Is there a place for ‘inter-church’ action to respond to false teaching or serious miscarriage of justice in a particular congregation?
Answers to such questions reflect an underlying ecclesiology (doctrine of the church). I answer it as a Reformed Christian, a confessional and Congregational Baptist.
Independent churches ought not to be isolated churches. While each true church possesses all that it needs from Christ to function as a church, not every church is as healthy and hearty as it could be, nor able to do everything that it might wish.
Even where there are no particular problems, it is wise and good for churches of like mind to hold communion together, whether expressed more informally and organically or more formally and deliberately. That may involve particular commitments and expectations, understood by all the members, and by the officers specifically, that the elders of another congregation are available to provide counsel, especially in times of confusion and crisis.
