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Here is a copy of a recent letter sent to Bodies of elders regarding disfellowshipped relatives. It was posted by a poster at the JWN board.

January 21, 2010

TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS

Re: Qualifications of appointed persons in conjunction with disfellowshipped relatives

Dear Brothers:

The Bible tells us that we are not to fellowship with a person who has been expelled from the congregation. (1 Cor. 5:9-13; 2 John 9-11) Elders, ministerial servants, and regular pioneers should set an example in their dealings with disfellowshipped family members. (lv pp. 207-209)
What responsibility does the body of elders have if a person in such an appointed position allows a disfellowshipped immediate family member to move into the home?

The body of elders should review the qualifications of any appointed person who permits such a situation. (w88 3/1 p. 24 par. 5; w81 9/15 p. 29 pars. 16-17) It may be that the disfellowshipped relative is physically or emotionally ill and unable to care for himself. Or dire circumstances may exist so that a failure to provide assistance might result in disastrous consequences and even bring reproach on the congregation. In such circumstances, the appointed person may have felt there was no other recourse than to allow the family member to move into the home. The attitude of the disfellowshipped relative should also be considered. Has he ‘come to his senses’? (Luke 15:17-19) Has he abandoned his sinful course? Or is he still engaged in serious wrongdoing? In
carefully considering these and other relevant factors, the elders may determine that the appointed person is still exemplary, holds the respect of the congregation, and qualifies to continue serving.

On the other hand, if the circumstances raise serious questions and the appointed person has lost the respect of the congregation, the elders may determine that it would be best for the appointed person to relinquish his privilege of service. As long as the unfavorable situation in the home exists, the person would no longer be used in any exemplary capacity. Since this may be disheartening to the individual, the elders should confirm their love for him and help him to appreciate that he is needed in the congregation. (w90 9/1 pp. 22-23 pars. 18-20) Of course, if the situation changes and the reason for the deletion no longer exists, it may be that the person will once again be able to enjoy privileges of service in the congregation.

Be assured of our prayers for Jehovah’s continued blessing as you extend yourselves in behalf of the brotherhood. We send our warm Christian love.

Your brothers,

cc: Traveling overseers

PS to secretary:

This letter should be retained in the congregation permanent file of policy letters. You may wish to update the congregation copy of Index to Letters—For Bodies of Elders (S-22) at this time as well.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

Are THEY serious???!!! This is a travesty!

"It may be that the disfellowshipped relative is physically or emotionally ill and unable to care for himself. Or dire circumstances may exist so that a failure to provide assistance might result in disastrous consequences and even bring reproach on the congregation."

"The attitude of the disfellowshipped relative should also be considered. Has he ‘come to his senses’? (Luke 15:17-19) Has he abandoned his sinful course? Or is he still engaged in serious wrongdoing? In carefully considering these and other relevant factors, the elders may determine that the appointed person is still exemplary..."


"As long as the unfavorable situation in the home exists, the person would no longer be used in any exemplary capacity. Since this may be disheartening to the individual, the elders should confirm their love for him and help him to appreciate that he is needed in the congregation."

The idea of possibly bringing "reproach on the congregation" shouldn't even be an issue: A person in need is a person in need, no matter what! Whatever happened to offering mercy instead of sacrifice? (Matthew 12:7) Whatever happened to showing love towards one's enemies? (Matthew 5:43-45) Whatever happened to the idea that refusing to provide for one's family makes you worse than a faithless man? (1 Timothy 5:8)

WATCHTOWER LEADERS NEED TO READ THE BIBLE AND STOP OBSESSING ABOUT APPEARANCES! :readthis:

This whole Watchtower disfellowshipping thing raises more issues than this?

What if the person was disfellowshipped because they disagreed with a doctrine which then flip flopped to the opinion the disfellowshipped person held?

Does their disfellowshipping get automatically reversed?

Does the completely shattered family unit get restored to something that should have always been wholesome?

What is the value of a wholesome family unit?

One which the Watchtower destroyed.

When Jesus Christ returns will he hold the Watchtower Society accountable for all the families they have destroyed just so they can appear to be righteous?


Isaiah 9:6-7
And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.


In Christ

abe

It would seem that whenever there are no clear written Biblical guidelines (as in the case of how to treat erring family members), Christians should turn to basic Scriptural law. And God’s Law requires wives to respect their husbands, husbands to love their wives, children to obey their parents, for everyone to respect their mothers and fathers, and for each one to provide for those who are in their own households. Anything less than that would fit the description that Paul gave of how Godless people would act in ‘the last days’ (at 2 Timothy 3:3), which says, ‘They won’t love their families (gr. astorge) or be willing to agree on anything.’

Such sanctions obviously go beyond Paul’s instructions at First Corinthians the Fifth Chapter, and they stray into conflict with Jesus’ words to the Pharisees as found at Matthew 15:6-9, which say, ‘So, [you are really saying] that [you] shouldn’t honor [your] parents at all. And when you do this, you are nullifying the Word of God with your traditions. You hypocrites! How well Isaiah prophesied about you when he said, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. It’s a waste for them to keep worshiping me, because they preach the teachings of men as commandments.’

May Jehovah remember them for their badness!

Pick your favorite version...

Matthew 23:4 (Contemporary English Version)

4They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help.


Matthew 23:4 (American Standard Version)

4 Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.


Matthew 23:4 (Today's New International Version)

4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.


Matthew 23:4 (New Living Translation)

4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.



May Jehovah rebuke them.

