Jehovah's Witnesses employ various levels of congregational discipline as formal controls administered by leaders of the congregation. The determination of guilt or innocence is judged by a tribunal of elders. A variety of controls can be enforced, from a restriction of duties performed in the congregation to excommunication, known as disfellowshipping, and shunning by the congregation. Members who are disfellowshipped have an opportunity to regain membership. The practice of shunning has been criticized by many non-members and some ex-members. Charles Russell in 1911 Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), known as Pastor Russell, was an American evangelist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who founded what is known as the Bible Student movement. ... William Miller William Miller (1782 - 1849) was an American Baptist preacher, whose followers have been termed Millerites. ... Nelson H. Barbour, (1824-1905) a Millerite Adventist (see Millerites) born in Throopsville (misspelled Toupsville in a newspaper profile), a village near Auburn, New York. ... Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. ... Joseph F. Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford 8 November 1869—8 January 1942, is best known as the second president of the Watch Tower Society, the legal organization used by Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916. ... Frederick William Franz - (12 September 1893–22 December 1992) served as President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal organization used to direct the work of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Milton George Henschel (August 9, 1920 - March 22, 2003) was the person who succeded Frederick W. Franz as the president of Watchtower Society. ... Don A. Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Society, the most important of the Legal instruments of Jehovahs Witnesses. ... Letter from Olin R. Moyle sent to J.F. Rutherford OLIN R. MOYLE Counselor 117 Adams Street. ... Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ... James Penton, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta; Canada. ...

Procedures

Evidence for violations that can result in congregational discipline is obtained by voluntary confession to the elders or by witnesses of the violation. A minimum of two witnesses is required to establish guilt.^[1] Members are responsible to report the serious sins of others.^[2] Failure to report a serious sin of another member may result in being viewed as "sharing in the sins of others" and could also result in discipline.^[3] Witnesses feel this responsibility so seriously that pledges of confidentiality may be broken to ensure the congregation is kept morally clean.^[4]

Restriction of duties

If an elder, ministerial servant, pioneer, or any other publisher having special duties commits a serious infraction, they will be removed from their responsibilities. An elder may also be removed, or choose to step aside willingly, from his position if members of his household are not in "good standing" or for other, sometimes personal, reasons. An announcement of the restriction would be made during the Service Meeting.

Marking

Someone who chooses a course that is ill-considered from a doctrinal standpoint, but still something for which the standard of disfellowshipping would not apply, would be "marked". Though such a one would not be shunned, social interaction outside of formal worship settings would generally be discouraged. Generally, a talk would be given at the Service Meeting outlining the shameful course, but without explicitly naming the individual.^[5]

Reproof

This involves actions considered to be more serious than those for which one would be "marked." Reproof is given before all who have knowledge of the transgression. If the conduct is known only to the individual and judicial committee, the reproof given would be private. If the sin is known by a small number, they would be invited by the elders, and reproof would be given before both the sinner and those with knowledge of the sin. If the action is known generally by the entire congregation and/or the community an announcement of public reproof would be given. A talk is generally given in the case of public reproof, where the conduct is outlined, but without explicitly naming the people involved.^[6] However, if it is actually known to many people in the congregation, it can be stated from the pulpit that the person has received a reprimand.

In all cases of reproof, restrictions are imposed.^[7] Restrictions may include not sharing in giving meeting parts, commenting during meetings and giving group prayers. The length of the probation period is at the discretion of the elders. One cannot pioneer or auxiliary pioneer for at least one year after reproof is given.^[8]

