I have been perusing through the many BOE documents I have recently received and noticed something interesting. Regarding ones who disassociate themselves, there have been many discussions on this board where people tell others not write a letter as you are giving away any legal footing you may have against the Society. Well, it appears that there are two routes you can take without officially getting DA'd, according to the Society's own documents. The two documents in question are the S-77 form and a letter outlining what should be done with those who DA themselves.
Notice the wording below.... (signed statement and two witnesses)
So what happens when an individual hands the elders or the Society a letter of DA but refuses to sign it? AND, they never meet with two elders to say they are DA'ing themselves, either over the phone or in person? Will it only piss the elders off that you won't sign it?
Legally, the Society would want you to sign it simply because anyone could forge your letter. You could always say later that you did not give them a letter. Who's to argue? If you didn't sign it, an elder could have written it as far as anyone knows. This would be an easy way to let the elders know why you are leaving and list your reasons for such. Plus - and this is the fun part - you get to mess with their "theocratic" way of order. Do you know how hard they will try to get you to sign your letter or to get you to say you are DA'ing yourself in front of two elders? I would be curious to know how they would handle a situation like this. What could you do if they made an announcement to the congregation that you DA'd yourself, where in all actuality you did not? They could not prove that you DA'd yourself, according to their own documents. I would say sue em'.
Of course, this scenario would only work with someone who simply leaves and does not join the military, take a blood transfusion, etc. Any situation which qualifies as an automatic DA.