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SALT LAKE CITY — An appeal by Kate Kelly, the founder of Ordain Women, to her stake president to reinstate her church membership following her excommunication was denied, the organization says.
Kelly — who has challenged The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ all-male lay clergy and seeks ordination for women to the priesthood — was excommunicated for apostasy June 23 following a disciplinary council, which she did not attend.
She has repeatedly said she is not guilty of apostasy and would exhaust her right of appeals to the decision, which was made by ward leaders in Virginia, where she lived prior to the excommunication. She had moved to Utah just before the council was called.
Kelly’s appeal to the stake president was denied Thursday, according to a letter from the Oakton Virginia Stake.
“President (Scott M.) Wheatley was my initial accuser and initiated the excommunication process against me,” Kelly wrote on Ordain Women’s website. “Therefore the notice that my appeal to him was unsuccessful does not come as a shock. However, I will admit, it is tremendously disappointing to see it on paper.”
In a letter from the stake president dated Oct. 30, Wheatley informed Kelly to her right to a final appeal of the decision. Kelly would be required to appeal to the First Presidency of the LDS Church within 30 days of the stake president’s denial.
“I again express my sincere hope that you will make the necessary changes in your life to regain your membership in the church together with all of the associated blessings,” President Wheatley said in the letter.
LDS Church officials maintained that "church discipline is a private matter between individuals and their local leaders," according to Kristen Howey, spokeswoman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
