THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

21) “ Items dealt with by the brotherhood meeting on June 26 and 27 in Gnadenheim. "For this meeting the church already assembled at noon on Saturday, and because there was much to discuss, they remained in session without interruption all night until Sunday evening, on which day the church united for a day of prayer, repentance and fasting. Documentary Supplements 437 “After due preparations had been made, a number of matters relating to the continuing existence of our church were discussed at this meeting. Some items were first raised and then dropped, only to be brought up again later and resolved as follows, without regard to the order in which they were dealt with there. “1. The question was raised whether Br. Bernhard Penner has the status of an assistant minister or a minister. After the church had weighed the matter, it was evident that he was not a minister, but rather that he had only been assigned as an assistant to the minister, Br. H. Huebert, and was now in a probationary period, with the future depending on the further action of the church. “2. To what extent do the obligations of the minister and the church differ? The resolution was to this effect: Since the minis ter does not choose the church, but on the contrary, the church chooses the minis ter, a brother from her midst who is considered capable and has the confidence of the church, to watch over them, thus it is the duty of the minister to serve the church and carry out whatever decisions the church may make. In return, the church is obligated to obey her mini ster as the shepherd of her soul as long as he remains true to the pure teaching of Christ. If this should not be the case, the church shall call him to account and admonish him . If the minis ter does not accept this admonition, he is to be deposed from his office and the office is to be given to someone more worthy. Meanwhile the church must keep in mind that the minister who leads well is worthy of double honor. “3. What is our understanding of the ban and accompanying marital avoidance, 211 according to the Scriptures? Herein we believe and confess that we must also ban a person whom the Scripture excludes from the kingdom of God, but marital avoidance is not to be practiced in addition. Nevertheless, adultery already separates marriage partners without any action on our part, as the dear Savior Himself teaches. “4. How do we regard the arbitrary action of a minister or individual members who excommunicate others without church sanction? Since experience has clearly taught us that through arbitrary, independent action and excommunication, members have been isolated from the church without having received a just hearing, indeed, because many injustices have occurred, the church believes this to be a biblical procedure: in the event that a member becomes guilty of an offence, the church alone has the sole right to take action and to pass judgment on the offe