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Doctrine changes · Claim record

The Governing Body update that withdrew the toasting rule in July 2025 presented it as part of a general preference for principles over rules, illustrated by a child who no longer needs to hold a parent’s hand to cross the road.

Claim ID claim-doctrine-toasting-2025-principles-not-rulesConcerns 4 July 2025Organisation's explanation
Organisation's explanation · 4 July 2025 Verified

The Governing Body update that withdrew the toasting rule in July 2025 presented it as part of a general preference for principles over rules, illustrated by a child who no longer needs to hold a parent’s hand to cross the road. JW Broadcasting — 2025 Governing Body Update #4, 4 July 2025

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The update adds: ‘Are we saying that toasting is OK now at all times and in every situation? Of course not. We are simply saying that there is no need to make a rule.’

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

JW Broadcasting — 2025 Governing Body Update #4, “2025 Governing Body Update #4 (official English subtitles, full programme)”

4 July 2025 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Likewise, mature Christians don’t need a rule for every situation. Instead, we look at each situation and consider Bible principles.”

The programme frames the toasting decision inside a general argument that rules suited to spiritual childhood give way to trained conscience, illustrated by a parent holding a child’s hand to cross the road. It applies the same reasoning to wedding rings and to white string lights, which the Warwick Bethel family uses except in November and December because of the association with Christmas.

Official source Scan of original

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. The complete official subtitle file was downloaded and read on 19 September 2026. The toasting announcement itself is already recorded in the ledger as src-gbu-2025-0704-update4-toasting; this record carries the surrounding argument and the other customs discussed.

Scan provenance. Official English subtitle file served from the JW.org content delivery network (naturalKey docid-1112024035_E_1_VIDEO).

Corroborated by. src-gbu-2025-0704-update4-toasting

Notes. The update also asks and answers: ‘Are we saying that toasting is OK now at all times and in every situation? Of course not. We are simply saying that there is no need to make a rule.’

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-chg-p-gbu-2025-0704-update4-full

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-doctrine-toasting-2025-principles-not-rules/. 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.