Did you know that John Calvin (yes, that John Calvin) believed that Matt. 18 was not universally applicable? In fact, he argued that Matt. 18 is specifically limited to interpersonal sins. When sin has a public, corporate, or systemic nature and impact, Matt. 18 doesn't apply.

This makes perfect sense in light of the Protestant Reformation as a whole. The sins of the medieval church were seen as public, corporate, and systemic. That's why Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli did not follow the process of Matt. 18 in their protestation.

Read Calvin's commentary on Matthew 18. It is incredibly insightful and pastoral regarding dealing with the sins of pastors and elders.

Calvin on Matt 18:15: “ought this rule to be extended indiscriminately to every kind of offense? For there are very many who do not allow any public censures till the offender has been privately admonished. But, there is an obvious limitation in the words of Christ; for he

does not simply, and without exception, order us to advise or reprove privately, and in the absence of witnesses, all who have offended, but bids us attempt this method, when we have been offended in private… This expression [“against thee”] as is evident from what we have

said, does not denote an injury committed against any one, but distinguishes between secret and open sins. for if any man shall offend against the whole church, Paul enjoins that he be publicly reproved, so that even elders shall not be spared… And certainly it would be absurd

that he who has committed a public offense, so that the disgrace of it is generally known, should be admonished by individuals; for if a thousand persons are aware of it, he ought to receive a thousand admonitions…”

TL;DR don't use Matthew 18 as a bludgeon to silence Christians who shed light on injustice and abuse within the church and its leaders.