To those of us who have been Jehovah's Witnesses, nothing that follows will suprise you. To lurkers, I hope that you honestly consider what has been written. To those interested in the faith, please be aware that this is how you will be expected to behave if you join the Jehovah's Witnesses. To those of us who have escaped, it is as well to be reminded of what we left behind. Count your blessings.
1) Every Jehovah’s Witness who has been baptized is expected to attend five meetings held on three separate days each week throughout the year. A faithful Jehovah’s Witness is expected to attend even if suffering from a mild illness, though a serious illness is viewed as allowable grounds to miss meetings. If a Jehovah’s Witness is erratic in attending these meetings or they do not attend at all, they will be visited by two persons who have been appointed as elders by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their representatives. These elders are under instruction to ascertain why the person is not attending meetings regularly and to try to use their influence to make sure that the person never misses even one of these meetings.
2) Every Jehovah’s Witness who has been baptized is expected to attend a separate one day, a two day and a three day centralized assembly throughout each year. If a Jehovah’s Witness is erratic in attending these meetings, or they fail attend at all they will be visited by two elders who are under instruction to find out why the person did not attend these assemblies and then try to use their influence to make sure that that person never misses one of these gatherings again even if it means losing their employment to do so.
3) Each Jehovah’s Witness is expected to take an active role in recruiting potential Jehovah’s Witnesses from door to door, via the telephone and other venues. Failure to do so will result in a visit from two elders who will question the person to ascertain why they are not participating in this activity. If they are appointed elders or ministerial servants ( deacons ) within the congregation they are, after a probationary period, removed from such positions until they again participate in this activity to a degree that satisfies the elders. If a person does not take part in this activity on a regular basis they are described as ‘irregular publishers’ and put on a congregation list held by the congregations appointed Secretary. If this inactivity is permanent, they are described as ‘inactive publisher’. Periodic visits by the elders are made on such persons to try to persuade them to take part in this recruiting program regularly. Both these descriptions indicate to the congregation as a whole that the person in ‘spiritually weak’ and are not the best social company for a faithful Jehovah’s Witness to be keeping, though efforts to try to persuade such a person to re-engage in the recruiting program are encouraged. Twice annually a traveling representative of the Watchtower Society ( WTS ) will visit the congregation and review the list those who are either erratic, inactive or who only spend a few hours per month in the recruiting program and question the elders to ascertain what has been done to help these people re-engage in this work.
4) A Jehovah’s Witness is required to write on a prepared slip of paper how many hours they have spent in the recruiting work, how much WTS literature they have managed to leave at peoples homes, how many Bible Studies they took part in that particular month and to make sure that the Congregation Secretary receives this slip each month. If a person fails to hand in this prepared slip of paper, they will be visited by two elders to ascertain whether this was a deliberate action, a matter of forgetful memory, or if the person is now ‘irregular’ or ‘inactive’ in the recruiting work. If they fall into the latter category their names will be made known to the rest of the congregation elders at their next meeting.
5) Though it is not compulsory, a faithful Jehovah’s Witness is expected to participate in the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses by raising their arm, being called on by name and answering questions that relate to Watchtower Society Literature, or by giving bible lectures prepared along themes established by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s’ Witnesses. If a person does not answer at meetings, or answers irregularly, they are questioned by elders and other members of the congregation with the intent of finding out why they are not answering publicly.
6) A Jehovah’s Witness is expected to curtail any relationship that he has with non-Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of his family who do not embrace their faith. Interaction with this type of person is expected to be limited to immediate family or secular business. If a Jehovah’s Witness continues in a close friendship with a non member, he will be questioned by two elders to ascertain the reasons why they are maintaining such a friendship.
7) A Jehovah’s Witness who has fallen short of the standards of moral behavior as set forth by the WTS from its interpretation of the Bible is expected to immediately report their failing it to their local elders. Three of these elders will meet with this ‘wrongdoer’ to ascertain whether the person is truly sorry about what they have done. If these men are not convinced with a persons expressions of sorrow, the persons name is publicly announced at the following meeting and they are shunned. ( see below ).
8) A person who knows of a Jehovah’s Witness who has fallen short of the standards of moral behavior as set forth by the Watchtower Society ( WTS ) from its interpretation of the Bible and does not report this failure to the elders will be visited by two elders. If after their visit these elders feel that the person is expressing some sympathy for the ‘wrongdoer’, they themselves will be summoned to a judicial hearing. If they persist with this sympathy they will be shunned.
9) Every Jehovah’s Witness is expected to ‘shun’ persons who have been excommunicated by the elders, including members of their closest family. This shunning is to take place regardless of its cause, the details of which are never publicized. If A member publicly protests this action taken against a fellow member, they in turn will also be shunned until they ask the elders for forgiveness.
10) Any Jehovah’s Witness who disagrees with doctrines ( many of them changing doctrines ) as espoused by the WTS will be shunned. This disagreement does not need to be made publicly but even if mentioned to a close friend action will be taken. A close friend is expected to report such ‘wrongdoing’ to the elders ( see point 7. ) The WTS has indicated that even those who have disagreements with their doctrine within their own minds should report this to the elders, who would then handle the matter as a failure of faith.
It is as well to note that a Jehovah’s Witness cannot stop being a Jehovah’s Witness at any time in his life. Once that person has been baptized they may only leave the faith either by their death, their shunning by the elders, or by writing a letter of resignation. This letter of resignation known as a letter of ‘dissociation’ will result in that persons name being read out publicly at the next meeting and their then being shunned by active members. Such a person will not be viewed as a member who has resigned their membership of the church but as a failed Jehovah’s Witness and will subsequently be treated as such for the remainder of their lives.
HS