Friends:

As you can see from the subject, my question is related to the passage in 
Matthew that we are all familiar with.
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15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault 
between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that "by the 
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."
17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses 
even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
  - NKJV
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NB - Most of the translations seem to read very similar to the above.

I put it to you this way:
I am aware of a situation where the first two "steps" of the "Matthew 18" 
process have been followed without success.
... that being:
1.  Offended party goes to offending party and seeks reconciliation 
(without success).
2.  Offended party goes to offending party "with one or two more" and seeks 
reconciliation (without success).

In the event that the process is followed through to "step three",
... that being:
3.  Offended party "tells it the church".

My question is this:
Is verse 17 above describing two distinct events or gatherings?
  - One (the first) where the Offended party "tells it to the church" with 
the Offending party ABSENT from that meeting... and
  - Two (the second) where the church delivers their message to the 
Offending party where he/she subsequently "refuses to hear".
----- OR -----
Is verse 17 above describing a single event or gathering? where:
  - the Offended party "tells it to the church" with the Offending party 
PRESENT where he/she subsequently "refuses to hear".


This as a practical question with practical implications so please be 
practical in your advice / exigesis.
I realize this may spawn more questions than answers, which in itself may 
be useful, but right now I am looking for the "answers".
My concern is for the truth and that the Scriptures be "rightly divided" 
and applied and the Lord obeyed.

in Christ,
Jamie Beals
Ottawa

PS I will read your reply posts on the SOG chat group, but if you wish, 
please also feel free to reply to me directly at jbeals@...
PPS Here is a follow-up question:  Would you treat the situation any 
differently if the Offending party was a pastor?  This, of course, has 
implications with respect to the "removal of a pastor" in the same way that 
it has implications with respect to the "removal of a member".