The Clergy- Laity Watchtower Lie

by metatron 38 Replies latest jw friends

  • metatron
    metatron

    I get sick and tired of hearing the Watchtower lie that they
    have no 'clergy- laity' distinction.

    The hypocrisy in this is almost incredible. The Society wants
    the judicial system to classify elders as CLERGYMEN. They want
    legal, clerical privileges to be given to elders so they can't
    be compelled to testify against child molesters in congregations.

    I am also informed that they have accepted a clergy classification
    in disputes involving Kingdom Hall ownership.

    Bethelites, have at times, sought personal discounts in the world
    - offered to members of the clergy.

    Do they have paid clergy? Yes!

    Circuit Overseers have health insurance and auto insurance
    paid for by the circuit. They have a car - paid for by the circuit.
    Their expenses, in visiting congregations, are paid for within
    their circuits - and they may get a stipend from the Society
    as well.

    As for distinctions within the congregation, when are ordinary
    brothers - or SISTERS - ever invited into meetings of the body
    of elders? Aren't they all considered confidential in general?
    When have you ever been allowed to read the 'Theocratic Talmud'
    that each secretary is required to keep - of confidential
    letters to bodies of elders?

    Want to go further into questions of why Sister Poor n'Nohusband's
    kids are made an example of - by df'ing, while Brother Elder's
    kids get away with everything? Need I go on?

    it's easier for them to lie,
    than to act truthfully

    metatron

  • ThiChi
    ThiChi

    Very true. All the Jws friends that still come around, I have asked this question: The Bible says to confess your sins to who? And I always get: “To the Elders!” Wrong. I reply that the Bible says to confess your sins to: “One another.” most the time I then see a surprised look on their face. However, from a WT perspective, they are right!!

  • Amazing
    Amazing

    Excellent Metatron: I am with you on this one.

    "The fly-in-the-ointment for the Jehovah's Witnesses is that they proclaim that they have no clergy-laity distinctions, no clergy class, as all are said to be equal, brothers and sisters. Therefore, a sharp lawyer might be able to make this stick in a criminal trial and get the JW Elders outside the Clergy box that they typically rely on in molestation cases. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=22956&site=3

  • detective
    detective

    I got this spiel from my witness friend. So I asked if the elders were volunteers to which he said "yes". I asked if they were then considered equals to publishers to which I received a hesitant "yes". I asked if he participated in selecting the elders..."um, no". So I asked who does pick the elders at which point he seemed to lose interest in telling me how there weren't any real distinctions between clergy-laity. Go figure.

  • Amazing
    Amazing

    PS: In case you missed this, here is the name of one of their over 100 corporations: Watchtower Bible And Clergy, The (dba "Jehovahs Witnesses") Fortuna, CA http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=20189&site=3#250351

  • Gozz
    Gozz

    Metatron is clearly in error! Why should the Christian act of voluntaruy sharing, encouraged even in the noly scriptures be frowned upon? It is indeed a good act to share with the holy ones the wealth of this world. Or is it not? Would you rather that the Overseers beg for the necessities of this world? May that never happen! What the princes deserve in the new world, they can certainly get in this old world. You have a problem with that?

  • indireneed
    indireneed

    I believe that the clergy / laity distinction runs even deeper in the WT than in other religions.

    There are two classes of people - chosen by faith and chosen by works. One has privileges, the other doesn't. And, to top it off, there is a strict number that was filled eighty years ago.

    Talk about a strong clergy - imagine the Pope announcing that the ranks of the clergy were filled for all time eighty years ago.

  • ThiChi
    ThiChi

    Gozz: Who said that giving is wrong? Why does the Jws not use Paul as an example. He still worked as a tent maker so as not to place a burden on the brothers. Why not follow that example in the circuit work?

    That way, a lot more money could go to what James calls the “acceptable form” of worship, namely, looking after widows and orphans. When the apostles took up collections, it was for the poor, not for the fat cats who, because of their insulated world, have no idea what it is to make a living.

  • Imbue
    Imbue

    They recently stated this in the WT 01.01.02 p 6-7

    Jehovah's Witnesses...have no clergy/laity division, they are not segregated according to skin color or wealth.

    I became ill when I read this bold face lie!
    Even hard core JWs know this is a lie.

    Crazy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

  • Room 215
    Room 215

    Gozz, ety al,

    If you persist in the myth that there's no hierarchical structure among JWs, ask yourself which inspires greater dread: two elders showing up unannounced at your door, all spiffy, starched and dressed up, or a priest or minster stopping by to a parishioner?

    I don't know what world you live in, but in mine, the local elders, who in real life are nothng more than scrubbed-up rednecks exert far more control and influence over the dubbies than does any priest or clergymen that I know of.

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