Table of Contents
Jehovah "Desires All to Attain to Repentance" 2-4
How Can Elders Cooperate With Jehovah in 'Leading a Sinner to Repentance'? 5-7
What if a Baptized Minor (Under 18 Years of Age) Becomes Involved in Serious Wrongdo-
ing? 8-13
What if a Wrongdoer Does Not Respond to the Committee's Efforts to Render Spiritual As-
sistance? 14-16
Should the Elders Endeavor to Meet With All Disfellowshipped Individuals in the Territory
Every Six Months? 17
How Should Publishers Treat a Person Who Has Been Removed From the Congregation?
18-19
What About Individuals Who Were Disfellowshipped in the Past, Perhaps Even Many
Years Ago? 20-22
How Can We Harmonize the Above Direction With 2 John 9-11? 23
Appeal Committees 24-25
1. The 2024 Governing Body Update #2 announced adjustments in the way serious wrong- doing will be addressed by the elders. This document outlines those adjustments, which
should be implemented immediately. The body of elders should meet within one week fol-
lowing the release of this document to review this direction. In addition, the circuit overseer
will review this material with the elders during his next visit to the congregation following the
release of this document. If the body of elders has questions about a specific case, please
write to the Service Department, providing complete details. In due course, the Shepherd
and Organized books will be revised to reflect these adjustments.
JEHOVAH "DESIRES ALL TO ATTAIN TO REPENTANCE"
2. Our wonderful Father, Jehovah, "does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9) So it is not surprising that throughout the Bible record,
we find Jehovah appealing to sinners to repent. He urges those who had strayed from true
worship to return. For example, Jehovah tried to lead Cain to repentance. (Gen. 4:6, 7) Da-
vid was led to repentance after he committed serious sins against Jehovah. (2 Sam. 12:13)
"Again and again" Jehovah urged the nation of Israel to repent. (Jer. 7:25; Ezek. 33:11) At
Revelation 2:21, regarding that woman Jezebel, Jesus said: "I gave her time to repent." This
is in harmony with Romans 2:4, which tells us that God in his kindness tries to lead sinners
to repentance.
3. In the 2024 Governing Body Update #2, we received clarification on three scriptures.
(1) In harmony with 2 Timothy 2:24, 25, a committee of elders will lovingly correct and
instruct a wrongdoer with the goal of leading him to repentance.
• The study note on 2 Timothy 2:25 for "those not favorably disposed" explains: "Paul
uses a Greek word that in this context refers to people who resist Christian teach- ings or who place themselves in opposition to them. Paul may have had in mind,
among others, those in the congregation in Ephesus who had a negative attitude
toward following Scriptural counsel or heeding admonition from brothers taking the
lead." Today, this could include brothers and sisters in the congregation who dis-
regard Scriptural counsel and become involved in serious wrongdoing.
• The study note on 2 Timothy 2:25 for "God may give them repentance" says:
"When a Christian elder mildly corrects or instructs 'those not favorably disposed,' the good result may be repentance, or 'a change of mind.' . . . The credit for such
a change in thinking and attitude goes, not to any human, but to Jehovah, who
helps the wayward Christian make this vital change. Paul goes on to mention some of the beautiful results of such repentance—it leads the sinner to a more accurate knowledge of the truth, it helps him come back to his proper senses, and it enables
him to escape from Satan's snares.—2Ti 2:26."
(2) As outlined at 1 Corinthians 5:13, a person who refuses to repent must be removed
from the congregation. However, the committee will still try to help him see the need
to return and will arrange for a follow-up meeting in a few months.
(3) We also clarified our understanding of 2 John 9-11, which we learned applies specif-
ically to apostates and others who actively promote wrong conduct, not to all those
who have been removed from the congregation.
4. Let us consider in more detail how these clarifications relate to how wrongdoers should be dealt with in the congregation.
HOW CAN ELDERS COOPERATE WITH JEHOVAH IN 'LEADING A SINNER TO
REPENTANCE'?
5. When a Christian becomes involved in serious wrongdoing, he needs the assistance of the elders so that he can restore his relationship with Jehovah and regain good spiritual
health. (Isa. 1:18, 19) Before forming a committee to meet with a wrongdoer, the body of
elders should establish that there is a solid basis for doing so.—sfl chap. 12 pars. 1-40.
