Can someone be kicked out of a church?

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Quick Answer

Yes, someone can be kicked out of a church, also known as being excommunicated or disfellowshipped. This occurs when church leaders determine that an individual’s beliefs or actions go against the church’s teachings and values. The process for excommunication varies between denominations. Typically, the individual is first counselled and encouraged to repent. If they refuse to change their beliefs or actions, church leaders may then formally remove them from church membership. Excommunication is usually seen as a last resort to help the person repent and return to the church.

What does it mean to be kicked out of a church?

Being kicked out or excommunicated from a church means that an individual’s membership and participation privileges are formally revoked. They are no longer considered to be part of that church body. Different terms may be used like disfellowshipped, shunned, or disassociated, but they refer to the removal of an individual from church membership. This means they can no longer attend services, participate in rituals or rites (such as taking communion or confession), hold leadership positions, or receive benefits given to members. Excommunication has been practiced for centuries by various religions as a way to enforce orthodoxy and discipline members who stray from official teachings.

Why would someone be excommunicated?

There are several reasons why a church might excommunicate someone:

Heresy – Promoting theology or doctrine that goes against the church’s official teachings.
Schism – Instigating division and dissent within the church.
Apostasy – Publicly renouncing one’s faith or converting to another religion.

Moral failure – Committing a grave public sin such as adultery without repentance.
Disobedience – Refusing to comply with church discipline or leadership.
Violations of canon law – Breaking important rules or laws of the church.

Generally, excommunication is used for serious offences when the individual shows an obstinate unwillingness to repent or reconcile. It’s seen as a last resort to bring about repentance and obedience.

What is the process of excommunication?

The process differs between church denominations but often includes:

Private counsel – Efforts by clergy to correct and advise the individual on a personal level.

Public rebuke – A formal public reproof if private counsel is rejected.
Removal from communion – Prohibiting participation in sacraments like the Eucharist.
Exclusion from fellowship – Restricting roles or participation in the church community.

Announcement of excommunication – Formal declaration removing the person’s membership.

Generally, excommunication is intended to spur repentance and is applied incrementally to allow opportunities for the individual to reconcile with the church. It’s seen as a last resort after repeated refusal to renounce beliefs or actions deemed heretical or sinful.

Can excommunication be appealed or rescinded?

Most churches do allow appeals or the possibility of having the excommunication rescinded. For example:

The Catholic Church has a legal process for appeals that can be taken to higher ecclesiastical courts.
Many Protestant churches allow those who repent and reconcile to have their excommunication reversed.
Excommunication may be temporary if the church seeks to inspire eventual repentance and reunion.

If an excommunicated person later seeks to reconcile with the church, they would need to show genuine repentance and renunciation of the beliefs or actions that led to discipline. If sincere, they could have their membership formally restored. However, each situation is unique, and church authorities would have discretion on whether to reverse an excommunication depending on the circumstances.

Excommunication in Specific Denominations

The practice of excommunication or disfellowship varies between denominations:

Catholic Church

Governed by Code of Canon Law and overseen by bishops and religious superiors.

Two forms: (1) automatic latae sententiae for certain grave crimes, or (2) imposed sentence ferendae sententiae.
Excommunicated persons are prohibited from receiving sacraments or holding church office.
Interdict prohibits certain sacraments and roles like a partial exclusion.

Excommunication can be lifted if there is repentance and penance.

Famous Catholic excommunications include Martin Luther and Henry VIII in the Reformation era. The Church no longer excommunicates for heresy but continues the practice for serious sins or violations of Canon Law.

Eastern Orthodox Church

Similar to Catholicism but usually imposed for short periods to inspire repentance.

Prohibits participation in rites and sacraments.
Excommunicated persons can repent and be reinstated.
Not done for heresy but serious moral or disciplinary issues.

The Orthodox Church has excommunicated various bishops and clergy over church disputes but aims for temporary exclusion to achieve repentance.

Lutheran Churches

Practice rarely occurs and usually only for serious heresy or immorality.
Congregational vote often required to expel a member.

No common Lutheran practice but some synods have disciplinary procedures.
Amish use Meidung shunning for excommunicated members.
Lutheran excommunications are typically left indefinite but with possibility of restoration.

