View cases - Stewart McKelvey

[5] Mr. Jones was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. He was baptised as one of Jehovah’sWitnesses in 1963. He described his faith as the most important thing in his life. He serves as anelder in his congregation and attends three meetings per week. His wife is a Jehovah’s Witness.He associates primarily with Jehovah’s Witnesses and they are his closest friends.[6] Stephen Mills was until recently the Presiding Overseer of the Jehovah’s Witnesscongregation of which Mr. Jones is a member. The Presiding Overseer is like the chairman ofthe elders. He has known Mr. Jones for over thirteen years. He confirmed that Mr. Jones isactive as an elder in the congregation.[7] The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or a number of other eventsincluding Easter, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, national days and birthdays. Mr. Mills testifiedthat they celebrate only the memorial of Christ’s death. They do not celebrate Christmas becausethere is no biblical basis for it: it is pagan or non-Christian in origin; Jesus did not command aChristmas celebration; and the exact date of Christ’s birth is unknown – it was probably in earlyfall. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not decorate their homes at Christmas or participate in otheractivities related to the celebration of Christmas. However, they do not object to otherscelebrating Christmas, nor do they try to hinder them.[8] If one of Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrated Christmas, the congregation would beconcerned because it might indicate that the individual no longer wanted to share the beliefs ofthe Jehovah’s Witnesses. The elders would discuss the matter with the individual. If the eldersconcluded that the individual no longer shared the beliefs of the organization, it would be aserious concern, which could lead to “disfellowship” or excommunication.[9] Mr. Jones testified that in 1982, and for many years after that, the store would bedecorated for Christmas after hours in a decorating party. Mr. Jones did not participate in thedecorating, nor did he attend the staff Christmas party or participate in the staff gift exchange.[10] When he first met Mr. Jones after taking over the store in 1988, Mr. Eisler was not awareof Mr. Jones’ religion. He testified that he first learned of it in approximately August orSeptember 1988 when Mr. Jones told him about it. After he learned Mr. Jones was one ofJehovah’s Witnesses, he did not give it much thought. However, he accommodated Mr. Jones’2