I hope you counted that as time on your field service report Flipper.
WT Society's Paranoia Over Spiral Binding of Elder's Textbook - Crazy
by flipper 67 Replies latest jw friends
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flipper
MARY- Yeah, I counted the time on my report ! Actually my greatest joy would be to be reincarnated as a fly on the wall inside the kingdom hall to see the reaction of people and elders to the news releases left on their windshields ! That would be fun ! I couldn't stomach going into a kingdom hall as a human
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LogCon
Serving Jehovah and helping the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’
July 1, 2013
To all congregations:
Dear Brothers;
Please accept our warm brotherly love and affection with this, our first letter to your congregation.
Jehovah has indeed been good to us, blessing his loyal servants with spiritual food unknown to any other religious organization on earth. Our brotherly fellowship, our preaching activity and our separation from the world have proven to be a ‘place of refuge’ in these dangerous times.
By now each elder has no doubt read, from cover to cover, the Shepherding textbook. As we meditate carefully on the counsel and direction contained in its pages, a feeling of gratitude to the Faithful and Discreet Slave fills our hearts. Who else receives such ‘food in due time’ allowing us to keep prepared and ready for all situations which may arise in the congregation. As Paul said in Ephesians 5:15 ‘ So keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons.’ How much more carefully to walk as wise persons when we will be making serious decisions on the conduct of ‘the sheep in our care’. It truly is a time to “keep awake” so that we “may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur.”— Luke 21:36 .
As you carefully considered the instructions from the Faithful and Discreet Slave regarding your duties and following of the guidelines of the Shepherding textbook , certain questions may have come to your mind. It is true that Bible principles will, at all times, guide your judgements and decisions, however many times situations that arise are unique and unforeseen. At times like these, preparation is helpful to aid in our decision making.
The Faithful and Discreet Assistants , after months of prayerful consideration, have felt a motivation, a ‘spiritual directing energy’ if you will, to assist the Governing Body of the Faithful and Discreet Slave. You may ask, “How can the Governing Body be assisted?” Among the many ways that have come to our minds, we feel that it would be of great assistance to the Governing Body if we helped to alleviate the expected influx of letters of inquiry from the various congregations pertaining to the numerous possible judicial and expected judicial cases arising, and to be dealt with, under the ‘umbrella directions’ of the ‘Shepherding textbook’.
Governing Body than by putting to the elders of each congregation certain scenarios which may arise, scenarios of events that could be handled efficiently and effectively with well thought out preparation and also study of the Shepherding textbook. It is this desire to ‘free up’ the valuable time of the Governing Body that has moved us to prepare well-thought out advice for the congregations.
Handling of the Shepherding textbook.
As you all appreciate, the Faithful and Discreet Slave has warned us to show more than the usual care in the handling of the Shepherding textbook . For example, their instructions in the letter of October 7, 2010, advise on just who may assist us in our making the Shepherding textbook more comfortable to use. Some of you may feel that the present bindings of the Shepherding textbook are sufficient to properly fulfill your duties as ‘Shepherds of the Flock’. Others may want to change the bindings to assist them in locating sections more easily, and therefore desire to have their textbook ‘spiral coiled’. The Faithful and Discreet Slave has lovingly allowed us the freedom to act on this preference.
For those who decide to add the spiral coil we urge you to use good discernment skills. Some of you who are married may decide that your busy schedule of ‘shepherding the flock of God in your care’ is taking all the energy and time you have and may reason that your wife could help you with the spiral binding. This thinking can lead to many problems and must be avoided. Simply put, the words of the Shepherding textbook are for your eyes and not those of your wife. Even though she may promise convincingly to ‘not look’ inside the textbook, what assurance do you have that she will not succumb to the temptation?
Consider how tempting it would be, to read instructions restricted to the elders. Remember the tendency of the ‘weaker vessel’ to give in to temptation. Some may ask, “ Is not the binding of a book just a simple act”? Just think about how the simple act of taking and eating fruit from a tree resulted in such tragic consequences! When Eve gave into her desires, how great a curse was brought upon all of mankind
Like Eve, your wife’s act would be one of willful disobedience. ( Genesis 3:1-3 ) You would be like Adam who was not deceived. ( 1 Timothy 2:14 ) Instead of loyally obeying his Creator, he listened to his wife and followed her independent course.— Genesis 3:6 , 17 . . So therefore, we advise that, even if your wife begs and pleads to help you with the spiral binding, that you lovingly decline and assure her that she is still a valuable member of yours and Jehovah’s family. The same would, of course, apply to each and every female, such as sisters, daughters, aunts, mothers, grandmothers, etc.
