Perhaps the most critical issue for healthy, growing churches is member care or life together, in keeping with the biblical emphasis on allalon--"one another." Member care demands that believers be passionately concerned for one another's spiritual welfare and physical and social well-being. This mutual care may be expressed in different ways, but they are always to be directed to the needs of the members of the body of Christ. That is the approach taken by the author of this book, which focuses on what may be construed as a negative subject--discipline. The hope is that a careful reading will reveal that Christian discipline, seen holistically, may be a most rewarding ministry, one that brings many benefits to healthy, growing churches as it nurtures loving relationships among people who care enough to speak the truth with love, as Jesus did.

"Dr. Moriah is passionate about Christ's church-her faithfulness, health, and witness. In this exploration of Christian discipline in the twenty-first century church, he has provided a biblically based, practical guide for living together faithfully in a culture that leans toward unbridled individual freedom. Each chapter with discussion guidelines makes an excellent study for small groups or judicatory boards-helping the Church to live both courageously and as safely as possible in today's litigious culture."
-Carol Anne Janzen
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
Dean of Students
Acadia Divinity College

"Church discipline is something many Christians say is necessary but very few churches practice. The Thirteenth Discipline places church discipline in the context of healthy church life in what is perceived as a negative part of church life, and argues that it is important for church health. The author has allowed me to use part of the material from this work in class and students have found it challenging and it has opened new ideas for future ministry for prospective pastors."
-Robert S. Wilson
Professor of Church History
Acadia Divinity College

CONTRIBUTORS:
William J. Abraham
Kimberly Ervin Alexander
Christopher T. Bounds
Barry L. Callen
Nathan Crawford
Jonathan Dodrill
D. William Faupel
Joel B. Green
Stanley Hauerwas
Kevin Kinghorn
Bradford McCall
Graham McFarlane
J. Steven O'Malley
Michael Pasquarello, III
Aaron Perry
Michael L. Peterson
Tony Richie
Don Thorsen
Laurence W. Wood



Lionel M. Moriah is Associate Professor of the John Gladstone Chair of Preaching and Worship at Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.