Disciplinary Council Defers Decision On Kate Kelly's Membership Status For A Couple Of Days; Disfellowshipment May Be More Likely Than Excommunication

Update June 23rd: I was a bit too kind-hearted in my assessment; Kate Kelly was excommunicated from the LDS Church on this date. In response, Kelly said “The decision to force me outside my congregation and community is exceptionally painful. Today is a tragic day for my family and me as we process the many ways this will impact us, both in this life and in the eternities. I love the gospel and the courage of its people. Don’t leave. Stay, and make things better.” Her response is similar to the approach taken by Denver Snuffer after his excommunication.

The leadership of Kate Kelly's former ward held the long-heralded disciplinary council on Ordain Women founder Kate Kelly on June 22nd, 2013, trying her for apostasy, and they notified her of their initial decision, which was promptly posted on the Ordain Women Facebook page:

Kate Kelly's Bishop just said via email: "After having given intense and careful consideration this evening to your membership status, and after carefully reviewing the materials you sent to us, we have decided that we want to prayerfully consider this matter overnight. I will notify you once we have a final decision, probably tomorrow or Tuesday."

This does not necessarily mean excommunication's off the table. What is most likely is that the members of the disciplinary council do not agree on the penalty. This increases the chance that disfellowshipment might be the penalty prescribed rather than excommunication. Kelly has repeatedly asserted her fundamental loyalty to the Church and its senior leadership throughout this entire saga, and this undoubtedly has influenced the council. In addition, over 1,000 letters supporting Kate Kelly were brought to the council, and perhaps they would like to review that correspondence prior to making a final decision.

The primary difference between disfellowshipment and excommunication is that in the case of disfellowshipment, one at least still remains a member of the LDS Church and thus doesn't have all sealings and blessings cancelled.

Vigils in support of Kate Kelly took place in more than 50 U.S. cities, including Salt Lake City (250 attendees), Seattle (25 at the Seattle North Stake Center), Denver, Albuquerque; the site of the hearing in Oakton, VA (60 people); Evanston, IL; Columbia, SC; and even far-off Anchorage, AK. It is unlikely that these vigils influenced the council. LDS Church spokeswoman Ally Isom issued the following statement after the Salt Lake vigil, which included a march from City Creek Park the the Church Office Building:

“In the church we want all to feel welcome, safe, valued, and there is room for questions but how we ask is as important as what we ask, we shouldn’t try to dictate to God what is right in this church”.

Church discipline is not the end of the world. The Deseret News published a story about six LDS members who made it back from various forms of Church discipline. The common denominators:

(1). The penitent valued a return to full fellowship and was fully repentant.

(2). The disciplinary councils played more of a pastoral than a judgmental role.

(3). All the council members cited in the story emphasized there was no command pressure from the General Authorities to decide on a particular outcome. This point has been disputed by some, most notably Denver Snuffer.

Denver Snuffer's Disciplinary Council Ends Inconclusively, No Decision Announced; Excommunication Seems Less Likely Now

Update December 10th: Denver Snuffer reports that the First Presidency turned down his appeal and upheld his excommunication.

The stake disciplinary council held for Denver Snuffer on Sunday September 8th, 2013 has ended inconclusively and no decision rendered, according to reports from both Denver Snuffer's blog and the Salt Lake Tribune. The controversy centered around Snuffer's book "Passing The Heavenly Gift", which some Church leaders insisted was an act of apostasy, accusing Snuffer of mischaracterizing doctrine, denigrating virtually every prophet since Joseph Smith, and placing the Church in a negative light.

Brother Snuffer was a bit cryptic in his report. He brought his wife and children to the hearing so they could see that he wasn't being tried for immoral conduct. The stake president, Truman Hunt, was willing to allow his wife into the hearing, but not the children, which provoked a one-hour discussion between Snuffer and Truman Hunt. During the discussion, President Hunt clarified it was only about a book. When Snuffer said he was still worthy of a temple recommend, President Hunt agreed. Snuffer also explicitly bore his testimony to his children, pointing to both President Hunt and his bishop, and telling his children that he sustained them in their positions. But it was the Tribune which definitively stated that no decision was rendered on Sunday night, and so as far as Snuffer knows, he's still a member of the Church in good standing as of this post. Update: Since this post, Denver Snuffer reports that a decision was made, but he has yet to receive the letter revealing it. Update September 11th: Denver Snuffer reports that he has been informed of his excommunication.

LDS Church spokeswoman Ruth Todd provided this response to the Tribune in an email: "Because of the personal nature of church disciplinary matters and to respect the privacy of those involved, we don’t provide information about the proceedings. Church discipline is administered by local leaders who are familiar with the individual and his or her circumstances."

But while Church discipline may be administered by local leaders, it does not preclude "command influence" being applied to local leaders from the top down. A post on the LDS Freedom Forum reveals which General Authorities may have been pushing the inquiry. They cite a March 2013 email from Tim Malone of Latter-day Commentary which states “Snuffer's stake presidency was also leaned on by SLC to ex him. They told SLC to take a flying leap because they knew Snuffer well and knew he wasn't apostate. In fact, until recently, he was on the High Council. Elders Christoffersen and Rasband have been assigned to read all of Snuffer's stuff and get back to the SP later.” This is in reference to Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Senior President of the Presidency of the Seventy. What was not revealed was WHO assigned Elders Christofferson and Rasband to read Snuffer's writings; such an assignment could only come from someone senior to both of them. This means either Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, or perhaps the First Presidency itself. In case the LDSFF post is pulled, here's a screenshot:

Prognosis: I now believe that excommunication and/or disfellowshipment has become much less likely. The most likely sanction might be some form of informal probation; Snuffer may be asked to give up his temple recommend for a year. Here's the reason for my optimism:

(1). Inconclusive outcome. Disciplinary councils normally render negative decisions on the same day they are convened. The failure to reach a conclusion indicates the council may have been uncertain about the charges in the first place.

(2). Snuffer maintained a professional Christ-like attitude throughout this ordeal, repeatedly expressing loyalty to the Church and his Priesthood chain of command. He disavowed any intent to become a "One Mighty And Strong".

(3). Snuffer made some attempts to meet them partway, specifically saying that he had no intent to speak about or promote Passing the Heavenly Gift during his upcoming tour which begins in Boise on September 10th.

Update: Turns out I was wrong. Denver Snuffer now reports he has been excommunicated.