Ministry Announcements, Domestic Abuse Policy, Church Discipline Policy (Pastoral Emphasis for 4/30)

 Today, Minister Matt Darby preached today from 1 Samuel 21:10-15 and Psalm 34:1-10 on the topic "Fearing God Provides Deliverance". 

We had our Church Family Meeting after the service. We covered several things, but here are some important highlights:

• Deacon Evens Thermitus will be the new Ministry Director of the Hospitality Ministry.
• Minister Kevin Coppage is taking a sabbatical to deal with some personal issues.  For the short term, Elder Cherry will be the acting Ministry Director of the Men's Ministry.
• Titus 2 will be reorganizing from the Sister Circles to focus on Discipleship, Fellowship, and Sacrificial Service. This will allow the ministry to meet all women's needs but not centered around age. This change should help to remove confusion for new members and increase fellowship for the Pearl & Jewels with older women.
• We discussed the draft of our new Domestic Abuse Policy. Domestic abuse is the desecration of the image of God in the abuser's victim(s) through a pattern of intentionally misusing power, overtly or covertly, in words or actions, to gratify self. Domestic abuse is just as likely to exist in Mt. Zion Church as it is in the culture outside the church, and we have abused persons of abuse present in the church, so we must be on alert.
• We reviewed our Church Discipline Policy. The goal of church discipline is not to throw people out of the church or to feed the self-righteous pride of those who administer the discipline. It is not to embarrass people or to exercise authority and power in some unbiblical manner. The purpose is to restore a sinning believer to holiness and bring him or her back into a pure relationship within the assembly.