JW Broadcasting — 2025 Governing Body Update #4, “2025 Governing Body Update #4 (official English subtitles, full programme)”
“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 (opens in new tab) Scan of original (opens in new tab)
Provenance and verification note for JW Broadcasting — 2025 Governing Body Update #4, 2025 Governing Body Update #4 (official English subtitles, full programme)
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