I don't come here much anymore, but I do like to keep tabs on anything "important" happening in the WT.
These two rumors interest me. Do we have any official, trustworthy source on them?
changeling
by changeling 16 Replies latest jw friends
I don't come here much anymore, but I do like to keep tabs on anything "important" happening in the WT.
These two rumors interest me. Do we have any official, trustworthy source on them?
changeling
These two rumors interest me. Do we have any official, trustworthy source on them?
No.
I think it was me who first made a post nearly a year ago suggesting the Society might get rid of COs. I did not have any inside information, I was just conjecturing.
I thought for a while this had been confirmed by those with inside knowledge because of all the threads on the subject, but there has been no firm evidence as far as I can tell.
It's a bit like the reduction in pioneer hours that was said to be coming but which has not yet materialised.
I asked my current JW wife about the changes also the one about the PO no longer being a title. She had no information to collaborate this. She said it was all still the same.
Perhaps this was not read to the general congregation or not yet.
Here's the text of the letter:
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS
Re: Coordinator of the body of elders
Dear Brothers:
Jehovah is the Supreme Overseer, and he has appointed Jesus Christ as head over the congregation. (Eph. 1:22; 1 Pet. 2:25) Congregation elders serve as shepherds, cooperating together with Jesus Christ and the faithful and discreet slave class for the advancement of Kingdom interests and for the good of the entire congregation.--Matt. 24:45; Eph. 4:15, 16.
One of the many positions of responsibility in the body of elders is that of presiding overseer. Effective January 1, 2009, the term "presiding overseer" will no longer be used, since that expression may convey the thought that one overseer holds more authority than the rest do. Scripturally, individual elders are to cooperate closely with the body of elders, with each member holding equal authority. Hence, no elder is above the others in the body, and none of them should try to dominate the others.--Matt. 23:10; od p. 37 par. 1.
In view of this, the designation "presiding overseer" is being changed to "coordinator of the body of elders." This term more correctly describes his role as one who helps the body of elders to work together harmoniously. He is not the coordinator of the congregation but rather the coordinator of the body of elders. In recognition of Christ's headship, he humbly works along with the other elders in caring for the flock of God.--Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 5:2,3.
We are confident that this adjustment will help all to more fully understand how the body of elders functions. Please accept a sincere expression of our appreciation for your tireless work in behalf of Kingdom interests.
Your brothers,
Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
cc: Traveling overseers
PS to presiding overseer:
Please promptly arrange for this letter to be read to the body of elders. All the cited scriptures and the cited paragraph in the Organized book should be included in the reading. Thereafter, the secretary should place the letter in the congregaition's permanent file of policy letters. An announcement regarding this change will appear in Our Kingdom Ministry.
This announcment was in a 2008 Kingdom Ministry , BUT it was sooooooh! small ,
I expect most ordinary people just missed it.
fokyc
don't worry - no one is hunting anyone (other than in werewolf)
He is not the coordinator of the congregation but rather the coordinator of the body of elders.
In retrospect, this statement is quite interesting. So the former PO is not the coordinator of the congregation anymore. Who is? Or, who will be? Perhaps this is a setup for a new position to take the place of the COs and POs: a coordinator/overseer of a handful of congregations.
Oh Good God! What is the difference in Presiding and Coordinating? Still feeble-minded men.
We started talking about the C/O, but still,
"
coordinator | |
noun | |
someone whose task is to see that work goes harmoniously |
Hmm, how do you do that without the authority to preside? Anyway, the term is scriptural:
Rom.12.8 " he that presides, [let him do it] in real earnest; "