Click this link, scroll down, look to your left and click on "Disfellowship" http://www.reexamine.org/wtobserver/ JWs called to meet with a Judicial Committee may find the following letter helpful, & may wish to use it. *****(A modified version of) THE LETTER (post 230166) by [roamer] on April 07, 2000*****
(Today's Date)
Dear Brothers,
Before I agree to meet with the judicial committee, I want your written agreement to ALL the following items.
- I shall be notified in writing of the time, place, and exact purpose of any meetings with a judicial committee.
- I shall be notified in writing of the full name of all legal entities on whose behalf the judicial committee is acting. For example: the (name of the local) Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, or its legal corporation: the _____________ Company of Jehovah's Witnesses; and/or the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, or its legal corporations: the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.; the International Bible Students Association; and/or any other agency.
- If the judicial committee acts for, or consults with, or reports to any unidentified agency; or allows any unidentified agency to have any bearing on the outcome of the judicial process, I will consider the judicial committee as acting in and on the behalf of that agency.
- I shall be notified in writing as to any change in my status as a member, of any and all of the organizations for which the committee is acting, or to which the committee reports.
- I insist that the judicial committee immediately cease,and in the future, desist, from any actions toward or against me in behalf of any corporation or organization of which I am not a member.
- I shall be notified in writing of any accusations against me, the names of persons making such accusations, and the substance of any evidence against me.
- I shall be notified in writing of any and all of my rights and responsibilities connected with the judicial process.
- I shall be given sufficient time between notification of any request for a meeting with a judicial committee and the time of the actual meeting to prepare a response to each accusation.
- I shall be allowed to have at least one person of my choice present during all meetings between me and the judicial committee as an observer and/or witness. Because I believe that the judicial committee may consult with, or be guided by, the Legal Department of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., one person of my choice may also be a lawyer.
- During the meetings with the judicial committee I and my representative(s) will be allowed to tape-record, and take whatever notes we feel are necessary.
- If the judicial committee takes any judicial action against me, I will not recognize any action taken by the judicial committee as valid unless it is communicated to me in writing, stating the exact nature and reason for the action; and on whose behalf the action was taken.
- If the judicial committee states that it is acting only for the local Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is enjoined from notifying any agency outside the congregation of their action.
- If the judicial committee or anyone acting in their behalf, notifies or reports to anyone outside the local Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, I may take any appropriate legal action.
- I may appeal any action taken by the judicial committee.
- Before I will meet with an appeal committee, that committee must notify me in writing of the names of all members of the appeal committee, and who each one represents (as stated in item #2 above).
- To ensure objectivity of the appeal committee, and other than notification of the time and place of the appeal meeting, there shall be no contact, communication, or attempt on the part of anyone connected with the original judicial committee, to (in any way) prejudice or sway the appeal committee. Otherwise, I will insist that a new appeal committee be formed.
- I shall be notified in writing of any and all of my rights and responsibilities connected with the appeal process.
- I shall be allowed to have at least one person of my choice present during all meetings between me and the appeal committee as an observer and/or witness. Because I believe that the appeal committee may consult with, or be guided by, the Legal Department of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., one person of my choice may also be a lawyer.
- During the meetings with the appeal committee I and my representative(s) will be allowed to tape-record, and take whatever notes we feel are necessary.
- I will not recognize any action taken by the appeal committee as valid unless it is communicated to me in writing, stating the exact nature and reason for the action.
- In this written communication the appeal committee must state exactly on whose behalf they are taking the action (as stated in item #2 above).
- If the appeal committee states that it is acting only for the local Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is enjoined from notifying any agency outside the congregation of their action.
- If the appeal committee or anyone acting in their behalf, notifies or reports to anyone outside the local Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, I may take any appropriate legal action.
- I understand that if I am disfellowshipped by the judicial committee and the disfellowshipping is upheld by the appeal committee that I am, at that point, no longer considered to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
- I also understand that it is necessary to make a brief announcement that I have been disfellowshipped. From then on, I will consider any attempt: to convince by speeches, talks, or teaching; to coerce by implied or actual threat of similar judicial action; to encourage by private counsel or suggestion; any of Jehovah's Witnesses to treat me differently from any other person that is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, to be a serious violation of my civil rights. And I may initiate any legal action, civil or criminal that I deem appropriate. This includes any attempt to convince by speeches, talks or teaching; to coerce by implied or actual threat of similar judicial action; or to encourage by private counsel or suggestion any present Jehovah's Witnesses to shun or avoid me, cease or otherwise modify their doing business with me, or terminate or otherwise abrogate any lease, rental, mortgage, or any other legal agreement that I may presently have with them. I may consider such to be an infringement of free trade and may initiate appropriate legal action.
- I consider any information connected with the judicial committee, and the appeal committee, and myself, to be ecclesiastically privileged. Any attempt to reveal the substance or tone of that information, to any other person or group, will be considered by me to be a breach of that privilege and may result in legal action. This includes: any announcements beyond the fact of my disfellowshipping; speeches; talks; or any other communication, written or oral, public or private.
- I fully realize that you may be unwilling, or that the Watchtower corporations will not allow you, to comply with the preceding.
I respectfully await your written response.
Cheers! Atlantis-
