Procedures
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Numerous times throughout the Charter you have read "in accordance with the procedures for...." This Procedures section of the Charter outlines the step-by-step detailed instructions for these various procedures and how they are to be followed. When you or your Home or leadership are faced with following one of these procedures, you will be able to do so in a very orderly fashion, and everyone involved will know exactly what is expected. All Family members will have the same standard, and will be speaking the same thing, and will know exactly what needs to be done if these procedures are followed closely. We pray they are a blessing to you.

Because these procedures are precise in their instructions, and in most cases there has already been some explanation of the purpose behind them, it will not be necessary to add much in the way of explanation as we have in previous sections.

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28. PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTING NEW DISCIPLES INTO A D.O. HOME

When a person joins the DO Family, he or she moves into a DO Home and becomes an integral part and influence on the Home that they join, and eventually on other Homes as well. Thus someone accepted as a new disciple into a DO Home must meet certain general criteria.

  1. The final decision of whether and when a potential disciple is accepted into the DO Family rests with the Home that the new disciple joins. Acceptance is determined by a two-thirds majority vote, providing all the requirements listed in point B. of this section have been met, and the Home has prayed and received confirmation from the Lord.

Taking a new disciple into the DO Family is an important decision which should be made in united prayer and counsel with the whole Home. It is imperative to always seek the Lord for His approval and confirmation through prophecy, visions or verses, asking the Lord to clearly and specifically speak, putting His stamp of approval on it.--Or to stop you if He doesn't want that person to join as a full-time DO member. Since you are making the final decision to allow this person to join--not just your Home but the overall Family--receiving such confirmation from the Lord is extremely important.

Some factors the Home will want to take into consideration are:

--the degree of the prospective disciple's commitment and desire to reach others for Jesus

--their background, including any serious problems that would hinder their service for the Lord

--their legal situation: marital obligations, military obligations, etc.

--any problems with relatives or associates

--their financial obligations and debts

--health and any medical concerns

  1. If a prospective member has been previously excommunicated, the Continental Office must give its approval before the prospective member can rejoin a DO or TRF Supporter Home.
  2. In some cases the Home may decide that it is wise to wait for a substantial period of time before accepting a new member into their Home, whereas in other cases they may allow them to join immediately.

As you'll note, no time frame is given before someone is allowed to join a DO Home as a full-time member. So we're not ruling out the possibility of some people wanting to join immediately, but before they cut all worldly ties, forsake their possessions and become fully integrated into the DO Family, it would be best to have a period of time to get to know the Family better. This would also allow the Home to have more opportunity to get to know the prospective disciple. If all the following requirements are met and two-thirds of the Home's voting members agree, an individual may join a DO Home as a full-time member.

  1. For a person to become a new disciple they must:
  1. Have received Jesus as their personal Savior and been filled with the Holy Spirit.
  1. Be of legal age, or if not, have notarized parental permission.

As Dad has counseled us, we can't accept underage new disciples unless they have notarized permission: "We cannot accept [anyone underage] without written, and preferably notarized permission.... Please don't do it!" (ML #124:8.) Additionally, though a person may be of legal age to join, in many countries around the World it is best to also consider the local customs. For example, legal age may be 18 in the country where you reside, but due to close family ties the accepted custom may be for persons to remain with their parents until marriage or the age of 21 or more.

For this reason, the Home may find it wise to initiate communication with the parents and/or close relatives of prospective new disciples of all ages to make sure they have a basic understanding of the Family, to answer any questions, and to avoid misunderstandings. If the parents voice any major concerns, the Home might find it in their best interest to encourage the prospective disciple to be a Catacomber for a set period of time, during which time he could endeavor to lovingly explain his new-found faith and commitment and help his parents to overcome their concerns at his desire to serve the Lord with the Family.

The local Family might want to meet with any concerned close parents/relatives or associates and explain the work to them before the prospective member is allowed to join. If parents and associates still disagree, the Home should pray and count the cost. If there could be potential 10:36 problems which could affect other Homes in the Area, the affected Homes should be consulted.

  1. Have a basic understanding of the Family, its goals, way of life, and believe that David was God's Endtime Prophet and that Maria is God's chosen and anointed successor, who has inherited David's mantle, as God's Prophetess.

