UK Charity Commission blasts Jehovah’s Witnesses

Charity Commission – Watch Tower Britain was not “as straightforward and as transparent” as they should have been.

Written by Lester Somrah. Published on August 5, 2023

In a report released on the website of the Charity Commission for England and Wales (‘the Commission’) on August 4, 2023, the Commission had nothing nice or commendable to say about Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (‘the charity’).

Now facing increasing scrutiny and being held to account more than ever before, the days for a ‘worldly’ institution to say all the pleasantries about Jehovah’s Witnesses (‘JW’) and their legal corporations are done. There is no turning back the clock now.

Background

The Commission’s report dated August 4, 2023 details how their investigation into the child safeguarding polices of Jehovah’s Witnesses began with "statutory inquiry in 2007 into the London Mill Hill Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (a separately registered charity) following the criminal conviction of a congregation elder abuse of 13 young people over a period of 15 years. At this 2007 inquiry, the charity submitted a draft child safeguarding policy. The Commission sent this draft to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (‘NSPCC’) for an independent review. This review was also sent to the charity on July 15, 2010. The charity also sought their own advice from RWA, a safeguarding consultancy. In finalizing their 2011 policy, the charity rejected all of the NSPCC’s recommendations.”

“In 2013, the February 2011 child safeguarding policy was placed under further scrutiny. Following the conviction of another Jehovah’s Witness, the Commission wrote to the charity (a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a separately registered charity) in August 2013 to raise concerns about the charity’s January 2013 safeguarding policy and its implementation. The Commission sought the advice from the NSPCC on the then current safeguarding policy. This review raised serious concerns with the safeguarding policy, in particular its effectiveness in protecting children. The NSPCC advised that the January 2013 safeguarding policy was at odds with UK legislation and guidance.”

“On 11 March 2014, the Commission met with the charity and two trustees of the International Bible and Students Association (‘IBSA’) to discuss its concerns about the safeguarding policy produced, updated and circulated to congregations in January 2013. The Commission’s view was that although they had engaged with the charity during the drafting of the 2011 Policy and provided it with the concerns highlighted by the NSPCC, the charity rejected these concerns when producing their 2013 Safeguarding Policy.”

It became clear to the Commission that both the February 2011 and January 2013 child safeguarding policy failed to protect children.

On 27 May 2014 a statutory inquiry (‘inquiry’) was opened by the Charity Commission into the charity under Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011.

For the next nine (9) years, the actions of the charity have been anything else besides being open and transparent with the Inquiry. . Their unchristian actions leave much to be desired.

Summary of the Findings and Conclusion of the Commission’s August 4, 2023 Report

Organizational Structure of Jehovah’s Witnesses in England and Wales

The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is an ecclesiastical committee based in New York, USA, which provides religious direction and guidance to Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. This religious guidance is provided through their literature, videos, website and internal eyes-only letters to congregation elders.
Britain Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the administrative office for the Britain Branch Committee. The Britain Branch Committee is an ecclesiastical committee which supervises the religious activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in England and Wales. The Branch Committee (and all other Branch Committees) are appointed by the Governing Body. The Britain Branch Committee is not a registered charity.
Service Department – A department of the Britain Branch Office which provides religious guidance to congregation Elders on spiritual matters including the implementation of the child protection policy of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Legal Department – A department of the Britain Branch Office which provides legal advice to the Britain Branch Office, other JW organizations and directly to congregation elders in England and Wales.
The charity - Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, registered charity 1077961. The charity is the subject of this statutory inquiry and the Charities Act.
International Bible Students Association (‘IBSA’), registered charity 216647.
Kingdom Hall Trust (‘KHT’), registered charity 275946 – Replaced all the individual congregation charities. Holder of titles to all places of worship of JW.
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (‘CCJW’). This is an unincorporated association, created in July 2011. Disseminates spiritual guidance and advice provided by the Britain Branch Committee/Service Desk and/or the global governing body to congregation elders and sometimes congregations directly. It took over this role from the charity from September 2011 onwards. CCJW is a registered U.S domestic not-for-profit corporation organization (EIN 223765681) based in Patterson, New York.

