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Shunning and family · Claim record

In August 1974 The Watchtower said it was 'not right to treat such ones in an inhumane way', allowed an elder to speak words of exhortation to a disfellowshipped person met casually, and stated that how far a family associated with disfellowshipped relatives living outside the home was for 'each family' to decide and 'not something that the congregational elders can decide for them'.

Claim ID claim-shunning-1974-balanced-viewpointConcerns 1 August 1974Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 1 August 1974 Verified

In August 1974 The Watchtower said it was 'not right to treat such ones in an inhumane way', allowed an elder to speak words of exhortation to a disfellowshipped person met casually, and stated that how far a family associated with disfellowshipped relatives living outside the home was for 'each family' to decide and 'not something that the congregational elders can decide for them'. The Watchtower, 1 August 1974The Watchtower, 1 August 1974

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The 1981 articles superseded this without referring to it; the 2024 articles describe the new follow-up visits as reflecting Jehovah's compassion.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Maintaining a Balanced Viewpoint Toward Disfellowshiped Ones”

1 August 1974 · pp.466-473 · par. 5, 9, 17-23 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“As to disfellowshiped family members (not minor sons or daughters) living outside the home, each family must decide to what extent they will have association with such ones. This is not something that the congregational elders can decide for them.”

The 1974 position was markedly softer: it warned against treating disfellowshipped persons 'in an inhumane way', allowed elders to exhort them if met casually, and left association with relatives outside the home to each family.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

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

Corroborated by. src-w-1974-0801-divine-mercy

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1974-0801-balanced-viewpoint

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Divine Mercy Points the Way Back for Erring Ones”

1 August 1974 · pp.460-466 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.—Luke 15:7.”

Companion article to the 'balanced viewpoint' article; frames disfellowshipping within divine mercy and restoration.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Raw WOL HTML fetched; theme text and page markers confirmed.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1974-0801-divine-mercy

Claim page

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