@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ !!Precedent for Disownment
To prove that Disownment is appropriate in some instances, I raise the precedent of the "Society of Friends", who dealt with this issue, by calling on the community to make determinations about continued membership as a consequence of actions of members, and when necessary, ejecting people from the community by means of "Disownment".
-It should be noted that "Disownment" did not require infractions of conduct, but might be applied in instances where members were seen as acting contrary to the interest of the "Society", I'd like to quote, two examples from Appendix B supra
, "Some Sample Minutes of Disownment":
+It should be noted that "Disownment" did not require infractions of conduct, but might be applied in instances where members were seen as acting contrary to the interest of the "Society", I'd like to quote, two examples from Appendix B infra
, "Some Sample Minutes of Disownment":
* 1795 Whereas M.H. hath been guilty of appointing meetings and preaching to the people contrary to the good order used among friends, for which conduct of his we disown him from being a member of our society until he comes to a sense of his error so as to make suitable satisfaction for the same, which that he may is desired for him. (Hopewell Monthly Meeting)
* 1839 S.W. has neglected the attendance of our religious meetings and attended those of the Hicksites; and having been treated with therefor, manifested no desire to retain her right of membership with friends. We therefore disown her from being a member of our religious society. (Somerset Monthly Meeting)
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ As can be seen from the context, the reference to irreclaimable offenders in this last passage does not mean that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] thinks that anyone is "permanently irreclaimable" but only that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] has done all that we can, for the time being, in efforts to persuade the offender to repent, so that the integrity of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] requires a testimony of disunity.
!!The Disciplinary Process
-When a member's offense comes to the formal attention of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], one or more [Virian Vectors|VirianVectors
] will privately admonish the offender. Should this fail, the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] will appoint a [Reconciliation Committee|ReconciliationCommittee] of two [Virian Vectors|VirianVectors
], to ascertain the facts about the matter reported, and (if the member complained of was guilty) to learn whether he or she was repentant. If the individual does not seem contrite these [Virians|Virian] will attempt to persuade the offender to repent. If this is successful the offender will offer a written acknowledgment, expressing that what he or she has done is contrary to the principles of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], that they are sorry for it and intend to behave better in the future. The reason for its being in writing is so that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s disunity with the action will be on record. The acknowledgment might be seen as humiliating, it is not intended that way. If the offender is sincere they will be motivated to clear any damage to the reputation of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus].
+When a member's offense comes to the formal attention of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], one or more [Virian Vectors|VirianVector
] will privately admonish the offender. Should this fail, the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] will appoint a [Reconciliation Committee|ReconciliationCommittee] of two [Virian Vectors|VirianVector
], to ascertain the facts about the matter reported, and (if the member complained of was guilty) to learn whether he or she was repentant. If the individual does not seem contrite these [Virians|Virian] will attempt to persuade the offender to repent. If this is successful the offender will offer a written acknowledgment, expressing that what he or she has done is contrary to the principles of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], that they are sorry for it and intend to behave better in the future. The reason for its being in writing is so that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s disunity with the action will be on record. The acknowledgment might be seen as humiliating, it is not intended that way. If the offender is sincere they will be motivated to clear any damage to the reputation of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus].
Should the offender not retract and reject their conduct then the question of Disownment is raised. The [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] will postpone Disownment as long as there seems the least chance of the situation being rectified. If, however, the erring member persistently refuses to offer a satisfactory acknowledgment, then the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s appointed [Reconciliation Committee|ReconciliationCommittee] will eventually write a paper indicating its disunity with the action and the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s Disownment of the offender. The purpose of such a paper is the same as the purpose of the acknowledgment, to keep the ethical standards of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] a clear matter of record. An offender subjected to Disownment loses all rights within the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], most especially the right to use the various on-line communications facilities maintained by the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus].
-A member, on notification of Disownment, may appeal this to a panel comprised of six [Virian Vectors|VirianVectors
] under the chairmanship of the highest available [Virian Vectors|VirianVectors
] (who shall hold a casting vote), first at the time of the Disownment, and at annual intervals thereafter. The ballot of this panel shall be secret, and its results binding.
+A member, on notification of Disownment, may appeal this to a panel comprised of six [Virian Vectors|VirianVector
] under the chairmanship of the highest available [Virian Vectors|VirianVector
] (who shall hold a casting vote), first at the time of the Disownment, and at annual intervals thereafter. The ballot of this panel shall be secret, and its results binding.
!!Purposes and Nonpurposes of Disownment
We have discussed the primary function of Disownment in maintaining the public credibility of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]. Disownment's primary purpose is to protect the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] from disrepute. Another, closely related, purpose is that of maintaining internal consistency of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]. The ability to use our forums is select, that is, limited to members in good standing. These members are assumed to have the same convictions and therefore to be approaching the questions before the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] with a common purpose. Throwing the doors open to people who are at open variance with the Body, either in principle or practice, makes it difficult or impossible to maintain order and civility in our deliberations.
