Book of Discipline Chapter 6
Cases Without Full Process
When a person comes before a court as his own accuser, it may proceed to judgment without full process, determining, first, what offense, if any, has been committed, and, if it appears that an offense has been committed, what censure should be pronounced.
Members
Members may be removed from the membership at their own request by informing the Session of their intention to withdraw and their reasons. If a member requests to withdraw because of specific problems or disappointments with the church, the Session may attempt to resolve those matters so that the member may remain in the church and enjoy greater fruitfulness and personal growth. If the Session is unable to resolve those matters, it may offer to assist the member in locating a church of like faith and practice that can respond more effectively to his gifts and needs. If allegations or charges of an offense have been presented to the Session, a request for removal of membership shall not be given effect until the prescribed process has been properly concluded.
The removal of membership from the role shall occur:
With the transfer to another evangelical church who is in fraternal relationship with the BPC (Book of Discipline chapter II: 2, 3);
By death;
When a member removes himself from the communion of this branch of the visible Church, the Session may after a time deemed sufficient, but no longer than two years, erase his name from the roll, recording the reason in the minutes;
When a member shall attempt to withdraw from the communion of this branch of the visible Church by affiliating with some other branch that is not in fraternal relationship with the BPC, the new membership will be acknowledged, the name will be removed from the roll and the reason will be recorded in the minutes.
Ministers
When a minister renounces the jurisdiction of the Bible Presbyterian Church by abandoning his ministry and membership therein, or by declaring himself independent, or by joining another body not deemed heretical without a regular dismission, the Presbytery shall erase his name from its roll and record the reason in its minutes.
If a minister joins a body deemed heretical, his name shall be erased from the roll and all particular Churches, all Churches with which this Church is in correspondence, and the public as deemed necessary shall be notified that he has ceased to be a minister of this Church and has abandoned the faith of the Church catholic.
When a minister has been absent from the meetings of Presbytery for two years, the Presbytery may erase his name from the roll and all particular Churches, all Churches with which this Church is in correspondence, and the public as deemed necessary shall be notified that he has ceased to be a minister of this Church.
When a minister shall ask to be relieved of the office of the holy ministry, the Presbytery shall generally require him to wait one year, and meanwhile shall labor with him diligently to ascertain whether his proposed action is necessary and proper. If at the end of a year his desire is unchanged and the Presbytery is satisfied as to the sufficiency of his reasons, the Presbytery shall record the facts in its minutes and erase his name from the roll and all particular Churches, all Churches with which this Church is in correspondence, and the public as deemed necessary shall be notified that he has ceased to be a minister of this Church.
Book of Discipline of the Bible Presbyterian Church, General Synod ©1998 Amended by the 55th, 56th, and 58th General Synods of the Bible Presbyterian Church.