Jehovah’s Witness Sexual Abuse Case –How Is The Organization Governed?

An explosive new documentary that aired on Oxygen about the Jehovah’s Witnesses has alleged that they have been covering up instances and allegations of child sex abuse for over three decades. There are now grand jury investigations looking into some aspects of these abuses, but we are likely just seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to legal action against the organization. Many people are now questioning the leadership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and how they are governed. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our Philadelphia child sex abuse lawyers are here to help any victims come forward and obtain justice in compensation for what happened.

Understanding how the Jehovah’s Witnesses are governed

The Governing Body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is based in Warwick, New York. This group is tasked with formulating doctrines and overseeing the written material for publications and conventions. They administer Jehovah’s Witness activities worldwide. The current governing members and the year they were appointed to the governing body are as follows:

• Kenneth E. Cook, Jr. (2018)
• Samuel Frederick Herd (1999)
• Geoffrey William Jackson (2005)
• Mark Stephen Lett (1999)
• Gerrit Lösch (1994)
• Anthony Morris III (2005)
• Mark Sanderson (2012)
• David H. Splane (1999)

The Governing Body functions through six committees, each of which has specific administrative functions. Each committee is assisted by “helpers.” Governing Body meetings are held each week in closed sessions.

What does the Watchtower have to do with this?

Officially called the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, this group is a non-profit organization within the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are often referred to as the Jehovah’s Witness oversight wing and are tasked with administering and disseminating doctrine for the Witnesses. The investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting has found that the Watchtower is responsible for collecting precise data about the sexual abuse allegations within the Jehovah’s Witnesses and keeping this information secret.

The data they collect concerning sexual abuse allegations is extensive, and includes the following:

• The type of abuse that has been reported
• The frequency of any instances of sexual abuse
• Personal information of the perpetrators of the sexual abuse
• How the victim and perpetrator were perceived by others in the congregation
• What kind of reaction the community had to the allegations of sexual abuse (if any)
• How many people knew about the abuse

We are ready to help you through this

If you or somebody you love has been sexually abused by a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, please speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The team at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. is ready to listen to your case. Our compassionate and experienced Philadelphia child sex abuse attorneys understand that this is a difficult topic. We are ready to help you obtain justice and compensation for what happened. This can include coverage for:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Compensation for needed counseling
• Punitive damages against those responsible (including the abuser and the Jehovah’s Witnesses)

We are ready to help you take control of this situation. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.