In order to ensure that the prospective new disciple has a clear basic understanding of the Family, we would suggest they should have read through at least the following Family publications or portions of Scripture, and discussed any questions with the Home Teamwork or responsible Shepherds:

"Growing in Love"

"Growing in Faith"

The following Basic Statements:

"Family Origins"

"Statement of Faith"

"Christ-Centered Bible-Based Education"

"Our Support"

"Religious Persecution"

The Gospel of John

The Book of Acts, Chapters 1-10, as well as "Acts 1-10!" (ML #1383) from DB 1 or Bk.3.

Responsibilities of Individual Members in the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights"

"Fundamental Family Rules" 1-11

If Growing in Love is not translated into your local language but Treasures is, the prospective new disciple may read the shorter, edited versions of these articles in Treasures. (The Treasures version of "Why the Bible?" is entitled "The Most Amazing Book!", and the Treasures version of "Whose Fool Are You?" is entitled "Why Evolution?")

  1. Show a sincere interest in reading God's Word and desire to engage in evangelism.
  1. Have a sincere desire to dedicate their life to serving Jesus with the Family.
  1. Have lived in a DO Home for a minimum of 20 days.
  1. After two months--if they decide to stay in the DO Family--give their material possessions to the Home they've joined, with the understanding that they will permanently relinquish them, with the exception of those things the Home decides the new disciple needs.

In order to help the new disciple understand his commitment to joining the Family and the full ramifications of forsaking all, they should complete in triplicate and sign the "Statement of Commitment for New Disciples" when they join. (See Appendix B at the end of this book.) An original copy of this commitment form should be given to the new member, the Home, and the Area Office. You might find it beneficial to have this notarized in some countries. In some countries a signature needs to be notarized to be legally recognized, whereas in other countries this would not be necessary.

  1. Be free from substance abuse and/or the use of illegal or illicit drugs.
  1. Be free from contagious disease.

A prospective new disciple needs to report his health and medical condition to the Home. Some might have a disease that would seriously hinder their ability to actively serve the Lord as a DO disciple, and it might be best that they not join as a DO member. Someone who has diabetes and uses insulin may still be an active member of a DO Home, while someone who has leukemia and needs regular hospital treatment might find it more difficult to serve the Lord effectively in a DO Home. The final decision would rest with the Home, except in the case of a serious illness; since that situation could affect the overall work in that area, the Home Teamwork should counsel with their Area Officer. A prospective new disciple with a contagious disease should not be permitted to move into the Home, of course.

  1. Refrain from any sexual activity during their first six months in the Family.

a) New disciples joining as a couple may continue to have sex together during this period.

  1. Test negative for AIDS before moving into the Home, and again test negative after a six-month period.

Potential new disciples must provide medical documentation to prove that an AIDS test was taken before moving into the Home. Anyone who has AIDS or is HIV-positive would not be able to live in a DO Home.

  1. Have no debts.

In exceptional circumstances, a Home may, by two-thirds agreement of the voting members, agree to take on the liabilities of new disciples--such as vehicle payments, student loan, etc. Generally, though, the rule has always been that a new disciple "must be free of debts, payments, and family or legal obligations. `Owe no man anything, save to love him'" (ML #S:7).

  1. Have no legal or military obligations which would prevent them from being a full-time member of a DO Home.

There are some legal situations which might not interfere with DO membership, such as jury duty or obligatory public service for a traffic violation. In some countries, a short term of military service is obligatory for certain ages, and they may still be able to attend to this requirement without too much disruption in their service to the Lord; in which case the Home could agree to accept them according to the circumstances.

  1. Upon completing the above qualifications, the new disciple should complete the Personal Data for New Disciples form, a copy of which should be sent to the Continental Office with your Monthly Report. The new disciple is then classified as a Babe. After living in a DO Home for six consecutive months, completing the reading of the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights" and "Fundamental Family Rules," and the Babes Basic Course, and having taken a second AIDS test with negative results, they become a DO member with voting rights. (See Classifications of Family Membership and Literature, pg.161, for other appropriate reading material for Babes.)

