In which year were publishers allowed to report only 15 minutes?

jwfacts

I am trying to account for some of the growth trends of JW's and was trying to find out when JW's were first allowed to report only 15 minutes field service in one month. I think it was early 2000's but can not be sure.

Snoozy

For real?

Snoozy..

jwfacts

For real?

Yes, for real. It was to bump up the numbers by getting the older ones to report even if they no longer go door to door but might have spent a few minutes talking to someone.

asilentone

Can a teenager report 15 minutes a month?

AllTimeJeff

I believe it was around 2000 or 2001. This 15 minute time was originally designed for elderly shut in JW's so that they could still be counted as active. The Secretary was to count an hour on their Publisher Record Card when their were 4 15 minute increments to count.

There is no provision for publishers in good health to count 15 minutes per month.

slimboyfat

I think it was around 2001 as well. Could not say for sure. It will be in a KM somewhere. I guess you know that, it's finding it that's the thing.

AllTimeJeff

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km3/02p.5par.6"GiftsinMen"EagerlyShepherdGod’sFlock***

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ValuingtheInfirm: Loving undershepherds are also concerned about those who could be overlooked. Associated with every congregation are some who are infirm, confined to nursing homes, or otherwise incapacitated. Their share in proclaiming the Kingdom message is understandably limited because of their circumstances. Perhaps their opportunity to speak out may come only through contacts with visitors, other patients, or caregivers. Nevertheless, whatever they are able to do is viewed as a valuable contribution to the overall preaching work. (Matt. 25:15) Even if they witness for just 15 minutes, this should be reported, and they will continue to be counted as regular Kingdom publishers.

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km10/02p.8par.6HowCongregationBookStudyOverseersShowPersonalInterest***

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AsaLovingShepherd: The book study overseer is interested in those who because of their circumstances are able to have only a small share in the preaching work. He makes sure that those who are very limited because of advanced age or because of being shut-ins and those who are temporarily limited because of serious illness or injury are aware of the provision that allows them to report field service time in 15-minute increments if they are not able to report a complete hour during one month. (The Congregation Service Committee determines who qualifies for this provision.) He also takes an interest in those assigned to the group who may be inactive, striving to help them resume their activity with the congregation.—Luke 15:4-7.

I do believe a letter was sent to all elders in 2001.

jwfacts

Thanks everyone.

them to report field service time in 15-minute increments if they are not able to report a complete hour during one month

I take that to mean that even if they only do 15 min in the entire month they can still submit a report. This helps account for the spike in publishers in the 2002 serive year.

Iwonder17

Are you putting new excel spreadshhets together with this info in mind? I would love to see what effect this had on th enumbers even though there is no real way to know how many counted their time this way

leavingwt

There is no provision for publishers in good health to count 15 minutes per month.

I was in perfect health, and an elder convinced me that, "surely you have fifteen minutes". This, after I told him I have zero time for the month.

This was after my wife had our first child. He said our new arrival qualified as a special circumstance, and we could submit 15 minutes.

So, the moral of this story is there are plenty of 15-minute per hour publishers that have zero time.

In which year were publishers allowed to report only 15 minutes?

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