Blogger and Universal Life Church Minister Faces Mormon Excommunication

A Mormon blogger faces disciplinary action by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for supporting same-sex marriage, backing the ordination of women to the priesthood, criticizing Mormon orthodox teachings, and for becoming ordained as a Universal Life Church Minister.  The Universal Life Church supports equal rights for all whether it be marriage equality or gender equality ordination and encourages others of all faiths to stand up for those rights. Mormon excommunication is the harshest punishment the Church’s leaders can exact on its members.

John Dehlin runs a website called Mormon Stories where he publicly criticizes Mormon teachings and views towards topics such as gay marriage and women ordination. Dehlin could be excommunicated from the church if he does not stop criticizing church doctrine, supporting groups in contrast to the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints such as same-sex couples, and resign from the Universal Life Church Ministry.

Dehlin has agreed to resign from the Universal Life Church, but will not agree to stop criticizing doctrine, which he disagrees with and its teachings.  Dehlin will also continue to support same-sex marriage and women in the priesthood.  Dehlin is not the only one to make headlines recently for facing disciplinary action by a Mormon church.  Recently, Kate Kelly was excommunicated for pushing for women in the priesthood.  Before excommunication some members of the church chose to resign before being excommunicated, however, some churches continue to try to excommunicate a member after receiving a resignation.

Excommunication and Resignation Legal Cases

In Gunn v. The Church of Christ of Collinsville, a member of the church was excommunicated for fornication, however, before excommunication the member resigned.  The minister refused to accept the resignation and continued with the excommunication and announcing it from the pulpit.  The Court ruled that the member’s resignation was effective immediately, however.  The court also ruled that the First Amendment freedom of religion includes the right to resign from a church.  The decision in this case was used to settle outside of court another case in Arizona where a member of the church was excommunicated after a resignation was submitted.  The church in this case agreed to clear the member’s name of all records of excommunication.

The Universal Life Church applauds John Dehlin for standing up for equal rights whether or not he is excommunicated for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decides to resign, or resigns as a Universal Life Church Minister or not.  Gender and sexual-orientation equality should exist across private companies, government, educational facilities, and religious affiliations.  Religion should never be used as a cover for teaching hate or discrimination.  Religions of all denominations and faiths should continue to move forward in their stances, beliefs, and teachings on matters that potentially involve excluding groups of people or support the inequality of a group of people.  The Universal Life Church supports diverse ministries of all genders and the right for our ministers to conduct weddings for both heterosexual and same-sex couples.

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