What IS the "Worldwide Order"?

Doug Mason

The more I uncover, the more I realize how little I really know.

After putting my org chart together, I have a question: “who or what is this ‘Worldwide Order’?”

If this is the formal name of the full-time members within the overall organization, what is the name of the overall organization? Could it be something like “New World Society”?

I understand that names such as “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society” and “International Bible Students association” are identities created to satisfy the legal requirements of a State. This gives legal status to the entity, permitting it to operate its religious activities within that jurisdiction. When a state/country does not legally recognize a name such as WTBTS or IBSA, the organization might be forced to operate clandestinely. That is, it appears to me that the name WTBTS or IBSA is an identity employed to facilitate the religious operations.

Does this mean that “the Worldwide Order” is name of the religious body that operates behind these legally required terms?

The “Worldwide Order” (the “Order”) includes all of the organization’s full-time operatives, numbering about 20,000. The Order includes Circuit Overseers and Special Pioneers, but not Substitute Circuit Overseers. (I know this is nothing new to you guys, but I am trying to catch up from the outside with your knowledge.)

Does this mean “the Order” is a full-time “Class” of about 20,000 that manages the operations of a “Class” of part-timers?

Are there women in the “Order”? If so, do they strike a glass ceiling as they climb the tree?

A member of “the Order” would not need to be anointed, but this is irrelevant, since every “Witness” has “holy spirit”. And not every anointed would need to be a member of “the Order”.

When I read about the religious claims made before a US court by a JW congregation, I read that they built a house for use by the “Order”. (http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/TC4708A.htm : “[name] has taken vows of poverty, lifelong service, and obedience to the Order, as did the nuns in House of Good Shepherd, (vows of poverty, service, and obedience), and the priest in Roman Catholic Archdiocese, (vows of marriage to church, service, and obedience), and because the Order promises its members housing in return, [name] must live where the Order sends him.” )

So, is my understanding of “the Order” going along the correct pathway?

Doug

Atlantis

Doug:

THE ORDER OF SPECIAL FULL TIME SERVANTS.

The (Order Of Special Full Time Servants) are referred to in these Watchtower Yearbooks:

1. Yearbook/1995/pages 5-6/
2. Yearbook/1996/pages 8-9/
3. Yearbook/1997/page-28/
4. Yearbook/1998/page-29/
5. Yearbook/1999/page-27/
6. Yearbook/2000/page-47/
7. Yearbook/2001/page-26/

Here are the quotes from the above Yearbooks:
1995 Yearbook pages 5-6/ states:

Among the full-time workers were 15,145 members
of the global Bethel family. They help to provide literature,
supervision, and other beneficial services in support of
the worldwide work of Bible education. Of these, 5,082 serve
at the world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and at
nearby facilities. All of them are members of the
Order of Special Full-Time Servants, a (religious order)
that is devoted exclusively to the ministry.

1996 Yearbook pages 8-9/ states: Among those in full-time service are 16,468 Bethel
family members around the globe. Of this number,
5,709 serve at the world headquarters; all of these
are members of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.

1997 Yearbook page 28/ states: There are 5,581 volunteers who serve at the world
headquarters on a regular basis; all of these are members
of the Order of Special Full-Time Servants. All together,
there are 16,966 Bethel family members around the globe.
Housing is provided for them in the Society's facilities.

1998 Yearbook page 29/ states: Altogether, there are 16,982 volunteers who regularly
work at the Society's headquarters and branch facilities
worldwide. Because of the circumstances under which
they serve, these Bethel family members are all included
in the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.

1999 Yearbook page 27/ states: As the number of publishers increases—and 316,092
more were baptized this past year—additional branch
facilities are also required. At present, 17,781 in Bethel
families around the earth render service as members of
the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.

2000 Yearbook page 47/ states: The increase in the number of praisers of Jehovah in
many lands has also made the building of new branch
offices necessary. Such branch offices, as well as the
world headquarters, are staffed by Bethel family members,
who are included in the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.

2001 Yearbook page 26/ states: Such facilities worldwide are staffed by a total of 19,587
ordained ministers, all of whom are members of the
Order of Special Full-Time Servants.

TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO DOWNLOAD:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ora...der.html?200524

THE NAME THEN CHANGED TO:

THE WORLWIDE ORDER OF SPECIAL FULL TIME
SERVANTS

You can find references in these Yearbooks:

1. Yearbook/2003/page-30/
2. Yearbook/2004/page-30/

Here are the quotes from those above Yearbooks:

2003 Yearbook page 30/ states: Worldwide, a total of 19,823 ordained ministers
staff such branch facilities. All are members of the
Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah's Witnesses.

2004 Yearbook page 30/ states: Worldwide, a total of 19,848 ordained ministers
staff such branch facilities. All are members of the
Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of
Jehovah's Witnesses. Nevada-