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Shunning and family · Claim record

On 15 March 2024 Governing Body member Mark Sanderson announced that publishers may 'use their Bible-trained conscience' to give 'a simple greeting' to a removed person who attends a meeting, may invite such a person to a meeting, that elders will revisit removed persons 'after a few months' and visit those removed long ago, and that two elders (rather than a committee) will first meet a baptised minor and parents; he added that 'we don't socialize with those who are removed from the congregation'.

Claim ID claim-shunning-2024-governing-body-update-changesConcerns 15 March 2024Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 March 2024 Verified

On 15 March 2024 Governing Body member Mark Sanderson announced that publishers may 'use their Bible-trained conscience' to give 'a simple greeting' to a removed person who attends a meeting, may invite such a person to a meeting, that elders will revisit removed persons 'after a few months' and visit those removed long ago, and that two elders (rather than a committee) will first meet a baptised minor and parents; he added that 'we don't socialize with those who are removed from the congregation'. jw.org (Governing Body Update video), 15 March 2024The Watchtower (Study Edition), August 2024The Watchtower (Study Edition), August 2024

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation describes the adjustments as reflecting 'Jehovah's love and mercy' and 2 Peter 3:9.

Show the evidence (3 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

jw.org (Governing Body Update video), “2024 Governing Body Update #2”

15 March 2024 · Mark Sanderson (Governing Body) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“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.”

Presented by Governing Body member Mark Sanderson (20 min 02 s; media id docid-1112024005). Also announces: follow-up meeting 'after a few months'; visits to those removed long ago; two elders to meet a baptised minor and parents instead of a committee; members may invite a removed person to a meeting; 'we don’t socialize with those who are removed'; 1 Cor. 5:13 'remove' terminology; sisters may wear slacks.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. jw.org page opened (published 15 March 2024) and the organisation's own English subtitle file (https://cfp2.jw-cdn.org/a/ceb7d7/1/o/1112024005_E_cnt_1.vtt, from the jw.org mediator API record docid-1112024005_E_1_VIDEO) read in full; quotations are from that subtitle text.

Notes. Mediator API: https://b.jw-cdn.org/apis/mediator/v1/media-items/E/docid-1112024005_1_VIDEO

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-jwb-2024-0315-governing-body-update-2

Primary JW publication Verified

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

August 2024 · pp.26-31 · par. 3-6, 10-15; footnote b; box · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“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.”

Footnote b retires 'disfellowshipped' for 'removed from the congregation'; par. 4 keeps the announcement 'no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses'; par. 13 keeps 'stop keeping company ... not even eating'; par. 15 and the box restrict 2 John 9-11 to 'apostates and others who actively promote wrong conduct'; par. 6, 10-12 on follow-up visits and reinstatement. No revised guidance on relatives outside the household.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Raw WOL HTML fetched; wording and page markers 26-31 confirmed; jw.org copy also opened (study week 19-25 August 2024).

Notes. jw.org copy: https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-august-2024/Help-for-Those-Who-Are-Removed-From-the-Congregation/

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2024-0800-study-35-help-for-those-removed

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (Study Edition), “Study Article 34: Responding to Sin With Love and Mercy”

August 2024 · pp.20-25 · par. 17-18 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“What about baptized minors—those under 18 years of age—who engage in serious wrongdoing? The body of elders will arrange for two elders to meet with the minor and his Christian parents. ... However, what if a baptized minor unrepentantly persists in a wrong course? In that case, a committee of elders will meet with him along with his Christian parents.”

The 2024 procedure for baptised minors; par. 17 confirms reproof may still be announced 'as a warning to the rest'. Quoted by the Norwegian Supreme Court at para 94.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Raw WOL HTML fetched; wording and page markers 20-25 confirmed.

Corroborated by. src-jwb-2024-0315-governing-body-update-2, src-court-no-2026-0429-supreme-court

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2024-0800-study-34-responding-to-sin

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-shunning-2024-governing-body-update-changes/. 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.