By raising a formal complaint with a church, you are asking them to devote time and resources and potentially finance to properly addressing your concerns. In some cases, this will be perfectly legitimate, but a formal complaint should only be raised after all other methods of resolution have been exhausted. In other words, raising a formal complaint should be the last step taken, not the first.

It is further assumed that all Biblical avenues for resolution have already been exhausted. If a grievance is against a fellow church member, it should first be dealt with in the manner of Matthew 18.

If it is in relation to a pastor or elder, then 1 Timothy 5 should be followed. It is only once these Biblical and informal resolution processes have been followed that a formal complaint should be raised.

A formal complaint is not the same as raising a concern. The latter can often be dealt with by taking the matter up with the leader or leaders at the church long before there is a need to raise it to the level of a formal complaint.

You can read our complaints policy and procedure here.

To submit a complaint, please fill out this form.