblical standards for conduct as a ground for discipline.” Immorality includes but is not limited to: “bickering, brawling, debauchery, drunkenness, gossiping, hatred, idolatry, impurity, slander, and sexual immorality such as adultery, fornication, homosexual practice, and bestiality. One reason for forming the Task Force to review the Book of Discipline was the recognition that the instances of abuse are rising and the issue was not sufficiently addressed in the current Book of Discipline. The proposed revision adds “abuse” as an example of immorality, defining it as “the sinful use of power or position to harm, intimidate, exploit, or dominate another person.” In situations where abuse is the specific type of immorality being charged, the proposed revision gives Sessions and Presbyteries discretion in granting exceptions to the general requirement of going privately to a person when the person experiencing the harm would be in danger of further harm.

D.1-3D – “Protect those harmed by the sin of others” has been added as one of the purposes of discipline.
This phrase was added because of the increased concern regarding abuse, but ranges beyond that. It is the only purpose of discipline listed that relates to the church’s pastoral concern for those who have been harmed.

D.5-7C.4(c) – Requirements for forming judicial commissions in a local church have been added.
The current Book of Discipline is silent on this matter. The new provisions allow for (but do not require) Pastors and Associate Pastors to be part of local church judicial commissions.

D.11-2A – The sanction of admonition has been renamed as “reprimand.”
The term “admonition” has been problematic in the discipline process. It is a biblical term and should be used and practiced as we encourage each other to press forward in our discipleship. For clarity, the proposed revision uses “reprimand” a separate term reserved for the time when an offender has been charges, found guilty, and a sanction has been imposed.

D.11-5A – The sanction of removal from office is defined as the “offender’s ordination is permanently revoked, thus removing the offender from the office of Teaching Elder, Ruling Elder, or Deacon.”
This definition clarifies the distinction between suspension, in which ordination is set aside for a time, and removal, which permanently revokes ordination. Once removed from office, there is no “restoration” because the person is no longer ordained. While it would be possible to become elected and ordained again, it is a new process, not a “restoration.” If future restoration to office seems possible, church courts should use the sanction of indefinite suspension rather than removal from office.

Chapters 13-15 – The processes for appeal, complaint, dissent, and protest have been clarified. Appeals are for decisions related to actions for discipline. Complaints are for acts of a church court that are non-disciplinary in nature.

4. Examples of terminology changes to remove technical and/or confusing language.
• “Actions for Discipline” replaces “Ecclesiastical Judicial Procedures”
• “Church courts in ascending order” replaces “church courts in regular gradation.”
• “Compelling evidence warranting a trial” replaces “strong presumption of guilt.”
• “Temporary Moderator” replaces “Moderator pro-tem.”

5. Reorganization for a better flow of thought
A consistent criticism of the current Book of Discipline is, “The process is difficult to follow.” One must skip from chapter to chapter to understand all that is said on a particular topic. The proposed revision significantly re-organizes the content of the Book of Discipline so that the reader can follow the process from beginning to end in order. This is particularly noticeable in proposed chapter 5, which brings together elements found in current chapters 6, 7, 8, and 10.

The proposed revision recognizes that people normally refer to the Book of Discipline only when the need arises and may be unfamiliar with or have limited memory of its contents. The proposed revision includes numerous cross references to help the reader find sections that address a particular topic, define a term, or describe a process.

6. Style
• Unnecessary gender-specific pronouns have been removed.
• Longer paragraphs have been enumerated for easier navigation and reference.
• Constitutional cross references have been moved to footnotes, which can be changed in the editorial process if numbering changes as amendments are made.
• “Church” (capitalized) refers to the Universal Church whereas “church” refers to the local church or denomination.

Book of Discipline Revisions 

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RECOMMENDATIONS (DETAILED)

The Book of Discipline Task Force, through the National Leadership Team recommends that the 46th General Assembly approve the revised Book of Discipline as an entire report without further amendment at this time; and that the requirement to read the report in its entirety be waived (Rules for Assembly 14-2); and Rules for Assembly 14-3 be suspended in order that the report may be adopted as a whole. 

The Book of Discipline Task Force, through the National Leadership Team recommends that the 46th General Assembly approve all ecclesiastical judicial procedures in process on the date the revised Book of Discipline is ratified. It shall continue to be processed under the provisions of the current (2026) Book of Discipline. 

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COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Betsy Rumer (Co-Chairman)
TE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Bob LeSuer
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Ed McCallum
TE, Presbytery of the West

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MEETING DATES

Octgober 6, 2025: Video Conference
October 25, 2025: Video Conference
October 29, 202: Video Conference
November 10, 2025: Video Conference
November 17, 2025: Video Conference 
November 24, 2025: Video Conference
December 1, 2025: Video Conference
December 11, 2025: Video Conference
December 15, 2025: Video Conference 
December 29, 2025:Video Conference
January 12, 2026: Video Conference
January 19, 2026: Video Conference 
January 26, 2026: Video Conference
February 2, 2026: Video Conference
February 9, 2026: Video Conference 
February 23, 2026: Video Conference
March 2, 2026: Video Conference
March 9, 2026: Video Conference 
March 16, 2026: Video Conference 
March 17, 2026: Video Conference 
March 23, 2026: Video Conference 
March 24, 2026: Video Conference

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Rumer Co-Chairman
June 2026

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