Matt: 23:4 says it just right to me. What an evil thing it all is--just when people need love and support the most they are cut loose (they are crushed) --so seriously tragic... :crybaby: ...

...and something else just occurred to me on this topic:

You would think they would want the brothers to take in such df'd relatives, in hopes that the member in good standing could influence the df'd one to return....dontcha think?

actually they fear just the opposite--that they are bad association that will ruin the one in good standing and--I have been told that 'statistically' those that are shunned are the ones that come back in. I have never seen anyone return in good emotional shape but that is another story :friends:

i've interpreted this letter differently, to me it seems to be a step forwards, for example I've known disfellowshipped persons who are biblical apostates celebrating Halloween continuing in fornication and lawlessness, this seems to be saying that if the disfellowshipped person is not engaging in the activites outlined in scripture as wrong then they have turned around and there is nothing wrong with taking them in and communicating , possibly even stating this as a condition to the move in, however if they still conduct themselves this way than one cannot be exemplary as an elder in this state, but if thy have changed their actions even if they are edged and have not come into the organization than it's not objectionable this seems to be a positive reversal more in line with scripture to me.

You all must admit 98 percent are not dffed for rejecting the org, but for acts pf lawlessness this letter seems to indicate that if the disfellowshipped family member will agree to turn around in their actions than having them in your home as am elder is not only acceptable but exemplary and if they are still violating godly principles while dffed they can come into your home and live with you but your allowing them to continue in their course while under your roof and providing for them is not exemplary and you would not serve as an elder during this time, unless they are disabled in some way, this all seems completely on harmony with scripture to me, and one who rejects the org wouldn't fit into this category.

[Admin. note : I just edited your post to clarify who was talking. When you place your comments within a quote you need to make sure that you post who is saying what or use the quote function and preview your post. Your whole post was in one solid quote and seemed as though it was all from melancholy muse. Thanks]

I dunno...if someone is mentally ill, that one generally doesn't know he or she is acting abnormally. It is an act of cruelty to NOT help them if they are seeking your help. The same goes for other emergency situations with family members. When I was still a devout JW, my df'd sister with two kids became homeless due to being unemployed (drugs/alcohol were not an issue). Although she wasn't working towards reinstatement, hubby and I still took her in until she could get back on her feet. And I didn't care who knew it. I wasn't going cast the first stone, for I am a sinner too. And surprise surprise, I didn't get drawn into her cigarettes or fornication either.

:hypno:

What im explaining is the fact that it doesnt say "working back to the congregation" its whether one is currently PRACTICING the sin, if you did a sin or were practicing fine, but under my roof you will not practice these things inside my house, thats a rule, and if you break it your butt doesnt want to stay in my house.

If i, like a spineless wimp, allow you to fornicate inside my house as my child living for free in my house, shame on me, and im not talking about slipping up and fornicating but PRACTICING the sin not an accident but repeated and wanton practice of sin,if that were to occur im not an exemplary elder, they said also to take into consideration the mental state. If i were an elder weighing this matter out to the body about another elder, I would point out what you said about mental illness (this also confirmed in the watchtower publications) and this brother would have ZERO reprocussions.

(in my area this is how it works most times already, elders take in there family members even if theyre "apostate" one had mental problems, and his father, an elder,had him staying with him no problems and all the witnesses felt sorry for the "apostate" as he was mentally ill) the letter does not mention "working there way back"

What it says was are they still practicing sin (as an elder i would point out what this means as its not a slip up but a wanton disregard for bible principles and the person practicing this would be repeatedly doing it)

Ive been on this forum under a different name in the past, and it seems all we do here is criticize yes the WT wont have mass reform but every thing is not something poisonous. Now im not going as some (swordofjah and others no offense) and only look at the bright but i will point out when something is being overly criticized when its actually good.

Maybe my circuit is just liberal.

But every group has both good and bad, now in our case what will we be, will we allow the bad to consume us and focus on harping on all the negative, or will we like Christ focus on good, and yes when badness presents itself expose it, but not be about it.

This letter in my estimation is good for brothers like myself who know the scriptures and how to navigate WT law to present the bibles view, people,is it possible we have become a bit too permissive, i mean isnt there such a thing as a practicer of sin, doesnt the biblical admonition in context apply when its actually in context and parallel?

Yes there was some crap in it,but no mention of coming back to the org but mention of whether they are still continuing in their course, and that it in itself is a subtle acknowledgement that all dffed people are not the plague.

Exactly!

The way I see it, the Watchtower "faith" is so weak and pretentious, because it is based on a Golden Calf, a man-made object. An Organization. So, the leadership is bent on excommunicating and completely cutting off ANY threat to the weak and timid sheep who have very little faith based on a personal relationship with God. They feel that they must keep the congregation "clean" and "undefiled", but yet it's ok for them to throw people's lives into turmoil with false prophecy after false prophecy, lie after lie, delusion after delusion, claiming to be God's "sole channel" but yet they reproach Him immensely by portraying Him as a God who is clueless to His own prophecies and constantly waffles on His own standards!

Would it not be a much more inviting place if they were really much more like the hated "Christendom", where they teach you right from wrong but the rest is up to YOU. You ain't fooling anybody if you want to live a double life, and cutting you off from friends and family is NOT the merciful way to deal with someone bent on sinning. Only LOVE can help them, and disfellowshipping, shunning people is the opposite of love. It is downright SATANIC!

Pharisees on steroids!

Peace,
Jimmy C.