The May 15, 2002 Watchtower pg 11 contains the following
statement:
"Such funds (the WorldWide Work box) are not used to
pay salaried executives because Jehovah's Witnesses
have none"
Really?
The 2001 Yearbook states that during the "2000 service
year, the Watch Tower Society spent over $66.3 million
in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and
traveling overseers"
Circuit Overseers receive health insurance and auto
insurance regularily paid for by their circuits. Circuits
also commonly pay for their cars - and often, an
apartment. Congregations pay for their expenses
in visiting - and they may receive sizeable donations
to spend as they see fit - and a small stipend from the Society.
Since at least some of this is "regular and fixed",
it fits the definition of salary.
As to executive functions, consider how the Service
Dept. administers "law and regulations" - telling
you, in explicit detail, who must be disfellowshipped,
or who can be appointed, amoung other things.
So,are Circuit Overseers "salaried executives"?
The "executive" part fits very well as they command
bodies of elders. If you think otherwise, I call
your attention to the Society's counsel in the mid-
70's regarding C.O.'s. They quickly squashed any notion
that local elders were EQUAL TO the Circuit Overseer
BECAUSE SOME BROTHERS PRESUMED THAT THE ELDER
ARRANGEMENT MADE ALL ELDERS EQUAL. No way, said
Brooklyn!
No salaried executives? At least they didn't repeat
the "we have no clergy" lie. I guess that's small
progress.
metatron