Excommunication - Knowledge (XXG)

663:"Particularly, we are forbidden such a degree of associating ourselves with (excommunicants), as there is in making them our guests at our tables, or in being their guests at their tables; as is manifest in the text, where we are commanded to have no company with them, no not to eat That this respects not eating with them at the Lord's supper, but a common eating, is evident by the words, that the eating here forbidden, is one of the lowest degrees of keeping company, which are forbidden. Keep no company with such a one, saith the apostle, no not to eat – as much as to say, no not in so low a degree as to eat with him. But eating with him at the Lord's supper, is the very highest degree of visible Christian communion. Who can suppose that the apostle meant this: Take heed and have no company with a man, no not so much as in the highest degree of communion that you can have? Besides, the apostle mentions this eating as a way of keeping company which, however, they might hold with the heathen. He tells them, not to keep company with fornicators. Then he informs them, he means not with fornicators of this world, that is, the heathens; but, saith he, 'if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, etc. with such a one keep no company, no not to eat.' This makes it most apparent, that the apostle doth not mean eating at the Lord's table; for so, they might not keep company with the heathens, any more than with an excommunicated person". 231: 306: 44: 352:(August 28, 1794) condemned the notion which maintained that the effect of excommunication is only exterior because of its own nature it excludes only from exterior communion with the Church, as if, said the pope, excommunication were not a spiritual penalty binding in heaven and affecting souls. The excommunicated person, being excluded from the society of the Church, still bears the indelible mark of Baptism and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Church. They are excluded from engaging in certain activities. These activities are listed in Canon 1331 §1, and prohibit the individual from any ministerial participation in celebrating the sacrifice of the Eucharist or any other ceremonies of worship; celebrating or receiving the sacraments; or exercising any ecclesiastical offices, ministries, or functions. 1045:", a group of intellectuals and professors, five of whom were excommunicated and the sixth disfellowshipped. However, church policy dictates that local leaders are responsible for membership withdrawal, without influence from church headquarters. The church thus argues that this policy is evidence against any systematic persecution of scholars or dissenters. Data shows per-capita excommunication rates among the LDS Church have varied dramatically over the years, from a low of about 1 in 6,400 members in the early 1900s to one in 640 by the 1970s, an increase which has been speculatively attributed to "informal guidance from above" in enforcing the growing list of possible transgressions added to 2116:"Canonists usually treat of excommunication in their commentaries on the Corpus Juris Canonici, at the title De sententia excommunicationis (lib. V, tit. xxxix). Moralists deal with it apropos of the treatise on censures (De Censuris). One of the best works is that of D'Annibale Summula Theologiæ moralis (5th ed., Rome, 1908). For details consult the numerous commentaries on the Constitution Apostolicæ Sedis. Special works by ancient writers: Avila, De censuris (Lyons, 1608); Suarez, De censuris (Coimbra, 1603). Altieri, De censuris ecclesiasticis (Rome, 1618). – Cf. Kober, Der Kirchenbann (Tübingen, 1857)." 271: 1106:

talk to elders at any time but must apply in writing to be considered for reinstatement into the congregation. Elders consider each case individually, and are instructed to ensure "that sufficient time has passed for the disfellowshipped person to prove that his profession of repentance is genuine". A judicial committee meets with the individual to determine their repentance, and if this is established, the person is reinstated into the congregation and may participate with the congregation in their formal ministry (such as house-to-house preaching).

735:, states that "Any member of our church who is accused of neglect of the means of grace or other duties required by the Word of God, the indulgence of sinful tempers, words or actions, the sowing of dissension, or any other violation of the order and discipline of the church, may, after proper labor and admonition, be censured, placed on probation, or expelled by the official board of the circuit of which he is a member. If he request a trial, however, within thirty dates of the final action of the official board, it shall be granted." 1086:

typical family contact may continue, but without spiritual fellowship such as family Bible study and religious discussions. Parents of disfellowshipped minors living in the family home may continue to attempt to convince the child about the group's teachings. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this form of discipline encourages the disfellowshipped individual to conform to biblical standards and prevents the person from influencing other members of the congregation.

