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When congregation elders disfellowship a member of the congregation—or deem a member to have disassociated themselves—the Watchtower organization wants to be notified. For decades that notification has been facilitated by means of various forms, but chiefly by means of a form known as S-77 Notification of Disfellowshipping or Disassociation and satellite forms known as S-79a and S-79b Record of Disfellowshipping or Disassociation.[1-3]
Though the S-77 form is to be submitted only in the instance of a member being disfellowshipped (or deemed by local elders to have disassociated themselves), historically the S-77 form contains pre-event instructions to elders on holding Watchtower sponsored judicial hearings. Preparation and following Watchtower instructions for judicial committees and hearings was underscored in a Watchtower letter dated September 20, 1984.[4] During the circuit overseer visit immediately after receiving this letter, and during his instructional meeting with us local elders, our circuit overseer directed the congregation secretary to give each elder a copy of the S-77 and S-79 forms for our instruction. With that instruction, our secretary did the same with subsequent editions of the forms.
With these forms any illusion of clergy-penitent confidential communication evaporates because these forms are precisely for the purpose of disclosing these communications to a third-party—the Watchtower organization—and doing so without informing the pennant, who has every reason to think their communication is shared within the strict confidence of themselves and those present for any confession.[5]
The S-77 and S-79 forms are telling about the extent of information requested by Watchtower to be sent to its headquarters or duly designated branch facility. Watchtower asks and/or has asked for information such as the sin committed, evidence substantiating the sin, what led up to the wrongdoing, whether the individual had been previously counseled, what convinced the local judicial tribunal that repentance was lacking and the names of each elder serving on the tribunal. In effect, Watchtower directs elders to give exacting details of the entire case.
In year 2000 Watchtower discontinued use of the S-79 forms and instructed congregation secretaries to destroy any remaining in the congregation’s supply of forms.[6]
Marvin Shilmer
_______________
References:
1. See: S-77 form from 1992
2. See: S-77 form from 1999
3. See: S-79 forms for year 1984
4. Watchtower letter dated Sept. 20, 1984:
When congregation elders disfellowship a member of the congregation—or deem a member to have disassociated themselves—the Watchtower organization wants to be notified. For decades that notification has been facilitated by means of various forms, but chiefly by means of a form known as S-77 Notification of Disfellowshipping or Disassociation and satellite forms known as S-79a and S-79b Record of Disfellowshipping or Disassociation.[1-3]
Though the S-77 form is to be submitted only in the instance of a member being disfellowshipped (or deemed by local elders to have disassociated themselves), historically the S-77 form contains pre-event instructions to elders on holding Watchtower sponsored judicial hearings. Preparation and following Watchtower instructions for judicial committees and hearings was underscored in a Watchtower letter dated September 20, 1984.[4] During the circuit overseer visit immediately after receiving this letter, and during his instructional meeting with us local elders, our circuit overseer directed the congregation secretary to give each elder a copy of the S-77 and S-79 forms for our instruction. With that instruction, our secretary did the same with subsequent editions of the forms.
With these forms any illusion of clergy-penitent confidential communication evaporates because these forms are precisely for the purpose of disclosing these communications to a third-party—the Watchtower organization—and doing so without informing the pennant, who has every reason to think their communication is shared within the strict confidence of themselves and those present for any confession.[5]
The S-77 and S-79 forms are telling about the extent of information requested by Watchtower to be sent to its headquarters or duly designated branch facility. Watchtower asks and/or has asked for information such as the sin committed, evidence substantiating the sin, what led up to the wrongdoing, whether the individual had been previously counseled, what convinced the local judicial tribunal that repentance was lacking and the names of each elder serving on the tribunal. In effect, Watchtower directs elders to give exacting details of the entire case.
In year 2000 Watchtower discontinued use of the S-79 forms and instructed congregation secretaries to destroy any remaining in the congregation’s supply of forms.[6]
Marvin Shilmer
_______________
References:
1. See: S-77 form from 1992
2. See: S-77 form from 1999
3. See: S-79 forms for year 1984
4. Watchtower letter dated Sept. 20, 1984:
5. As noted by a reader in his comments, a California Court ruled that the penitential communication privilege does not apply because a Judicial Committee is not required to keep what it learns private but, to the contrary, is required by Watchtower to communicate information to the Watchtower organization’s headquarters. Here is the Court ruling:
6. Watchtower letter dated Jan. 3, 2000:
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