I have been wondering just where this term came from. Is it exclusive of the dubs or did some other sect invent it? anyone knowing? I would much appreciate any info on this, thank you in advance.
The term Governing Body where did it come from?
by ssn587 11 Replies latest jw friends
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pirata
It is a legal term: ie. "A board of directors is the governing body of a non-profit organization." (http://www.suite101.com/content/nonprofit-board-responsibilities-a14806#ixzz10ZpjzuWx)
Pastor Russell, Judge Rutherford, and Nathan Knorr/Fred Franz, took the spiritual lead in the organization up until the reorganization in the power structure in the 1970s. In the 1970's the board of directors or "governing body" took control of spiritual matters. Since then the term "governing body" is perceived by JWs to be the religious leaders. The modern day governing body uses the term "governing body" to refer to the board of directors since Rutherford's time, giving the impression that the governing body has always taken the spiritual lead. A most recent example of this is at the 2010 District Convention where Rutherford was referred to as a "prominent member of the governing body" instead of the Watchtower Society President.
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St George of England
They can pretend all they want that the governing body has been in operation for a hundred years or more or even back to Jesus' time. The fact of the matter is the GB was formed on Friday 1 October 1971 at the AGM.
If you want to read about this event turn up December 15, 1971 WT and read the relevant article.
After that try to find details of any meetings of the GB BEFORE that date. I don't think there are many!! The GB was the WTS until 1971.
George
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elderelite
The short answer is that the term "governing body" came from....
the governing body
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sabastious
All non-profit organizations have a Governing Body, it's a legal term.
Funny they say there was a "governing body" in the 1st century too... always makes me chuckle when they say that.
-Sab
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pirata
However, the term "governing body" is a legal term that simply refers to a board of directors of an organization. It is used outside of the Watchtower Society as well.
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elderelite
I repeat, in the context we are talking about, the term "governing body" came from
the governing body
to be read inbetween the lines:
*it is not found in the bible*
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Ding
Rutherford wanted to wean the Bible Students off of the view the Russell personally was the FDS, so he taught that it was a group of people.
Ironically, Rutherford ran the WTS himself even though there was a corporate board of directors.
In CoC, Ray Franz talks about how the WTS was run by the president and that the GB was mostly a fiction until very recently.
When Knorr died, with Fred Franz being old, the GB insisted on governing, not just saying yes to Fred.
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blondie
*** w50 11/15 pp. 447-448 Subjection to the Higher Powers ***GOVERNING BODY
30 The entire body of Christ is to be associated with Jesus in the heavenly kingdom in the world to come. This Kingdom body with Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords will be Jehovah’s capital organization over the universe. It was during the first century that "God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles". (1 Cor. 12:28, NW) Hence in the theocratic organization the apostles, that is, the "twelve apostles of the Lamb", were next to Jesus Christ the Head. (Rev. 21:14) Hence they formed part of the "superior authorities" to which every Christian soul was to be subject. This is indicated to us by various scriptures.
31 For example, Paul speaks of those then governing within the entire congregation, saying: "Remember those who are governing you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith. Be obedient to those who are governing you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account, that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you. Give my greetings to all those who are governing you and to all the holy ones." (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24, NW) In no way could this refer to political governors appointed by Caesar or by the Roman Senate. Paul says that these holy governors spoke God’s Word to the Christians and their conduct showed faith that is worthy of Christian imitation and they were keeping watch over the souls of the congregation most conscientiously because they had to give an accounting to God. Paul was one of that governing body, and in a number of places he speaks of his authority, which God gave him in the congregation in order to build it up and not tear it down.—1 Cor. 9:12, 18; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10; 2 Thess. 3:9.
32 According to the theocratic arrangement today there must be a governing body for the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth. The facts show these to be associated with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. However, the twentieth-century governing body are not a part of the "superior authorities" as the twelve apostles were. They are subject to the invisible "superior authorities" and merely represent them on earth.
33 Christ Jesus now is invisibly present in his second par·ou·si´a and is the acting Head Governor over his congregation. He is the one whose birth on earth was foretold at Micah 5:2, the prophecy which is quoted at Matthew 2:6: "You, however, O Bethlehem of the land of Judah, are by no means the most insignificant city among the governors of Judah; for out of you will come forth a leader who will shepherd my people, Israel." (NW) In the capacity of Governor with superior authority Jesus in this his second par·ou·si´a appoints his anointed slave class to a more responsible service and so fulfills his own prophecy: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you that he will appoint him over all his belongings." (Matt. 24:45-47, NW) But that does not mean making this "faithful and discreet slave" class a part of the "superior authorities" to wield the sword of execution. Since the appointment of this faithful class is theocratic, they should be respected and their services should be gladly received as from the "superior authorities".
*** w52 9/1 p. 537 par. 16 Maturity Essential to Increase ***"Let no man deprive you" by sidetracking your attention and devotion and service from the one organization. Paul had to sharply warn of that in his day. (1 Cor. 1:10-13, NW) As he argues at Galatians 3:16, 29 (NW), there is but the one ‘seed, who is Christ’, including those under him who "belong to Christ", sharing in the same heavenly hope; members of which class today form the visible governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses.
*** w54 9/1 pp. 532-533 par. 15 Recognizing the Theocratic Organization for Life ***Since the "faithful and discreet slave" is a class, its continued faithfulness and discreetness do not depend upon the life and conduct of any single individual. Since the "slave" class is made up of many anointed Christians, it must have a governing body. It does, just as the theocratic congregation of apostolic times had a governing body. Peter did not claim to be that governing body. Neither did Paul. Both of these apostles recognized the governing body as including more men than themselves, and they submitted their matters of dispute to the decision of the governing body. The twelve apostles of the Lamb being a mere dozen, not all the spiritually qualified men of their day could be included among such special apostles. And so the governing body took in, besides the twelve apostles of the Lamb, other older men of the theocratic organization at Jerusalem, such as James, the half brother of Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:1-29; Gal. 1:18, 19; Jas. 1:1) Naturally, the governing body of the "faithful and discreet slave" class today does not include any of the twelve apostles, now long absent from the earthly scene, but it does follow the written instructions of those apostles and the other older men associated with them in writing the Christian Greek Scriptures. The theocratic governing body of today includes older, spiritually qualified men of the anointed remnant.
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I can't find anything in WT publications from 1879 to 1916.
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booby
St George of England - mentioned the following watchtower - Anyone that wants a good laugh should try to read through the drivel that makes up this article.
*** w71 12/15 p. 755 A Governing Body as Different from a Legal Corporation ***
A Governing Body as Different from a Legal Corporation
ON Friday morning, October 1, 1971, the legal corporation known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held its annual corporation meeting, this time in the Assembly Hall of Jehovah's witnesses at Buckingham, Pennsylvania. All seven members of the Board of Directors of said Society attended and had a part in the program presented. The membership of this Society is limited to five hundred at the most, there being at present four hundred and fifty such members throughout the earth. Many of these members attended this annual corporation meeting in person, still more by means of proxy. All together, 2,076 attended this corporation meeting, doubtless all of them being interested Christian witnesses of Jehovah.