A new study has found that most US pastors don't discipline church members who display sinful misconduct.
The study by Lifeway Research which surveyed 1000 senior church leaders revealed that 55 per cent of Protestant pastors said that "a member has not been formally disciplined since I came as pastor nor prior as far as I know."
A mere three per cent of pastors said a church member was rebuked within the last month, while five per cent said that their church disciplined a member within the last six months.
The clergy were also asked who at their church would be in charge of reprimanding church members who violate Biblical teachings.
Eight percent said that the "pastors alone" were in charge of carrying out discipline. One percent said the "deacons alone."
Half of the pastors surveyed said that "two or more of these groups must agree" in order for discipline to be administered.
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Article by Tola Mbakwe
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
