Jehovah's Witnesses: Can you be disfellowshipped without your consent?

Question

I am an inactive JW. I have nothing against Witnesses. I still believe that Jehovah is the Almighty God and Jesus his son. If you commit a sin worthy of reproof or disfellowshipping can you be made such without the elders talking to you?

May Jehovah Bless all his Witnesses and Thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

The Congregation Elders Do not go into a Judicial Committee with the intent of Disfellowshipping Persons. They realise that a Lot of factors go into expelling one from the Christian Congregation. However its Rebellion and failing to see the Errors of one's ways that leads to disfellowshipping. If you be the party that has engaged in conduct Unbecoming a Christian, it is Up to the Elders to see through the pages of the Bible whether such conduct rises to the level of one being removed. Perhaps the Behavior of the Guilty party has been going on for years, leading a double life so to speak, in any event The Guilty party has NO say in whether they get disfellowshipped or Not. In cases of Inactive ones, that too will be taken into account, perhaps they have become so spiritually weak that they have failed to live up to the Principles set forth in the Bible. Depending on how long the individual has been away from the meetings is another factor to consider. The Elders will try their best to Contact the " Guilty" party, and in some Cases that party would try and Avoid the Brothers assigned to look into this case...if it can be proven that the Guilty party is doing so and the evidence is solid against that party, then the Brothers would have No choice but to disfellowship.Jehovah is a Merciful God and he describes his capacity for forgiveness: “Though the sins of you people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Forgiveness is a Wonderful thing especially when its accompanied By Love.

Answer 2

Ultimately, you could be, but it is very rare. My brother is disfellowshipped. He was doing VERY immoral things. The brothers tried hard to talk with him, they spent weeks looking for any sign of repentence, when they saw none they had one last meeting with him, where in it was decided he would be disfellowshipped. I think they cried about as much as we did.

The Brothers strive to talk with those they counsel.

Example, suppose someone like Goliath, were to currently be a Witness, clearly his actions and total disregard for Jehovah would be more than enough to disfellowship him, regardless of whether or not he would meet with them.

Answer 3

Yes.

The committee of elders assigned to work with the apparent sinner must conscientiously try to arrange a meeting with the apparent sinner. After repeated attempts, the committee may disfellowship the apparent unrepentant sinner if they believe:
1. There is evidence of serious sin by the person.
2. The person is intentionally avoiding the committee.

Ironically, by avoiding the committee altogether the apparent sinner will likely miss his opportunity to appeal.

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.

For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primary goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. Since the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship, it is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion.

Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:

(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. ...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition

(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.

(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.

(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.

(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations

Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm

Answer 4

Yes, you can be disfellowshipped in absentia.
I am not now, nor have I ever been; some days I feel I am surrounded by them.
I have a close relative who was being held for "observation" (she's not well) and she was disfellowshipped without the elders ever speaking with her.

Answer 5

You absolutely can be. I was disfellowshipped without having received so much as a phone call from the elders.

Answer 6

In a nanosecond.