You may give thought, briefly, to taking the manual to a service provider, such as Kinkos or the like and request that they perform the work. Please do not even consider this. It is our experience that many worldly people, though pleasant and honest looking on the outside, would desire to read the contents of publications such as the Shepherding textbook . Do not be fooled into thinking that just because they have put on an air of business professionalism, that they would not resort to looking and reading and maybe even copying portions of the Shepherding textbook . Even with you watching, they could hide behind machines, turn their backs to you or even enlist the aid of other workers to distract you while they copy large sections of the manual.
Another way that the Faithful and Discreet Slave has suggested, is to enlist the aid of a brother in the congregation to help you. You would want to ensure that he is in good standing with Jehovah, attends meetings regularly and is active in regular field service. He then could assist you in the work, however, you would want to make sure that he was always within your sight and you had close proximity to him, to ensure that he did not look at anything that is ’not for his eyes’. Again you would have to explain to him that this was necessary, as you were following directions of the Faithful and Discreet Slave. If he questions you on the matter, trying to make light of the work on the Shepherding textbook , you must not let your guard down. Satan works to cast doubt into the minds of Jehovah’s people, and especially are elders a target that Satan prizes. If the brother shows any signs of attempting to open the pages of the Shepherding textbook in a way that goes beyond simply adding the spiral binding, such as opening to a page and lingering with his gaze, you would want to quickly close the pages or cover them with something to block his vision. You would then want to remind him of the society’s instructions.
If he persists, you may have to stop the work and complete it at another time, possibly with another brother helping you. Such a brother, ignoring your instructions, may find it necessary for the elders to have a loving but firm private talk with him, to ‘readjust his thinking’. If he persists in his attitude, showing disrespect for the seriousness of the binding operation, he may have to be talked to by elders specially appointed to ‘strictly admonish him’. If he is a ministerial servant the elder body may have to review his qualifications. The Shepherding textbook gives instructions on how this could be done, with the greatest results and in a spirit of love. The elders would then have to decide how far this admonishing and correction must be taken. If the brother persisted in his rebellious attitude any subsequent actions would merely prove the scriptural truth that ‘you reap what you sow’.
To leave the Shepherding textbook somewhere in your home where your wife or children can get to it is not a course of spiritual wisdom. As your wife may succumb to the temptation of ‘looking into its pages’ while helping you bind it, how much more so could you expect that she would ‘seek out its pages’ when you were away at work. Imagine the amount of reading she could do in a whole day, again bringing shame on Jehovah and his organization. She would have to be ‘strictly admonished’ by the elders for such conduct. Perhaps you yourself would be ‘persuaded into her way of thinking’, or go along with her because of your desire to please her, just as Adam ‘went along with Eve”, not being deceived at all. How greatly this would result in bringing further shame to Jehovah, and would require ‘strict admonition’ to correct you and your wife. A judicial committee may have to be formed to handle the matter, all because of you taking the handling of the Shepherding textbook in such a light manner. [The elder body may find it necessary to review your qualifications. If so be assured that they will do so in a loving and merciful manner, but always with the well being of the congregation foremost on their minds. You can show your submission to Jehovah’s arrangement by humbly submitting to any decisions they may have to make.] Additionally, if children would look into the Shepherding textbook there could result long lasting and harmful consequences to them, both emotionally, morally and judicially. Again shame would be brought onto Jehovahs’ name.
The course of wisdom would be to buy a small lockable safe into which you could place the Shepherding textbook when not being studied or used in shepherding work. Make sure you are the only one with the key and that only you know its location. A sound alternate solution would be to always carry it with you in some folder or briefcase, remembering that it must either be secured at some location or not ‘let out of your sight’ at all. A body pack holding the Sheperding book, velcroed to your chest and under your clothes is a definite option.
