here is something to think about.
zev
"PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK"
UNIT 5 (a)
Overseers
'Ruling for Justice Itself'
(pages 99/100)
Baptized persons who have not associated for some time.
If you learn of serious wrongdoing on the part of such a
person, the matter should be investigated if it poses a
threat to the congregation's cleanness and welfare or caus-
es a public scandal.
Consider the following:
Does he still profess to be a Witness?
Is he generally recognized as such in the congrega-
tion and/or the community?
Does the person have a measure of contact or
association with the congregation so that a leaven-
ing, or corrupting, influence exists?
How did the matter become known to the elders?
Is the person willing to meet with a committee,
thus admitting accountability to the Christian con-
gregation?
Depending upon length of inactivity and other factors
suggested above, elders may determine to hold the
matter in abeyance.
In such a case, a record of the person's questionable
conduct should be made for the congregation file so
that everything noted might be clarified when the
person shows interest in becoming active again.
If the sinful conduct is known only to believing family
members and no congregation action is taken because
of the factors outlined above, believing relatives will
likely determine to curtail family association severely,
viewing the relative as bad association. ( I Cor. 15:33)
If the individual still professes to be a Witness and is
willing to meet with the judicial committee, the matter
should be handled in the normal way. However, when
factors such as possible legal action exist, it is best to
consult the Society before proceeding. (w87 9/1 p. 14)
If individuals Persist in "walking, disorderly" in serious
violation of well-established Bible principles, but not yet
to a degree warranting judicial action, they may be
marked by members of the congregation. (2 Thess. 3:
6, 14, 15; w85 4/15 pp. 30-1; om pp. 152-3)
However, this would occur only after repeated efforts to
provide authoritative Scriptural counsel and admonition
have been ignored and in many cases after a warning talk
has been given to the congregation. (w85 4/15 pp. 30-1;
w81 9/1 pp. 19-21 )
If a person who has been marked continues his wrongful
course in brazen defiance of Christian standards, ada-
mantly rejecting loving Scriptural counsel, judicial action
may be taken if the situation becomes scandalous loose
conduct.