Early Lutherans excommunicated Anabaptists over doctrinal disputes in the Reformation but modern Lutheran churches very rarely excommunicate members.

Presbyterian and Reformed Churches

Practice discipline through church courts with appeals process.
Courts include Session (congregational) to Presbytery (regional) levels.

Can rebuke/suspend or excommunicate in severe cases of heresy or immorality.
Aim is repentance and restoration to communion.

John D. Rockefeller and Mary Baker Eddy were famously excommunicated by Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches respectively for heresy and doctrinal reasons.

Baptist Churches

Congregation votes to exclude unrepentant members for serious offences.
No ecclesiastical courts, deacons and elders oversee process.
Restoration is possible if member repents and reconciles.

Practice is rarely invoked given congregational autonomy.

Baptist churches stress local church autonomy so formal excommunication is uncommon. But unrepentant members may be excluded if deemed necessary.

Anglican and Episcopal Churches

Formal excommunication is not practiced.

Priests may withhold sacraments from persons living immoral lives.
Members may be removed from parish rolls for scandalous conduct.
Emphasis is on repentance and reconciliation.

The Episcopal Church has no Canons regarding excommunication or shunning. Discipline emphasizes pastoral care and restoring communion.

Non-Denominational and Independent Churches

Policies vary greatly given lack of institutional authority.
Elders or leaders may remove unrepentant members.

Shunning is practiced in some fundamentalist groups.
No formal appeals since congregations are self-governing.

Non-denominational churches often informally disassociate unrepentant members but given autonomy, formal excommunication is uncommon.

What does the Bible say about excommunication?

Several Biblical passages address correcting and disciplining church members:

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Paul rebukes Corinthian church for not excommunicating a sexually immoral member.
He says not to associate with any “brother” who is sexually immoral, greedy, idolatrous, etc.

Intent is to inspire shame and repentance of the offender.
But disciplinary exclusion is to be temporary if the member repents.

This passage establishes church discipline for flagrant sin that damages the body. But the aim is repentance and restoration.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Paul instructs church to keep away from members who disobey his instructions.
Do not associate with them to shame them into repentance.
Yet count them as brothers, warn them as you would a brother.

Again discipline aims for eventual reconciliation.

Lazy, disobedient members are to be disciplined through limited association to encourage repentance. But discipline should not be harsh.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Paul urges Corinthian church to forgive and comfort an excommunicated member.

The man apparently repented so they should reaffirm their love for him.
Forgive and comfort him otherwise he may fall into despair.
Reinforce the purpose of discipline is restoration and healing.

This shows once the disciplinary purpose was achieved – i.e. repentance – the exclusion could be reversed and fellowship restored.

Romans 16:17-20

Paul warns church about those causing divisions contrary to the doctrine.
Instruct them once then have nothing more to do with them.

Avoid and keep away from them but allow God’s judgment.
Indicates more permanent dissociation for those deemed heretical.

This passage deals with those persisting in false doctrine; it allows dissociating if they continue after being warned.

1 Timothy 1:20

Paul mentions he excommunicated Hymenaeus and Alexander.
They rejected faith and blasphemed which he says led to their being “handed over to Satan.”
Indicates serious heresy could warrant exclusion from the church.

Paul excluded these two men from the church due to their open blasphemy and false teaching.

Titus 3:9-11

Paul instructs Titus to have nothing to do with foolish controversies and quarrels.
After warning a divisive person once, then have nothing to do with them.

They are warped and sinful; self-condemned.

This again addresses those causing division; they are to be warned then excluded if they persist in quarrels over false doctrine.

So in summary, Scripture allows disciplining members for serious sin or heresy but the goal is repentance and restoration. Excommunication is seen as a last resort.

Conclusion

Excommunication remains a practice in many Christian denominations today, though approaches vary widely. Some churches exercise it readily while others rarely or never implement formal exclusion. Discipline is generally only invoked for serious doctrinal or moral transgressions. While excommunication has negative associations, biblical principles indicate the purposes are positive: to warn sinners, prompt repentance, heal divisions, and ultimately restore fallen members. When exercised pastorally and compassionately, church discipline upholds integrity and offers hope. Those who repent of their sins or errors can reconcile and find renewed communion.