Hi Terry
I saw your post and re the elder manual"Pay Attention" which the WT Legal Dept. updates depending on the prevailing conditions that exist in the Congregations at a particular time As an example if you recall that there was a time the WT got hung up on beards and boys sporting long hair . A fellow elder had a son who chose to grow his hair longer and the WT sent the word down that if an elder allowed that " he did not have control of his family " and was forced to step down . I disagreed and the Elder Body accused me of speaking against the Elder arrangement and wanted me to step down and i refused to step down and they replied ,then we will remove you .which they did . Later on the WT realized that they had shot themselves in the foot as elders were dropping like flies and reversed their policy .I was called to meet with them 6 months later as they wanted to reinstate me as an elder and i declined.
The reason i mention the above Terry is as regards you ? is the principal set forth at Math: 10:34-38 has a bearing on disfellowshipping and disassociated persons is untrue as verses 32 and 33 set the tone for disowning Christ and Christ would disown them before the Father.If one goes back and reads the context its obvious he giving instructions to his 12 apostles as what they would be facing in their ministry. But the WT has selected those 5 passages to make a case for disfellowshipping and disassociation and refer to it as " the proper view"
Now because the prevailing conditions have changed and the numbers are falling the " special and difficult problems of their making are causeing the WT problems that is why the new spin on !Cor,5 :11 Re "normally etc, unless etc., plus the families in the WT are probably not now buying into being separated from each other as they did in the past.
As far as being able to give you the latest facts Terry that would be difficult because from my past experience i learned the WT like any business floats an idea to see if it sells and if it does not and numbers decline the " new light " change policy kicks in hoping it will correct the previous blunder
If it was me and i felt that that they had policy change i wouldnt hesitate to go and see her . In fact i would go and see her even if there was no policy change unless she told me she did not want to see me . I say that because my sister is still a jw and a diabetic and my brother told me she was not well so i called her and asked her how she was doing and she said fine . She then asked if i was going to the K.H and i said that i was not and she said well we have nothing in common and hung up.
So you do the right and kind thing and it always works out for the best in the end.
Hopes that helps Terry getting tired didnt get a chance to check for errors In Gods Love Don Smith