@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ 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.
+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|VirianGoodStanding]
. 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.
To sharpen up these concepts it may be helpful to list some things which are not the purpose of Disownment.
* Disownment is not for the purpose of doing the offender good (nor for doing him or her harm). The admonitory steps that precede Disownment aim at the welfare of the erring [Virian], but Disownment occurs at the point where the community feels it has done its duty to that end, and must proceed with Disownment for the sake of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s reputation. Presumably in some cases Disownment might produce a salutary shock that would awaken the [Virian] and motivate reformation, while in other cases it might lead to the person's hardening; but the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] does not try to predict which of these outcomes is the more likely in a given case and will not use this type of consideration to determine whether Disownment is in order.
