When I was a teenager, the WTS practiced the process of putting a reinstated person on probation for as long as a year where they were observed to see if the were repentant and then be dealt with again. This changed after 1972 when the practice was mentioned only as if individual jws thought it up and restrictions were applied.
Older jws remember this practice and pass it on to others unofficially. Individuals can personally "mark" such individuals as long as they want. I saw one brother marked for 20 years; another until the new system because his first wife was still alive.
Pardon the lengthy quotes but unless you were an older teenager before 1973, I doubt if you might remember it.
*** km 3/75 p. 4
Question Box ***
Question Box
● Are
repentant wrongdoers “placed” or “put on” public or private reproof as if
placed on probation?
No. A reproof is a
congregational expression of disapproval occasioned by a serious
wrongdoing that could have led to the disfellowshiping of one of its baptized
members if he had been unrepentant. (1 Tim. 5:20: Titus 1:10-13) Once that
expression of disapproval is made, the reproof is complete. The individual does
not enter a period of continued reprimand and so is not under reproof, “put
on probation” as it were.
Why, then, are restrictions in
effect? Serious sin committed by a member of the congregation manifests
spiritual weakness on his part. As a person who is physically ill may be
restricted from eating certain foods or from engaging in certain activities
until his condition shows marked improvement, so a person who is spiritually
weak may be relieved of certain responsibilities in the congregation until there
is evidence of his regaining spiritual strength. The restrictions are to a
large extent intended to help the repentant wrongdoer recover from spiritual
weakness and to impress upon him the importance of respecting God’s holiness.—Gal.
6:7-9; see or, p. 167.
If a brother who has recently
been reproved moves to another congregation, it is advisable to inform the
elders of that congregation as to any restrictions that may be in effect. This
will enable the elders in his new congregation to continue supervising the
restoration of his privileges and to aid him toward full spiritual recovery. Of
course, no announcement of such previous reproof is made in the new
congregation. At all times elders should imitate the merciful way in which
Jehovah dealt with his people even when discipline was needed.—Isa. 63:7-9.
*** km 5/73 p. 8
Question Box ***
● When a person is given either a private or a
public reproof for unchristian conduct, are terms or requirements then imposed
that the individual must comply with?
No, neither one privately
reproved by the judicial committee nor one publicly reproved is given certain
terms to comply with (as if he were on a form of “probation”). It is simply
required that he conduct himself in harmony with Bible principles, as the
others in the congregation do. The judicial committee may strongly recommend
that the individual discontinue certain habits or associations that could lead
to repetition of the wrongdoing, and, in accord with the individual’s needs,
will give spiritual assistance and encouragement.
When there has been serious
wrongdoing, even though the reproof is not announced, any weight of
responsibility in the way of special assignments in the congregation would be
removed from the individual. (“or,” p. 167) When one is publicly reproved, the
congregation would be advised as to what privileges have been removed. (“or,”
p. 169) When the individual gives evidence of regaining his spiritual strength
and stability, privileges can be gradually restored. The same applies when a
disfellowshipped person is reinstated. (“or,” p. 177)
If one who, for serious
wrongdoing, was given either a private or a public reproof moves to another
congregation before privileges have been fully restored to him, the judicial
committee of the congregation to which he moves will determine when the gradual
restoration of privileges may fittingly be made. (“or,” pp. 169, 170) Any
further serious violation of God’s Word, of course, would be handled by the
judicial committee where the individual now associates.
*** w72 2/15 p. 126
Questions From Readers ***
May a person who has completed a period of
unannounced probation be recommended for appointment as a ministerial servant?
Regarding ministerial servants
1 Timothy 3:10 says: “Let these be tested as to fitness first, then
let them serve as ministers, as they are free from accusation.” An
individual’s having concluded a stipulated probation period for wrongdoing does
not of itself imply that he is “free from accusation.” It is not wise to
entrust responsibility to such a person too soon. (1 Tim. 5:22) Enough
time should have passed for him to establish that he has completely recovered
himself from the weakness that was manifested in his wrong act or course. Over
a sufficient period of time after the completion of the probation period he
should have proved himself to be devoted to righteousness and as having genuine
love for Jehovah and for his people. Others should be able to view him as a
fine example in Christian conduct. So if he has really built up a fine
reputation since completing his probation period, consideration could be given
to recommending him to become, not an elder, but first a ministerial servant
*** w67 2/15 p. 127
Avoid the Snare of “Saving Face” ***
In most cases it is the
unrepentant who insist on ‘practicing sin’ that are expelled, disfellowshiped
from God’s organization. (1 John 3:4; 1 Cor. 5:11) ‘A man who takes
some false step before he is aware of it’ does not fall into the class of such
incorrigible sinners. However, there may be occasions, due to the seriousness
of the sin, when the congregation committee finds it necessary to place a
person on a probation of surveillance, as a helpful, corrective measure. Such
probation is not to be viewed as some adverse judgment, something destructive
of one’s “honor,” a penalty to be bucked against. Rather, it is a loving
provision affording him opportunity to prove the sincerity of his repentance
and at the same time to help the repentant sinner recover his spirituality and
to make him strong again. Kindly counsel given during the probationary period
will build the person up so that he will not make a ‘practice’ of sin. Rather
than try to “save face” by protesting a probation, and getting others involved
emotionally, one who has committed a sin should welcome this loving arrangement
leading to his recovery.
