The Mormon Church has moved to excommunicate the prominent Utah-based founder of an online forum for being critical of or doubting Mormons, charging him with apostasy for supporting same-sex marriage and the ordination of women and for questioning church teaching, reports the New York Times.
John Dehlin is the founder of Mormon Stories Podcast (http://mormonstories.org). He is a former employee of Bain & Company, Microsoft Corporation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Utah State University’s Department of Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology.
Dehlin has been summoned by his LDS Stake President, Dr. Bryan King, to appear before a disciplinary council to be held Jan. 25 at the North Logan Utah Stake Center, located 2750 North 800 East, North Logan, Utah beginning at 6 p.m. Dehlin has been charged with apostasy.
Dehlin has been informed that the likely outcome of the disciplinary council will be either disfellowshipment (i.e., official censure) or excommunication (i.e., termination of my membership).
The main items specifically mentioned to Dehlin by President Bryan King and Bishop Brian Hunt as contributing to his alleged apostasy include:
- Dehlin’s 10-year effort with Mormon Stories podcast (http://mormonstories.org), wherein difficult historical and cultural issues are discussed in an interview format.
- His public support of same-sex marriage.
- His public support of the Ordain Women movement.
- His publicly expressed doubts regarding key elements of orthodox LDS theology.
- His publicly expressed criticism of the church’s approach to LGBT members, feminists, intellectuals, as well as its lack of transparency regarding finances.
Writing on the Mormon Stories Web site Dehlin stated: “While my family and I would prefer to be left alone by LDS church leadership at this time, I would much rather face excommunication than disavow my moral convictions. In the coming weeks, months, and years ahead, it is my intent to provide increased support to Mormons who are transitioning away from orthodoxy.”
The Mormon Church used to discriminate against African Americans when I was a Mormon back in the 1950s and they changed their views. They will change their views on marriage equality when they lose enough money.