The "Situation"
A brother and sister from my parents congregation committed adultry with one another. He was single, she was married to another brother in the same hall. Her husband divorced her. The two offenders were disfellowshipped, but promptly re-married one another and have been attending meetings ever since. Approximately 2 years has passed, and as far as I know, they have not missed a beat meeting attendence wise.
I began to question my parents how long they would remain disfellowshipped in consideration of the scripture at 2 Corinithians 2:6,7:
"This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary now, YOU should kindly forgive and comfort [him], that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad."
My mother then advised me that the reason they are disfellowshipped still is that they have not "done what The Elders have asked them to do." Now, why my mother would know this, is beyond me. My dad isn't even an Elder. But obviously, their being disfellowshipped for such a long time dispite their frequent presence has become a topic of conversation among members of the congregation.
I asked her what it was exactly they "had not done." She said that The Elders had advised the offending pair to write an apology letter to the vicimized husband. I asked my mother where the scriptural command for such an action was, and I just got a blank look.
The Question
In this circumstance, where an active member of the congregation has "cheated" on their believing spouse with another active member of the congregation, does The Watchtower Society require such a letter of apology be written as evidence of repentance on the part of the offending pair, or is this just some fabrication by the local Body of Elders?
Also, if this is a requirement for reinstatement to the congregation after such an offense and subsequent disfellowshipping, is their written direction of such? Is it in the elder's manual (I did not see it), or in a letter from The Branch?
Now, I'm not saying I don't personally feel it would be appropriate to send such a letter to the victimized ex-spouse, but, I dont' really see how the organization could mandate such a thing based on Scripture.