*** w59 9/1 p. 542
Questions From Readers ***
Of course, the purpose of God
in creating man thus was not to cause him to dream but for the purpose of
multiplying the race by means of sexual intercourse. God having endowed man
with this capacity, He has the right to circumscribe its use as well as the
wisdom to indicate what is best. According to his Word, such sex relationship
may be enjoyed with only one person of the opposite sex, one’s Scripturally
married mate. All sex relations between unmarried persons are condemned as
fornication and sex relations between married persons and those not their mates
as adultery. For dedicated Christians the penalty for either of these is
disfellowshiping from the congregation or at least a period of probation if
there is heartfelt repentance.
*** w58 9/1 p. 543
Questions From Readers ***
May an anointed brother once disfellowshiped but
now reinstated and on probation be used to pray at Memorial time?—C. O., United
States.
It is true that if a brother
has been reinstated in the congregation after disfellowshipment and is on
probation he may be served with the emblems of the Lord’s Evening Meal in order
that he as one of the anointed followers of the Lord Jesus Christ may obey
Jesus’ command to partake thus in remembrance of him. However, when the
reinstated brother is put on probation it would mean certain restrictions are
imposed upon him. He may not be used in a representative capacity to speak and
act for the entire congregation. For that reason even though he may be the only
anointed one in the congregation he should not be used in offering prayer at
the opening or the closing of the meeting, nor in prayer pronounced over either
of the emblems, any more than he should be used in giving the talk regarding
the Lord’s Evening Meal. If his period of probation ends before the actual
arrival of the celebration, then he could be used in offering prayer.
*** w56 10/1 p. 595
par. 32 Marriage Obligations and Divorce ***
32 In the case of a
faithful husband, certainly he may be expected to put his wife on probation,
closely watching her and helping her to keep from repeating sin, and the
congregation will rely upon him to do so. Otherwise the congregation would
consider him as not presiding properly over his own household and hence not
qualified to hold any responsible office with spiritual oversight in the
congregation. In that case, too, the congregation would step in, because he is
not conducting his home affairs in a Christian manner, and would take action
against man and wife. The person with whom the adultery was committed may be a
member of the congregation. If so, that person must be disfellowshiped and thus
stripped of service privileges and positions and Christian fellowship. If after
disfellowshipment that one shows the fruitage of repentance and seeks to get
back into the congregation, that one may be reinstated and put on a long
probation, for at least a year, and then, being found on good behavior, he may
be formally relieved of the restrictions imposed upon him and be fully received
back.—1 Cor. 5:1-5, 13; 2 Cor. 2:5-11.
*** w56 6/15 p. 383
Questions From Readers ***
● Speaking of those who partake of the Lord’s
evening meal unworthily, the January 15, 1956, Watchtower said
on page 60, paragraph 18: “So let him benefit by the corrective, disciplinary
judgment that Jehovah gives him. Let him discern what he himself is, and
reform. If he has been at fault, yet he should obey the command and eat the
Lord’s evening meal, but do so discerning the Lord’s sacrificed body and asking
forgiveness for his sin. Then let this celebration strengthen him to follow
Christ’s steps more closely during the coming year.” Does this mean a
disfellowshiped person should partake of the loaf and wine at the Lord’s
evening meal?—M. P., Germany.
This has no reference to
persons that are in a disfellowshiped condition, but to only those who are
continuing in the body of Christ but who are yet subject to sin and who
therefore commit sins for which the sacrifice of Christ provides the basis for
forgiveness. A disfellowshiped person is no member of Jehovah’s congregation
and may not be served the emblems by those serving at the celebration of the
Lord’s evening meal. Jesus did not serve Judas the emblems but sent him out of
the house before instituting the Lord’s evening meal.—John 13:21-31; Matt.
26:20-25; Mark 14:10-21.