356: 475:. It is not expulsion from the churches. This can happen for such reasons as not having confessed within that year; excommunication can also be imposed as part of a penitential period. It is generally done with the goal of restoring the member to full communion. Before an excommunication of significant duration is imposed, the bishop is usually consulted. The Eastern Orthodox do have a means of expulsion, by pronouncing 1241:). Offenses that may be grounds for expulsion include marrying a non-member, having a romantic relationship with a non-member, becoming pregnant out of wedlock (unless the couple marries before the child is born) and most especially disagreeing with the church administration. An expelled member can be re-admitted by pledging obedience to the church administration and its rules, values and teachings. 1090:

in the Witnesses literature have been the subject of investigation in the UK to determine if they violate religious hatred laws. Sociologist Andrew Holden claims many Witnesses who would otherwise defect because of disillusionment with the organization and its teachings, remain affiliated out of fear of being shunned and losing contact with friends and family members. Shunning employs what is known

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to be removed from participation in the Divine Liturgy and any public celebrations of divine worship. They are forbidden to make use of any privileges granted to them and cannot be given any dignity, office, ministry, or function in the church, they cannot receive any pension or emoluments associated with these dignities etc., and they are deprived of the right to vote or to be elected.

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have not "mended their ways" may cause an interecclesial breach. The original ecclesia may notify the Christadelphian Magazine that the third party ecclesia is interfering in their own discipline of their own member, and news of refellowship will be blocked from News From the Ecclesias, and consequently the community as a whole will not recognise the refellowship. See Booker, G.

1415:, this group, known as the Guptis, were excommunicated from the caste completely as they appeared to be breaking caste solidarity. This was also significant for the Gupti community as, for the first time, they could be identified as a distinct group based on their religious persuasion. Some of the more daring Guptis also abandoned their former practice of 511:, as well as their impious writings, as also all other heretics already condemned and anathematized by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and by the aforesaid four Holy Synods and all those who have held and hold or who in their impiety persist in holding to the end the same opinion as those heretics just mentioned: let him be anathema." 1159:

assessment of whether the individual has "turned away" from (ceased) the course of action considered immoral by the church. This can be complex when dealing with cases of divorce and subsequent remarriage, with different positions adopted by different ecclesias, but generally within the main "Central" grouping, such cases can be accommodated.

821:, the purposes of withdrawing membership or imposing membership restrictions are, (1) to help protect others; (2) to help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through repentance; and (3) to protect the integrity of the Church. The origins of LDS disciplinary procedures and excommunications are traced to a revelation 63:. Since few details were provided to the artist, Vasari chose to paint an excommunication scene generically. In the traditional excommunication procedure, the pope and his priests would hurl burning candles on the ground and stamp them out. The painter however here chose to show the pope personally stepping on the emperor. 1176:

some members, they may seek to find a third party ecclesia which is willing to "refellowship" the member instead. According to the Ecclesial Guide a third party ecclesia may also take the initiative to "refellowship" another meeting's member. However this cannot be done unilaterally, as this would constitute

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By the late 1990s, several churches were using the West Shore UU Church's policy as a model. If someone is threatening, disruptive, or distracting from the appeal of the church to its membership, a church using this model has three recommended levels of response to the offending individual. While the

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Along with breaches of the Witnesses' moral code, openly disagreeing with the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses is considered grounds for shunning. These persons are labeled as "apostates" and are described in Watch Tower Society literature as "mentally diseased". Descriptions of "apostates" appearing

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monastic community monks can be expelled from monasteries for heresy or other acts. In addition, monks have four vows, called the four defeats, which are abstaining from sexual intercourse, stealing, murder, and lying about spiritual gains (e.g., having special power or ability to perform miracles).

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In such cases, the person involved is usually required to discuss the issues. If they do not conform, the church ('meeting' or 'ecclesia') is recommended by the management committee ("Arranging Brethren") to vote on disfellowshipping the person. These procedures were formulated 1863 onwards by early

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Each year, congregation elders are instructed to consider meeting with disfellowshipped individuals to determine changed circumstances and encourage them to pursue reinstatement. Reinstatement is not automatic after a certain time period, nor is there a minimum duration; disfellowshipped persons may

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Disfellowshipping is a severing of friendly relationships between all Jehovah's Witnesses and the disfellowshipped person. Interaction with extended family is typically restricted to a minimum, such as presence at the reading of wills and providing essential care for the elderly. Within a household,

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Those under major excommunication are in addition forbidden to receive not only the Eucharist but also the other sacraments, to administer sacraments or sacramentals, to exercise any ecclesiastical offices, ministries, or functions whatsoever, and any such exercise by them is null and void. They are

