There has been one big problem with this Governing Body that is only getting worse. They are getting very old, with the resulting evidences of senility.
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After all, the Watchtower Society has been promising its followers that Armageddon is "just around the corner" and that Christ would be here soon to establish the Watchtower Kingdom over the earth. Many false prophecies have come forth over the years to keep the faithful hopeful—1874, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, the 1940’s, and 1975. All false prophecies. The faithful are getting real restless.
However, the January 15, 2000 Watchtower Magazine promised their readers that these ones comprising the Governing Body would still be alive when the great tribulation begins. They hastily filled any vacancies caused by deaths with much younger candidates. There was much speculation that these ones were actually "other sheep" (the lower class) rather than the elite remnant class, since their number is considered "closed" and only unthinkable unfaithfulness could cause an opening. You can see what a touchy subject this is, and the potential for disaster in the ranks of the power structure of the Society. It was a ticking time bomb, and we were just waiting for the explosion!
Well, the unthinkable has happened! The "anointed" ones on the Governing Body have all resigned or been forced to resign their positions of power (controlling the finances, etc.), and the lowly "other sheep" have seized control and are running the ship! It has been explained to the astonished followers that the Governing Body is now relegated to "spiritual matters." They have truly lost control of the Society.
The new power team consists of three new corporations:
1) Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses which will specialize in dealing with appointments of elders, congregational matters etc. 2) Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses which will give attention to those in special full time service, including Bethel Headquarters workers. 3) Kingdom Support Services which will deal with construction, engineering and vehicles.
Other minor adjustments were made in other States as well.
What a revolting development for the Governing Body, who now exist at the sole pleasure of the Corporate officers (of the lower class). We speculate that this is the first step in really putting the Governing Body "Out to Pasture" as they grow older. Anything "spiritual" they contribute can be vetoed or changed by the "other sheep" in control.
We note with interest the wording of the new corporations to try and "mainstream" the Jehovah’s Witnesses to appear more "Christian-sounding."
They have added the word "Christian" to their preferred terminology of "Jehovah’s Witnesses" when referring to their congregations. The uninformed would assume they were part of the Christian community of churches. They are not.
The terminology "Religious Order" reflects a trend of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to try and appear similar to legitimate religious orders. As a former Jehovah’s Witness, I would have thought anyone referring to the Witness organization as a "religious order" would be disfellowshipped for heresy, but times have changed!
We, along with other Watchtower-watchers, believe the Society is likely hustling to ward off "mucho litigation." Like the Catholic Church, they fear they will be held responsible for the sexual misdeeds of their elders (priests). Lately, there are numerous reports of sexually-abused children who turned to the local elders for help, but were dismissed when they could not produce two eye witnesses to the offenses committed against them. Some have accused the
Watchtower Society of being a safe haven for child abusers, since they hardly perform their evil deeds with two convenient eyewitnesses watching!
This is presently a scandal of the first order, if internet accounts can be believed. Our ministry has personally heard from many who have suffered from this injustice against the defenseless, the children, who were forced to remain in abusive situations. It is a disgrace of the first order.
So, we are presently in a "wait-and-see" mode, and will monitor further the fallout from these frantic reorganization tactics. We rejoice that many Jehovah’s Witnesses are so upset that they are really taking a good look for the first time at the sorry record of the Society concerning doctrines, prophecies, and treatment of their followers.
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