Jehovah's Witnesses make U-turn, Invite disfellowshipped individuals to Kingdom Hall (Video)

From Moshood Karim

In a ground-breaking policy reversal, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has reconsidered its stance on how adherents of the religion who were disfellowshipped for wrong conduct are treated.

The Governor Body had cited 2 John 9:11 to support its shunning policy meted out on members accused of wrong conduct within the religious community.

According to this policy, members accused of wrong conduct are tried by a Judicial committee and when found culpable are disfellowshpped from the congregation, shunned, not greeting them let alone inviting them to their homes.

But, a recent analysis by the Governing Body concluded that, 2 John 9:11 applies to apostates and those who actively promote wrong conduct. Accordingly directed members not to even greet such persons let alone associating with them.

However, in a video sighted by Uptown Press on Sunday, the Governing Body said that evangelists known within the religious community as Publishers can now use their Bible trained conscience to invite disfellowshipped individuals to the Kingdom Hall for congregation meetings.

A Norwegian court had earlier in March, 2024 upheld a decision to punish the Jehovah's Witnesses because of their shunning policy and cult-like behavior.

In a written statement from the state administrator in Oslo and Viken, Norwegian law requires all religions that receive government subsidies to practice a "right to free withdrawal."

"If there's a serious obstacle to leaving a religion, that's arguably a violation. Disfellowshipping, the administrator wrote, "can cause members to feel pressured to remain in the faith."

Because of this offense, which could not be denied by the Witnesses themselves, the State administrator concluded that the Witnesses were not deserving of the State subsidies. They were still allowed to practice their faith.

Hmmm. We will see more adjustments to the disfellowshipping Act now that Norway have taken their money pic.twitter.com/7A6GbhHiyE
— Gabby: Apostate Angel (@Liliplum2) March 16, 2024