While the Christian church says that it wants to be known as a place that is open and welcoming to all, unfortunately, there are times when (rightly or wrongly) people are no longer welcome.
Typically, this isn’t an issue for someone who simply wants to attend quietly. Take a strong controversial stance as a leader, however, and you might just find yourself out of a job or spot in leadership. After all, churches are responsible for making sure their staff and volunteers aren’t leading people astray.
Here are 20 current or former Christians who either left or were kicked out of their churches and what caused the split.
1. Beth Moore, Southern Baptist
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An incredibly sweet, endearing, and funny Southern woman, Beth Moore is best known for her Bible studies and her love of Jesus.
Unfortunately, however, her former denomination (Southern Baptist) is decidedly opposed to women teaching or preaching from the pulpit. While Mrs. Moore maintains that she had (and still has) no desire to lead her own church or be a senior pastor, even giving a message from stage too problematic for the Southern Baptist convention, who made their feelings on the matter clear.
As a result, Beth chose to leave the Southern Baptist denomination of her own free will, though she still loves her Baptist sisters dearly and hates what happened. She switched to attending an Anglican church with her husband instead, while still continuing to speak and run her online ministry.
2. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church
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In a similar situation, Rick Warren, author of the wildly popular Purpose Driven Life book, also came under fire from the Southern Baptist convention for having a woman preach from the stage.
While not a woman himself, Warren allowed senior pastor Andy Wood’s wife, Stacie Woods, to share as a regular preacher.
As a result, he was deemed “deemed not to be in friendly cooperation,” according to Religion News. As a result, the church was kicked out of the SBC.
3. Megan Phelps-Roper, Westboro Baptist Church
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Megan Phelps-Roper was a prominent member of the Westboro Baptist Church, a church that is often in the news for its extreme views and picketing of funerals. She eventually left the church in 2012 after engaging in dialogue with individuals on social media who challenged her beliefs. She was unable to reconcile her beliefs with her church’s stance.
Since then, Phelps-Roper is American political activist who has spoken out against the church both in her own memoir and as part of a documentary about Westboro Baptist Church. She now advocates for greater tolerance and understanding.
4. Joshua Harris, Evangelical Christian
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Joshua Harris gained fame as the author of the bestselling book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” which advocated for a strict approach to dating and courtship within evangelical Christian circles. The book became a cultural phenomenon and had a major impact on Christian evangelical teens growing up during that time.
However, in 2019, Harris announced that he was no longer a Christian and apologized for the teachings he promoted in his popular book after he came to believe that his perspective had done more harm than good.
Since then, Harris convinced his publisher to halt production of his book, he appeared in the documentary I Survived I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and he and his wife divorced.
5. Carl Lentz, Hillsong Church
Carl Lentz was a lead pastor at Hillsong Church NYC, part of the global Hillsong Church network.
In 2020, Lentz was dismissed from his position due to “moral failures,” including breaches of trust and moral conduct. His dismissal sparked discussions about accountability and transparency within megachurches.
The Secrets of Hillsong, a TV mini-series produced by Hulu, shares the real, raw story behind the scandal and even includes first-person testimony from Carl himself.
6. Brian Houston, Hillsong Church
Carl Lentz wasn’t the only one removed from Hillsong due to scandal around this time. Shortly after that controversy, Brian Houston himself stepped down from his leadership role at Hillsong amidst allegations of inappropriate behavior that had been occuring in his family for decades.
Houston’s background is also explored in the Christian documentary The Secrets of Hillsong, though he doesn’t make an official comment himself.
7. Leah Remini, Scientology
Leah Remini is a famous actress best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the popular CBS sitcom The King of Queens.
A former Scientologist, Remini has since become an outspoken vocal critic of the organization, which she was a member of from childhood until 2013. She has since spoken out about her experiences within the church, including allegations of abuse and manipulation.
Her book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, became a number one New York Times bestseller and her television series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, won her an Emmy.
8. Tyler Glenn, LDS Church
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The lead singer of the band Neon Trees, Tyler Glenn, was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
However, the openly gay singer later publicly renounced his affiliation with the LDS Church due to its stance on LGBTQ+ issues, particularly its opposition to same-sex marriage.
9. Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church
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Mark Driscoll was the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church, a megachurch based in Seattle, Washington.
Driscoll was known for his provocative preaching style and conservative theology.
However, he faced criticism for his leadership style, including allegations of bullying and misuse of church funds. Driscoll later resigned from Mars Hill amidst controversy, and the church eventually disbanded.
You can find all the details in the thought-provoking Christian podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, produced by Christianity Today.
10. Jerry Falwell Jr.
Jerry Falwell Jr. was the president of Liberty University, a prominent evangelical Christian university founded by his father, Jerry Falwell Sr.
Falwell Jr. faced controversy and eventually resigned from his position following a series of scandals, including allegations of inappropriate behavior and financial improprieties.
11. John Ortberg
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John Ortberg is a prominent pastor and author associated with the evangelical Christian tradition.
Ortberg later faced controversy when it was revealed that he had allowed a volunteer who was attracted to minors to work with children at his church without informing the congregation. The situation prompted criticism and concerns about child safety policies within the church.
As a result, Ortberg resigned from his position at Menlo church in 2020.
12. Tullian Tchividjian
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Tullian Tchividjian is a pastor and author who was formerly affiliated with the conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
In 2015, Tchividjian resigned as senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after admitting to an extramarital affair. As a result of the controversy, the South Florida Presbytery of the PCA found him “unfit for Christian ministry,” and he was removed as a teaching elder.
13. Martin Luther
One of the most famous instances of someone leaving the church over religious differences is Martin Luther, the German monk and theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
Luther was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1521 after he refused to recant his teachings challenging the doctrines and practices of the Church at the time. It is because of Martin Luther that we have the Protestant Church today.
14. Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and physicist who was famously condemned by the Roman Catholic Church for his support of heliocentrism. This belief places the sun at the center of the universe, contradicting the geocentric model supported by the Church.
Galileo’s writings led to his being tried by the Roman Inquisition in 1633 and placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life.
Today, we know that he was right all along.
Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author and founder of Equipping Godly Women and Monetize My Ministry. She’s also a Christian speaker, podcaster, and conference host. Her work has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online ministries, including CBN, MSN, Christianity Today, Evangelical Alliance, Patheos, Crosswalk, and more.
