Despite the presence of written policies, most Protestant churches in the United States rarely carry out formal discipline of members, according to a new national survey.

A 2024 Lifeway Research study found that while 80% of Protestant churches have official discipline guidelines, only a small minority have enforced them in recent years, with Evangelical congregations and larger churches being slightly more likely to act than Mainline denominations, The Christian Post reported.

The survey, conducted between August and September 2024, gathered responses from over 1,000 Protestant pastors across the country. Just one in six pastors said their congregation had disciplined a member in the past year, revealing a general hesitancy to enforce church discipline policies even when they exist in writing.

Many Pastors Report No Experience With Discipline

More than half of the pastors surveyed—54%—reported no formal discipline had occurred during their time at their current church, and they were not aware of any past instances either. Another 22% said the last time the church had performed discipline was more than three years ago.

Data on recent enforcement indicates that only 6% of pastors had seen disciplinary action within the last year, 6% within the past six months, and just 3% in the last month. These figures are nearly identical to those reported in Lifeway’s similar 2017 study, suggesting little change over time.

Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research, explained that the lack of discipline is not due to a lack of wrongdoing among members. He noted that such actions typically occur when a member is unrepentant or disqualified from a role because of personal behavior.

Mainline Denominations Show Even Less Activity

The differences between Evangelical and Mainline churches are stark. Nearly half—47%—of Evangelical pastors were unaware of any disciplinary action taking place at their church. Among Mainline pastors, that figure rose sharply to 70%.

Methodist pastors stood out as the least likely to report ever carrying out official discipline, with 82% indicating that it had not occurred in their churches. This rate was significantly higher than in most other denominations surveyed.

McConnell suggested that both theology and the size of the congregation influence whether discipline is pursued. “The more people you have in your church, the more likely someone’s behavior warrants discipline,” he said. “Teachings and traditions also play into a church’s willingness to discipline someone.”

Larger Churches More Likely to Enforce Rules

Size appeared to be a notable factor in whether churches implemented discipline policies. Among congregations with at least 250 attendees, only 35% reported having no cases of discipline, suggesting that larger communities are more likely to address misconduct formally.

In contrast, higher percentages of inaction were seen among smaller churches. This may be due in part to limited organizational resources or an informal approach to resolving issues within a tightly-knit community.

Despite the lower frequency of enforcement, most pastors acknowledged that discipline serves a specific role in church life. According to the study, 83% agreed that the goal of discipline is to lovingly and biblically confront sin that remains unconfessed within the congregation.

The majority of Churches Have Policies, But Don’t Use Them

About four out of five churches in the study reported having an official policy on church discipline. However, 14% of churches have no formal guidelines in place. This number is higher in some groups; for example, 21% of Mainline pastors said their church lacks such policies, and 36% of Methodist pastors said the same.

The responsibility for administering discipline varies across churches. Only 11% of pastors said they handled the process alone, while 14% said elders oversaw it. In 10% of churches, the full congregation was involved, and 35% reported that multiple groups shared the duty.

Evangelical pastors were more supportive than Mainline pastors of the idea that discipline should confront sin biblically and lovingly, with 89% agreeing compared to 74% of Mainline leaders. Restorationist Movement and Baptist pastors showed the highest levels of support, at 94% and 90%, respectively.

Biblical Roots and Cultural Shifts

The practice of church discipline has longstanding biblical foundations, with passages such as Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 5 often cited as the basis for church leaders’ responsibilities. These scriptures are used by many pastors to guide disciplinary steps and outcomes within their congregational framework.

Even so, some Christian commentators have expressed concern over the decline of such practices. Reagan Scott, an activist and columnist, wrote in a 2022 op-ed that the neglect of discipline has contributed to a range of problems in modern churches, including moral failures, doctrinal confusion, and loss of accountability.

“Because a little leaven has been allowed within these churches, the whole lump has been leavened,” Scott argued, warning that a lack of church discipline has blurred the lines between committed believers and those who live apart from scriptural standards.

Discipline Rare but Considered Important

Despite the low frequency with which discipline is enacted, many pastors continue to view it as a vital part of church life meant to protect both the individual and the wider congregation. McConnell emphasized its dual purpose of restoration and accountability.

“Confronting unconfessed sin is both for the benefit of the local church and the individual,” he said. “Most churches look to follow biblical guidelines in these cases.”

Though discipline remains the exception rather than the norm in U.S. Protestant churches, the topic continues to generate reflection, debate, and occasional reform within church leadership across the denominational spectrum.