High-ranking Mormon, 59, becomes the first leader in nearly 30 years to be excommunicated - but church refuses to say what for
- James J. Hamula, 59, was removed Tuesday from a mid-level leadership council
- He was kicked out for undisclosed reasons based on disciplinary action by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' highest leaders
- Hamula was the executive director of the LDS' Correlation Department
- George P. Lee was the last person removed from LDS in 1989
James J. Hamula was removed from a mid-level leadership council as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A Mormon church leader has been removed from his post and kicked out of the religion for the first time in nearly three decades.
James J. Hamula, 59, was removed Tuesday from a mid-level leadership council for undisclosed reasons based on disciplinary action by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' highest leaders, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins.
Hamula had been serving as the executive director of the church's Correlation Department and had been a member of the Quorum of the Seventy for nine years, since his call in April 2008.
Prior to that position, he served as the church's Pacific Area president.
Hawkins didn't provide any details, but the church said it wasn't for apostasy. That refers to teaching inaccurate doctrine or publicly defying guidance from church leaders.
Efforts to reach Hamula at listed phone numbers weren't successful.
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Hamula had been serving as the executive director of the church's Correlation Department and had been a member of the Quorum of the Seventy for nine years, since his call in April 2008. A representative for LDS did not reveal why he was removed, but said not for apostasy
The last leader to be removed within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the late George P. Lee. Lee, an American Indian, was excommunicated for apostasy and 'other conduct unbecoming a member of the church' in 1989 after calling Mormon leaders racist.
His excommunication had been the first in 46 years.
It's rare for the LDS to excommunicate members, but when it happens a disciplinary council for a senior LDS leader is made of members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.
'All church discipline is carried out in complete confidence,' according to an article on the church's official Mormon Newsroom website.
'Church leaders have a solemn responsibility to keep confidential all information they receive in confessions and interviews.
Excommunicated members can rejoin LDS through rebaptism, but only if they show sincere repentance. Pictured above is Temple Square of the Salt Lake Temple for LDS
'To protect that confidence, the church will not discuss the proceedings of a disciplinary council.
'In rare cases, the decision of a disciplinary council may be shared publicly to prevent others from being harmed through misinformation.'
Mormons view excommunication as a way for offenders to get right with God and the church, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Excommunicated members can rejoin LDS through rebaptism, but only if they show sincere repentance.
Hamula earned a bachelor’s degree in 1981 in political science and philosophy from church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo, where he graduated magna cum laude, according to a biography on the LDS Church’s website.
Four years later, he received a master’s in political philosophy and a law degree from BYU.
His biography states that he worked as an attorney until his assignment to full-time church service.
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