Could I please see a :Vow"

by Doug Mason 1 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Doug Mason

  Each member of the religious order of ordained ministers belonging to the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah's Witnesses has taken a vow of poverty.

  I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SCAN (JPG, GIF, ETC) OF THE "VOW" THEY TAKE (PERSONAL NAMES BLACKENED, OF COURSE).

  In the meantime, while waiting for a scan, I would like to know the wording of the “Vow”.

  The Watch Tower has used the presence of this “religious Order” to claim financial benefits provided to religious bodies, particularly taxation relief (see, for example: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/TC4708A.htm). So this shows one purpose of "the Order".

  It is not clear how the Order’s existence will impact on the organization’s evolution. Change is inevitable, with time-related issues pressing on the organization, particularly those related to 1914, 1919 and 1935.

  The organization also has to address its dwindling numbers of Anointed (the “144,000”) and that virtually none has any impact on the teachings. Given the functions performed by each member of the “Order”, it could rise to prominence in future developments.

  Given the similarity between the GB and the Papacy, perhaps there is a similarity between the two organizations regarding religious “Orders”.

  The creation of the “Order” puts to bed the old assertion that the JW organization does not have a clergy/laity division, for one certainly exists now.

  I had thought the term “Bethel” referred to the NY HQ, but obviously I was wrong:
  “Branch offices (around the world), as well as the world headquarters, are staffed by Bethel family members, who are included in the Order of Special Full-Time Servants.” (2000 Yearbook, page 47)

  Doug
• 

  cathyk

  They used to have a different view of "vows of poverty":

  *** w73 10/1 p. 607 Questions From Readers ***Nor are Scriptural vows to be compared with the so-called ‘monastic vows’ that persons in later centuries were required to make in order to gain admittance into certain religious orders of church organizations. Those vows of ‘chastity, poverty and obedience’ placed those vowing under obligation to the religious orders and served those orders as a means of exercising control over their adherents. Higher church officials could absolve persons from certain types of vows, but with some vows release could be gained only through the titular head of the church, as in the papal arrangement. These, then, are not Scriptural vows, for Scriptural vows were entirely spontaneous and personal, between the individual and God. Furthermore, under the Law, although a woman’s vow might be disallowed by her husband, or father (within a certain time after being made), in other cases no human could grant one release from a Scriptural vow.—Num. 30:3-15.

  Even more interesting:

  ***w828/15p.15InsightontheNews***Individuals were told that they could keep on with their secular employment yet be tax free by starting their own church chartered by the Life Science Church. They could then either donate up to 50 percent of their earnings to the church and substantially reduce their taxes or take a vow of poverty and give all their earnings and property to the church. The church would then pay all expenses and the individual would be tax exempt, it was claimed. The court rejected such argument. "The ruling," said Daniel Kurtz of the state attorney general’s office, "would encourage the state to pursue other organizations and individuals seeking tax exemption under the guise of religion."

  True Christians would not want to take deductions that are not allowed by their governments (as ministers or otherwise), but as Romans 13:7 counsels they will render to "him who calls for the tax, the tax." They do not use their ministry as a means for evading taxes.

  As a Catholic, I found the changes in terminology ("Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses" [!]) highly amusing ...

  Cathy

  www.oldlighthousebooks.com