I happen to have a Jan 15, 2001 Watchtower, I got mine at the airport!
Regarding appointments the article doesn't actually say much about how men are appointed as Elders. It implies that the Governing Body appoints the branch commitees, who appoint the Bethel elders and the DO's and CO's and then everyone else. (Page 14 para 15).
Now, this is the question on paragraph 17.
How are recommendations for appointment of overseers and ministerial servants handled by the branch office?
The answer from the paragraph is:
...experienced men rely on God's spirit for guidance in making these appontments.
That's it, that is all that is said. The rest of the paragraph is fluff, space filler with the question written in and a reference to not being hasty.
What actually happens is the elders get together with the CO and they go through a list of names. The elders try to think up as many excuses for why someone should or shouldn't be appointed. The CO looks at the FS cards and asks what about brother so and so. The elders say what they think. If they can't think of a reason to bar someone or alternatively firmly decide that they want someone the CO is persuaded to go along with the decision. If the elders are unanimous and the CO agrees the appointment is "rubber stamped" at Bethel. Of course the JW's will say that the elders and CO ask for holy spirit to guide their decisions.
But my question is, since mistakes are made who didn't get the spirit, the elders, the CO or the Branch representative who stamped the appointment?
The way the Watchtower explains it is ecept for the branch committees all the appointments are made by their (non-annointed?) representatives. The criteria for selection is the Bible. Paragraph 16 states that it is "under the direction of the Governing Body that qualified men are appointed" but only after "Care is taken that those acting representatively...clearly understand and follow the scriptural guidelines."
The Watchtower sums up the process in paragraph 19. It states boldly that "Theocratic appointments come from Jehovah through his Son and God's visible earthly channel". This is done through holy spirit, how? "Because the qualifications are set out in God's Word, which is inspired by holy spirit and the individual gives evidence of producng the fruitage of the spirit."
But then it says the appointments are "to be viewed as being made by holy spirit"...but it falls short of saying that they are. It says it is Theocratic! The remaining three paragraphs are just more fluff.
So there you have it. The latest and greatest version of how appointments are made.
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
Edited by - Thirdson on 25 February 2001 19:19:35
Edited by - Thirdson on 25 February 2001 22:31:56