Disfellowshipping

All members are expected to abide by the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, and serious violations of these requirements can result in disfellowshipping, or excommunication. There are over 30 violations for which a member can be disfellowshipped^[9], including: Abortion, adultery, apostasy, or being vocally critical of the religion's teachings or leadership itself, bestiality, voluntary blood transfusions, drug abuse (non-medical), drunkenness, extortion, fornication, fraud, gambling, heresy, homosexual activity, idolatry, incest, interfaith activity, loose conduct^[10], manslaughter, murder, perverted sex relations^[11], polygamy, sexual abuse, spiritism, theft, and use of tobacco. From 1967 to 1980"^[12], organ transplants were a disfellowshipping offence, viewed by Jehovah's Witnesses as cannibalism. Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse. ... Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ... Look up Bestiality in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Donating blood Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood-based products from one person into the circulatory system of another. ... A drug of abuse is a substance implicated in drug abuse. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person either obtains money, property or services from another through coercion or intimidation or threatens one with physical harm unless they are paid money or property. ... Fornication is a term which refers to sexual intercourse between consenting unmarried partners. ... The term gambling has had many different meanings depending on the cultural and historical context in which it is used. ... Look up Heresy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The term polygamy (many marriages in late Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology, sociobiology, and sociology. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Everyday instance of theft: the bike which fits on this wheel has disappeared. ... Shredded tobacco leaf for pipe smoking Tobacco can also be pressed into plugs and sliced into flakes Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in genus Nicotiana. ... An organ transplant is the transplantation of an organ (or part of one) from one body to another, for the purpose of replacing the recipients damaged or failing organ with a working one from the donor. ...

No individual arbitrarily determines that the practice of a particular sin requires disfellowshipping. Rather, this action is Scripturally required only when a member of the congregation unrepentantly engages in gross sins, such as those enumerated in the 5th chapter of First Corinthians. Thus, while a Witness may be disfellowshipped for practicing fornication, this occurs only if the individual refuses to accept the spiritual assistance of the elders and repent (evidenced by discontinuing the wrong conduct or their attitude toward it). A judicial committee (usually 3 elders) meets with the alleged offender, assesses whether a serious sin has been committed, and then decides whether the individual seems genuinely repentant. Elders are directed to take into account the personality of the individual rather than applying rigid determining factors for repentance.

Some reasons for disfellowshipping are not explicitly listed in the Bible, and are the Governing Body's interpretation of Bible-based principles (not rules or laws) for Christians. Gambling is one such area. The Bible does not contain an explicit condemnation of gambling even though it was a common practice in Christian times (Matthew 27:35); however there are principles that apply for those who claim to worship Jehovah.^[13] Such conduct is equivalent in the Governing Body's eyes to idolatry, something that is explicitly prohibited in the Bible. Therefore, the Witnesses believe that God hates practices that "promote a superstitious belief in luck"^[14], or greediness.

If a baptised Witness begins to teach doctrines contrary to the organisation's interpretation of the Bible it is grounds for disfellowshipping for apostasy. If one is a “trouble making apostate” then the flock would need to be “protected”. In addition, certain acts such as joining another religion, mixing in interfaith, working for another church, or celebrating religious holidays are viewed as acts of apostasy. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that those who “advocate” other views while still being a member have the potential of being disfellowshipped.^[15] A person that believes different doctrines is encouraged ‘to be patient and wait on Jehovah for change’.^[16] Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...

All members are assumed to have a detailed understanding of what is expected and the consequences of wrongdoing, ("elders do hold discussions with those desiring to be baptized... If some points are not clear to him,... the elders are pleased to render spiritual assistance")^[17] After baptism, members are also required to remain up-to-date with changing doctrines and prohibitions, such as has been the case with the changed view points regarding organ transplants. The congregation elders try to help erring ones be restored to spiritual health. Repentant wrongdoers can often remain in the congregation. Elders also believe they have a scriptural obligation to uphold Jehovah's reputation and keep the congregation clean of wrong conduct. The Organizational Structure of Jehovahs Witnesses is a religious hierarchy. ...

