Can a Jehovah Witness be convicted of a felony and remain a Jehovah Witness?

Answer 1

Ouchy, certainly not good for the fellow is it? Ya they'd probably be disfellowshipped faster than the court system would convict him/her. No lengthy appeals with us. Anyway he'd be better off being disfellowshipped by us, than to sit in a cage behind bars like an animal. At least being disf he could attend our meetings. In the cage he'd be a lot more restricted.

And just like he could maybe be released from prison, we also reinstate a disfellowshipped person - - but only if we determine genuine repentance; which isn't dependent on some 'time served'.

Now I should add: there is an exception. It all depends what a country would determine as a 'felony'. In some lands we're put in prison for not joining the military. We have some JWs who still have a criminal record for that, even in America. So just being a 'felon' from the 'Law Standpoint' is not the criterion. We judge using the things in The Bible (God's Laws). So even such things as smoking, sex before marriage, adultery, homosexuality, etc could get them disfellowshipped; whereas the Law of the Land permits such things and doesn't call those things 'felonies'.

Please keep in mind that no one is ever disfellowshipped for what they've done. They're disfellowshipped for their attitude about what they've done. If they are genuinely repentant, they won't be disfellowshipped. If they've committed a grave sin (like those in 2 Cor 6:9,10), AND are not repentant, they will be disfellowshipped. The goal of the congregation elders is to move the wrongdoer to repentance, if he or she is not already in that state of mind. There are cases, though, where the wrongdoer fails to have an attitude of genuine repentance. Since they would pose a danger to the spirituality of others, they would be disfellowshipped. They can still come to meetings, but we do not spend time with them, talk to them, etc., unless they are family (and only if it is necessary to do so in that case).

You might wonder about someone who is repentant who has committed a grave sin. What happens to them if they are not disfellowshipped? They lose any special privileges they've had in the congregation since they are no longer good examples to others in the congregation. Depending on the offense, they may, at a later time, be able to have those privileges again, but definitely not for a while, perhaps a long time. They may be given some assistance (like a personal Bible study to build up their spirituality) by a person who is strong in the faith in order to help them regain spiritual strength.