Disfellowship

To disfellowship means to formally exclude or expel someone from a group, usually a religious organization, due to behavior considered to violate its principles or doctrines. This action typically involves severing all social and spiritual ties, prohibiting interaction, and marking the individual as no longer a member in good standing. The process often involves a judicial committee review, followed by a formal announcement. Disfellowshipping is often a severe consequence, impacting relationships, community, and personal identity, with varying levels of social stigma.

Disfellowship meaning with examples

• Following the investigation into his controversial views on doctrine, the church leadership decided to disfellowship John. The decision was announced during the Sunday service, and members were instructed to avoid social contact. This led to isolation for John and caused significant emotional distress. Despite this, he was calm and willing to find a new group and faith.
• After repeated violations of the established community guidelines, the elders voted to disfellowship Sarah. Consequently, she was stripped of her volunteer responsibilities and forbidden from participating in group activities. This meant losing access to her friends and community, forcing her to look outside the established community.
• The community disfellowshipped the activist for spreading propaganda and disrupting the organization's core values. This meant losing their privileges. The process involved a thorough investigation, resulting in formal notice and exclusion from all organizational events. This had a big impact on the group, causing tensions and division.
• The pastor chose to disfellowship several individuals who continued to preach false teachings, which threatened the community’s unity. They were ostracized, preventing them from spreading their views. This decision aimed to uphold religious principles and maintain its integrity, which proved to be the biggest challenge.