Disfellowshipping is not automatic, even when a person is accused of one of the above transgressions. In judicial matters, Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the biblical passages from Deuteronomy 17:6 and Matthew 18:16 to mean that accusations must be substantiated by at least two witnesses, unless the person confesses voluntarily (which has sometimes created serious difficulties in regards to cases involving child abuse and has been a cause for negative publicity). In these cases, a committee of elders examines the evidence and seeks to determine whether the person has ceased the questionable activity and repented. If the individual is deemed to be repentant, though evidence or testimony or an admission of guilt determines that a scriptural law was broken, the individual could then be either publicly or privately reproved. If that is not the case, the person is likely to be disfellowshipped. A person can appeal a decision to disfellowship him if he believes that a serious error in judgment has been made. Requests for appeal must be made in writing and within seven days of the decision of the judicial committee.

Sometimes Jehovah's Witnesses will class someone as "disassociated" if they have practiced the conduct mentioned and a judicial hearing is not possible.

Shunning

Jehovah's Witnesses practice shunning (ignoring) after disfellowshipping and disassociation because they believe that: Shunning is the act of deliberately avoiding association with, and habitually keeping away from an individual or group. ...

• to tolerate violations of the Bible's standards in their ranks would bring reproach on God's name and organization.
• shunning keeps the congregation free of possible corrosive influences^[18]
• there is hope that such a serious measure will motivate the person in question to re-evaluate his course of action, repent and rejoin the religion.^[19]

Shunning is also practised when written letters of disassociation have been submitted by an individual, or if it is believed and proven, that a person has disassociated himself/herself by his/her actions, such as by joining another religion or organization that is in opposition to the Bible's teachings, or attending on a regular basis, another religion's services; thus Jehovah's Witnesses refer to these as "disassociated".

In either case ("disfellowshipping" or "disassociating"), an announcement is made at the Kingdom Hall that "[name] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses." Congregation members are not informed whether a person is being shunned due to "disfellowshipping" or "disassociation", or on what grounds. Formerly, the congregation was informed that a former member was either "disassociated" or "disfellowshipped". Kingdom Hall is the name of meeting places for Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Shunning, as practiced by the Witnesses, takes a less extreme form than that of the Old Order Amish. Witnesses are expected to shun family members, except those living in the same household. In this case, social contact and normal family ties continue as before, with the exception that the remaining Witness members of the family will not share in Bible study, prayer, or discussions of faith-related matters with the disfellowshipped member. The exception to this is that parents are encouraged to still study the Bible with minor children who are disfellowshipped. (“Since the child lives with his parents, they are still responsible for instructing and disciplining him in harmony with God’s Word.” ^[20]) The Amish (Amisch or Amische) (IPA: ) are an Anabaptist Christian denomination in the United States and Canada (Ontario and Manitoba) known for their plain dress and avoidance of modern conveniences such as cars and electricity. ...

Once the person has moved out from home shunning is generally practiced. The religion discourages association with disfellowshipped family members living outside the home, but recognizes the need for a certain degree of contact, for instance, to discuss necessary family business, or to provide care for aged parents who are disfellowshipped. In practice, most disfellowshipped persons continue to have a minimal degree of association with family members who remain in the religion.

A Witness can even be disfellowshipped for certain kinds of association with close relatives, as described in the guidebook given to elders, "Normally, a close relative would not be disfellowshipped for associating with a disfellowshipped person unless there is spiritual association or an effort made to justify or excuse the wrongful course."^[21] The September 15, 1981 Watchtower provides the basis for Judicial practices regarding communication with family members. If the family member lives outside the home, this Watchtower limits such communication to "care of necessary family matters" and states that family members "should strive to avoid needless association." Pay Attention references this 1981 Watchtower as its only source, outside the Bible, for guidance on this matter.^[22][23] is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ...

