Is the 10 Hour Per Month Requirement Still In Force?

by Conan The Barbarian 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jehu or jehonadab

  YES IT IS. the 10 hour is in full force.. or so it is in sourthern california. Every time the CO comes along the COBE says make sure your getting at least 10 hours a month or a averge of that for the past 6 months to all appiointed men, if you behind make a month where you get a lot of hours so that you maintain that 10 hours.. you need to set the example and be visible in the field ministry...You dont have a average of 10 hours or damm close to it your name does not even come up for a appointment of MS or ELDER. You drop below that for any number of months they will have you in the back room asking what is your problem have you commited a serious sin??

  SO ITS ALL A HOURS GAME!

  Then when the MS and Elders meeting on Friday comes along with the CO most of the time its looking at the cards of each publishers who are under 10 hours and running them down.. It just makes me sick to my stomach ever time I have to sit in that meeting. Most of the Men who would have made excellent MS or Elders were never even consider because of not having that number of hours. They are solid familey men who work hard to support there families and to teach them about the bible. they would often work 6 or 7 days a week, just not to be a burden on anyone. Then when they had a day off they went in the minstry they would average about 6 hours a month, and it was a solid 6 hours not like some who would have put down 20 hours. They could explain bible topics and reason with people better then any of the Pioneers or for that matter most of the elders to. (Holy Sprit must have Passes right over them to the 10 hour brother who fake his time sheets)

  I would often think of James chapter 2 about favoritism and that is just what it is the more hours you have the more they roll out the red carpet for you. Invited to Zone visits, Qualify for International Coventions, Invited to hear Speical Talks By visiting Bethel Brothers. Pioneer School and the Pioneer Meetings when th CO comes to town and so on.

  There is never a prayer to ask for holy sprit to choose the best men for the job...its the hours of his time sheet that qualifies a person, then a prayer is made only after looking at there time sheet there mind is already made up. Then when that brother fails and most of them do because they were not all that spritural to begin with then its " Jehovah" must not want them to serve anymore.. WHAT???

  James 2:4 YOU have class distinctions among yourselves and YOU have become judges rendering wicked decisions, is that not so?
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  blondie

  The 10 hour thing is mostly verbal, perhaps in writing to the BOE behind the scenes, not available to the rank and file to read. All this is a carryover of the attempt in the early 70's to remove the idea that 10 hours was the upper goal rather than the lowest goal they wanted to see. I can remember being told that some jws who could put in more than 10 hours, never went past that though their "circumstances" allowed it. If someone has something in writing requiring 10 hours a month now, it would be interesting to have it posted here.
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  sir82

  The definition of an average requires that half the people fall below it.

  Sorry for the wonkiness, but that would be the case if 10 hours were the median, not the average.

  You could have 1 publisher get 181 hours, and 19 publishers get 1 hour each, and the average for all 20 publishers would be 10 hours.

  Back on topic:

  10 hours is not a requirement per se, but it is an informal guideline that most elders and COs adhere to.

  I.e., if someone is not getting 10 hours per month, there had better be a "good reason" if he is to be recommended. "Good reasons" might include severe limitations due to health or old age, or possibly caring for disabled or ill family members.

  A young, healthy man without sick parents or children "had better" be doing 10+ hours per month or he won't even be considered.
• 

  FatFreek 2005

  

  Cheers, Len.
• 

  Cinciguy74

  Back in the day, I used to pad them to make sure. I never really counted, why bother? It always seemed so arbitrary.

  Then again, we used to laugh at the people who were in the "secret service". They would show up to meet, say they had a study or call to check on, leave as a pair and disappear only to show up at a break, then disappear again and show up right as everyone was calling it a day. Yet, they always seemed to be pioneers.
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  Soldier77

  Haven't read past the second post, but just some of my experiences as I've been in several congregations in several states and in two other countries besides USA.

  Stateside it was at least the national average, but if you were "encouraged" to do 10.

  Two other countries it was national average, no stress on 10 although some elders liked to keep that as ammo to use on you to get you to "do more."
• 

  DATA-DOG

  Here is the deal.

  1) look up " 10 hrs" in quotations in the watchtower library. Take note of the context in which it is used and if it appears in scripture.

  2) Realize that it does not matter if it is called a " guideline ". Any " guildeline " enforced across the board with no regard to individual circumstances is a " rule " regardless of what you try to call it.

  3) Unscriptural rules are the result of Corporate and monetary interests trumping the scriptures. Whether it is an " operation of error " or just plain Pharisaic practices, it is still wrong and will never change because the Holy Spirit is leading them in their minds. Only those who truly buy into needing to work for salvation will get 10 hours or above. The 10hrs is to attract " Company Men ", no one else is wanted or valued.

  The poor rank-and-file will literally kill themselves to prove their loyalty to the GB. Those who refuse to live at the insane pace that is demanded are considered spiritually weak and begging off in the Masters service.
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  undercover

  I've been out a while, but when I was an MS, I was expected to get the congregation average. So, if the national average was 10, but the congregation was only averging 8.5, then that was my minimum goal.

  I'm guessing that every congregation is different. Some are more laid back and easy going, "He's here most Saturdays, I think he qualifies" to hard ass, Nazi elders who liked to lord it over everyone in the hall, "Vee see that your hours are below zee national average, dummkopf; vee expect to see you increase your service to da fuhrer, Jehovah, before vee promote you"
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  Quarterback

  The cong. I'm in now has an average of 14 hrs per month. But, a lot of the members and unemployed, or should I say Unemployable. Many are on Assistance. The working men are the ones that struggle with the 10 hrs, unless you were to count your coffee break time.
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  dreamgolfer

  I can sit in a car and eat donuts / muffins and whatever else Dunlin has for 10 hours a month....but I choose not to any longer! I am happily working out each Sat and Sunday morning and have a much better grasp on life in general ....

  I just need some NEW FRIENDS!