unchurch
Expel from congregation
Unchurch means to remove someone from membership in a church, or to strip a congregation or building of its church status.
The term carries strong implications of formal exclusion or excommunication rather than voluntary departure.
The synod voted to unchurch the dissident congregation.
It can also mean to deprive of religious character more broadly, suggesting a process of secularization or de-consecration.
Formal barring from sacraments
- disfellowshipFormal expulsion from faith community
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- expulsionForced permanent removal
- defrockingExpelling clergy from ministry
dismissal · banishment · ostracism · shunning · exclusion · blackballing · debarment · proscription
Renunciation of former beliefs
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- disaffiliationFormal separation from organization
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
heresy · secularization · deconversion · backsliding · falling away · abandonment · dissent · blasphemy
Ordained religious officials collectively
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- denominationNamed religious group
- parishLocal church community
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
synod · vestry · presbytery · membership · communion · fellowship · ordination · ministry
Religion losing social significance
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- atheismRejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- freethinkingIntellectually independent reasoning
humanism · disenchantment · disillusionment · rationalism · nonbelief · godlessness · worldliness · deconsecration
excommunication
Formal barring from sacraments
- disfellowshipFormal expulsion from faith community
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- expulsionForced permanent removal
defrocking · dismissal · banishment · ostracism · shunning · exclusion · blackballing · debarment · proscription · disownment
apostasy
Renunciation of former beliefs
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- disaffiliationFormal separation from organization
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
repudiation · heresy · secularization · deconversion · backsliding · falling away · abandonment · dissent · blasphemy · recantation
clergy
Ordained religious officials collectively
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- denominationNamed religious group
- parishLocal church community
diocese · synod · vestry · presbytery · membership · communion · fellowship · ordination · ministry · flock
secularization
Religion losing social significance
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- atheismRejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
freethinking · humanism · disenchantment · disillusionment · rationalism · nonbelief · godlessness · worldliness · deconsecration
unchurchchurch
Place of Christian worship
baptize · confirm · ordain · consecrate · embrace
unchurchrecognize
Perceive as known
validate · affirm · legitimize · sanction · authenticate