We trust that this advice will aid you in your handling of the Shepherding textbook. We look forward to presenting to you a larger scope of scenarios with which to prepare yourself for future situations that could possibly arise in your congregation. These scenarios may also discuss other portions of the Shepherding textbook. They will enable you to face your shepherding work with confidence as our brothers and sisters walk close to the dangerous worldly precipice. It is up to us to pull them back to safety.
Jehovah ensures that all of his servants under the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’ arrangement are given his word of truth, so that they’..may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought..’ and ‘..built up in him and being stabilized in the faith..’ (1 Cor 1:10; Col 2:6,7) We are certainly grateful for all of the spiritual food Jehovah has given in these last days. We kindly remind everyone that the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’ does not approve of any literature, websites, or meetings not under its direction. (Matt 24:45-47) The ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’ has lovingly provided all the meetings, service and study materials that we need to become fully competent ministers.
Contained in the societies literature are more than enough material for an in depth Bible study, by which we may be ‘filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing [him] as YOU go on bearing fruit in every good work’. (Col 1:9,10)
We pray that Jehovah will bless your efforts to balance all of your theocratic pursuits for the up building of his people. We want you to know that we “hold men of your sort dear”. -- Phil 2:29
Please take comfort in knowing that you are in our prayers.
We are
The Faithful and Discreet Assistants.
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villagegirl
I go to a small church where the Pastor is a woman .
She is well educated, with a PhD in Theology.
She is well informed, and humble and they have a weekly breakfast
for the poor and run a Thrift Shop and on Saturdays they use the church for
come one, come all ,"Open Mike" where people come and sing and play instruments.
They also have coffee and cake after services. There are ongoing events as well.
No one asks you to sign a money pledge and a plate is not passed. There is a box
you can leave a donation in, but the church is supported by the United Church of Canada.
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flipper
Didn't realize this thread had been bumped up awhile back. Will respond now.
LOG CON- Thanks for the copy of the 2013 letter from the WT Society. Oh, now I see it's a satire, but it's just about as crazy as they come across.
VILLAGEGIRL- I'm glad that your pastor is a woman. Churches need more women pastors. Men don't know anything compared to most women.
CULTBGONE- Indeed, I agree with you
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sd-7
Well, that's strange. But no stranger than having a book that your fellow sisters are not allowed to handle in the first place. If there is any concrete proof of information control, this is one of the best examples of it. So what's the Biblical justification for this? Oh, right..."be obedient".
It makes me wax poetic. I feel a 'Listen, Obey and Be Blessed' coming on here...
We must protect the manual of the elders
This means showing discretion indeed
If we allowed women to read these pages
Can you imagine the things they might see?
Listen, obey, and be blessed
When spiral binding the text
No unbelievers or the female sex
Breathe on baptized brothers' necks
So do not take the manual to FedEx
Don't go to Staples or anywhere else
If you can make spiral bindings in your basement
Then perhaps your fellow elders can help
Listen, obey, and be blessed
When spiral binding the text
No unbelievers or the female sex
Breathe on baptized brothers' necks
So do not leave it inside a gym locker
Not even a safe deposit at a bank
It helps the elders show love to our brothers
It is the faithful slave that we can thank!
Listen, obey, and be blessed
When spiral binding the text
No unbelievers or the female sex
Breathe on baptized brothers' necks
Yes, be right beside them
To keep them in check
Listen, obeeeeeeeeey and be blessed
--sd-7
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flipper
SD-7- Didn't realize this was bumped up over a month ago. Thanks for your reply. I agree - it IS really weird that rank & file members are not allowed to have access or KNOW ANY information inside the elders manuals. But this is by design from WT leaders to ensure that elders ALWAYS have the upper hand in judicial meetings and that ELDERS will know all the rules- but a typical JW is NOT allowed to know their rights - even according to the elders manual. That's why it's such a great thing that many of us have downloaded this elders manual so we can more fully be aware of how to deal with our JW relatives - even knowing as much as their own elders ! Pretty cool if you ask me ! Peace out, mr. Flipper
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sowhatnow
wow, they must think they are going to need to use this book an awful lot, or study it a lot for them to even care to have it spiral bound!
talk about petty
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flipper
SOWHATNOW- Indeed, WT Society powers are VERY petty and small minded. They get paranoid over anything. Especially trivial stuff