KCC Church Morality Policy

 Inclusion. Because God is love (1 John 4:8) and so loved us that he gave his only Son for us (John 3:16), KCC is a loving church that invites all people to join us (Luke 14:23). KCC includes all people, even folks working through their issues (Matthew 11:28), bad habits (James 5:16) and even sins (Mark 2:17). 

 Exclusion.  Yet, we are a faith of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-10), of Jesus' love commandments (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35) and of the admonitions of the Apostle Paul (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  In fact, the Bible directs churches to remove people who are either seriously divisive or who are engaged in serious sins of moral turpitude and refuse to be repentant in and outside of the church (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13).  Such removal will occur only after the process that the Bible prescribes, including 2 - 3 mature believers trying to privately resolve the situation; if that does not work, taking it to the KCC Senior Pastor for guidance of the under-shepherd of the church toward resolution or repentance; and if the person will not heed the KCC Senior Pastor's shepherding, the KCC Senior Pastor will bring the matter before the membership to see if the person will repent before the membership in a special meeting with at least ten (10) days notice to the membership of the special meeting; if the person refuses to attend or to repent, then the Pastor may move the membership for a vote to remove the person from the church for a set time and until the person agrees to repent in a regular KCC church  service in which the KCC Senior Pastor is present (Matthew 18:15-17).  As stated below, the aim of this exclusion section is that the person will someday be restored to the Christian faith and to KCC membership.

 Leadership.  Additionally, the Bible recognizes that leaders bear added responsibility and should be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3; Philippians 3:17; Titus 2:7; James 3:1).  The following are leaders at KCC: the Senior Pastor, Elders, Deacons, Worship Minister, Ministry Heads, Board of Directors, all singers in the KCC Ensemble (group of less than 10 singers), all singers on a KCC Praise Team, Persons on Program, Emcees, Choir Lead Singers, Soloists, Instrumentalist Leads and Ushers on duty.  Leaders do not include those giving 1 Corinthian 14:26 utterances when such time is afforded in a KCC service.  Those who have a leading position in the church must publicly repent (Acts 8:9-25) when they are found to be engaged in either sins of moral turpitude or in behavior that has a serious negative impact on our Christian witness (Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20; Psalm 51).  This will certainly include recent acts of idolatry, homosexuality, violent crime, sexual crime, indecent acts against a child, domestic violence; however, this will even extend to a pattern of non-marital sex, alcoholism, drug addiction, lewd acts, fraud or cohabitation (shacking) (1 Corinthians 6:9-13; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5-7).  Any leader, from the Pastor to the head of ministries, must repent of such acts when called on by the Pastor or by a majority of the membership.  Such a leader, even after publicly repenting, may be removed from acting in a leadership position for a time set by the Pastor or by the membership after a majority vote.  In the case of the temporary standing down of the Pastor, the membership will arrange to have serve as temporary Pastor the Bishop or a Pastor from the association with which the church is affiliated.  KCC is affiliated with the United Black Christian Clergy and the Washington Christian Leaders Coalition.  As stated below, the aim of the leadership stand down section is that the person will grow in the Christian faith and be restored to KCC leadership at the appropriate time and in the appropriate ministry.

 Restoration.  Whenever actions are taken to remove a person, to require public repentance or to stand down a leader, the aim is always to demonstrate love (Ephesians 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 16:14), keep the Scriptures unbroken (John 10:35), preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3) and to encourage the ultimate salvation as well as restoration of every believer (1 Corinthians 5:5). Loving restoration is the aim of the KCC Morality Policy (1 Corinthians 6:9-20).

 Marriage Ceremonies.  Generally, ordained elders at KCC will officiate over the marriage ceremonies of Christian believers.  KCC ordained elders will not marry those whose lifestyles are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible.  KCC will not allow its premises to be used in ways that are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible or that would impact negatively on our Christian witness (Matthew 5:1