Several lessons follow. First, polity protects churches from heretics and hypocrites, and so protects the gospel. By pounding the gavel and rendering a verdict on false gospel professions, the church clarifies its message. Second, the what and the who of the gospel are the most significant matters of polity, even more than who the leaders are. The church is its gospel-believing members, and their everyday lives and words will impact the nations’ opinion of Jesus more than bad headlines about fallen church