Charity Commission Defends Inquiry into Watch Tower Charity in Court of Appeal

The Charity Commission has defended its statutory inquiry into the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, the leading Jehovah’s Witness charity in the United Kingdom, before the Court of Appeal. A 2014 gov.uk report, which is now marked as withdrawn, said the court heard arguments from the charity’s trustees, who seek permission to challenge the inquiry. The inquiry was started in 2014 and focuses on how the charity safeguards children and adults at risk.

The trustees argue that the legal basis for the commission’s investigation is flawed and dispute its order for access to their records. The report said the Watch Tower Society has consistently opposed the inquiry, asserting that the commission lacks legal authority to conduct it. The commission maintains that the Charity Tribunal is the appropriate venue for such cases. It warned that a ruling for the trustees could create barriers for less well-funded charities seeking justice through the Tribunal. The commission has encouraged anyone affected by safeguarding issues to contact Jonathan Sanders, the lead investigator.

A separate 2014 UK Human Rights Blog report described an earlier judicial review challenge concerning the commission’s decision to investigate two congregations. The case, R (o.t.a Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Britain) v Charity Commission, was heard by Judge Dove. According to the blog, the court ruled that judicial review was not the appropriate remedy because the Charities Act 2011 provided other statutory avenues for the charity to pursue. The two reports describe different stages of the dispute, and neither says how the Court of Appeal ruled.

The blog report also described cases involving congregation elders. It stated that Jonathan Rose, an elder at the Moston congregation in Manchester, was allowed to cross-examine children he had previously molested during public meetings, and that Rose was eventually disfellowshipped after complaints to the police and the Charity Commission. Allowing a man accused of harming children to question them in a public setting shows why protecting the vulnerable matters (Mark 9:42).

The blog report further stated that Mark Sewell, an elder at the Barry congregation in Wales, was convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2014. Before his conviction, alleged victims were required to face Sewell in “judicial committee” hearings organized by the church.

The report said Sewell’s fellow elders reportedly provided limited assistance to police and prosecutors, despite having disfellowshipped him 20 years earlier.