What is a disfellowshipping offense?

M.J.

I had a brief discussion with my wife about the practice of shunning and I asked her if the act of associating with a DF'ed or "apostate" individual would get someone disfellowshipped. She denied that it would, saying that it was not included among the specific "disfellowshipping offenses" listed in the Bible. Yet my understanding is that there are many things that can get a JW disfellowshipped which aren't among the immoral practices specifically listed by Paul in that context. Here are my questions:

1. Is my wife pulling one over on me? Will associating with an apostate or disfellowshipped person currently get someone disfellowshipped? If so, is there any kind of documentation on this?

2. Is there a listing of official "disfellowshipping offenses" and/or "non-disfellowshipping offenses" in use by the elders or are they couseled to use their own discretion? If so, is such a listing available for viewing somewhere? Are they embedded in various WT publications?

minimus

Associating with df'd ones and apostates is a dfing offense. The Elder's Pay Attention book enumerates what is dfing.

TresHappy

I think these days is anything that pisses the elders off...

Elsewhere

Bottom line: Anything the elders don't like.

Gopher

She denied that it would, saying that it was not included among the specific "disfellowshipping offenses" listed in the Bible.

Of course it isn't listed in the Bible. But the Watchtower publications and elder manual supercede the Bible (according to the way the WT Society operates).

Since about 1980, when the Society conducted a witchhunt to get rid of former Governing Body member Ray Franz (who was DF'd for having lunch with his landlord/supervisor, who had earlier DA'd himself), it's been a Watchtower rule that you cannot associate with any disfellowshipped or disassociated Witness. They're afraid that you might be influenced by "dangerous thoughts" eminating from someone who sees the organization for what it is (nothing special: just a large publishing and real-estate company masquerading as a religion).

M.J.

Thanks for the info. I've come to find out that the Elder's Pay Attention book is a secret book not available to the average joe. So does anyone have any suggestions on how I can show my wife that associating with apostates & DF'ed ones is in fact a D-F'ing offense?

Elsewhere

Here is a PDF copy of the Flock book: Click Here

Forscher

Tell your freind that if they will check out the 1930-1985 index of WTBS publications, they will find under the listing for disfellowshiping a list of grounds for disfellowshipping. On that list is "Refusal to cease fellowship withdisfellowshipped." *** dx30-85 Disfellowshipping *** grounds: si 257; w83 3/15 31; w80 9/1 30; g78 6/22 28; w75 287; km 2/74 4, 6; w73 594; km 9/73 8; w72 543; ad 217, 550, 602; w67 127; g67 2/22 4; ms 163; w63 410-11, 413; w61 63-4, 96, 284-5, 596-7; yb61 133; g61 11/8 4; w60 159-60, 277-8, 684-5, 690, 725-8; w59 171, 176-9; w58 95, 209-20, 478; g58 3/22 26; g58 4/8 25-6; w56 345-8, 563-6, 590-8, 667-8; w55 126-7, 500, 607; w54 590-6; w52 133-5; w51 239-40; w49 240; w46 75-6 abandoning wife and eloping with another woman: w79 11/15 31-2; w76 728 apostasy: w83 4/1 22-4; km 8/80 1, 4 bestiality: w83 6/1 25 employment violating Christian principles: km 9/76 6 following mourning customs that involve false worship: w85 4/15 25 fraud: om 142-5 homosexuality: w83 6/1 24-6 incestuous marriage: w78 3/15 26 parents condoning immorality: w56 566 planned adultery to break Scriptural marriage ties: w83 3/15 29 refusal to cease fellowship with disfellowshipped: w81 9/15 25-6

Forscher

Sorry folks. I still am not able to properly format my posts here.

Gill

Since the reason for someone being disfellowshipped is still 'secret' then it could be and still remains anything at all. That's why the rank and file know very little and follow the elders like short sighted dumb ass sheep.

What is a disfellowshipping offense?

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