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29. PROCEDURES FOR MOVING TRF SUPPORTER MEMBERS TO D.O. STATUS

  1. Candidates amongst the TRF Supporters being considered for DO membership need to read and study the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights," and if after prayerful consideration they determine that they would like to attempt to meet the DO standard, they should write the Continental Office confirming that they have read the Charter and stating their desire to return to DO Status. In this letter the TRF Supporters should explain their history, why they were reclassified and what progress they have made in these areas.
  2. After the Continental Office receives the letter of request from the TRF Supporter member, they will review the case.
  1. If the TRF Supporter member(s) is a member in good standing who consistently TRFs and tithes (or lives in a TRF Supporter Home which does), whose past history and specific offenses do not make him or her ineligible for prospective DO Status, the Continental Office will acknowledge receipt of the TRF Supporter application and will ask an Area Officer or designated DO representative to verify that they are indeed qualified to commence a probationary DO period of six months.
  2. If the TRF Supporter member(s) receive notice that their application has been accepted, the prospective applicants would need to begin implementing the Charter in preparation for a visit of the Area Officer or designated representative. They would need to cease all activities that contravene the Charter and implement all requirements of the Charter.

a) If other members of the TRF Supporter Home also desire and have applied to return to DO Status, then all members living in the Home should be notified that their Home is commencing to return to DO Status. All voting-age members must agree to abide by the Charter for as long as they remain in the Home.

b) If only one individual or a few members of the original TRF Supporter Home have been accepted to return to DO Status, then those returning to DO Status will either need to open a new Home by themselves, or ask to be accepted in an existing DO Home. (See Procedures for TRF Supporter Members Changing to DO Status and Moving into an Existing DO Home.)

c) If all, or a majority, of the Home members have been reclassified to DO Status, they have the option of remaining in their existing housing. However, all members who retain their TRF Supporter Status will need to move out of the Home.

  1. If the applicant(s) is not a member in good standing or one whose past history and specific offenses make them ineligible for a return to DO Status, the Continental Office will acknowledge receipt of their request, and inform them of the reasons why their application has not been accepted.
  1. Once the Area Officer or designated DO representative has visited the applicant(s) and determined that the applicant(s) is indeed living the Charter, then the applicant(s) commences a six-month probationary period as a DO member(s).
  1. During this probationary period, the applicant(s) must complete the reading of the Babes Basic Course, which may be ordered from their Continental Office, available for the printing and shipping costs.

The TRF Supporter applicant(s) should cover the expenses of the visitation, and it will be left up to the VS/representative to work out the payments of visits directly with the TRF Supporter(s).

If the reading of the Babes Basic Course is completed in less than six months, but not less than three months, the applicant(s) may write their Continental Office requesting their final visit of confirmation as outlined in point E. below. Such visits will be left up to the discretion of the Continental Offices, as they will need to take into consideration the other responsibilities of the VS/DO representative.

  1. If it is deemed that the TRF Supporter applicant(s) is not yet living according to the Charter, then the TRF Supporter applicant(s) will not be placed on probationary DO Status, but will be informed of the areas in which they need to improve. After the needed changes are made, the applicant can then reapply in writing to the Area Office requesting a second confirmatory visit. This reapplication must be signed by all the Home's Officers and at least a simple majority of the other voting members. The TRF Supporter applicant will be visited to verify.

The cost of the second verification visit should again be paid for by the TRF Supporter applicant(s).

  1. During the six-month probationary period, the applicant(s) will again be visited by an Area Officer/designated DO representative, who will ascertain if they are indeed adhering to the Charter, and will confirm that they are eligible to return to DO Status. If at any time the probationary DO member fails to maintain the DO standard, their probationary period can be extended as the situation warrants.
  2. At the end of the six-month probationary DO period, the TRF Supporter applicant(s) will receive a final visit of confirmation to determine whether or not they are living according to the Charter. If they are not living according to the Charter, then a second six-month probationary DO period may begin. If they are living according to the Charter, then they will commence a transitional DO period lasting six months.
  1. During the six-month transitional period, they are eligible to receive DO mailings, and though they are voting members in their own Home, they are not eligible to exercise the following DO rights:

a) Right of Mobility.

b) Voting in Home Referendums.

c) Sex with DO adults. (Or for transitional teens, sex with DO teens.)

As new DO members at this stage have not had their final AIDS test, they are not eligible to have sex with DO Members.

  1. At the beginning of the transitional period, all voting age members of the Home must test negative for HIV and again test negative after a six-month period.
  2. After the six-month transitional period, the prospective DO Home is now a full-fledged DO Home with all the rights pertaining thereto.

