ARTICLE IV
RESOLUTION OF A GRIEVANCE
The following steps shall be taken to resolve a grievance between ministers.
Section 1. Meeting Together.
First, ministers should meet together alone in an effort to resolve a grievance between them. (See Matthew 18:15.)
Section 2. Arbitration Panel.
1. If the ministers fail to resolve the grievance between them, each minister shall select an ordained minister who is neutral and unbiased about the grievance and who is not a member of a District Board to serve as a member of an arbitration panel. These two (2) selected ministers shall then jointly select a third ordained minister who is also uninformed about the grievance and who is not a member of a District Board to serve as the chair of the arbitration panel. He or she shall affirm that he or she is neutral and unbiased concerning the grievance. Two (2) additional ministers shall be chosen to serve with the chair on the arbitration panel. They shall be chosen in the same manner as the chair and shall affirm that they are neutral and unbiased concerning the grievance.
2. The chair of the arbitration panel shall set the place, date, and time for the arbitration panel to meet with the four (4) ministers involved in the grievance and communicate this information to them and to the other two (2) members of the panel.
3. The arbitration panel shall meet with the two (2) ministers without any other person present. After hearing each side, it shall present a solution, which shall be binding upon both ministers. (See Matthew 18:16.)
4. The chair of the arbitration panel shall send by official notice a copy of the arbitration panel's decision to the two (2) involved ministers and to the District Superintendent of each minister.
Section 3. Appeal of Decision.
Either minister may appeal the decision of the arbitration panel to the District Board, whose decision shall be final. In the event the two (2) ministers are from two (2) districts, the appeal shall be to the ministers appeal council, whose decision shall be final. The appeal shall be made by notifying the District Superintendent (or regional presiding officer) within twenty (20) days after receiving the decision of the arbitration panel. (See Matthew 18:17.) The District Superintendent (or regional presiding officer) shall arrange a meeting to hear the appeal. Only the two (2) involved ministers and the chair of the arbitration panel or a member of the arbitration panel designated by the chair may meet with the District Board (or the ministers appeal council) during the appeal process.
Section 4.
Failure to abide by the decision of the arbitration panel, or, in the case of an appeal, the District Board (or ministers appeal council), shall be considered insubordination and grounds for a complaint.
The above is part of the judicial procedure of the United Pentecostal Church International and is provided for informational purposes.
