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Each individual of the then 10,000-member denomination was interrogated before a tribunal of ministers to determine whether he or she believed that this church was The Only One True Church, and to gauge the level of complete submission and allegiance to it. As a result of the work of this panel of ministers, ten percent of all members were excommunicated throughout the United States and Canada, causing widespread and often lifelong turmoil, depression, and rifts in families where the faithful are compelled to shun the expelled, even between married couples. Excommunication and shunning continues regularly in this uncommonly legalistic and authoritative offshoot of Mennonitism, though the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, is reluctant in more modern times to publicly admit that belief in The One True Church doctrine is a foundational criteria for membership. More often the reason for excommunication (and being consigned to hell) is cited as an independent, in-submissive, questioning, proud, or foreign spirit. Most Holdemans (named after John Holdeman, a 26-year-old Ohio layman who founded "The One True Church" in 1859) have been taught unquestioning obedience to The Church since birth and are terrified of even thinking one doubting thought about its doctrines for fear of falling immediately under Satan's control. If they are excommunicated, they often flounder in depression, fear of hell, loneliness,self-doubt and confusion until they repent and return. Outside people from "the world" sometimes join, drawn by the quaint orderly lifestyle and village-like sense of community. But they don't wholly surrender their minds like those indoctrinated from birth--95% of them eventually leave and never return, fairly unscathed by excommunication unless their spouse, children, or grandchildren remain. Then they, too, face a lifetime of being condemned and shunned by their loved ones. Read more about the teachings of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite at http://theholdemans.com