If a disfellowshiped person
desires to partake of the Lord’s evening meal he should show full repentance by
going to the service committee of the congregation from which he has been
disfellowshiped and let them examine him as to the sincerity of his repentance
and his willingness to be put on probation. If he satisfies this service
committee, then they may reinstate him and put him on a period of probation,
and they will so advise the congregation. If he shows good deportment during
the time of his probation and up to the celebration of the Lord’s evening meal,
then he may be served the emblems at the celebration with sincere appreciation
of God’s forgiveness through the things symbolized by the emblems. Then his
participation in the Lord’s evening meal should strengthen him to continue on
conducting himself properly through the rest of his probation period and onward
after it has ended and the reinstatement is full and complete, no longer
qualified by any probationary restraints.
*** w54 9/1 p. 543
Questions From Readers ***
Questions From Readers
● When does probation apply? Before
disfellowshiping, during it, or after reinstatement?—L. D., United States.
If a brother has done some
wrong that merits disfellowshiping, yet the congregation committee feels that
he should not be disfellowshiped because of his sincere repentance or other
extenuating circumstances, rather than disfellowshiping him the committee might
put him on probation. The committee would set the terms of this probation
according to their judgment, having in mind the facts or needs of the
particular case involved. If the erring brother complies fully with the terms
of the probation for the period of time prescribed by the committee the
probation may then be lifted and no disfellowshiping takes place.
If a brother is
disfellowshiped, however, he would not also be put on probation. He is cut off
from the congregation and the congregation has nothing to do with him,
exercises no control over him outside the congregation, puts no restrictions on
him outside in the world. For the congregation to attempt to do so would be
contradictory to the disfellowshiping action, which means there is a complete
severance of relations between the disfellowshiped one and the congregation. He
is not accountable to the congregation, and the congregation has nothing to do
with him, tries to exercise no control over him outside, attempts no regulation
of his conduct outside.
If a disfellowshiped person
shows sincere repentance and desires to be reinstated, the committee may
reinstate him after the lapse of what it considers a suitable length of time.
When this is done the committee may wish to impose some restraints and put the
individual on probation. The committee may now do this, since the person has
been reinstated and is again a part of the congregation, the congregation now
having resumed dealings with the individual.
Hence, in answer to the
question, a person may be put on probation without disfellowshiping or after
reinstatement from being disfellowshiped, but it is completely illogical for
the committee to try to establish probation over a person they cast out and do
not even have dealings with. They only talk to him if he comes to them to
discuss the matter of his reinstatement. To illustrate, a person in society may
break a law. He is convicted and sent to jail. He has been removed from the
community; he is not on probation when he is disfellowshiped from society and
held in jail. But when he is released and returned to society he may be put on
probation and have to live under certain restraints and report regularly to
some officer. Or it may be that when he is found guilty instead of being sent
to jail sentence may be suspended and he is put on probation, never being removed
from society. So also may it be relative to the Christian congregation. One
final point. The foregoing does not mean that every offender must be put on
probation without disfellowshiping, or that he must be put on probation after
reinstatement. All of this is left to the judgment of the local congregational
committee.
*** w52 3/1 p. 143
pars. 21-22 Propriety of Disfellowshiping ***
21 His getting
reinstated in the congregation of God is a very serious matter, for him and for
the congregation. The appointed servants may put him on probation if they want
to. He will have to prove to the servants that he is going to behave himself in
the future and act properly as a servant of Jehovah. They can test his
sincerity. They should not reinstate him too quickly, even after he does repent
and tells them what he is going to do, and makes an open confession. Why not?
Because of public opinion. (2 Pet. 2:2, NW) His course of action
may have been one of adultery and may have had wide publicity in the papers.
Maybe he was put in jail for stealing. Maybe he was very rebellious. Maybe he
went out and started a new organization and now is trying to come back. Well,
all the people around the place know that that person was an obstinate,
disorderly person, and not good company. So we should be careful as to how
quickly we take such a person back into the congregation, because of what the “people
on the outside” will say. (1 Tim. 3:7, NW) If a person commits
adultery and is running around with men and women that are of loose conduct,
and everybody knows it, and we say, “Oh, come on back, you’re welcome,” people
on the outside will say: “Well, your whole congregation is of the same type.”
So he has to be put on probation. His sincerity must be proved before we openly
and fully accept his repentance.
22 Remember the case
of Shimei, who was put on probation. At one time he cursed David, and when
Solomon became king as David’s successor certain restrictions were put around
him. Solomon told him: ‘You ought to have been killed long ago. So now you must
remain in the city of Jerusalem. But as soon as you go out of this city and
cross the brook Kidron you are going to be put to death.’ Now, Shimei could
have enjoyed his life and the favor that was shown toward him by staying right
there in the city of Jerusalem. He had his slaves, the servants, and home.
Three years after this order was given two of his slaves ran away. Shimei said:
‘Oh, I’m just going to get those fellows and bring them back.’ So he started
out after them, crossed the Kidron, got his slaves and brought them back. Then
it was reported to Solomon that he had left the city, and Solomon had him
killed. Just to get two slaves back this man was ready to lose his life.
