Loose conduct - ks91-E pp.93, 96, w83 3/15 p.31, w73 9/15 p.574, it-2 p.264, ks91-E p.93, w83 3/15 p.31, w73 9/15 pp.574-6, w97 9/1 p.14, it-2 p.246.
This includes;
- Sexual perversion
- Disregard for Jehovah's moral standards
- Disrespect, disregard or even contempt for standards, laws and authority,
Rather than restricted to the usual definition of sexual perversion, the Watchtower defines "loose conduct" as including "disrespect to elders". This enables this term to be used to disfellowship for a wide range of offences not elsewhere covered, and as such is used to cover all manner of sins, such as refusal to cease fellowship with disfellowshipped people, or even being contemptuous in a judicial meeting where no other sin can be proven.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/disfellowship-shunning.php
New Elder's Manual
page 60
9. Brazen conduct, loose conduct : (Gal. 5:19)
The Greek word translated "brazen conduct," or
"loose conduct," is a·sel'gei·a. Strong's Greek Dictionary
uses very forceful terms to define it: "licentiousness;
filth[iness], lasciviousness, wantonness." The
New Thayer's Greek English Lexicon adds to the list
"unbridled lust, ... outrageousness, shamelessness,
insolence." Another lexicon defines a·sel'gei·a as conduct
that "violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable."
Rather than relating to bad conduct of a
somewhat petty or minor nature, "brazen conduct"
describes acts that reflect an attitude that betrays disrespect,
disregard, or even contempt for divine standards,
laws, and authority. Therefore, two elements
are involved in brazen conduct: (1) The conduct itself
is a serious violation ofJehovah's laws, and (2) the attitude
of the wrongdoer toward God's laws is disrespectful,
insolent.-w06 7/15 p. 30; w83 3/15 p. 31;
w73 pp. 574-576.
10. Though this is not an exhaustive list, brazen
conduct may be involved in the following if the
wrongdoer has an insolent, contemptuous attitudemade evident by a practice of these things:
• Willful, continued, unnecessary association
with disfellowshipped nonrelatives despite
repeated counsel.-Matt. 18:17b; 1 Cor. 5:11, 13;2 John 10, 11; w81 9/15 pp. 25-26.
• Child sexual abuse: This would include fondling
of breasts, an explicitly immoral proposal,
showing pornography to a child, voyeurism, indecent
exposure, and so forth.
• Continuing to date or pursue a romantic
relationship with a person though not legally
or Scripturally free to marry, despite repeated
counsel and generally after a warning
talk to the congregation.-Gal. 5:19; 2 Thess. 3:6,
14, 15.
11. Evidence (testified to by at least two witnesses)
that the accused stayed all night in the
same house with a person of the opposite sex
(or in the same house with a known homosexual)
under improper circumstances.- If questions
are raised regarding Scriptural freedom to remarry,
see 12:12.
• Elders should use good judgment in assessing
the situation before forming a judicial
committee. Were the two persons alone together
all night? Is there evidence of a romantic
relationship? Are there understandable reasons,
such as an unexpected emergency, that caused
the situation?
• If there are no extenuating circumstances, a judicial
committee would be formed on the basis
of strong circumstantial evidence of por·neí'a.
• Depending upon the attitude of the accused,
there might even be evidence of brazen conduct.
Consider other examples:
• A married brother spends an inordinate amount
of time with his female secretary after work
hours but insists there is no romantic interest.
His concerned wife informs the elders, who give
him strong counsel. Later, when he claims to
be leaving overnight for a "business trip," his
Page 62
suspicious wife and a relative follow him to the
secretary' s home. They observe the secretary invite
him inside at 10 p.m. and continue watching
all night until he leaves the home at 7 a.m.
When the elders speak to him, he admits that
he spent the night alone with his secretary, but
he denies that he committed adultery. In such a
case, the elders have a basis to take judicial action
because there is strong circumstantial evidence
of por·neía and there may be elements
of brazen conduct. The innocent mate's conscience
may allow her to choose to divorce him
and remarry; the elders would not take action
against her for making this decision.
page 64
Other examples cited:
An entrenched practice of viewing, perhaps
for years, abhorrent forms of pornography
that is sexually degrading. Such pornography
may include sadistic torture, bondage,
gang rape, the brutalizing of women, or child
pornography. Brazen conduct would be involved
if the offender was promoting such material,
such as by inviting others to view it, thus
giving evidence of a brazen attitude.-w06 7/15
