In compliance with the Scriptures, however, members can be expelled for serious unchristian conduct, such as stealing, drunkenness, or adultery, if they do not repent and cease such actions.

[However, JWs practise "personal marking" -- which is a more flexible way of shunning those whom the JW "in good standing" decides is "bad association". Marking is unofficial shunning, & is in the Elder's manual "Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock".]

BUT those who submit a letter stating they no longer wish to be recognized as a JW, are officially classified as "disassociated" & are therefore given the full shunning treatment..

BUT the 1988 Watchtower (4/5 par 13) states: "Thus, a man who is disfellowshipped or who disassociates himself may still live at home with his Christian wife and faithful children. Respect for God's judgments and the congregation's action will move the wife and children to recognize that by his course, he altered the spiritual bond that existed between them. Yet, since his being disfellowshipped does not end their blood ties or marriage relationship, normal family affections and dealings can continue."

"The situation is different if the disfellowshipped or disassociated one is a relative living outside the immediate family circle and home. It might be possible to have almost no contact at all with the relative. Even if there were some family matters requiring contact, this certainly would be kept to a minimum."

BUT they are not allowed to participate. They may not speak with anyone there unless it's an elder, and even this is limited. Pastoral visits are limited to calling on them once a year to ask if they are ready for re-instatement procedures. No "spiritual" discussions, or encouragements, or anything of this nature is permitted.

• But shun empty speeches.... (2Tim. 2:16)
• But shun foolish questionings.... (Titus 3:9)
• Shun it.... (i.e. the path of the wicked).... (Pr. 4:15)
• Anyone shunning discipline is rejecting his own soul.... (Pr. 15:32)

The following quotes are from the WT's 1997 CD.

But in November 1987, the United States Supreme Court refused to do so [i.e. hear the appeal]. Hence, this important case determined that a disfellowshipped or disassociated person cannot recover damages from Jehovah's Witnesses in a court of law for being shunned. (Discipline That Can Yield Peaceable Fruit, WT 4/15, 1988, p.29)

Shocking events far surpassing those of 607 BCE [when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem] are in store for the haters and shunners of Jehovah's Witnesses. (Birth of the Royal Nation on a Newborn Land, WT 7/1, 1982, p.14)

*** w88 4/15 26-7
5 ..... Such shunning would be appropriate, too, for anyone who rejects the congregation...

*** w81 9/15 23 Disfellowshiping-How to View It ***
THOSE WHO DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES
13 ..... when a person ......disassociates himself.

14 One ....stating that he no longer considers himself to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses or wants to be known as one. When this rare event occurs, the person is renouncing his standing as a [JW], deliberately disassociating himself from the congregation. .....

16 Persons who .... by deliberately rejecting the faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses should appropriately be viewed and treated as are those who have been disfellowshiped for wrongdoing.

12 ....not to keep company or fellowship with a person who has been expelled from the congregation. Thus "disfellowshiping" is what Jehovah's Witnesses appropriately call the expelling and subsequent shunning of such an unrepentant wrongdoer....

*** w84 7/1 31 Questions From Readers ***
.....occasionally a Witness on his own initiative will decide to leave the way of [the Watchtower Organization]. He may even make known his decision after the committee begins to look into his wrongdoing. He may inform them in writing, or state before witnesses, that he wants to disassociate himself from the congregation and not be known as a Witness. ....then will adhere to the inspired injunction 'not to receive such a one into their homes or say a greeting to him, .....

*** w88 4/15 26-31 Discipline That Can Yield Peaceable Fruit ***
Or he may reject .....by disassociating himself from the congregation. Then what should be done? .... Such shunning would be appropriate, too, for anyone who rejects the congregation:

6 ....may Christians have limited fellowship with him, or is strict avoidance necessary

Cut Off Thoroughly?
9 ... reflect on the severe cutting off mandated in God's Law to Israel. In various serious matters, willful violators were executed.....When that happened, others, even relatives, could no longer speak with the dead lawbreaker. ....

10 We can be just as sure that God's arrangement that Christians refuse to fellowship with someone who has been expelled ...... By also avoiding persons who have deliberately disassociated themselves,

What About Relatives?
11 ....laws about cutting off wrongdoers often involves and affects relatives. As mentioned above, when an Israelite wrongdoer was executed, no more family association was possible. .....You can appreciate that this would not have been easy for them. Imagine, too, how the wrongdoer's brothers, sisters, or grandparents felt.

14 ....if the disfellowshipped or disassociated one is a relative living outside the immediate family circle and home. It might be possible to have almost no contact at all with the relative. Even if there were some family matters requiring contact, this certainly would be kept to a minimum,

15 Understandably, this may be difficult because of emotions and family ties, such as grandparents' love for their grandchildren.

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