Damned by the Courts: The Conflation of Church Discipline with the Criminal Justice System

Sometimes aspects of church discipline are determined not by one’s religious leaders, but by the criminal court system. This can introduce inequities into a system that should be designed to help heal and redeem. This presentation will examine relevant differences across jurisdictions and use real-life anecdotes to show circumstances under which an overreliance on the criminal justice system can impede access to the benefits of full church participation.

Ian Thomson