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An exception noted in Roberts' Ecclesial Guide is where the original meeting is known for having a position out of step with other ecclesias. In practice however such cases are extremely unusual and the attempt to refellowship another ecclesia's member when the original ecclesia considers that they

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expelled one, suspended three, and caused one to resign without eligibility for reinstatement. While the CCAR and RCA were relatively shy about their reasons for expelling rabbis, the RA was more open about its reasons for kicking rabbis out. Reasons for expulsion from the three conferences include

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After excommunication, it would depend upon the caste-council whether they would accept any form of repentance (ritual or otherwise) or not. Such current examples of excommunication in Hinduism are often more political or social rather than religious, for example the excommunication of lower castes

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Behavioural cases. Many cases regarding moral issues tend to involve relational matters such as marriage outside the faith, divorce and remarriage (which is considered adultery in some circumstances by some ecclesias), or homosexuality. Reinstatement for moral issues is determined by the ecclesia's

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Disassociation is a form of shunning where a member expresses verbally or in writing that they do not wish to be associated with Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than for having committed any specific 'sin'. Elders may also decide that an individual has disassociated, without any formal statement by the

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Many Lutheran denominations operate under the premise that the entire congregation (as opposed to the pastor alone) must take appropriate steps for excommunication, and there are not always precise rules, to the point where individual congregations often set out rules for excommunicating laymen (as

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The term "withdraw from" is frequently found as a synonym for "disfellowship" in older Christadelphian ecclesial news entries, but this usage is less common today since it is now more widely realised that the term "withdraw from" in 2Th.3:6, 1Tim.6:5 is not describing the full "turn over to Satan"

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that have emerged throughout history, papal excommunication has no exact equivalent in Islam, at least insofar as the attitudes of any conflicting religious authorities with regard to an individual or another sect are judged to be coordinate, not subordinate to one another. Nonetheless, condemning

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and from taking an active part in the liturgy (reading, bringing the offerings, etc.). "Excommunicates lose rights, such as the right to the sacraments, but they are still bound to the obligations of the law; their rights are restored when they are reconciled through the remission of the penalty."

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has the sole authority to declare a person a Covenant-breaker, and once identified, all Bahá'ís are expected to shun them, even if they are family members. According to 'Abdu'l Baha Covenant-breaking is a contagious disease. The Bahá'í writings forbid association with Covenant-breakers and Bahá'ís

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The mechanics of "refellowship" follow the reverse of the original process; the individual makes an application to the "ecclesia", and the "Arranging Brethren" give a recommendation to the members who vote. If the "Arranging Brethren" judge that a vote may divide the ecclesia, or personally upset

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Evenson wrote: "I had a strong defense for my position , but as I met with administrators, including President Rex Lee and Provost (now General Authority) Bruce Hafen, it became clear that they weren't interested in hearing why I was writing; they were interested in getting me to stop writing."

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for behaviour inconsistent with the sense of the meeting. In Britain a meeting may record a minute of disunity. However it is the responsibility of each meeting, quarterly meeting, and yearly meeting, to act with respect to their own members. For example, during the Vietnam War many Friends were

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has often been practiced through the courts. More recently, cases have taken place where individuals have been considered nonbelievers. These decisions followed lawsuits against individuals, mainly in response to their writings that some have viewed as anti-Islamic. The most famous cases are of

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excommunication. For instance, a priest may not refuse Communion publicly to those who are under an automatic excommunication, as long as it has not been officially declared to have been incurred by them, even if the priest knows that they have incurred it—although if the person's offence was a

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In 17th- and 18th-Century North America, before the founding of abolitionist societies, Friends who too forcefully tried to convince their coreligionists of the evils of slavery were read out of meeting. Benjamin Lay was read out of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for this. During the American

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communities use the "ban", separation and correction on baptized members that fall into sin. Separated members must be avoided or "shunned" until they repent and reform. Shunning must be done in the spirit of moderation and christian charity; the aim is not to destroy but to reform the person.

