Women's rights activist Kate Kelly was excommunicated from the Mormon Church in Virginia on Monday following her lobbying for the church to ordain female priests into an all-male priesthood.

Kelly is the founder of Ordain Women, a group which argues in favor of broader roles for women in the Mormon church, including priesthood.

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On Monday Kelly, who is an international human rights lawyer, was in Salt Lake City, Utah waiting to hear her fate.

In preparation for the council, the activist sent a letter explaining why she should not be excommunicated. Kelly pointed to thousands of letters of support she has received, as well as a lifetime of growing up and becoming a devout follower of the Mormon Church.

However, the Church of the Latter Day Saints found Kelly guilty of apostasy - the most serious punishment a church court can administer to its members. As a result, the human rights lawyer has been excommunicated from the church.

The bishop who informed Kelly of her excommunication stated that it could last as long as a year and would only be lifted if she showed "true repentance" and withdrew from her activism.

"In order to be considered for readmission to the Church, you will need to demonstrate over a period of time that you have stopped teachings and actions that undermine the Church, its leaders, and the doctrine of the priesthood," the email from the bishop said.

Kelly affirmed that she has been asking "tough questions" her entire life and has no plans to stop now.

"I will not stop speaking out publicly on the issue of gender inequality in the church," she wrote. "I cannot repent of telling the truth, speaking what is in my heart and asking questions that burn in my soul."

The Ordain Women founder also has no plans of giving up her Mormon faith, stating that it is an ingrained part of her and cannot simply be washed off.

TagsChurch of the Latter Day Saints, Mormon, Ordain Women, Kate Kelly