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Doctrine changes · Claim record

On 15 March 2024 the Governing Body announced that publishers may 'use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to give a simple greeting' to a disfellowshipped person attending a meeting, may invite such a person to meetings, and that 2 John 9-11 is now understood to describe 'apostates and others who actively promoted wrong conduct'.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-shunning-2024-greeting-permittedConcerns 15 March 2024Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 March 2024 Verified

On 15 March 2024 the Governing Body announced that publishers may 'use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to give a simple greeting' to a disfellowshipped person attending a meeting, may invite such a person to meetings, and that 2 John 9-11 is now understood to describe 'apostates and others who actively promoted wrong conduct'. JW Broadcasting — 2024 Governing Body Update #2, 15 March 2024The Watchtower (study edition), August 2024

The organisation’s position or later explanation: Framed as reflecting Jehovah's mercy (2 Peter 3:9) following the October 2023 annual meeting.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

JW Broadcasting — 2024 Governing Body Update #2, “2024 Governing Body Update #2 (official English subtitles)”

15 March 2024 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Under our current arrangement, we don't say a greeting to individuals who've been removed from the congregation. However, the Governing Body has decided that publishers can use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to give a simple greeting and welcome a disfellowshipped individual who attends a congregation meeting.”

Also states a Christian may 'invite a disfellowshipped person to attend a congregation meeting', that elders will visit those disfellowshipped years ago and 'make a warm appeal for them to return', and that 2 John 9-11 'was really describing apostates and others who actively promoted wrong conduct'.

Official source Scan of original

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. jw.org news page opened (date 15 Mar 2024) and the official subtitle text downloaded and read.

Scan provenance. Official subtitle file (naturalKey docid-1112024005_E_1_VIDEO) listed by the jw.org mediator API category StudioNewsReports.

Corroborated by. src-w-2024-0800-study35-removed, src-jworg-faq-former-members

Notes. Third-party sites date this 'February 2024'; jw.org dates it 15 March 2024.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-gbu-2024-0315-update2-greeting

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (study edition), “Help for Those Who Are Removed From the Congregation (Study Article 35)”

August 2024 · pp.26-31 · par. 14 (pp. 30-31); footnote b (p. 31) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“In the past, we would not greet such a person. Here again, each Christian needs to use his Bible-trained conscience in this matter. Some may feel comfortable with greeting or welcoming the person to the meeting. However, we would not have an extended conversation or socialize with the individual.”

Par. 14 also says Christians may decide 'whether to invite a person who was removed from the congregation … to attend a congregation meeting'. Footnote b: 'We will no longer refer to such ones as being disfellowshipped. In harmony with Paul's words recorded at 1 Corinthians 5:13, we will now refer to them as being removed from the congregation.'

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol.jw.org; wording, paragraph and pages confirmed from page markers.

Corroborated by. src-gbu-2024-0315-update2-greeting, src-idx-beliefs-clarified

Notes. The 'Beliefs Clarified' index cites this article for the terminology change.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2024-0800-study35-removed

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-doctrine-shunning-2024-greeting-permitted/. 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.