Code of Doctrine Conduct and Ecclesiastical Discipline

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 20 08 Code of Doctrine Conduct and Ecclesiastical Discipline Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | Operative only upon authorized adoption Purpose and standards This Code protects sound doctrine, persons, ministry, and records, and provides fair correction and restoration. It is not a means of retaliation, coercion, financial advantage, suppressing sincere questions, or declaring salvation lost through an administrative decision. The KJB and adopted foundational doctrine supply the ecclesiastical standard. Leaders and workers shall act honestly, faithfully, without partiality, with proper boundaries and stewardship. No office permits threats, exploitation, violence, sexual misconduct, fraud, theft, falsified records, or misuse of confidential information. Ordinary disagreement, correctable mistakes, and personality differences are not automatically disqualifying misconduct. Grounds and receipt of concerns Substantial doctrinal departure, another saving message, serious misconduct, financial misuse, abuse of authority, false credentials, significant safety breaches, or persistent destructive conduct after correction may warrant review. Receive a description of the actual issue, persons involved, dates, witnesses, and available evidence. Anonymous information may supply a lead, particularly for safety, but seek reliable corroboration before an adverse final ecclesiastical finding. Apply 1 Timothy 5:19-21 KJB carefully to accusations against elders. Its evidentiary instruction must not be used to prevent a person from reporting suspected abuse to civil authorities, receiving a disclosure, preserving evidence, or taking necessary protection. Distinguish the internal finding from a person's legal reporting duty. Preliminary examination and conflicts An authorized bishop or elder shall determine jurisdiction, the governing provisions, seriousness, available evidence, conflicts, and immediate safety needs. Close a plainly unsupported or resolved matter with a brief recorded reason. Refer matters outside TGBC authority appropriately without claiming power over an unrelated organization. A reviewer shall disclose material personal, family, or financial conflicts. The person accused shall not determine the finding against himself. Seek disinterested qualified bishops or elders for independent examination if the only internal leader is involved. Their written advisory findings do not automatically give them Circle seats or transfer the founder's protected office. Protective action and reporting When immediate danger exists, contact emergency services and make applicable civil reports without waiting for internal approval. Preserve evidence and avoid investigative questioning of a minor or vulnerable person. Never promise secrecy about abuse or threats. Authorized protective steps may restrict particular premises access, contact with vulnerable persons, financial access, or custody of records while a matter is reviewed. Such steps are not a final finding of guilt. They do not by themselves transfer the Founding Bishop title or protected office. Any title protection remains subject to lawful civil orders and safeguarding duties.

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 21 Notice response and evidence Give written notice of the substantial issues, the process, and proposed review date, ordinarily allowing at least 14 days to respond unless immediate protection requires earlier action. The affected person may provide Scripture, explanations, documents, and witness information. Refusal to respond does not prevent a determination based on reliable available evidence. Consider supporting and contrary evidence, context, admissions, firsthand accounts, and lawfully available records. Protect private information and maintain a written account of material proceedings. Do not purchase a favorable outcome or favor a person because of title, family, wealth, or popularity. Authority and outcomes During the founder's life, he approves ordinary final ecclesiastical decisions within his authority; Circle-member removal requires the extraordinary process. After his death, the Overseeing Bishop handles delegated matters and the Circle determines extraordinary credential, office, Circle, and affiliation actions. The accused person does not vote on his own status. Findings may close the matter, provide counsel or correction, require clarification of teaching, establish an accountability plan, restrict a duty, withdraw current credentials, remove an eligible nonfounder from the Circle, or suspend or terminate affiliation. Each affected status must be named expressly, with effective dates and conditions. A certificate cannot impose a decision that was never authorized. The founder's lifetime office and title may not be removed or transferred by this Code. Concerns about his doctrine, conduct, or transactions remain subject to truthful independent examination, scriptural counsel, recorded findings, appropriate access controls, and lawful civil action. The founding protection does not require concealment or obedience to an unlawful instruction. Restoration and reconsideration Seek restoration in the spirit of Galatians 6:1 KJB when appropriate. Fellowship restoration does not automatically restore an office, credential, financial authority, safeguarding clearance, or Circle membership. Specify renewed examination, demonstrated conduct, duties, and review dates. An affected person may request reconsideration in writing within 30 days after notice, identifying material new evidence, procedural error, or a scriptural or governing issue. Later genuinely new evidence may still be considered. The disinterested authorized reviewer shall record whether further review is warranted; a request alone does not stay protective measures. Records confidentiality and nonretaliation Keep permanent final decisions and restricted supporting files. Share only with persons having legitimate duties, subject to lawful disclosure. Do not destroy evidence or conceal wrongdoing. Good-faith reports and truthful participation are protected from retaliation. Deliberate fabrication may itself be examined, but an unproved allegation is not automatically a knowingly false one. Adoption Authority ________________________ Signature __________________ Date __________ Effective date __________ Record reference __________