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A distinction can be detected between these three reasons in that which of the three applies is usually made clear in the notice which the ecclesia will post in the Ecclesial News section of The Christadelphian. This is since one purpose is to make other ecclesias aware lest the member try to

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denomination, has a wide diversity of opinions and sentiments. Nonetheless, Unitarian Universalists have had to deal with disruptive individuals. Congregations which had no policies on disruptive individuals have sometimes found themselves having to create such policies, up to (and including)

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Doctrinal cases. Changes of belief on what Christadelphians call "first principle" doctrines are difficult to accommodate unless the individual agrees to not teach or spread them, since the body has a documented Statement of Faith which informally serves as a basis of ecclesial membership and

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that church censures do not "consign those who are excommunicated to perpetual ruin and damnation", but are designed to induce repentance, reconciliation and restoration to communion. Calvin notes, "though ecclesiastical discipline does not allow us to be on familiar and intimate terms with

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Formal membership restrictions are used for serious sins that do not rise to the level of membership withdrawal. Formal membership restriction denies some privileges but does not include a loss of church membership. Once formal membership restrictions are in place, persons may not take the

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The Church of England does not have any specific canons regarding how or why a member can be excommunicated, although it has a canon according to which ecclesiastical burial may be refused to someone "declared excommunicate for some grievous and notorious crime and no man to testify to his

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Christadelphians typically avoid the term "excommunication" which many associate with the Catholic Church; and may feel the word carries implications they do not agree with, such as undue condemnation and punishment, as well as failing to recognise the remedial intention of the measure.

551:, excommunicated individuals are turned out from their parish in front of their congregation. They are not forbidden, however, to attend church and participate in other acts of devotion, although they are to sit in a place appointed by the priest (which was at a distance from others). 929:

determines whether withdrawal of membership or a lesser sanction is warranted. He does this in consultation with his two counselors, with the bishop making the final determination after prayer. The decision of a ward membership council can be appealed to the stake president.

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The LDS Church also practices the lesser sanctions of private counsel and caution and informal and formal membership restrictions. (Informal membership restrictions was formerly known as "probation"; formal membership restrictions was formerly known as "disfellowshipment".)

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and "other fellowship in the church". While the "great" excommunication excluded a person from both the church and political communities which he considered to be outside the authority of the church and only for civil leaders. A modern Lutheran practice is laid out in the

400:. On the other hand, if the priest knows that excommunication has been imposed on someone or that an automatic excommunication has been declared (and is no longer merely an undeclared automatic excommunication), he is forbidden to administer Holy Communion to that person. 997:

Notices of withdrawal of membership may be made public, especially in cases of apostasy, where members could be misled. However, the specific reasons for individual withdrawal of membership are typically kept confidential and are seldom made public by church leadership.

419:) by a priest or bishop empowered to do this. "The absolution can be in the internal (private) forum only, or also in the external (public) forum, depending on whether scandal would be given if a person were privately absolved and yet publicly considered unrepentant." 1163:

interecclesial fellowship. Those who are disfellowshipped for reasons of differing belief rarely return, because they are expected to conform to an understanding with which they do not agree. Holding differing beliefs on fundamental matters is considered as error and

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is formed. This committee investigates the case and determines the magnitude of the sin committed. If the person is deemed guilty of a disfellowshipping offense, the committee then decides, on the basis of the person's attitude and "works befitting repentance".

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for a very wide variety of infringements of caste prohibitions. This may or may not be recoverable. However, some of the modern organised sects within Hinduism may practice something equivalent to excommunication today, by ousting a person from their own sect.

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practices expulsion of members it deems to have gravely sinned or gone against the teachings and doctrines of the church. The Sanggunian, the church's council, has jurisdiction to expel members from the church. People expelled by the church are referred to as

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18:17). Adams writes, "Nowhere in the Bible is excommunication (removal from the fellowship of the Lord's Table, according to Adams) equated with what happens in step 5; rather, step 5 is called 'removing from the midst, handing over to Satan,' and the like."

815:, actions that significantly impair the name or moral influence of the church or pose a threat to other people. In 2020, the church ceased using the term "excommunication" and instead refers to "withdrawal of membership". According to the church leadership 177:

is rare and generally not used for transgressions of community standards, intellectual dissent, or conversion to other religions. Instead, it is the most severe punishment, reserved for suppressing organized dissent that threatens the unity of believers.

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the person no longer wants to have anything to do with Jehovah's people and is determined to remain in a false religion? They would then simply announce to the congregation that such one has disassociated himself and thus is no longer one of Jehovah's

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In the case of adultery and divorce, the passage of time usually means a member can be restored if he or she wants to be. In the case of ongoing behaviour, cohabitation, homosexual activity, then the terms of the suspension have not been met.

