Taken from page 8 of the December 2002 Kingdom Ministry. Sorry, I don't have a scanner.
Do You Contribute to an Accurate Report?
1 Many Bible accounts include specific numbers, which help to convey a vivid picture of what took place. For example,Gideon vanquished tje camp of Midian with just 300 men. (Judg. 7:7) Jehovah's angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. (2 Ki. 19:35) At Pentecost 33 C.E., about 3,000 were baptized, and shortly thereafter the number of believers grew to some 5,000. (Acts 2:41; 4:4) It is evident from these accounts that God's ancient servants put forth much effort to compile a complete and accurate record. *Funch says: This is a lame argument because counting field service hours doesn't equal counting people, which is what the WTS is comparing. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Also, God wouldn't need man to keep a record of those events if He was the author of the Bible.*
2 Jehovah's organization today instructs us to report our field service activity each month. Our faithfully cooperating with this arrangement contributes to the effective oversight of the preaching work. Reports may reveal that an aspect of the ministry needs attention or that more workers are needed in a certain part of the field. In the congregation, field service reports help the eldres identify those with potential to expand their ministry as well as those who may need assistance. And reports on the progress of the Kingdom preaching work provide encouragement for the entire Christian brotherhood. Are you doing your part to contribute to an accurate report? *Funch says: Notice that Jehovah's organization, not God, not the Bible, requires field service reporting. To be a JW in good standing means that you must report your time each month. The paragraph also indicates that you can always do more, or, as I like to say, can never do enough. Those who are out a lot are asked to expand their ministry. Those who go out "tokenly" need assistance to do more. Lastly, this sentence is misleading and inaccurate: And reports on the progress of the Kingdom preaching work provide encouragement for the entire Christian brotherhood. Speaking as one who was in the brotherhood, hearing who is Pioneering or who is auxillary pioneering or who had 'x' amount of Bible studies always made me feel jealous, envious, and as though I was a spiritual failure because I didn't accomplish what they could.*
3 Your Personal Responsibility: At the end of the month, do you find it difficult to remember what you have done in the ministry? If so, why not record your activity each time you share in field service? Some use a calendar or a diary. Others carry a blank field service report slip with them. At the end of the month, promptly submit your report to your book study overseer. Or, if you prefer, you may place your reportin the report box at the Kingdom Hall. If you forget to turn in your report, promptly contact your book study overseer rather than wait for him to approach you. Conscientiously reporting your activity shows respect for Jehovah's arrangement and loving consideration for the brothers assigned to collect and tabulate the reports-Luke 16:10 *Funch says: What anyone does in their ministry should be between them and their God. God never stated in the Bible that people must record their preching activity. yet, the WTS says that this is Jehovah's arrangement. Unless Jehovah is the corporation know as Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, then it is not His arrangement.*
4 Book Study Overseer's Role: As an alert and attentive shepherd, the book study overseer takes an interest in the group's activity throughout the month. (Prov. 27:23) He knows whether each publisher is having a regular, meaningful, and joyful share and is quick to offer assistance if any have not participated for an entire month. A word of encouragement, a practical suggestion, or an invitation to accompany him in field service is often all that is needed. *Funch says: This paragraph exposes the control that the elders exercise over their personal flock. Who defines regular? What is meaningful? How do they know if someone is having joy going door-to-door? I, for one, never EVER enjoyed knocking on a stranger's door. I never had this so-called joy. And what if the book study overseer is a prick? Why would I be flattered if he offered to work with me?*
5 At the end of the month, the book study overseer makes sure that all in the group have followed through on their responsibility to report their activity so that the secretary can submit an accurate congregation report to the branch office by the sixth of the next month. As the end of the month approaches, it may be helpful for him to give the group a reminder and have report slips available at the book study location. If any are forgetful about reporting their activity, he can provide appropriate reminders and encouragement. *Funch says: In other words, you must report something for each month, even if it's zero hours. That way, they can call you an irregular publisher or weak. If you choose to not report your time each month, it will get real ugly between you and the elders.*
6 Submitting our field service reports promptly contributes to a report that accurately reflects what was accomplished in the field. Will you do your part by promptly reporting your activity each month? *Funch says: This is the third and forth time they used the word 'promptly' in this lesson. What they promptly failed to mention is that many people lie or give inaccurate or made-up field service reports. They promptly failed to say that their 'official' numbers are overly exaggerated. Why can't they just let God figure it all out?*
Edited by - Funchback on 11 December 2002 15:23:56
Edited by - Funchback on 11 December 2002 15:25:2