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30. PROCEDURES FOR TRF SUPPORTER MEMBERS CHANGING TO D.O. STATUS AND MOVING INTO AN EXISTING D.O. HOME

  1. If TRF Supporters want to return to DO status as their own Home, they must notify the Continental Office of their desire to do so. In their letter, the TRF Supporters should explain their history and why they were reclassified. At this time they should also request a copy of the "Love Charter" if they do not already have one.
  2. If, after reading the Charter and prayerful consideration, the TRF Supporters determine that they would like to attempt to meet the DO standard as outlined in the Charter, they should specify on their TRF that they have read the Charter and agree to abide by it, and request permission to begin their six-month probationary period as DO members.
  1. If the applicants are not in good standing or are ineligible for a return to DO status, the Continental Office will inform them of the reasons why their application has been denied within 45 days.
  2. If notification of ineligibility is not received from the Continental Office within 45 days, the members may commence a probationary DO period of six months.

a) If necessary, the Continental Office may postpone the returning members' probationary period for up to an additional 60 days, during which time the Home would be visited by an Area Officer or designated DO representative to ascertain the returning members' eligibility for DO status. The Continental Office must inform the applicant Home of this delay.

  1. If other members of the TRF Supporter Home also desire and have applied to return to DO status, then all members living in the Home should be notified by the Home teamwork that their Home is beginning their probationary period for returning to DO status. All voting-age members must agree to abide by the Charter for as long as they remain in the Home.
  1. If only one individual or a few members of the original TRF Supporter Home have been accepted to return to DO status, then those returning to DO status will either need to open a new Home by themselves or ask to be accepted in an existing DO Home. (See Procedures for TRF Supporters Changing to DO Status and Moving into an Existing DO Home on page 98.)
  2. If all, or a majority of the Home members are rejoining as DO members, they have the option of remaining in their existing housing. However, all members who retain their TS status will need to move out of the Home.
  1. During this probationary period, the applicants must complete the reading of the Babes Basic Course, which may be ordered from their Continental Office, available to the applicants for the printing and shipping costs. At the end of their six-month probationary period, unless a VS or a Continental Office-appointed designated representative has visited and disqualified the probationary Home, they will commence a transitional DO period lasting six months.
  1. The probationary period may be shortened to three months if all applicants complete the reading of the Babes Basic Course during that time. In this case, the Home must notify their Continental Office that they have completed the Babes Basic Course. Unless they hear otherwise from their Continental Office, or an Area or Continental Office-appointed designated representative has visited and disqualified them, they will commence their transitional DO period.
  2. The Continental Office is responsible to supply the applicant Home with DO TRF forms and reporting instructions.
  1. During the six-month transitional period, they are eligible to receive DO mailings. However, though they are voting members in their own Home, they are not eligible to exercise the following DO rights and privileges:
  1. Right of Mobility
  2. Voting in Home Referendums
  3. Sex with full DO consenting adults and legal-aged teens. (Or for transitional teens 16 years and over, sex with full DO teens of the same age bracket.)
  1. F. At the beginning of the transitional period, all voting-age members of the Home must test negative for the HIV virus and again test negative after a six-month period.
  2. G. At some time during the transitional period, the Home must receive a visit by an Area Officer or designated representative to verify that the prospective DO Home is living according to the Charter.
  1. It is the responsibility of the Continental Office to ensure that an Area Officer or designated representative visits the prospective Home at some time during their transitional period.
  2. The TRF Supporter applicant(s) should cover the expenses of the VS/designated representative visitation. It will be left up to the VS/representative to work out the details of such payments directly with the TRF Supporter(s) applying for DO status.
  3. If the Area Officer or DR determine the Home is not living according to the Charter, the Home members must be told by the Area Officer or DR in what areas they are falling short of the Charter and what they must do to come up to the DO standard. The Home must again begin their probationary DO period, following the procedures from point D above onward.
  1. Once the Home has completed their six-month transitional period, they become a full-fledged DO Home with all the rights pertaining thereto.

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31. PROCEDURES FOR PLACING A MEMBER ON PROBATIONARY STATUS

  1. Probationary Status is a disciplinary measure that can only be administered by the Home to a member who violates, contravenes or fails to fulfil the Responsibilities of Individual Members or the "Fundamental Family Rules."
  2. A member is placed on Probationary Status for a period to be determined by a two-thirds majority of the Home's voting members, not to exceed three months.
  3. While on Probationary Status, the member:
  1. Is no longer a voting member of the Home.
  2. Loses his or her Right of Mobility.
  3. Can be assigned to read parts or all of the Basic Course, and other publications Babes that the Home's Officers deem necessary.
  1. Members can be recommended for Probationary Status by the Home's Officers, providing the following procedures are adhered to:
  1. The Home Officers must clearly explain to the Home's voting members, in the absence of the member in question, showing just cause why the member is being recommended for Probationary Status, and proposing for how long.
  2. The matter is to be discussed and voted on, by secret ballot.
  3. If a two-thirds majority agree with the recommendation, the Home Officers must inform the member that he has been placed on Probationary Status, explaining the reasons why and what is required of him.
  1. A member that has been placed on Probationary Status may exercise his Right of Redress if he is not in agreement with the Home's decision.

As you can see, Probationary Status is a disciplinary measure for a Home member that is decided upon by the Home. When someone is placed on Probationary Status, they automatically lose their right to vote and their Right of Mobility. This should be for a predetermined length of time, not exceeding 3 months, and should be a penalty proportional to the offense. In most cases, a less severe correction should have preceded a member being put on Probationary Status, such as missing some activities, etc. It is also a good idea to assign an appropriate reading list to help strengthen the Home member.

Probationary Status is a disciplinary measure invoked by the Home and is similar to what was once known as "Babes Status." The member on Probationary Status should concentrate on reading the Babes Basic Course instead of reading new DO mailings. However, the Home Teamwork may wish to supplement this reading list with some DO Letters that they determine would also be beneficial to read, such as the Tony Series, Bitterness GN (ML #2672, GN 461), etc., depending on the offense.

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32. PROCEDURES FOR MOVING A D.O. MEMBER TO TRF SUPPORTER STATUS

  1. A member's DO Status can only be revoked by the Continental Office if a member violates, contravenes or fails to fulfil the Responsibilities of Individual Members or the "Fundamental Family Rules," and two of the three bodies involved (the Home, the Area Office, the Continental Office) agree.
  2. Members can be recommended for TRF Supporter Status by a two-thirds majority of their Home, or by an Area or Continental Office, providing the following procedures are adhered to:
  1. For the Home to recommend:

a) The Home Officers must first have endeavored through prayer and counsel to help the member to live up to the Responsibilities of Individual Members and the "Fundamental Family Rules." They must inform the member of the way in which he has failed to live up to his responsibilities and what is required of him, and allow reasonable time for compliance. If, after reasonable time, the member fails to comply, the Home Officers must inform him that they are recommending to the Home that he be moved to TRF Supporter Status.

b) The Home Officers must clearly explain and show just cause to its voting members why the member is being recommended for TRF Supporter Status. The matter is to be discussed, with the member in question present if he so chooses, and then voted on by secret ballot. If a two-thirds majority agree with the recommendation, a letter stating the reasons for the recommendation and the outcome of the vote must be sent to the Area and Continental Offices, and a copy given to the member. The Office(s) must respond within fourteen days. During this time the member has the right to send a letter of rebuttal to the Area and/or Continental Offices.

  1. For an Area or Continental Office to recommend:

a) A two-thirds majority of the officers from the Office making the recommendation must agree.

b) The recommending Office must write a letter to the member explicitly explaining and showing just cause for the recommendation. A copy of the letter must be sent to the member's Home and all other Offices involved. The member has the right to send a letter of rebuttal to the Area and/or Continental Offices.

  1. Upon receipt of a letter recommending one of its members for TRF Supporter Status, the Home must, within seven days, convene a Home Council Meeting to discuss the recommendation and vote on the matter by secret ballot. The results of the vote must immediately be sent to the Area and Continental Office and a copy given to the member.
  1. In that Home Council Meeting, the member is free to present the reasons why he feels he should retain his DO membership.
  1. If the vote of the Home is to not recommend moving the member to TRF Supporter Status, the Home's Officers must write to the Area and Continental Offices explaining why they feel the member should not be moved to TRF Supporter Status. The Area and Continental Offices must take the Home's vote into consideration when deciding the matter.
  1. For a DO member to be moved to TRF Supporter Status, two of the three bodies (the Home, the Area Office involved, the Continental Office) must agree to revoke the member's DO Status.
  1. If two of the three bodies agree, the member must receive written notification of his change of status from his Continental Office.

Moving someone to TRF Supporter Status can be a difficult situation for everyone involved. Requiring two of the three bodies to agree to the move will hopefully ensure that no one is moved to TRF Supporter Status unfairly.

Once the decision has been made to move a member to TRF Supporter Status, the Home should continue to treat the person lovingly and kindly. They are still part of the overall Family and are just moving to a level of discipleship for which they are better suited. An effort should be made to make their move as practical and easy as possible.

This also holds true for those who are leaving the Family completely. They are still our Christian brothers and sisters and fellow laborers in His Kingdom, and we should show them genuine love and concern. Dad said, "Are you sitting around in your smug, self-satisfied, self-righteous, holier-than-thou complacency condemning them for straying away and getting lost, cursing them for getting caught in the brambles or by the wolves, and indifferently writing them off as a lost cause because you always knew they were only sour grapes anyhow? Are you like the Good Shepherd, who lovingly seeks to save the lost sheep, or the hireling that's glad to get rid of him as good riddance to bad rubbish, and one less to have to take care of? Which are you, Shepherd or hireling? And if they do come back, do you treat them royally, like the Father did the Prodigal Son, or do you resent them, like the Older Brother? Which are you?" (ML #155:67.)

If it is a family, a single parent with children, or a teen leaving, it would be helpful if an effort could be made to help them find a place to stay, preferably with a relative, or find them an initial landing place of some sort, perhaps with other TRF Supporters. This will not be possible in every case, and often the member may not need or want the help, but the point is to be loving and kind to these brethren.

If a case arises in which a Home's members feel that their Home Teamwork should be put on TRF Supporter Status, but find it difficult to bring this up in a Home Council Meeting, they may write to their Area Office, which could assist them.

  1. Once a member has been notified that he is being recommended for TRF Supporter Status, the member:
  1. Loses his Right of Mobility until the matter is decided.
  2. Must be freed from his portion of the Home's debts and liabilities, if indeed he is moved to TRF Supporter Status.

a) If the member is personally responsible for creating, in whole or in part, debts and/or liabilities due to personally spending or authorizing the spending of funds which were not agreed upon by two-thirds of the Home's voting members, he will retain responsibility for those debts. The amount is to be decided by a two-thirds majority of the Home's voting members.

When a member loses his DO Status and becomes a TRF Supporter, he normally must be freed from his portion of all debts and liabilities of the Home. Although we are freeing those moving to TRF Supporter Status of debts and liabilities to help make their transition as easy as possible, we would hope that once a TRF Supporter is set up and established, they would want to support the Homes in whatever way they can, including voluntarily helping financially toward their old Home's debts and liabilities.

In the case where the member in question has caused all or part of the debt or liability of the Home, through disobedience to the "Fundamental Family Rules," or spending funds without having authorization from the Home, he will still be responsible for all or part of the debt. For example, if the member who is about to become a TRF Supporter spent $1,000 on unauthorized international telephone calls, he would not necessarily be freed from that financial obligation.

The amount of obligation that the member in question would have for the debt or liability in such a case would depend on his personal responsibility for the debt. If two members of the Home made a major purchase which put the Home in debt, without prior authorization, the two members would continue to share responsibility for the debt after becoming TRF Supporters.

  1. Is free to begin fundraising activities to facilitate his potential move if it is decided that he is to be moved to TRF Supporter Status.

a) 50% of the net income generated must be used to facilitate the member's move to a TRF Supporter Home or the setting up of their own TRF Supporter Home. The amount of funds and time needed to raise these funds can be determined by a two-thirds majority of the Home.

Once a member has been notified that he is being recommended for TRF Supporter Status, he may begin fundraising to help facilitate his potential move. Remember, at this stage the member is only being recommended to be moved to TRF Supporter Status; he is not yet a TRF Supporter.

  1. If the member is not moved to TRF Supporter Status, the member:
  1. Regains his Right of Mobility.
  2. Must turn in to the Home any funds generated through his fundraising activities, unless he decides to depart from the Home.

a) If the member wishes to depart from the Home, all funds generated through his fundraising activities are first to be used to pay his portion of the Home's debts and liabilities, with any remaining balance to be used to facilitate his move.

  1. When a member is moved to TRF Supporter Status, the Home is responsible to ensure that the departing TRF Supporter:
  1. Prepares to leave the Home in an orderly fashion by turning over pertinent ministry materials, contacts or other legal material, bank accounts, post office boxes and funds belonging to the DO Home or the Family, and thoroughly explains his ministries, duties and responsibilities to the appropriate person(s).
  2. Only has in his possession publications that TRF Supporters are authorized to have, in accordance with the Classifications of Family Membership and Literature in the "Fundamental Family Rules" (pg.161).
  3. Has had his computer and other personal papers checked and purged.
  4. Has a reporting address and related instructions for reporting to the Continental Office.

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33. PROCEDURES FOR EXCOMMUNICATING FAMILY MEMBERS

  1. DO members can only be excommunicated by the Continental Office, and only if the member violates one of the Offences Warranting Excommunication listed in the "Fundamental Family Rules" (pg.118).
  1. DO members can be fully excommunicated from receiving Family literature and from Family fellowship.
  2. Alternatively, if the Continental Office determines it to be appropriate and proportionate discipline for the offense, DO members can be partially excommunicated. Partial Excommunication must be for a period of not less than three or more than six months.

a) While partially excommunicated, the member:

(1) Must refrain from sexual contact, if the partial excommunication is for a sex-related Charter offense. The member may have sex with their mate, if they have one.

i) If the member was partially excommunicated for sexual activity with a non-DO Family member, they must refrain from any sexual activity with another person until they are cleared of having contracted HIV, by a first AIDS test to be taken immediately and a second test to be taken no sooner than six months after the first.

(a) Members who are mated may have sexual relations with their mate, if their mate agrees, provided they use a condom each time, and the partially excommunicated member's mate agrees not to share sexually with others until their mate has been cleared after his or her second AIDS test, six months after their initial test.

(ii) If the member was partially excommunicated for only deep kissing a non-DO Family member and no other sexual activity, they must refrain from any sexual activity with another person until they are cleared of having contracted HIV, by a first AIDS test to be taken immediately and a second test to be taken no sooner than three months after the first.

(2) Must complete the reading of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes in the Babes Basic Course.

(3) Can only read GP/DFO Family literature, as well as specified DO lit at the Home teamwork's discretion.

(4) Is not a voting member of the Home.

(5) Loses his Right of Mobility.

(i) If a minor under 16 years of age is placed on partial excommunication, their parent(s) still retain(s) the right to move their child to another location during this period.

(6) Might be required to live outside of the Home for a period of time specified by the Continental Office.

(i) If living outside a DO Home during the period of partial excommunication, the member must test negative for AIDS before moving into a DO Home, and again test negative after having lived within the DO Home for a six-month period. They must have no sexual activity during this first six-month period of living in a DO Home again.

(ii) Members who have been living outside of the DO Home during their partial excommunication due to sexual activity with a non-DO Family member, but who are mated, may have sexual relations with their mate upon returning to the DO Home if their mate agrees, provided this couple use a condom each time, and the excommunicated member's mate agrees not to share sexually with others until their mate has been cleared after his or her second AIDS test, six months after their initial test.

(iii) If debts are incurred while living outside a DO Home during the period of partial excommunication, they must be paid off before the member moves back into a DO Home.

As you will note, there is a difference between full and partial excommunication. With full excommunication, besides being cut off from all but GP Family literature, the excommunicated member may also be cut off from all Family fellowship for an indefinite period of time. With partial excommunication, it is up to the discretion of the Continental Office to determine whether the member can serve their sentence in the Home or not.

The Continental Office may decide to separate the partially excommunicated member from the DO Home for a given period of time, or to allow him to remain in the Home during his entire period of partial excommunication. As well, the Continental Office determines the duration of partial excommunication, but it must be at least three months and not more than six months.

  1. Recommendations for full or partial excommunication can only be initiated by the Home's Officers, or the Area or Continental Office. To recommend excommunication, the following procedures must be adhered to:
  1. The Home Officers must inform the Area and Continental Offices of the member's excommunicable offense, giving full details of the matter.
  2. Regardless of who initiates the excommunication, the Area Office must fully investigate the matter, speaking personally with the Home Officers, the member in question, and anyone else involved.
  3. The Area Office must inform the Continental Office of its findings, and its assessment of whether the member has committed the excommunicable offense, and if so, recommend to the Continental Office full or partial excommunication.
  1. Upon receipt of the Area Office report and recommendation, the Continental Office will decide whether full or partial excommunication is warranted.
  1. If full excommunication is warranted, the Continental Office will inform the member and his Home, in writing, that the member's Family membership is withdrawn.
  2. If partial excommunication is warranted, the Continental Office will notify the member and his Home that the member has been partially excommunicated, specifying all conditions, including the duration of his or her partial excommunication.