2392: 676:, individuals were able to be excommunicated following "trial before a jury of his peers, and after having had the privilege of an appeal to a higher court". Nevertheless, an excommunication could be lifted after sufficient 3288:

The second situation involves a person who renounces his standing in the congregation by joining a secular organization whose purpose is contrary to counsel such as that found at Isaiah 2:4, ... neither will they learn war

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Some critics have charged that LDS Church leaders have used the threat of membership withdrawal to silence or punish church members and researchers who disagree with established policy and doctrine, who study or discuss

724:, includes "homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery", as well as remarriage after divorce among its excommunicable offences. 853:, pay tithes and offerings, and participate in church classes if their conduct is orderly. Formal membership restrictions typically lasts for one year, after which one may be reinstated as a member in good standing. 1701:

sexual misconduct, failure to comply with ethics investigations, setting up conversion groups without the conference's approval, stealing money from congregations, other financial misconduct, and getting arrested.

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individual, by actions such as accepting a blood transfusion, or for joining another religious or military organization. Individuals who are deemed by the elders to have disassociated are given no right of appeal.

250:, that God inflicts "maledictions and excommunications" on all who abandon a child of theirs whom they have the means to rear, and that they cannot be absolved unless they first refund all expenses incurred. 1133:

call their form of excommunication "disfellowshipping", though they do not practice "shunning". Disfellowshipping can occur for moral reasons, changing beliefs, or (in some ecclesias) for not attending

1708:, and so decisions to exclude from a community of worship often depend on the congregation. Congregational bylaws sometimes enable the board of a synagogue to ask individuals to leave or not to enter. 1150:(colloquially "The Ecclesial Guide"). However Christadelphians justify and apply their practice not only from this document but also from passages such as the exclusion in 1Co.5 and recovery in 2Co.2. 933:

The following list of variables serves as a general set of guidelines for when membership withdrawal or lesser action may be warranted, beginning with those more likely to result in severe sanction:

3547:, in The Christadelphian, in a typical year (Jan.–Dec. 2006) contained only two suspensions for doctrinal reasons in the UK, both indicating that the member had already left of his/her own choice. 1580:) means a definitive declaration that denounces a person as a kāfir ("infidel"). However, because such a charge would entail serious consequences for the accused, who would then be deemed to be a 589:

Historian Christopher Hill found that, in pre-revolutionary England, excommunication was common but fell into disrepute because it was applied unevenly and could be avoided on payment of fines.

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It would be best if he did this in a brief letter to the elders, but even if he unequivocally states orally that he is renouncing his standing as a Witness, the elders can deal with the matter.

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that "excommunicated persons are not members of the Church, because they have been cut off by her sentence from the number of her children and belong not to her communion until they repent".

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practice a form of excommunication, using the term "disfellowshipping", in cases where a member is believed to have unrepentantly committed one or more of several documented "serious sins".

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first level involves dialogue between a committee or clergy member and the offender, the second and third levels involve expulsion, either from the church itself or a church activity.

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Christadelphians interpret the "epitimia of the majority" 2Co.2:6 in different ways; some consider it the majority of all members, some the majority of elders. See Whittaker H.A.,

4195: 659:, addresses the notion of excommunication as "removal from the fellowship of the Lord's Table" in his treatise entitled "The Nature and End of Excommunication". Edwards argues: 1737: 1058: 892:

states that formally joining another church constitutes apostasy and is worthy of membership withdrawal; however, merely attending another church does not constitute apostasy.

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In the more grievous or recalcitrant cases, withdrawal of membership becomes a disciplinary option. Such an action is generally reserved for what are seen as the most serious

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Evidence of repentance: Sorrow for sin, and demonstrated commitment to repentance, as well as faith in Jesus Christ all play a role in determining the severity of discipline.

899:. Formerly called a "disciplinary council" or a "church court", the councils were renamed to avoid focusing on guilt and instead to emphasize the availability of repentance. 43: 1679:

Rabbinical conferences of movements do expel members from time to time, but sometimes choose the lesser penalty of censuring the offending rabbi. Between 2010 and 2015, the

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transfusions have been relegated to 'non-disfellowshipping events' ... If a member has a transfusion, they will, by their actions disassociate themselves from the religion.

340:'s twenty-third proposition according to which "excommunications are merely external punishments, nor do they deprive a man of the common spiritual prayers of the Church". 136:, depending on the group, the offense that caused excommunication, or the rules or norms of the religious community. The grave act is often revoked in response to manifest 1078: 411:, profession of the Creed (if the offense involved heresy) and an Act of Faith, or renewal of obedience (if that was a relevant part of the offending act, i.e., an act of 4529: 751:

communities practice variations of excommunication known as "shunning". This practice may include isolation from community events or the cessation of all communication.

