For research I want to verify this:
- has the latest version of the elder book (recent) a new text about child abuse and put aside the 2 witness rule in these cases?
Need to clarify.
G.
Verify: latest elder book
by Gorbatchov 9 Replies latest jw friends
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zeb
Put aside the two witness rule..? That I would like to see. If so its amazing what a royal commission and law suits do for the path of 'new light'.
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smiddy3
I`ll believe it when I see it Gorby as you would too.However wasn`t their a representatives of the GB that came out and publicly stated that the two witness rule was Biblical and they would never change it .?
It was posted on here some time back.
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Listener
I think that there may have been a letter to say that any accusations should be thoroughly investigated regardless of their being two witnesses but it did not say that a JC should be held if there was not two witnesses or a confession. I can't remember where I saw this.
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AverageJoe1
No changes in the elder's book as of yet, Gorby.
As Smiddy said, it was in a Broadcasting episode a couple of months back that the GB will never change their "two witness" policy.
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steve2
They have NOT “put aside” the two-witness rule.
As stated above by others, as recently as two months ago one of the GB’s “helpers” was featured in a JW.org video detailing the organization’s views on this “Biblical” principle AND firmly stating they would never give it up.
Mind you, the entire video never once mentioned its contentious use in child-abuse allegations. So, I expect a “charm offensive” to all elders reinforcing the two witness rule - but advocating sweetening the language so that it appears to be a loving provision. Keep watching!
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Gorbatchov
The september 1, 2017 BOE included that child abuse cases have to be investigated by elders despite having no 2 witnesses.
Is this a implecite change?
G.
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Incognito
To my understanding, for the elders to proceed to contact WT legal dept for direction on what to do, there needs to be 2 witnesses to the same act, OR at least 2 separate acts involving 2 separate victims who each accuse the same person, OR there needs to be an admission from the accused.
If only one victim makes an accusation against another JW, the elder's 'investigation' likely amounts to meeting with the accused and asking if he/she did the thing they are being accused of doing. If the answer is 'No', then the matter is dropped and the accuser is warned not to mention it further.
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AverageJoe1
They can call Bethel, investigate all they want Gorby, (heck, when have the elders ever needed an excuse to investigate something?!) but they cannot and will not have a judicial committee unless there are two witnesses to the
crimesin! -
_Morpheus
Lol its a semantic game, gorby. ALL sins that could lead to a JC are investigated no matter how many witnesses. INVESTIGATED just means “hey bro perv did you do this?” If he says no then there is no JC. Nothing has changed.