While his efforts in enhancing the religious community's leadership against Sengoku daimyo (Japanese territorial lord in the Sengoku period) in various places were appreciated, Renjun later turned tyrannical out of arrogance, falsely charging and excommunicating three times (in 1518, 1527 and 1532) Katada Honpuku-ji Temple (Otsu City), which was an influential temple within the religious community and had fields of propagation overlapping those of Kensho-ji Temple (originally only the head of the sect was allowed to pronounce excommunication, but Renjun took advantage of the vicarious execution of duties as the guardian of Shonyo and thus pronounced excommunication).
各地の戦国大名に対抗して教団の統率力を高めた事は評価されるものの、後に驕りから顕証寺と布教地域が重複していた教団内の有力寺院である堅田本福寺_(大津市)に3度（1518年・1527年・1532年）も無実の罪を着せて破門するなどの専横を見せるようになった（破門は本来法主にしか許されていなかったが、蓮淳は証如の後見人としての職務代行を利用して破門を行った）。