these are examples of the very numerous offences that lead to be disfellowshipped (found here: http://jwfacts.mobi/disfellowshipping-and-shunning/disfellowshipping-watchtower-offences/ )
Bible discussion of shunning in 1 Corinthian’s 15 and 2 John is limited to just the following areas; Fornication, Greed, idolatry, Revilers, Practicing Drunkenness, Extortion and One who does not remain in the teaching of the Christ.
This list should be the full extent of reasons for which to be disfellowshipped. In fact, Diotrephes was reprimanded for attempting to throw people out of the congregation unnecessarily.
3 John 9,10 “I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who likes to have the first place among them, does not receive anything from us with respect. That is why, if I come, I will call to remembrance his works which he goes on doing, chattering about us with wicked words. Also, not being content with these things, neither does he himself receive the brothers with respect, and those who are wanting to receive them he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation.”
Following is the vast list of offences the Watchtower has created for which a Jehovah’s Witness can be disfellowshipped or disassociated.
The abbreviations refer to the following publications:
– Kingdom Ministry (km)
– Watchtower (w)
– Jehovahs Witnesses – Proclaimers of Gods Kingdom (1993) (jv)
– Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock (ks91-E)
– Organised to Accomplish Our Ministry (om)
– Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 1 or 2 (it-1 or 2)
- Adultery (sexual intercourse with a person other than your marriage mate), includes;
- Abandoning wife and eloping with another woman – w79 11/15 31-2, w76 p.728
- Planned adultery to break Scriptural marriage ties – w83 3/15 p.29
- Remarriage without Scriptural permission – w56 10/1 p.597
- Polygamy – jv 176
- Dating a person not legally divorced – ks91-E p.135
- Apostasy – w83 4/1 pp.22-4, km 8/80 pp.1, 4. includes;
- Rebellion against Jehovahs organization – w63 7/1
- Promoting sects – it-2 886
- Associating with disfellowshipped people including;
- Friends – ks91-E p.103, w81 9/15 pp.25-6, w55 10/1 p.607
- Family – ks91-E p.103
- Blood and blood transfusions – w61 1/15 ks91-E p.95, jv p.183-4
- Drug use – ks91-E p.96
- Drunkenness – ks91-E p.95, it-1 656
- Dishonest business practices – w63 7/1, w86 11/15 14
- Employment violating Christian principles – km 9/76 p.6, km 2/74
- Working for any religious organization – ks91-E p.95
- Working in a gambling institution – ks91-E p.136
- Selling tobacco – ks91-E p.96
- Contract work at a military establishment
- False worship. Includes;
- Attending another church ks91-E p.94
- Following mourning customs that involve false worship – w85 4/15 p.25
- Fornication it-1 863
- Bestiality – w83 6/1 p.25
- Incestuous marriage – w78 3/15 p.26
- Artificial insemination and surrogate motherhood.
- “True Christians, therefore, avoid surrogate motherhood as well as any procedures that involve the use of donated sperm, eggs, or embryos” g04 9/22;
- “Artificial insemination of a married woman by a donor other than her husband makes her guilty of adultery” g74 8/8 p.28
- sexual abuse of children – g93 10/8 p.10Reviling – ks91-E p.94, w96 7/15 pp.17-18; it-1 p.991; it-2 p.802
- Fraud – ks91-E p.94, om pp.142-3
- Gambling or related employment – w80 9/1, ks91-E p.136
- Gluttony – w86 5/1
- Greediness, this in used to include;
- gambling ks91-E p.95
- extortion ks91-E p.95, w89 1/15 22, it-1 p.789
- greed in relation to bride-price: w98 9/15 p.25
- Homosexuality – w83 6/1 pp.24-6
- Idolatry – w52 3/1 p.138
- 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.
- Lying – ks91-E p.94, g00 2/8 p.21
- Non neutral activities (involvement in politics and the military) – ks91-E p.96
- Military service and non military service including working casual work (certain civilian work has recently been made a conscience matter w96 5/1 p.20) – ks91-E p.96
- Obscene speech – ks91-E p.95
- Parents condoning immorality – w56 p.566
- Political involvement, including voting or holding a political card in Malawi – ks91-E p.96 (w99 11/1 p.28 made voting a conscience matter)
- Porneia. Includes oral and anal sex between married couples, mutual masturbation between persons not married to each other, homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, adultery, incest, and bestiality. – ks91-E p.93
- Slander – ks91-E p.94, w63 7/1, w89 10/15 p.14, om p.142
- Smoking or selling tobacco – km 2/74, ks91-E p.96
- Spiritism (includes yoga w02 8/1 p.22) – w55 10/1 p.607
- Stealing, thievery – om pp.142-5, ks91-E p.94
- Subversive activity – w95 10/1 p.31
- Uncleanness
- Sexually perverse practices within marriage, such as oral and anal sex – w83 3/15 p.31
- Heavy petting and breast fondling – ks91-E p.92
- Touching of sexual parts – ks91-E p.91
- Practice of viewing abhorrent Pornography – w2012 3/15 p.31
- Violation of secular law if flagrant attitude – w86 10/1 p.31
- Violence, extreme physical abuse, fits of anger – ks91-E p.96, w75 p.287, g01 11/8 p.12
- Includes Boxing w81 7/1 pp.30-1, ks91-E p.142
Wilful non support of family, endangerment of mates spirituality – w88 11/1 pp.22-3, km 9/73 p.8, ks91-E p.95
- Worldly celebrations such as Christmas – ks91-E p.95 (It appears celebrating birthdays is not a reason to be disfellowshipped)