HOW TO SETTLE CHURCH TRIALS by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 21, 1877

HOW TO SETTLE CHURCH TRIALS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

While the devil lives and the flesh is weak, there will be church trials, notwithstanding all the warnings and instructions that may be given on this point. Jesus says, It must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man through whom they come. As long as this is the case, we must do the best we can to get individuals and churches out of them after they have got into them. Having had some experience in the business, it may not be amiss to give some thoughts as to how to conduct a trial.

The first experience I had in the business was about a failure, simply because, as I afterward learned, I did not know how to go at it right. I would get the parties together, take up one point, hear what each had to say upon it, and then decide right there as to what I thought was right about it. As soon as I had decided against either party on the first point, they considered me partial all the way through the trial after that, and hence would not give much weight to what I said. Moreover, this threw them on the defensive to try to make a stand somewhere on other points. I found that this did not work well. After trying various ways, I found the following plan worked the best. It is most always quite successful, where there is any chance for success.

Get both the parties together, and also those who are specially interested in the trial. If it is a matter that should come before the whole church, then have them all together. If you can have two responsible, disinterested individuals with you, it is very important that you should. Your united judgment will carry more weight than the opinion of one alone. Then get both parties to agree to abide by your decision in the matter, that it shall be final, and shall be acted upon. If they will not agree to this, have nothing to do with it, because it will be of no use if you do. Having agreed to abide by your decision, call on either party to state their grievances with the other. When they have stated one point, have them give all the proof they can bring upon that particular point. Everybody else must preserve silence, hold their peace, while they fully state all they have to say. When they have done that, then call up the opposite party and hear their answer. If any present know anything about the subject, have them state it. When you have got all the testimony upon that point, call up another one. Be very careful not to express any opinion about the testimony on either side one way or the other.

Proceed in this manner until every point of difference between them has been canvassed. Then go alone with your committee and look over all the evidence and come to a perfect agreement as to what decision you shall render on every point. If there are any persons especially favorable to one side, call them in and get them to agree with you in your decision touching their friend. This will give great weight to your decision in the mind of that party when you state it. You can then say that you and the committee are perfectly agreed in your decisions; that the warmest friends of each party are also agreed with you. This cuts off all chance for either party to go to friends for sympathy.

After the evidence is all heard, and your minds are made up, call all the friends together, and before you have rendered your judgment, get each party again to agree to abide by the decision. Then state it plainly as it appears to you, and do not be afraid of being too plain and too pointed.

If you have to give very severe reproof to a party, first point out their good qualities and commend them for this. This will gain their confidence, and show that you want to speak favorably of them if you can. Then, in conclusion, get all present to agree in the decision rendered, and promise to help carry it out. This is the best mode of procedure that I have been able to find. D. M. CANRIGHT.