A believer cannot escape administrative expulsion by the
ruse of resigning from the Faith in order to break its law with impunity.
However, the Assembly should be satisfied that there was indeed such an
ulterior motive behind the withdrawal. A believer's record of inactivity and
his general attitude to the Faith may well lead the Assembly to conclude that
his withdrawal was bona fide . . . and in such a case the withdrawal may be
accepted.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated May 20, 1971, to a
National Spiritual Assembly; Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities, NSA of
USA, 1998 edition)
