Every church, like every family, has its own concerns; and while it owes much attention to its own interests, it owes something to the interests and prosperity of its neighbours in order to the faithful discharge of its relative duties to its sister churches, if not for its own sake, it ought for theirs, to keep a record of all its proceedings. In the church record should be enrolled not merely the names of all its members; but the date of their reception, and how received--upon their confession of the Lord in immersion in the presence of the congregation, or upon letter of recommendation from some other church.

      If at any time they may have been under censure, and for what offence, ought always to be noted. And if on any occasion they may nave been long absent from the church and returned to it again, goad order requires that it should be registered. When any brother migrates and obtains a letter of recommendation, the fact with its date is matter of record: so is the exclusion of a member, with the reasons for which he was excluded.

      A little reflection and a small portion of experience will convince the most dull of perception that such a record is necessary in some cases of discipline; in others, to the defence of the reputation of our brethren; a useful expedient to prevent imposition, and always satisfactory to those of upright behaviour. Our experience has furnished so many instances where even the date of a person's admission, rejection, or removal has been requisite either to his own vindication or that of others connected with him; for so few there are who never forget dates and circumstances, or the incidents in the history of a church of even fifty members, that much trouble and dissatisfaction, and some damage, have been incurred for the want of such vouchers.

      No person ought to be received from another church without either oral or written testimony of his good standing. The gospel had been preached but for a few years, till the Apostles themselves found it necessary to give letters of recommendation to those worthy of the confidence of the brethren. Even some of the Epistles extant contain within them letters of recommendation. Paul's letter to Philemon is a beautiful specimen of a Christian letter of introduction.

      In order to the purity of the Christian profession and the harmony of churches, when a member is excluded from one church by a solemn vote of the brethren, no other church can consistently receive him, while lying under such censure. He can only be restored on repentance by and with the consent of the congregation that excluded him: for should a sister church receive an excluded member, it would, in fact, be assuming an authority over other churches, and reversing the decision of the church that excluded him, and that, too, on ex-parte testimony. It would also be offering a gross indignity to the [140] excluding church, which she could not brook, but by the sacrifice of her own reputation for good sense and good manners.

      In the occasional communion of the brethren of sister churches, where it is not frequent, and the members are not intimately acquainted with each other, an invitation ought always to be tendered on the part of those who can testify of their character. This, in a well ordered church, should be made known to the elders; and they should introduce to the brethren the strangers, and invite them to a participation of the ordinances of the Lord's house. When, indeed, such visits are frequent, and the brethren are generally acquainted, it would be unnecessary to be thus formal.

      If a member of one church has discovered any misdemeanor in the behaviour of a brother of another church, or has heard aught against his reputation from a credible source, he ought to inform the brother, and, in some cases; the church to which he belongs, that he may be admonished, if deserving an admonition, or defended against the malicious slanders of those without.

      We owe to sister churches all respect, Christian affection, and co-operation as far as in our power, or as the exigencies of society require; and ought, therefore, to do unto them as churches, what we would wish them as churches, to do unto us: for this golden rule is as applicable to neighboring churches as it is to our neighbors in our individual capacities and relations.

[A. C.]      

Source:

Alexander Campbell. "Order--As Respects Sister Churches." The Millennial Harbinger Extra 6 (October 1835): 518-519.

[MHA2 140-141]