Blurred Lines of Accountability

Throughout the Inquiry, there has been a lack of clarity over the role and governance of the Britain Branch Office and its Service Desk and Legal Department, their relationship with the charity and other JW entities listed above, as well as the role and influence of the Governing Body in the USA.
The February 2011 Child Protection Policy was overseen by the ecclesiastical Britain Branch Committee and not the registered charity. This 2011 Policy was disseminated to the JW congregations by the charity.
The updated 2013 Child Protection Policy was overseen by the ecclesiastical Britain Branch Committee with very little assistance by the registered charity.
The updated 2017 Child Protection Policy was overseen by the ecclesiastical Britain Branch Committee with no assistance by the registered charity.
At no time during the Inquiry did the charity refer the Commission to an alternative organization or charity as having the responsibility for child safeguarding in JW.
Throughout the Inquiry, the charity acted in an official capacity as the contact on safeguarding matters facilitating engagement with the Commission and responding to its information requests, and meeting with the Commission.
The charity maintains that that the Britain Branch Committee has, and still is, responsible for the JW safeguarding policy’s compliance with the laws of England and Wales.
It was not clear to the inquiry who was ultimately responsible for all the different aspects of safeguarding if it was not the charity, as the Britain Branch Committee is not a registered charity.
The 2018/19 Worldwide Child Protection Policy (‘2018/19 Policy’) was not adopted by the charity. The charity’s justification why it chose not to adopt this policy when they had done so earlier (with previous policies) was unsatisfactory.
There is a lack of clear governance which blurs the roles and responsibilities between JW organizations and/or a shift in the charity’s position during the inquiry.
The CCJW that elders are directed to report an allegation to the statutory authorities whenever it appears that any child might be at risk of abuse from the accused.”

Conclusions of the Commission’s Inquiry

The Commission concluded that the charity had a role in the production and dissemination of the JW’s 2011 child protection policy.
By 2017 the charity had no role at all in safeguarding, including the production, dissemination and practical implementation of the JW child protection policy.
The charity neither provides any services to children nor any services which they consider to be regulated activity.
The charity’s responses to the Commission have not been as straightforward and as transparent as they should have been.
The inquiry does not conclude that the trustees have deliberately failed to cooperate with the inquiry.
The charity is not the organization that is currently directly responsible for the safety of JW beneficiaries, including children.

Editor's Comments

The charitable objectives of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain should include:

preaching the gospel of God’s kingdom …… to both children and adults
producing and distributing bibles and other religious literature …… for both children and adults

Whilst “the charity neither provides any services to children”, its objectives also include providing religious education and guidance for children. Part of the “religious education” includes encouraging parents to bring their children to religious education meetings and to involve them in “preaching the gospel of God’s kingdom” and other religious activities promoted by the charity.

“All charity trustees have to ensure that their charity prioritises the safety of anyone who comes into contact with their charity. The guidance helps them do this and explains their duties under safeguarding law.” - Updates to guidance about safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees

“Protecting people and safeguarding responsibilities should be a governance priority for all charities. It is a fundamental part of operating as a charity for the public benefit. As part of fulfilling your trustee duties, whether working online or in person, you must take reasonable steps to protect from harm people who come into contact with your charity.” - Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees

From the above, safeguarding responsibilities are part of the inalienable duties of a charity. The present legislation makes no provision for such responsibilities to be delegated or passed on to another body. However, this is exactly what happened with Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain. The statutory safeguarding responsibilities of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, was re-assigned/removed to the CCJW, a body that is not registered and therefore not accountable under any UK legislation.

Prior to this inquiry, the Commission conducted investigations into the child safeguarding practices of two congregation charities, in 2007 and 2013 respectively. These two investigations did not happen in a solo – the Britain Branch Committee, the Legal Department and the Governing Body, at least, was aware. Therefore, in my opinion, re-assignment/removal of statutory safeguarding responsibilities of the charity in 2011 occurred under the most dubious of circumstances. Furthermore, questions arise as to why the charity did not have a child safeguarding policy from the time it was registered in 1999 up until 2011.

To date, there have been no evidence regarding previous instances where congregation elders, the charity’s trustees or any of the ecclesiastical committees:

made a “report of an allegation to the statutory authorities whenever it appears that any child might be at risk of abuse from the accused.”
made a report of an allegation to the statutory authorities regarding previous criminal offences which they investigated internally and have documented evidence in their possession.

Furthermore, there have been instances where congregation elders were uncooperative with investigating law enforcement officials.

At this present time, there are no mandatory reporting laws for sexual offences against children in the United Kingdom.

Lester Somrah

Lester Somrah writes about the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses on his social media platforms and was baptized as a member in 1998.