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Most Japanese Buddhist sects hold ecclesiastical authority over their followers and have their own rules for expelling members of the sangha, lay or bishopric. The lay

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in the LDS Church. Violated covenants that might result in excommunication are usually those surrounding marriage covenants, temple covenants, and priesthood covenants.

1727: 1576:("the (e)migration")) or someone (used in the Qur'an in the case of disciplining a dissonant or disobedient wife or avoiding a harmful person). The latter (تَكْفِير, 948:

Position of trust or authority: The person's position in the church hierarchy factors into the decision. It is considered more serious when a sin is committed by an

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excommunication. A distinction is made between minor and major excommunication. Those on whom minor excommunication has been imposed are excluded from receiving the

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professor and writer whose fiction came under criticism from BYU officials and LDS Leadership. Another notable case of excommunication from the LDS Church was the "

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excommunicated persons, still we ought to strive by all possible means to bring them to a better mind, and recover them to the fellowship and unity of the Church."

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Under current Catholic canon law, excommunicates remain bound by ecclesiastical obligations such as attending Mass, even though they are barred from receiving the

4788: 4313: 2984: 2967: 2932: 2915: 2898: 2297: 2272: 1979: 3101: 2881: 1411:), but never found it objectionable or Islamic. However, in the early 1930s, after some conflict with caste members due to their profession of allegiance to the 1094:

in psychological literature. When used by church members and member-spouse parents against excommunicant parents it contains elements of what psychologists call

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The purpose of excommunication is to exclude from the church those members who have behaviors or teachings contrary to the beliefs of a Christian community (

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have also been known to excommunicate members that were either seen or known for breaking rules, or questioning the church, a practice known as shunning.

903: 1005:. Such persons are permitted to attend church meetings but participation is limited: they cannot offer public prayers, preach sermons, and cannot enter 155: 2152: 987:

Time between transgression and confession: If the sin was committed in the distant past, and there has not been repetition, leniency may be considered.

786:, excommunication is used as a last resort by denominations and churches for members who do not want to repent of beliefs or behavior at odds with the 4477: 1205:'s position on war which seemed at odds with their beliefs; however, it was the responsibility of Nixon's own meeting, the East Whittier Meeting of 2664: 717: 4226: 2105: 686:, the founder of the Methodist Churches, excommunicated sixty-four members from the Newcastle Methodist society alone for the following reasons: 74:

used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in

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Cyclopaedia of Methodism: Embracing Sketches of Its Rise, Progress, and Present Condition, with Biographical Notices and Numerous Illustrations

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argues that in excommunication, the offender is still seen as a brother, but in the final step they become "as the heathen and tax collector" (

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For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation.

2807: 4522: 3662: 2840: 2029: 1955: 1909: 1882: 1797: 1683: 1342:, hence Hinduism has no concept of excommunication and hence no Hindu may be ousted from the Hindu religion, though a person may easily lose 4177: 3422:

In fact, the earliest use of the term in their literature refers to the disfellowship of their founder, John Thomas, by Alexander Campbell:

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Luther differentiates between the "great" and "small" excommunication. The "small" excommunication is simply barring an individual from the

4840: 3460: 635: 3762: 4712: 4295: 1662:, when local Jewish communities lost their political autonomy, and Jews were integrated into the gentile nations in which they lived. A 622: 4053: 2951: 1376:) and was often with serious consequences, such as abasement of the person's caste status and even throwing him into the sphere of the 1113:

for at least one year. Serious sins involving child sex abuse permanently disqualify the sinner from appointment to any congregational

529: 185: 2181: 1765: 1517: 1098:. Extreme shunning may cause trauma to the shunned (and to their dependents) similar to what is studied in the psychology of torture. 4679: 4344: 4030: 3996: 3969: 2854: 2376: 225: 4356:

Esau, Alvin J., "The Courts and the Colonies: The Litigation of Hutterite Church Disputes", Univ of British Columbia Press, 2004.

