Immediately after the elders were informed by Patrick Wilson about what Patrick discovered re: Josiah and the other Bryan children, the elders had the Biblical responsibility to:

1. Be the exclusive body at Trinity Church that sought out the truth, e.g., request Patrick to back off from the Bryan children, and speak directly with the Bryan children and Stuart. Any Trinity members who weren’t directly involved should not have been made aware of it at this stage.
2. Deliberate amongst themselves.
3. Rightly apply their ruling authority to use church discipline or, additionally, refer it out to the civil magistrate.

This was supposed to be carried out by the elders, but they didn’t act until after Patrick filed the police report.

Note: I don’t have a problem with the fact that the civil magistrate was involved. I have a problem that Patrick took that prerogative from the elders. See this post that affirms the general outcome of the Bryan situation.