Putting aside the immediate issue that the biblical model is not for ‘a pastor’ but ‘pastors’, which would already alleviate the issue, church discipline is for the WHOLE CHURCH. Frankly, if ‘the pastor’ has to teach on the subject so that he can apply it, you’ve already lost the battle.

Understanding and applying church discipline should be integral to every aspect of a fellowship. Whatever day of the week, whoever it is in the fellowship, leaders or otherwise, we are all responsible and the Bible instructs us on this. Yes, some things do get escalated in a biblical manner to the elders, but church discipline starts with us all, not ‘the pastor’.

In my church, the primary contact point for identifying and teaching discipline is probably the community groups (otherwise known as house groups, cell groups, life groups). In that context, we learn what it is to lead a Spirit-led life every moment of every day, in accordance with the Word. In fact, no-one can even join our church without doing an ‘orientation’ course where they learn, amongst other things, the values of the church, the principles and standards of godly living, and the need for church discipline.

And so I would say in summary – yes to church discipline but your starting point is already too far down the line. The question is not how we do church discipline. The question is actually… how do we do church?