Is it possible to move from baptized publisher to unbaptized status perpetually? What do elders do when you inform them that your baptism was invalid?
what happens when one informs elders that one's baptism was invalid?
by quincemyles 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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oppostate
They'll try to argue with you and tell you it's not invalid.
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quincemyles
I would tell them that its a personal matter and they wouldnt know a thing about its validity. -
Boeing Stratofortress
Ok, this is related, and might be worthy of it's own thread. But, what if...for example, a JW wife has her child baptised, without first consulting with the non-JW husband?
Let's say the non-JW guy is just that...a 'never was' or will be type of 'worldly' guy (not DF'd or DA'd). Could a wife get away with such a stunt, knowing full well that he's still head-of-houshold? And if he were DF/DA'd, would that have an effect?
Seems to me he could go straight to the elders and tell them to get this annulled or else. The 'or else' could be the threat of legal action against the elder...or perhaps something more brazen (just leave it at that). Any suggestions?
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Lemonp
From the Shepherd the flock book: (Bolding and formatting theirs)
Was the Wrongdoer’s Baptism Valid?
46. When dealing with wrongdoers, the elders should not raise questions about the validity of the individual’s baptism. If the individual raises the issue, the elders may refer him to the February 15, 2010, Watchtower, page 22. Further information on rebaptism can be found in the February 15, 1964, Watchtower, pages 123-126, and the March 1, 1960, Watchtower, pages 159-160. Rebaptism is a personal matter.
47. At times a wrongdoer will claim that his baptism is not valid and that he feels he is not accountable to a judicial committee because he secretly engaged in wrongdoing shortly before he was baptized. If the elders had been aware of his serious wrongdoing committed just before baptism, likely they would not have approved him for baptism. However, this does not necessarily mean that he did not make a valid dedication. Some individuals make a dedication long before the baptism; others have made a dedication shortly before. The elders are not in a position to read the heart and know for a certainty how Jehovah viewed the person at the time he was baptized. If the elders learn that a baptized individual secretly engaged in serious wrongdoing while he was an unbaptized publisher but the wrongdoing ceased before baptism, they should give counsel and encouragement. A judicial committee should not be formed for prebaptism wrongdoing. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) However, if the individual resumed serious wrongdoing after baptism, the elders would generally deal with him on the basis of what he has professed to be, a dedicated and baptized Christian, and would meet with him judicially. Thereafter, if he feels he should be rebaptized, this would be a personal decision. However, a person should not get rebaptized simply because he gains improved understanding or appreciation of the truth or some Scriptural doctrine. —Prov. 4:18.
48. There are rare occasions when it is obvious that the baptism was invalid because serious wrongdoing did not cease before baptism, even for a brief period of time. For example, it may be that at the time of baptism, the individual was living immorally with a member of the opposite or the same sex, was a member of a non-neutral organization, or something similar. If there are questions, the branch office should be consulted.
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Boeing Stratofortress
Ok...that addresses cases of WRONGDOING, in particular. Please, go on? -
Half banana
Have you thought Quincemyles that by desiring to have your baptism annulled you are giving it some credibility as a contract?
Sorry friend but I think later on you will see that it had no meaning in the first place.
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DesirousOfChange
By requesting to have your baptism annulled you are requesting to no longer be identified as a JW, and that is the announcement that will likely be made to the Cong. How can you argue with that? It is YOUR request.
Doc
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maksutov
As far as I know, baptism annulment is never used as a means to leave without being disfellowshipped - it is only used to justify getting baptised a second time if the first one was not valid. -
blondie
I only saw one ex-jw get away with being considered unbaptized...
1) somehow his baptism date was never entered on his publisher's card or anywhere else
2) no jw remembers seeing him being baptized, no family, elder, or other jw (no photos either)
(not even one witness let alone 2)
He posted his story on JWN but I forget his name...anyone else remember this account