¹ It’s better for us to correct those who are careless, so that wrongdoing doesn’t grow, than to criticize actions only after they’ve already happened. (Sirach 20:1)

² Judges of the Church ought not to have the fear of man, but the fear of God, because the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7)

³ Judges of the Church ought not to have the wisdom of this world, “for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,” but to have the “wisdom of God " (1 Cor. 3:19; 1:21).'

⁴ Judges of the Church ought not to take gifts, because “gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just.” (Sirach 20:31)

⁵ Judges in the Church should not show favouritism in making their decisions, for “God shows no partiality”. (Rom 2:11)

⁶ Judges of the Church should not rely on worldly cleverness, but on divine examples, for it is unfitting for a servant of God to be sly or crafty.

⁷ Judges of the Church should not judge too quickly until they know the truth of a matter, as it is written, “Do not desire quickly to be a judge”. [Sirach 7:6]

⁸ Judges of the Church should not be overly talkative. [James 1:19]

⁹ Judges of the Church should not to tell a lie, for a lie is a great crime.[Ephesians 4:25]

¹⁰ Judges of the Church ought to “judge just judgment,” [John 7:24] “for whatever judgment they have judged, judgment will be passed upon them.” [Matthew 7:2]

¹¹ Look to the examples of the elders, where you will find no deceipt.

¹² Judges who do not judge rightly the judgments of the Church are not judges, but falsifiers.