Disfellowshipping in absentia policy from "Organized to do Jehovah's Will"

by truthseeker 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  gumby

  This new policy basically disfellowships those who do not play by the Society's rules, and turn up to judicial committees. Whether or not the Society has thought about the legal implications of such a policy I do not know. But, this is a huge change, and could open the doors to all sorts of other changes in policy.

  Comments like these prove that 90% of dubs don't have a friggin clue as to their own organisations teachings.

  They have been disfellowshipping those who do not show up for their judicial meeting for decades now......and you think this is huge news? Do you REALLY also think the society doesn't check with their legal dept. before making any changes and BEFORE they put those changes in a publication?

  Gumby
• 

  Ticker

  I too have seen people disfellowshipped in absentia, but I suppose they probably figured enough evidence had been collected to render judgement. Not sure what they would do if they lacked any real evidence in order to make a decision. I would imagine they would attempt to continue efforts to dig something up and still continue to make life miserable for that person. Although possibly they would view absentia as proof of a bad attitude for not accepting readjustment and still wiegh out a disfellowshipping sentance. They hate when you don't play their game and show up to their judicial meetings, then what little chance you actually had in escaping some form of ostracism diminishes into thin air. Disfellowshipping has almost become like open season for hunting people down, its lost its supposed purpose of readjustment and has become a way to tyranize people into complience. It is the tool they use, it is the ill fated iron fist taking off the glove, their greatest weapon in protecting and hiding the organizations ideals.

  All this policy had done is continue to deliver more and more power so that the fist can reach further and strike harder then before.

  Ticker
• 

  Mary

  Gumby said: Do you REALLY also think the society doesn't check with their legal dept. before making any changes and BEFORE they put those changes in a publication?

  Uh, Gumby, I'm sure this must have just been an oversight on your part. Didn't you MEAN to say: "Do you REALLY also think the society doesn't pray to Jehovah for insight and ask for his Holy Spirit to be upon them before making any changes and BEFORE they put those changes in a publication?

  The way you worded it, someone might think that the F&DS class are worried about legal repercussions rather than doing what's right in God's eyes.
• 

  gumby

  True Mary

  It just gripes me of the many comments that come from here that are off base to the point that lurking dubs who read it have more reasons not to come here. People need to know the facts a bit more before posting erronious comments and getting others stirred up for nothing.

  Gumby
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  minimus

  Yeah, nothing new here. If a person purposely doesn't show up once asking for an appeal (a kindness) then the person has no recourse. Asking for an appeal is evidence of playing by "their" rules, obviously.
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  Bluegrass Tom

  This has always been the policy, but not disclosed to the rank and file until now.

  Here is how it goes: If the body of elders has received a credible report of wrongdoing the body assigns two brothers to investigate. The two brothers investigate and report back their findings. If they find that there is in fact wrongdoing of a gross nature, the body of elders establishes a judicial committee to handle the matter. This is usually the two brothers that looked into it initially and one other Brother. A Chairman is selected by the body. Now the body is out of it. It is strictly handled by the judicial committee.

  The committee first listens to all testimony and evidence. This is done separately. Then they try to establish a meeting with the accused. If the accused won't meet with them after several attempts, they will set the meeting date and time for the judicial hearing and notify the accused (verbally only). Then the committee will meet, consider all the information and come to a conclusion whether the accused is there or not. If the conclusion is to disfellowship, they will advise the accused verbally and give them time to appeal. If they don't appeal within 7 days, the disfellowshipping will be announced at the next Service Meeting.

  This procedure also applies to the appeal process. If they don't show-up the appeal committee proceeds. It should be noted that the appeal committee is only concerned whether the judicial committeee acted properly and within the WTS guidelines. They do not re-open the case, and consider the testimony, etc. The appeal committee is in place to help protect the WTS from a law suit. That's it. It has nothing to do with making sure that the accused gets a fair shake.
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  minimus

  Most Witnesses don't know that if you still disagree with the appeal committee's decision-----you have one final recourse for appeal.
• 

  xjw_b12

  Same book, different cover.
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  tijkmo

  the reason why the announcement would go ahead is because the decision has already been made by the first commitee...so if you dont turn up or get in touch to re-arrange then obviously this shows that you are accepting the decision.....if you dont turn up to the first j/c then thats normally because you have decided you dont want to be associated any longer and probably will not be considered a threat so would not be disfellowshipped.....what i think would be interesting is to be called before a j/c and refuse to go but still attend the meetings and answer up, go in fs etc...what could they do then..i tell you this-i will never go in front of a j/c again...prov 26 : 6 explains why..tijkmo
• 

  willyloman

  But, this is a huge change,

  Not so much.