The Two-Witness Rule: Origin, Application, and Criticism

The two-witness rule is an internal policy among Jehovah's Witnesses that states that a congregation member cannot be subjected to internal disciplinary action based on the accusation of just one person. The rule has received worldwide attention because of its application in cases of sexual abuse. The biblical basis The organization bases the policy on Deuteronomy 19:15 and Matthew 18:16: "On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter must be established." In the JG interpretation, this means that one statement is insufficient for congregational action. How does it work in practice? If someone tells an elder that he or she has been sexually abused by a congregation member, the elders will only start an internal disciplinary procedure if there is a second witness, or if the accused admits the facts. If that is not the case, the matter is 'left in Jehovah's hands'. At the same time, until relatively recently, the policy was that elders would not contact the police themselves — that was seen as the responsibility of the victim or the parents. External criticism and investigation The rule and the broader handling of abuse have been the subject of legal and parliamentary investigations in several countries: Australia (2015): The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that the organization had internally recorded 1,006 accused perpetrators who had never been reported to the police. The two-witness rule was identified as a contributing factor. Netherlands: The Velleman Commission published a report in 2023 on sexual abuse in Dutch JG congregations. The commission concluded that the organizational structure hindered reporting and handling of abuse. Other countries: Similar investigations have been carried out or are underway in Belgium, the UK, Canada, and the US. What the organization says about this The organization states that victims can always contact the police and that elders never actively discourage this. In practice, many victims describe different experiences. The organization has adjusted its policy on this point several times, but the core of the two-witness rule for internal procedures has not been abolished. What this means if you are a victim If you have experienced abuse in a congregation — as a child or as an adult — you have the right to report it to the police, regardless of how the congregation dealt with your statement. The Dutch police and the Public Prosecution Service are not bound by the internal rules of religious organizations. Veilig Thuis (0800-2000) and Victim Support Netherlands can support you if you do not know where to start.