Jehovah’s Witnesses, safeguarding and the Charity Tribunal

In January we noted that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, governing body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, had appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Charity) against the Charity Commission’s decision in June 2014 to open a statutory inquiry into various issues within the denomination, including the administration, governance and management of the charity and its safeguarding policies. The Commission also opened a statutory inquiry into the Manchester congregation; and the congregation’s trustees lodged an appeal against that inquiry also. The Tribunal has now handed down judgments rejecting both appeals. Continue reading