The Watchtower, “Maintaining a Balanced Viewpoint Toward Disfellowshiped Ones”
“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.
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Provenance and verification note for The Watchtower, Maintaining a Balanced Viewpoint Toward Disfellowshiped Ones
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Corroborated by. src-w-1974-0801-divine-mercy
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1974-0801-balanced-viewpoint