6. When meeting with a Christian who has become involved in serious wrongdoing, the goal of the committee is to 'lead the sinner to repentance.' (Rom. 2:4) The committee may decide that it would be appropriate to meet more than once with the wrongdoer in order to reach
his heart. Meeting with him more than once will allow time for the individual to grasp the
gravity of his wrongdoing and its effect on his relationship with Jehovah, and most important,
to repent and ask Jehovah for his forgiveness. (Ps. 51:1-4; Prov. 28:13) Meeting with him
more than once will also allow the committee to try to reach the individual's heart by means
of the Scriptures.
7. By skillful use of the Scriptures, the committee should try to reach the wrongdoer's heart and lead him to repentance. If through your efforts Jehovah gives the individual repentance, this is a cause for rejoicing. (Luke 15:7; 2 Tim. 2:25; 2 Pet. 3:9) In such cases, appropriate
restrictions will be temporarily imposed. If the wrongdoing is widely known or likely to be-
come known, a brief announcement of the reproof can be made to the congregation. Re-
strictions should be viewed as temporary and should be removed without delay as the indi-
vidual makes a spiritual recovery. Of course, with certain kinds of wrongdoing—such as child
abuse, apostasy, and scheming to end a marriage—restrictions will need to be in place
much longer. (sfl chap. 12 pars. 10-12; chap. 14 pars. 22-24) Whatever the case, the elders
will also provide shepherding so that the individual can keep making straight paths for his
feet.
WHAT IF A BAPTIZED MINOR (UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE) BECOMES INVOLVED IN
SERIOUS WRONGDOING?
8. When a baptized minor becomes involved in serious wrongdoing, two elders (not a com- mittee) will meet with him along with his Christian parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The elders
will exercise patience as they work with the parents to understand the minor's attitude. They
will also find out what steps the parents have taken to assist their child.
9. If the minor has a good attitude and the parents have the matter in hand, the two elders may determine that it is not necessary for the minor and his Christian parent(s) or legal
guardian(s) to meet with a committee. The elders will check with the parents periodically to
ensure that the minor is receiving needed spiritual assistance.
10. If the minor's wrongdoing is widely known or likely to become known, the following brief announcement may be made to the congregation: "A matter involving [name of person] has
been handled by the elders." Also, the two elders may impose some temporary restrictions,
such as not commenting at meetings and not caring for student assignments on the midweek
meeting. As the individual makes a spiritual recovery, the temporary restrictions should be
removed by the two elders without delay.
11. If the minor persists in a wrong course despite the assistance offered by two elders and his Christian parent(s) or legal guardian(s), a committee will meet with the minor and his
Christian parent(s) or legal guardian(s). If the minor is unrepentant, he would be removed
from the congregation.
12. What about minors who are currently disfellowshipped? The committee involved with the disfellowshipping can meet with the minor and his Christian parent(s) or legal guard-
ian(s) to see how the minor is doing. If the minor has abandoned his sinful course and has
a good attitude and if the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have the matter in hand, an an-
nouncement can be made that the minor has been reinstated. The elders would impose
temporary restrictions, such as not commenting at meetings and not caring for student as-
signments on the midweek meeting. Thereafter, two elders from the committee will monitor
the minor's spiritual progress so that the restrictions may be removed in keeping with his
spiritual progress. If the minor is an apostate or is promoting serious wrongdoing, the com-
mittee would not meet with the minor and his Christian parent(s) or legal guardian(s). If the
minor was disfellowshipped by a committee in another congregation, the elders should fol-
low the direction in the Shepherd book, chapter 19, paragraphs 13-16.
13. What about individuals who were disfellowshipped as minors but who are now adults? Such ones can be visited as the elders reach out to disfellowshipped ones.—See
paragraph 17.
WHAT IF A WRONGDOER DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS
TO RENDER SPIRITUAL ASSISTANCE?
14. Not all who Jehovah tried to lead to repentance responded positively. Similarly, a wrong- doer may not respond to the committee's efforts to render spiritual assistance.
