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	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=What acts are not to be treated in a disciplinary council?
−	|a=123	+	|a=Leaders are instructed not to hold disciplinary councils for the following:
		+	* Civil disputes
		+	* Failure to live the Word of Wisdom
		+	* Masturbation
		+	* Pornography use
		+	* Failure to pay tithing
		+	* Failure to attend Church
		+	* Failure to fulfill Church callings.
		+	* Business failures or non-payment of debt (though felonious business practices might prompt a council as described above)<ref>''Handbook 1'', 6.7.1</ref>
		+
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=
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	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=Who decides to convene a disciplinary council?
−	|a=123	+	|a=Only bishops and stake or mission presidents may convene a disciplinary council. Bishops must have clearance from the stake president before initiating any council.
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=
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	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=Where are disciplinary councils held?
−	|a=123	+	|a=Councils are usually held by the leaders of the geographic unit in which a member lives. If a member moves, a Church leader can place a “hold” on the transfer of records to another ecclesiastical unit. Leaders from the old and new unit then confer, and determine who is best suited to conduct the disciplinary council.
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=
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	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=What determines if a council is handled by the bishop? When is the stake president involved?
−	|a=123	+	|a=The stake president is the president of the Church’s higher, or Melchizedek priesthood. Thus, any accusation against a priesthood holder must be resolved by the stake president. In practice, this means that experienced adult males tend to require stake disciplinary councils. Younger men who do not , teens, and women are typically managed by a bishop’s disciplinary council.
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=
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	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=Who participates in a bishop’s disciplinary council?
−	|a=123	+	|a=The bishop’s disciplinary council consists of:
		+	* The member accused of transgression
		+	* The bishop
		+	* The bishop’s two counselors
		+	* A clerk or secretary to take minutes
		+	Witnesses requested by either the bishop or the member for whom the council is convened may also attend. They will be present only to give evidence, and then will be excused. They do not participate in the rest of the council, and are not made aware of the decision reached.
		+
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=
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	|tag2=		|tag2=
	}}		}}
		+
	{{FAQ		{{FAQ
−	|q=ABC	+	|q=Who participates in a stake disciplinary council?
−	|a=123	+	|a=The stake disciplinary council consists of:
		+	*The member accused of transgression
		+	*The stake president
		+	*The stake president’s two counselors
		+	*A clerk or secretary to take minutes
		+	*Twelve members of the stake high council
		+	Witnesses requested by either the bishop or the member for whom the council is convened may also attend. They will be present only to give evidence, and then will be excused. They do not participate in the rest of the council, and are not made aware of the decision reached.
		+
	|quote=		|quote=
	|link=		|link=

---

Revision as of 18:39, 12 June 2014

1. REDIRECTTemplate:Test3

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Church Disciplinary Councils

If you have a question about the whys, hows, or wherefores of Church Discipline in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our FAQ has the answer.

Question: What is a “disciplinary council”?

A disciplinary council is a private meeting between Church leaders and a member that has either confessed or been accused of behavior which could threaten their right to full fellowship in the Church.

Question: How is a disciplinary council different from a “church court”?

“Church court” is an older terminology for the same thing.

Question: What behavior requires that a disciplinary council be held?

Disciplinary councils must be held for:

• Murder
• Incest
• Physical or sexual abuse of a child
• Apostasy

A council must also always be held in the case of:

• Serious transgression by a prominent Church leader
• A pattern of serious transgression
• Transgression involving someone who is a predator and thus a danger to others^[1]

Question: What constitutes “a serious transgression”?

A serious transgression is a “deliberate and major offense against morality.” The following are defined as “serious transgressions” for the purposes of determining whether disciplinary councils ought to be held, but the list is not exclusive:

• Felonies (e.g., attempted murder, rape, burglary, theft, robbery, perjury, fraud, sale of illicit drugs)
• Adultery, fornication, or homosexual conduct

Question: What behavior may require a disciplinary council?

Any of these may prompt a disciplinary council.

• A serious transgression other than those which require a disciplinary council
• Abortion while a member of the Church (this includes paying for, submitting to, encouraging, or performing abortions)^[2]
• Transsexual operation

Question: What acts are not to be treated in a disciplinary council?

Leaders are instructed not to hold disciplinary councils for the following:

• Civil disputes
• Failure to live the Word of Wisdom
• Masturbation
• Pornography use
• Failure to pay tithing
• Failure to attend Church
• Failure to fulfill Church callings.
• Business failures or non-payment of debt (though felonious business practices might prompt a council as described above)^[3]

Question: Who decides to convene a disciplinary council?

Only bishops and stake or mission presidents may convene a disciplinary council. Bishops must have clearance from the stake president before initiating any council.

Question: Where are disciplinary councils held?

Councils are usually held by the leaders of the geographic unit in which a member lives. If a member moves, a Church leader can place a “hold” on the transfer of records to another ecclesiastical unit. Leaders from the old and new unit then confer, and determine who is best suited to conduct the disciplinary council.

Question: What determines if a council is handled by the bishop? When is the stake president involved?

The stake president is the president of the Church’s higher, or Melchizedek priesthood. Thus, any accusation against a priesthood holder must be resolved by the stake president. In practice, this means that experienced adult males tend to require stake disciplinary councils. Younger men who do not , teens, and women are typically managed by a bishop’s disciplinary council.

Question: Who participates in a bishop’s disciplinary council?

The bishop’s disciplinary council consists of:

• The member accused of transgression
• The bishop
• The bishop’s two counselors
• A clerk or secretary to take minutes

Witnesses requested by either the bishop or the member for whom the council is convened may also attend. They will be present only to give evidence, and then will be excused. They do not participate in the rest of the council, and are not made aware of the decision reached.

Question: Who participates in a stake disciplinary council?

The stake disciplinary council consists of:

• The member accused of transgression
• The stake president
• The stake president’s two counselors
• A clerk or secretary to take minutes
• Twelve members of the stake high council

Witnesses requested by either the bishop or the member for whom the council is convened may also attend. They will be present only to give evidence, and then will be excused. They do not participate in the rest of the council, and are not made aware of the decision reached.

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Do You Have Questions? If you have questions about anything you read on this page, we encourage you to ask. FAIR is a volunteer organization, and our members are glad to answer questions. You can ask by using our handy contact page. You will get one or more answers, via e-mail, usually within a short time after asking. Click here to receive our free monthly e-mail newsletter for defenders of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can unsubscribe at any time.

1. ↑ Handbook 1: Bishops and Stake Presidents (2010), 6.7.3.
2. ↑ This does not include abortions performed in cases due to rape or incest, or where the health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or where there is little chance that the infant would live after birth.
3. ↑ Handbook 1, 6.7.1