The church is an institution composed of members. Those members play an active, essential, vital role as priests who guard the church against heretical doctrinal and practice. Members are collectively authorized to stamp and un-stamp their approval on “who” true Christians are. Thus, members carry a gravely important responsibility that must be exercised with wisdom and caution, but it must be exercised nonetheless. Institutions, membership, and church discipline must all be seen as flowing from, not antithetical to, love.
