ARTICLE V
INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT
Section 1.
The District Superintendent is encouraged to communicate and counsel privately with a minister about whom any question has surfaced in an attempt to resolve the problem.
Section 2.
Upon the receipt of a complaint that does not have the required information (see Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 2), the District Superintendent shall inform the signatories of the need of further appropriate information to meet the requirements.
Section 3.
For the purposes of an investigation, hearing, and trial (Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX), the district taking action may be the district of the accused minister or the district in which the violation allegedly occurred.
Section 4.
When a complaint of an alleged violation is received in writing, within thirty (30) days the superintendent of the district that receives the complaint shall appoint two (2) ordained ministers of the district to serve with him as the investigative committee. The District Superintendent shall serve as the chair of the committee. If the District Superintendent so desires, or if he has a conflict of interest according to Article I, Section 1, Paragraph 9, he shall disqualify himself and appoint another member from the District Board to take his place as chair. (See Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 2 for the definition of a complaint.)
Section 5.
The District Board and the accused minister may each have two (2) qualified counselors to assist, advise, and speak for them in the investigation, representation, and defense of a properly-received complaint by the District Superintendent.
Section 6.
The committee shall investigate the alleged violation, taking care to safeguard the welfare of all concerned: the person making the complaint, the minister, the church, the district, and the international organization.
Section 7.
In the investigation of the complaint, the committee is authorized to take the following steps in the order given.
1. The chair shall notify the accused minister that a complaint of a ministerial violation has been received, stating the nature of the complaint.
2. The chair shall give the accused minister an opportunity to meet with him alone to respond to the complaint. This meeting is an attempt to resolve the complaint in a spirit of brotherly love and concern. The accused minister may also respond in writing.
3. Two (2) or three (3) committee members shall conduct an interview with the person reporting the alleged violation to ascertain the factual basis of the alleged violation.
4. The committee may interview other persons who may have personal knowledge of the alleged violation. If it becomes necessary to interview a member of a United Pentecostal congregation, under no circumstances shall the investigative committee interview that person without giving adequate and advance notification to the pastor. If the pastor is not the accused minister, he or she shall have the right to be present at the interview.
5. The committee may seek information from any other source that could possess knowledge concerning the alleged violation.
6. If the accused minister confesses in writing to a violation during this phase of the investigation, the accused minister shall appear before the District Board for disposition of this violation according to Article VI, Section 4, Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Section 8.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the committee shall take one of the following actions:
1. Dismiss the complaint and notify the accused minister and the persons who initiated the complaint.
2. Refer its findings to the District Board for a hearing.
The above is part of the judicial procedure of the United Pentecostal Church International and is provided for informational purposes.