15. "Remove the wicked person from among yourselves." (1 Cor. 5:13) An unrepentant wrongdoer must be removed from the congregation. However, when the elders inform a person that he is being removed from the congregation, he should not be left hopeless. The
elders will explain what steps he can take to be welcomed back into the congregation. If the
individual is not an apostate or actively promoting wrongdoing, they will also inform him that
they would like to meet with him again in three months to determine if he has had a change
of heart. In some cases, but not all, the committee may determine that there is a basis for
reinstating the individual at that time. On the other hand, if he has not had a change of heart
or if additional time is needed (see the special caution in paragraph 16), the elders will en-
deavor to reach out to him every six months if he is agreeable, unless he requests
reinstatement before that time. At such visits, the elders may pray with the individual and
warmly appeal to him to repent and return.
16. Caution: Although a repentant individual should be reinstated without delay, such sins as child abuse, apostasy, and scheming to end a marriage require special caution. (2 Pet.
2:9, 10) The elders must protect the flock.—John 10:11-13.
SHOULD THE ELDERS ENDEAVOR TO MEET WITH ALL DISFELLOWSHIPPED
INDIVIDUALS IN THE TERRITORY EVERY SIX MONTHS?
17. Yes, if the individual is willing to meet. As stated above, at such visits, the elders may pray with the individual and warmly appeal to him to repent and return. Of course, this would
not apply to individuals who are known apostates or who are actively promoting wrongdoing.
This adjusts what is stated in the Shepherd book, chapter 25, paragraph 20.
HOW SHOULD PUBLISHERS TREAT A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE CONGREGATION?
18. When a person has been removed from the congregation, we "stop keeping company" with that person, "not even eating with such a man." (1 Cor. 5:11) However, as explained
and demonstrated in the 2024 Governing Body Update #2, if the person attends congrega-
tion meetings, a publisher can use his Bible-trained conscience to decide if he will give a
simple greeting and welcome the disfellowshipped person to the meeting or not.
19. A Christian may also choose to invite a disfellowshipped person—perhaps a relative, a former Bible student, or someone he was close to in the past—to attend a congregation
meeting.
WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE DISFELLOWSHIPPED IN THE PAST,
PERHAPS EVEN MANY YEARS AGO?
20. In some cases, individuals who were disfellowshipped years in the past may not even recall the reason they were disfellowshipped. They may have abandoned their wrong course
years ago. In other cases, they may still be involved in some form of wrongdoing. If an
individual is neither a known apostate nor is actively promoting wrongdoing, the elders may
visit him. At such visits, the elders would offer to pray with the disfellowshipped person and
make a warm appeal to him to repent and return to the congregation.
21. If a person has been away from the congregation for a significant period of time, he would no doubt be very weak spiritually. Therefore, if such a person is willing, the elders could arrange for an elder or a well-qualified ministerial servant to conduct a Bible study with
him even before he is reinstated. In the case of a disfellowshipped woman, a mature sister
could be assigned to conduct the study. This would include individuals who may still be
involved in some form of wrongdoing but who wish to receive help to come to repentance.
Of course, the person would have to want to return to the congregation, and the elders would
always be the ones to arrange for such a study.
22. Rather than making many rules, the elders should be guided by Bible principles to de- cide how they will assist disfellowshipped individuals to come to repentance.
HOW CAN WE HARMONIZE THE ABOVE DIRECTION WITH 2 JOHN 9-11?
23. Second John 9-11 warns us of a contaminating influence, saying: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him." Who are Christians instructed to avoid? The context indicates that this refers to
"everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching," and therefore it applies
to apostates and those who actively promote wrong conduct. Such ones should not be
greeted by individual Christians, visited by the elders, or invited to attend Christian meetings.
APPEAL COMMITTEES
24. The following adjustment regarding appeal committees was not included in the 2024 Governing Body Update #2.
25. What if a wrongdoer gives evidence of genuine repentance only when he meets with the appeal committee? If both the original committee and the appeal committee agree
that a wrongdoer is genuinely repentant when he meets with the appeal committee, he may
remain in the congregation. This adjusts what is stated in the Shepherd book, chapter 17,
paragraph 7, point 2. The appeal committee would meet only one time with the individual.
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