The Governing Body is made up of whom?

by Jourles 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Jourles

  Any (ex)elders out there care to ellaborate on this?

  *** w94 1/15 pp. 16-17 Shepherds and Sheep in a Theocracy ***
  In 1919 that slave was identified as the remnant of anointed Christians. Since then, as represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it has been the center of theocracy on earth. Around the world, the Governing Body is represented by Branch Committees, traveling overseers, and congregation elders.

  I can understand that elders, overseers, and branch committee members can become part of the governing body once they have put in their time, but I was always under the impression that the literal governing body was only comprised of a dozen or so men based in Brooklyn. Was this a flash of new light that we all missed?

  I am not sure how to read this statement. Notice they did not say "Around the world, this figurative Governing Body..."

  It is bad enough that some elders have a massive ego due to their congregational power. Show them this sentence and watch their ego grow.

  Elder: "I am part of the Governing Body. See, it says so right here in the Watchtower."
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  Jourles

  I guess it could also mean that the elders, etc., represent the governing body in the same way as a sales associate represents the company they work for.

  Sounds like another legal tie-in from the elders to the governing body, does it not? If the elders screw up a legal matter such as not reporting child abuse in a mandatory reporting state, the governing body is now on the hook too, according to this Watchtower statement. It works the same as any corporate legal matter. The company is legally responsible for the conduct of their employee.
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  setfreefinally

  I think your second comment is right on the money as far as how the GB want their comment to be taken.
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  undercover

  The GB is represented by elders in local congregations. Thats the word for when orders are handed down from above. The average Joe Witness is to listen and obey the elders as if they were the GB.

  But when lawsuits start hitting congregations regarding child abuse, elders are going to be left swinging in the wind. They will NOT be representing the GB at that time. All elders better get a hold of that Watchtower and have it ready for their lawyers so they can make sure that their superiors share the blame.
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  gumby

  but I was always under the impression that the literal governing body was only comprised of a dozen or so men based in Brooklyn. Was this a flash of new light that we all missed?

  Your impression is correct. It IS comprised of a dozen or so men. What statement in that article shows otherwise? It plainly said......the elders REPRESENT them......not become a part of them.

  Gumby
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  johnny cip

  as far as light goes: i prefer BUD LITE. JOURLES again you are correct. when you bring out such wt statments to jw's they .JUST STAND THERE LIKE WT ZOMBIES. but i never knew that zombies could make such wierd expressions with their faces when , confronted with what their god printed from bklyn....john
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  crinklestein

  <quote>But when lawsuits start hitting congregations regarding child abuse, elders are going to be left swinging in the wind. They will NOT be representing the GB at that time. All elders better get a hold of that Watchtower and have it ready for their lawyers so they can make sure that their superiors share the blame.</quote>

  The elders are like human shields for the cowardly GB. And they are also like the ones that denied Jesus when asked in public. In private they say that the elders are their reps but they will renounce the elders once the water gets too hot and act like they don't even know them. They'll be like, "What elders? We don't have elders! If certain congregations started creating the title of Elder that was their decision."