1625:. The repercussions of such cases have included divorce, since under traditional interpretations of Islamic law, Muslim women are 1572:) signifies the act of abandoning somewhere (such as migration, as in the Islamic prophet's journey out of Mecca, which is called 849:, nor may they offer public prayers or sermons. Such persons may continue to attend most church functions and are allowed to wear 4845: 4835: 4707: 4515: 4159: 2246: 1143: 480: 382: 60: 3521:

Generally Christadelphians do not consider remarriage as adultery, but adultery is often at the root of a marriage breakup. See

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Age, maturity, and experience: Those who are young in age, or immature in their understanding, are typically afforded leniency.

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Although Lutheranism technically has an excommunication process, some denominations and congregations do not use it. In the

188:': actively promoting schism in the religion or otherwise opposing the legitimacy of the chain of succession of leadership. 2467: 1758:

The power and the glorification : papal pretensions and the art of propaganda in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries

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as Hindus, claiming that since they had been excommunicated, the caste no longer had any jurisdiction over their actions.

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from the Hindu Kachhiya caste. Interestingly, Hindu members of this caste began prayers with the inclusion of the mantra “

1017:. A person whose membership has been withdrawn may be re-baptized after a waiting period of at least one year and sincere 965: 942: 915: 842: 656: 270: 235: 2835: 629:

sees it as the third step after "admonition" and "suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season." Yet,

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The punishment of imprisonment for being excommunicated from the Church of England was removed from English law in 1963.

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means putting a specific individual or group out of communion. In some denominations, excommunication includes spiritual

4657: 4652: 4592: 3896: 1600:, " innovation; heresy") followed by shunning and excommunication have historically preponderated over apostasy trials. 1535: 938: 1550:

Islamic theologians commonly employ two terms when describing measurements to be taken against schismatics and heresy:

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If any one is broken, the monk is automatically a layman again and can never become a monk in his or her current life.

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At least one modern Reformed theologian argues that excommunication is not the final step in the disciplinary process.

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is a term used by Bahá'ís to refer to a person who has been excommunicated from the Bahá'í community for breaking the '

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circumvent the suspension by simply going to another ecclesia. See "Christadelphians, fellowship" in Bryan R. Wilson,

3098: 2682: 1722: 1412: 728: 444: 533: 101:, but it is also used more generally to refer to similar types of institutional religious exclusionary practices and 4247: 2197: 216:). It aims to protect members of the church from abuses and allow the offender to recognize their error and repent. 4850: 4552: 3198: 2171: 961: 926: 673: 428: 192: 31: 3855: 3787: 3708: 4273: 896: 799: 434: 259: 3034: 1167:, which can limit a person's salvation. However, in practice disfellowship for doctrinal reasons is now unusual. 201: 4830: 4572: 1705: 1257: 978:

Magnitude: How often, how many individuals were impacted, and who is aware of the sin factor into the decision.

911: 281: 2634: 1388:, since it was presumed he/she would be forced to break caste restrictions and, as a result, become polluted. 774:

communities use a form of excommunication called "the ban" on baptized members that fall into sin repeatedly.

302:(incurred only when imposed by a legitimate superior or declared as the sentence of an ecclesiastical court). 554:

The Lutheran process, though rarely used, has created unusual situations in recent years due to its somewhat

4642: 4538: 1717: 496: 468: 98: 35: 455:

of excommunication must indicate the precise effect of the excommunication and, if required, its duration.

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Ostracism: A Social and Biological Phenomenon, (Amish) Ostracism on Trial: The Limits of Individual Rights

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The expected practice is to discuss first with 2 or 3 witnesses, as per Matt.18:15–20. See Wilson, op.cit.

2948: 1435: 1427: 1249: 1063: 826: 412: 296:(automatic, incurred at the moment of committing the offense for which canon law imposes that penalty) or 110: 910:. In such a disciplinary council, the stake presidency and, sometimes in more difficult cases, the stake 605:, and shares many canons with the Church of England which would determine its policy on excommunication. 569:) by individuals who tried to "lobby" Rader's fellow church members into voting for his excommunication. 4727: 4612: 3039: 2110: 1343: 1331: 1327: 1002: 3805: 174: 166: 3185:

Well, apostates are "mentally diseased", and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings.

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In medieval and early-modern times (and sometimes even now) in South Asia, excommunication from one's

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of the community. The vote of community members, however, can restore a person who has been excluded.

451:. They can even be excluded from entering a church when divine worship is being celebrated there. The 4722: 4562: 4359: 3000: 1694: 1206: 1126: 359: 310: 48: 4372: 1814: 984:

Interests of the innocent: How the discipline will impact innocent family members may be considered.

