In Mormonism, Membership Councils are meetings held by church leaders when a member is accused of serious sin, such as apostasy, sexual immorality, or criminal activity. These councils are usually led by the bishop or stake president and are meant to determine a person’s standing in the church.
Outcomes can include informal restrictions, loss of privileges such as temple attendance, or in the most serious cases, excommunication (now called withdrawal of membership). In recent years, church leaders have shifted the language from “disciplinary” to “membership” councils to emphasize care and repentance rather than punishment.
