My Abrupt Departure from the Temple of the Jedi Order: What Happened

My Side of the Story

This is my personal account, written for transparency and my own closure. It is not meant as retaliation, criticism of the Temple’s overall mission, or a warning to discourage anyone from exploring Jediism. I respect the community and wish them well. No private details or names beyond what is already public are included.

The Public Announcement

On March 2, 2026, the Temple of the Jedi Order posted a public announcement regarding my permanent ban. The news came completely out of the blue, arriving even while I was in the middle of a positive conversation with my training master about some exciting personal developments. I was removed abruptly and without the opportunity to discuss the concerns, defend myself, or offer any remedy for what were described as bannable offenses.

For the sake of a complete picture, I’d like to offer gentle clarifications on the points raised in that announcement.

Clarifying the Jedi Chaplain Username

One reason listed was that I had been “misrepresenting” the title of Jedi Chaplain across platforms. I have never claimed or suggested that the Temple granted me that title or role. When I created my account nearly a year ago, and used the username “jedichaplain,” no concerns were raised at the time. A few weeks before the ban, my training master contacted me to explain that the Temple had recently created “chaplain” as an internal role/title for one of their members and asked me to change my username to avoid confusion. I updated it the same day. After the ban, I reverted to my original username on independent platforms, as I am no longer bound by Temple rules.

Clarifying the “Unofficial Teaching by an Apprentice” and My Book Peace Through The Word

Another point referenced “unofficial teaching by an apprentice” and the use of Temple materials for personal financial gain. When my membership application was approved, I openly shared that I was pursuing an accredited Master’s of Divinity in seminary, serving as a lay pastor, and volunteering as a chaplain in my San Diego faith community. I had already published Christian devotionals prior to joining. These aspects of my background were known from the beginning. My writing and teaching have always been independent expressions of my own spiritual path, not presented as official Temple instruction.

My book Peace Through The Word: A Jedi’s Guide to Lectio Divina – Blending Christian Contemplation With The Wisdom Of The Jedi Path was published independently and drew from my own reflections. It was never marketed as an official Temple product, and no Temple materials were copied or claimed as endorsement. To my knowledge, no copies sold publicly — I printed only author’s proofs for review and gave them away. When asked through intermediaries to unpublish, I complied promptly (shown "out of print" here on Amazon). I have since released an updated edition with all references and links to the Temple removed: Peace Through The Word: Reflections from Psalms and Jedi Maxims (available here on Amazon).

Other Statements in the Announcement

The announcement correctly notes that the Temple is not affiliated with, and has never endorsed, any of my websites, books, videos, or social media — I have never presented otherwise. It also states that the Temple has no chaplain training program (official or unofficial). While technically accurate, the request to change my username shortly before the ban did create some confusion on that point for me personally. Why would the Temple require me to change my username if it's not an official title or role within the Temple? It wouldn't be in violation of the rues then, would it?

Finally, the announcement mentions that I had been warned about some of these behaviors in the past. To be clear, the only direct contact I received from the Temple was the username request from my training master (which I addressed immediately). No other formal warnings, discussions, or opportunities to remedy concerns were provided before the ban. The process felt abrupt, and I was not contacted by the founder as initially indicated. I was only informed of the decision by a senior knight after the fact.

Looking Forward

I share these details not to argue the outcome, but to provide full context for anyone who may come across the announcement while researching the Temple or Jedi paths. Despite the sudden ending, I remain grateful for the training I received and especially the mentorship I experienced during my brief time as an apprentice (more on that in a separate open letter). The Jedi path is bigger than any one organization, and I continue to walk it on my own terms with the same commitment to peace, knowledge, and the Force that drew me to the Temple of the Jedi Order in the first place.