In August 2024 The Watchtower stated 'We will no longer refer to such ones as being disfellowshipped. In harmony with Paul's words recorded at 1 Corinthians 5:13, we will now refer to them as being removed from the congregation'; the jw.org FAQ was retitled and moved from /faq/shunning/ to /faq/removed-from-the-congregation/ (the old URL now redirects).
Claim ID claim-shunning-2024-terminology-removedConcerns 1 August 2024Explicit statement
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.
18 September 2026 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“So we do not socialize with someone who has been removed. However, we do not ignore him completely. We treat him with respect. He is welcome to attend our religious services, where he may be greeted by Jehovah’s Witnesses. He may also request spiritual assistance from the elders.”
Current official statement. Also: 'we reach out' to those who 'slowed down or stopped'; 'The elders simply announce to the congregation that the person is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses'; spouse and young children in the same house keep 'normal family affections and dealings'; footnote b on terminology; footnote d applies 2 John 9-11 to those who 'actively try to undermine' the congregation. Says nothing about relatives outside the household. Quotes the High Court of England and Wales (7 June 2019) and former ECtHR judge Pinto de Albuquerque.
Provenance and verification note for jw.org, Frequently Asked Questions, How Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Treat Those Who Used to Belong to Their Religion?
Confidence note. Full page opened at both URLs on 2026-09-19. The old URL https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/ returns HTTP 301 to this URL (curl -I; server Last-Modified 18 Sep 2026). Earlier titles: 2022 version 'Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Shun Those Who Used to Belong to Their Religion?' is quoted by the Norwegian Supreme Court (para 125); the still-earlier title 'Do You Shun Former Members of Your Religion?' is attested only by discovery sources (unverified).
Notes. Blocked original: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/ (now redirects). web.archive.org and archive.ph blocked in this environment.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-jworg-2026-faq-removed-from-the-congregation
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.
Provenance and verification note for jw.org (Governing Body Update video), 2024 Governing Body Update #2
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.
A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-shunning-2024-terminology-removed/. 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.