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Doctrine changes · Claim record

In September 1981 The Watchtower reasoned that 'a simple “Hello” to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship' and asked, 'Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?', applying 2 John 9-11 to disfellowshipped and disassociated persons generally.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-shunning-1981-no-helloConcerns 15 September 1981Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 September 1981 Verified

In September 1981 The Watchtower reasoned that 'a simple “Hello” to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship' and asked, 'Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?', applying 2 John 9-11 to disfellowshipped and disassociated persons generally. The Watchtower, 15 September 1981The Watchtower, 15 September 1981

The organisation’s position or later explanation: w24.08 Study Article 35 par. 14: 'In the past, we would not greet such a person.'

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Disfellowshiping—How to View It”

15 September 1981 · pp.20-26 · par. 21 (p. 24); par. 23 (p. 25) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“And we all know from our experience over the years that a simple “Hello” to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?”

Par. 21 asks whether a Christian should 'not speak at all with an expelled person, not even saying “Hello”'; par. 22 quotes 2 John 9-11; par. 23 answers as quoted, applying it to 'a disfellowshiped or disassociated person'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org; wording confirmed; pages from page markers (question p. 24, 'simple Hello' p. 25).

Corroborated by. src-w-2024-0800-study35-removed

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1981-0915-disfellowshiping-how-to-view

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “If a Relative Is Disfellowshiped . . .”

15 September 1981 · pp.26-31 · par. 19 (p. 29) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Christians related to such a disfellowshiped person living outside the home should strive to avoid needless association, even keeping business dealings to a minimum.”

Guidance on relatives not living in the same household.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org; wording and page confirmed.

Notes. Shunning topic is handled in more depth by the shunning researcher; included here for the pair.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1981-0915-if-relative-disfellowshiped

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-doctrine-shunning-1981-no-hello/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.