this raises a question ive wondered about. when people _do_ show up out of the blue and partake, do they usually get counted? of course, we are not sposed to judge who's genuine or not but in practice, do u think elders make exceptions when they feel it necessary? how many of the 8000+ would be accounted for by people that just showed up and either chose to disobey or the talk or just didnt get it?
Good question Moxy,
Perhaps ozzie could give us the official position on that.
What if several thousand apostates attended and partook this year - how would that affect the figures? From memory Attendants are given instructions to discretely inquire after the meeting, and in the case of visiting Catholics and such - not record them as having partook.
unclebruce.