After listening to the hearings of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, I am no longer content to have simply walked away from the organization. As a matter of conscience, I do not want my name linked with the organization in any way. I know this letter has been posted previously, and I thank the author.
I have modified the letter to meet my circumstances and to specifically warn the appointed men that they may be held legally and criminally responsible for their actions. There are two congregations that meet at my former Kingdom Hall, and I have been a member of both. I plan to send a notarized letter to each body of elders. I was baptized in 1976 in the named congregation and refuse to disassociate from the organization. I was not baptized into an organization. I don't see this step as playing by their rules.
I don't want to be contacted by appointed men under any circumstances and would prefer to not have to deal with the shunning, gossip and slander that would likely ensue should an announcement that I am no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses come from the platform. I am already effectively being shunned, as no witness will initiate contact with me, but they are civil in public. I would prefer to leave it that way, as I live in a small community. I have absolutely nothing to lose personally. I no longer want any connection to the organization as a whole. I have no issue with individual members who are held captive to the doctrine, principles and practices of this corporation masquerading as a religion.
SailAway
August 18, 2015
Address
SENT BY US MAIL, REGISTERED, CERTIFIED, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
To:
The Body of Elders of the [named] Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
C/o [xxx], Congregation Secretary
Address
As a matter of conscience and to exercise of my rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,. I, SailAway, hereby resign from The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, et al , the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, et al, and the [named] Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses effective immediately, August 18, 2015.
I hereby declare myself no longer a member.
As a non-member, I demand complete freedom from all religious
practices, which include but are not limited to discipline and retaliation.
Examples of such religious practices may include a formal announcement of my
non-member status before the [named] Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, shunning, intentional infliction of emotional distress,
harassment, slander, invasion of privacy, etc. Should you engage in any
such conduct towards me, I will immediately and fully utilize all legal means
to stop those acts. Any and all of the above-named parties may be held jointly
and severally responsible.
Please refer to the following:
· Bear v. Reformed Mennonite Church
· Guinn v. Church of Christ of Collinsville
· McNair v. Worldwide Church of God
Furthermore, I request immediate, complete, and permanent
cessation from all contact from church elders, ministerial servants, circuit
overseers or any other member appointed to a position of authority in the
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This includes, but is not limited to mail,
electronic communications, telephone and in-person visits taking place at my
residence (address noted above), workplace, or elsewhere. Please be aware
that I will consider any in-person visits by appointed men on private property
henceforth to be trespassing, and should that occur, I will utilize all legal
means to stop that act, including but not limited to civil and criminal
complaints.
Thank you in advance for respecting my right to freedom from religion.
Signed,
SailAway
[insert notary stamp and signature, if you're using one]
I would appreciate any constructive suggestions from this community,
SailAway