Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 6/13/2006

Question
I have just been reading some of the comments about JWs and excomunication.

Can you give a simple straight forward answer to this

Is everyone that leave the JWs viewd as being excomunicated?

Is it not cruel not to speak to them?

Answer
Hello Gordon,

Thank you for your question.

First not everyone that stops being a JW is treated as being excommunicated.  

There are 2 types or classes of individuals that are not viewed as being excommunicated (disfellowshiped)

1) A person can just drift away form a congregation and become inactive. These ones are not viewed as being disfellowshiped.

Having said that though, if their conduct becomes such that they say, become apostate, or their course of life is known to be immoral, that might change the way other JWs view them

2) A person that has been associated but never baptized  and stops associating is not viewed as being disfellowshiped. If they start spreading apostate ideas JWs might treat them as a disfellowshiped person.



Baptism is a very serious step, no one gets baptized without knowing  of the responsibilities that is associated with this step.  That is why a person wanting to be baptized goes through a series of questions with elders so that that can determine if the person being baptized really understands what they are doing.  

Disfellowsipping is not done lightly or for no reason.  It should be the last option.  All effort has to be made by the elders before someone is disfellowshiped, to correct their behavior.  A person is disfellowshiped for attitude not action (unless they say they no longer want to be a JW).  It is for an unrepented attitude to council given that leads to disfellowshipping

If a person has been disfelowshiped and wants to come back to being a Witness the elders in a congregation will help them. Such individuals have to demonstrate that they have changed. But as a GENERAL rule a JW will not talk with a person that is disfellowshiped. (there are some exeptions)

What about relatives?

Well that is slightly different.  Generally we would not have a lot to do with a disfellowshiped relative.  However they are still family with blood ties. If a disfellowshiped relative needs to be cared for because of ill health of some sort, physical of emotional, JW relatives, can if their circumstances allow, help such ones. It is part of being a Christian to look after ones own family.

Also if a JW is in a business relationship ship (as a partner in a business or some form of contractual arrangement ) with a person that is dissfellowshiped, the JW has to fulfill and contractual arrangements that are in place.

So there are circumstances where JWs can and at times must have contact with a disfellowshiped person.  All care should be taken to limit such contact to what is necessary.

I hope that helps to clear the matter up for you

Brenton