4684: 3066: 2481: 1697: 1030: 1006: 846: 787: 488: 479:, but this is reserved only for acts of serious and unrepentant heresy. As an example of this, the 154: 3137: 1213:

Revolution over 400 Friends were read out of meeting for their military participation or support.

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Baha'is in Exile: An Account of Followers of Baha' U' llah Outside the Mainstream Baha'I Religion

1973: 1842: 1534:

Since there has been no universally and univocally recognized religious authority among the many

1480: 1471:

is a Sikh term which is sometimes translated into English as apostate. It refers to a person who

1451: 602: 555: 452: 90: 3830: 3464: 2947:

The procedure followed by a church membership council is described in church handbooks and the

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Another example of caste-related violence and discrimination occurred in the case of the Gupti

1274: 4759: 4739: 4717: 4557: 4424: 4340: 4123: 4119: 4026: 3992: 3965: 3935: 3658: 3654: 3588: 2428: 2372: 2273:"Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum orientalium, die XVIII Octobris anno MCMXC – Ioannes Paulus PP. II" 2177: 2025: 1961: 1951: 1905: 1878: 1834: 1793: 1761: 1669: 1659: 1513: 1385: 1292: 1223: 969: 953: 922: 907: 648: 618: 548: 520: 371: 94: 3880: 2657:

The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference)

2098: One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the 4674: 4663: 4577: 4337: 4111: 3927: 3678: 2508: 2000: 1870: 1826: 1687: 1673: 1618: 1508:

Using an intoxicant (such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using recreational drugs or tobacco)

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is too diverse to be seen as a homogenous and monolithic religion. It is often described an

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are urged to avoid their literature, thus providing an exception to the Bahá'í principle of

180: 149: 4455:, (The Mennonite Experience in America #3), Scottdale, PA, Herald Press, p. 393, 1989. 2545: 355: 4691: 4607: 4582: 4497: 4376: 3105: 3061: 2298:"Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum orientalium, die XVIII Octobris anno MCMXC – Ioannes Paulus PP" 1638: 1483:(Code of Conduct), Section Six states the transgressions which cause a person to become a 1373: 1300: 914:

attend. It is possible to appeal a decision of a stake membership council to the church's

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must be taken at Sunday services; some congregations require that this vote be unanimous.

404: 243: 86: 56: 2546:"John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion – Christian Classics Ethereal Library" 254:

Within the Catholic Church, there are differences between the discipline of the majority

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Land, Piety, Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America 1683–1790

4314:"Vilnius, Lithuania – Chabad Rabbi in Vilna Banned from Main Shul by the Jewish Kehilla" 1593: 1581: 4733: 4636: 3081: 2587: 2322: 1680: 1610: 1492: 1296: 1010: 990:

Voluntary confession: If a person voluntarily confesses the sin, leniency is suggested.

850: 448: 347: 327: 52: 2250: 4824: 3947: 3054: 2422: 2099: 1614: 1472: 1396: 1315: 1202: 1042: 1034: 877: 559: 367: 337: 274: 247: 4465: 4096: 1846: 4754: 3624: 2836:

Excommunication and Church Courts: A Note from the General Handbook of Instructions

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A Witness who has been formally reproved or reinstated cannot be appointed to any

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For females and for male members not initiated into the Melchizedek priesthood, a

4490: 4020: 3986: 2019: 1994: 1787: 1551: 807:(LDS Church) practices excommunication as a penalty for those who commit serious 4744: 4453:

Vision, Doctrine, War: Mennonite Identity and Organization in America, 1890–1930

2660: 1589: 1431: 865: 683: 630: 4804: 2323:"NPNF2-14. The Seven Ecumenical Councils - Christian Classics Ethereal Library" 2201: 4115: 3931: 2989:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2972:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2937:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2920:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2903:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2886:. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2020. 2080: 1899: 1499: 1319: 1284: 1177: 1018: 771: 416: 408: 396:"manifest grave sin", then the priest is obliged to refuse their communion by 333: 278: 246:

once stood. The inscription declares, citing a 12 November 1548 papal bull of

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Censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community

17: 4482: 4137: 3939: 1965: 1838: 483:

in 553, in its eleventh capitula, declared: "If anyone does not anathematize

437:, excommunication is imposed only by decree, never incurred automatically by 4567: 3682: 2986: