Bible Encyclopedias

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Testimony of Disownment

an official document issued by the monthly meeting of the Society of Friends against an obdurate and impenitent member. The testimony of disownment is a paper reciting the-offence, and sometimes the steps which have led to it; next, the means unavailingly used to reclaim the offender; after that a clause disowning him, to which is usually added an expression of desire for his repentance and for his restoration to membership. In case the expelled member repents, he is bound to send in a written acknowledgment of his offense, his penitence, and his desire for restoration to the membership of the society.