Jehovah’s Witnesses End Century-Old Practice of Logging Proselytizing Hours

For over a hundred years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been recognized for their door-to-door evangelism and street literature distribution. Internally, these members were obliged to report their proselytizing hours to their congregation leaders, a lesser-known aspect of their practice. These reports were crucial for assessing a congregation’s spiritual health and played a significant role in leadership selection. Ex-members recall the stress of meeting these targets and the guilt associated with failing to do so.

This longstanding practice, however, ceased recently in a landmark decision.

Leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have, for the first time since 1920, abolished the requirement for regular members to log their proselytizing hours.

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Samuel Herd, a Governing Body member, announced the change at the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania’s annual meeting in October, emphasizing a focus on quality over quantity in their ministry. He encouraged members to serve out of devotion rather than obligation, though he noted this would require leaders to more deeply understand their congregations and not rely solely on quantitative measures like time and literature distribution.

The policy change was made public in early November through an official video, following earlier leaks on unofficial websites.

Former elder Martin Haugh from Pennsylvania remarked that this is one of the most significant changes he’s witnessed in the organization.

The change impacts “publishers,” or regular members engaged in active ministry, who will now only report whether they participated in evangelistic activities and Bible studies, omitting the hours. “Pioneers” and “missionaries,” who undertake more extensive service, will continue to track their hours.

Mitch Melin from Washington, a former member now critiquing the organization, hypothesizes that the change could be due to a noticeable decline in ministry hours, particularly post-pandemic.

Jarrod Lopes, a spokesperson for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, countered this, stating that ministry hours had been increasing annually until the pandemic, with a gradual recovery after a drop in 2021.

Former elder Haugh, who left the denomination citing concerns over its handling of various issues, reflected on the central role the hour-logging practice played in members’ lives. He mentioned how this requirement caused stress and stigma among members, affecting personal relationships and mental health. The recent change, he noted, alleviates this pressure.

In Pittsburgh, members were observed continuing their evangelistic efforts unaffected by this change. Local elder Chuck Ghee expressed that their commitment remains strong, driven by heartfelt devotion rather than a focus on hours.

Additionally, the Governing Body revisited their interpretations of biblical end-times prophecies. They now believe that during the Great Tribulation, nonbelievers might still have a chance to embrace their teachings, a shift from their previous stance. This change, not yet officially released, has been circulating on the same unofficial sites.

Governing Body members emphasized their openness to adjusting their understandings as new insights emerge, without embarrassment or need for apologies for past interpretations.

Lopes refrained from commenting on the unreleased teaching materials, noting that they are awaiting official release after translation into over 200 languages.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are currently navigating complex challenges. They have faced violent attacks in India and Germany and persecution in Russia, where they are banned. Additionally, they are under intense scrutiny for their handling of child sexual abuse cases, with multiple charges in Pennsylvania since 2022.

With 8.7 million members globally, these recent changes in teachings and practices indicate a potential shift in the organization’s identity, according to Mathew Schmalz, a religious studies professor. While it’s unlikely that Jehovah’s Witnesses will become a mainstream church, these adjustments could be seen as an effort to be recognized more seriously as a religious organization.

Former elder Haugh, however, views these changes as insufficient, pointing out the ongoing issues with abuse handling and legal battles against ex-members and critics.

This article is part of the Big Big News religion coverage, supported by The Conversation US and Lilly Endowment Inc., with the AP solely responsible for its content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Jehovah’s Witnesses Reforms

More about Jehovah’s Witnesses Reforms

• Official Statement on Jehovah’s Witnesses Website
• AP News Article on the Policy Change
• The Conversation US Article