Does the WTS have a clergy class (yes-no) (page 2)

Beth Sarim

For legal ramifications the Borg relies on ''clergy penitent', what other way would there be??

The JW don’t have a clergy class like christendom but in reality there is a class distinction between the elder class and everybody else. Elders lead and manage and shepherd the congregation members compared to everyone else. Like in an employment setting there is management and employees although everybody works for the company and are employees except JW don't get paid. And that is a fact.

ScenicViewer

"To me it seems the religion wants the luxury of having it both ways."

-and-

"In other words, they do not have a clergy, until it is convenient to have one."

10 thumbs up to LongHairGal and TonusOH. Isn't that the way it always is with Watchtower - they promote whatever idea suits them at any given moment.

I was actually raised in a church that had leaders who wore plain clothes. Not all churches have clergy with the fancy robes and such.

LongHairGal

FISHERMAN:

When I was studying with the JWs, I was assured everybody was ‘equal’. That’s what attracted me. Guess that was another lie too along with the one: ‘we have no clergy class’.🙄

If anybody tries to claim clergy/penitent privilege in a court of law, they are admitting and expecting to be treated like clergy. But, you won’t call a spade a spade and instead offer a lame analogy of employers and employees.

At NO time did I ever see myself as an employee of theirs when I was in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. I saw myself as a guest/sometime volunteer. Some might have seen me as only a seat warmer because I worked full-time at a secular job and didn’t pioneer.🤣 But that’s okay because I’m retired now.. The only accurate thing you pointed out is that JWs (pioneers) don’t get paid.. That’s a shame for people who busted their a$$ for decades in the religion’s ministry when they should have been holding down a decent job.

Beth Sarim

Here we have an outstanding example of the Borgs unspeakable hypocrisy.

They want "clergy penitent" privilege and want the courts to treat them as such.

Then....they go to every extent possible to distance themselves from the "churches".

They even go to the extreme of not listing any KH's under the church or religious sections in the phone book yellow pages.

But then demanding tax free status and "clergy penitent" status in the courts and the benefits from them.

Slidin Fast

Blondie, straight for the ~~nuts~~ nub of the situation.

Fisherman

At NO time did I ever see myself as an employee of theirs when I was in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. I saw myself as a guest/sometime volunteer.

My point was the distinction between a manager and employee compared to elder sheep and not that JW are employees like managers and employees in some employment setting.

Also, I think that the point Blondie is showing is that there actually is a class distinction between elder and sheep which I didn’t dispute. But elders are not like the clergy of christendom and that’s the difference.

Pioneers don’t get paid and those volunteers don’t do it for money but for God they believe

Fisherman

anybody tries to claim clergy/penitent privilege in a court of law, they are admitting and expecting to be treated like clergy.

There is a difference between minister and clergy members—JW point out. JW have openly declared in court that they are not clergy. The onus is on the Courts to interpret the law in such a way as to determine if and when laws that apply to the clergy also apply to JW elders using a legal standard. It is unconstitutional to exclude JW religion from legal protections that other religions get because they have a clergy and JW do not. So the argument is that the term clergy is broadly used legally to include religions that have ministers that are not clergy members and it sometimes includes JW elder. However, since JW in fact do not have a clergy and that is their position, not all laws and benefits that apply to the clergy also apply to JW elders, so if an when the term clergy legally applies to the JW is a subject of LEGAL dispute when laws are not clear.

Dagney

The WT corp doesn't like certain words...like clergy, grace, gospel etc. Those are "Christendom's" words.

In quickly reading a dozen google definitions for clergy, the WT corp most definitely has a clergy whether some poor brother from the platform waxes sentimentally that "we are all brothers.." and says they do not. But the corporation doesn't like the word clergy.

It is very very clear from every word from corporate, obedience to the men in leadership in this organization is mandatory. This is a clergy by numerous definitions.

They just don't like the word. It's "Christendom's" word. They think if they tell the flock they are not a clergy, the followers will believe them.

Fisherman

The WT corp doesn't like certain words...like clergy, grace, gospel etc. Those are "Christendom's" words.

So what?

Does the WTS have a clergy class (yes-no)

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