Elders are instructed to "remove unrepentant wrongdoers."^[24] Failure to adhere to the guidelines on shunning is considered wrongdoing. It is the practice of Jehovah's Witnesses to disfellowship individuals who do not repent after associating with an expelled person. It is believed that such persons, by "speaking to or associating with a disfellowshipped or disassociated person," have made themselves "a sharer in his wicked works."^[25]

This does not exclude the disfellowshipped person from attending any congregational services or meetings, held at the Kingdom Hall, if they so choose after being disfellowshipped. Also elders are encouraged to make a "shepherding call" on disfellowshipped persons once a year so as to provide them with encouragement to return as a member of the congregation. Kingdom Hall is the name of meeting places for Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Reinstatement after disfellowshipping

Disfellowshipping is not necessarily permanent. If a disfellowshipped person officially repents of his former conduct, he may be reinstated into the congregation. No specific period of time is prescribed before this can happen; in most cases, at least six months pass, though in many cases, considerably longer. In 1974 the Witnesses said that about one third of those disfellowshipped eventually return to the group, based on figures gathered from 1963 to 1973. ^[26]. Those that are not formally reinstated are shunned for life.

Note that if Witness policy changes result in previously forbidden acts no longer being cause for disfellowshipping, those individuals disfellowshipped for the act are not automatically reinstated. An individual is disfellowshipped because his or her actions and/or attitude indicate to the elders on the judicial committee that he or she is unrepentant, not simply because the individual has been found by the congregation to have committed a serious sin. Their determined repentance (or the lack thereof) is the real issue, not a change in policy. Because of the intangibleness of this stance, members must acquiesce with any rule about any particular act being classed as a 'serious sin' or face a judicial committee, and must agree that they have 'sinned' regardless of their own conscience on the matter in order to be deemed repentant.

Legality of practice

In June 1987, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld the Witnesses' right to disfellowship those who fail to live by the group's standards and doctrines. In so deciding, it upheld the ruling of a lower court that: "Shunning is a practice engaged in by Jehovah's Witnesses pursuant to their interpretation of canonical text, and we are not free to reinterpret that text . . . The defendants are entitled to the free exercise of their religious beliefs . . . The members of the Church [she] decided to abandon have concluded that they no longer want to associate with her. We hold that they are free to make that choice."^[27]

Unbaptized publishers

In the past, unbaptized active members of Jehovah's Witnesses were disciplined in a practice similar to disfellowshipping. This practice has changed and shunning is no longer practiced towards such persons. Instead they will, if they do things that will call for disfellowshipping for baptized members, experience a loss of the privilege of being unbaptized publishers, and will no longer be looked upon as Jehovah's Witnesses. They may also be considered as bad company, and it is left up to the conscience of individual publishers to continue association. In the case of young people, the congregation will generally take a more forgiving attitude toward the disciplined, as still maturing and learning.

Critical view

Critics contend that fear of being shunned and family break-up or loss causes people to remain members who might otherwise freely leave the religion, but Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that disfellowshipping is a scripturally-documented method to protect the congregation from the influence of those who practice serious wrongdoing, otherwise known as "worldly" people. Jehovah's Witnesses have no provision for conscientious objectors who freely leave to have any continued normal associations. The only way to officially leave the religion is to write a letter requesting to be disassociated or to be disfellowshipped, but both entail the same set of prohibitions and penalities. Critics further contend the judicial process itself, due to its private and nearly autonomous nature, directly contradicts the precedent found in the Bible and the organizations' own teachings^[28] and can be used in an arbitrary and punitive manner if there is consensus among just a few to abuse their authority.^[29]

A letter dated September 1, 1980 was sent from the Watchtower Society to all Circuit and District overseers. According to Raymond Franz, this letter means that one who "merely disagrees in thought with any of the Watch Tower Society's teachings is committing apostasy and is liable for disfellowshipping."^[30] However, not all agree with his conclusion. Many articles since then make it clear that one needs to take some type of action to be disfellowshipped^[31], however revealing doctrinal concerns to the elders without necessarily promoting them to the rest of the congregation may be viewed as constituting such action. While it is true that the letter in question states that one does not have to “promote” different doctrines to be an apostate, it also makes it clear that elders need to exercise “discernment” to figure out whether one is a “trouble making apostate” or not. Raymond Franz, circa 1980 Raymond Franz (born 1922) was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses from 1971 until May 22, 1980[1], and served at the organizations world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. ...

References