Branch letters in the older KMs

dmouse

I was browsing some older KMs on the latest WT CD and noticed that each month there used to be a branch letter included. This appeared to be a friendly, informal letter advising brothers of what was happening that month - all the interesting news from bethel etc.

Then, seemingly without any warning, the bethel letters disappeared from the KMs in December 1978. I wonder why?

The letters seemed a very warm way for the brothers in bethel to communicate with the brothers 'out there' , it made them seem much more human and loving. Now they seem a distant, ruling clergy with no connection at all with the rank and file.

Here is a typical branch letter, taken from 1977, Jan KM:

Branch

Letter

Dear Kingdom Publishers:

"Exciting!" was the word we kept hearing from members of the Brooklyn Bethel family. And truly it is hard to describe the thrill and pleasure we all had over what occurred at headquarters during the three weeks of October 18 through November 6.

The Governing Body had arranged for special meetings with the branch coordinators and other representatives of the branches around the earth. In all, 128 brothers attended, and 107 wives accompanied them to work at Bethel during the period.

The meetings were not a school, but more of a gathering of elders to consider Kingdom interests and the worldwide preaching work. It was an excellent opportunity for an interchange of information and encouragement. (Rom. 1:12) In addition to sharing information with these visiting elders, the Governing Body obtained much valuable information from them, such as on the spiritual condition and needs of the brothers in their lands and comments about assemblies, meetings, field service, and so forth.

And how the Bethel family benefited! Many of the visitors had attended Gilead School or spent time at Brooklyn Bethel in years past. So there were many old friends to meet. You can imagine how you would enjoy seeing acquaintances from distant lands each day, being able to converse with them and share experiences at mealtimes and in free evenings.

At each breakfast and lunch-time we were delighted to hear their reports, which were carried to all the six dining rooms and to Watchtower Farms. And following the family Watchtower study each Monday we heard more experiences and firsthand reports from our visitors. Yes, it was thoroughly upbuilding and stimulating.

All too soon the meetings were over. But we are sure that all of God’s people will be benefiting from the results of the meetings.

Your brothers,

BROOKLYN BRANCH OFFICE

garybuss

The Watch Tower Publishing Corporation wrote:

the Governing Body obtained much valuable information from them, such as on the spiritual condition and needs of the brothers in their lands and comments about assemblies, meetings, field service, and so forth.

This seems like the way any secular business receives information and makes business decisions. Secular businesses bring in their branch managers and their sales managers and get testimony from them and evaluate that information against the statistics and make decisions appropriate for the conditions and for the individual markets. That is what the Watch Tower Publishing Corporation says they are doing.

So where does the "divinely directed" element come into play? They certainly do not seem to rely on spirit transmitted information to plot a course for the day to day operations of the company. What other job would a "spirit" do if not transfer information? And if the "spirits" were in fact directing the corporation, why would they have a need for the expensive strategy of bringing in "branch coordinators and other representatives of the branches around the earth"? They say "The Governing Body had arranged for special meetings". Why? If they are who they say they are, why? GaryB

blondie

dmouse, I understand that these letters were from Nathan Knorr who died about that time, June 8, 1977. I would think they were his idea and once he died, those who wanted them ended could finally do it.

Blondie

Mary

the Governing Body obtained much valuable information from them, such as on the spiritual condition and needs of the brothers in their lands and comments about assemblies, meetings, field service, and so forth.

Ya right. I just love how they make it sound as though the GB really cares about what the R&F Witness think about ANYTHING. Notice how they are always telling YOU what YOU need?

If you miss meetings on a regular basis, it's not because you're burnt out from working and looking after your family, it's because you are showing a "lack of appreciation" for "spiritual food". Have they ever asked any congregation for comments as to how they can improve things in the Organization? Have they ever encouraged anyone to say what they really feel about anything, other than what kind of wallpaper you should put in the Mothers Room?

A few years ago, the PO gave a talk on missing meetings and he gave a really stupid scenario. He said "Well gee, maybe we should only have one meeting per month! What would happen to attendence if we did that?"

Of course, Sister Spiritual put up her hand and imformed us all that our spirituality would go right down the toilet if that happened and how we need 5 f*cking meetings a week to keep us "spiritually strong".

They of course, don't want to mention that perhaps if they reached somewhere in the middle: say, an hour on Sunday and an hour on Tuesday and that'd be it. Oh no........that would make too much sense!

I've noticed lately that all the letters we get from Mother are either warning us of the dangers of the internet, or telling us that we're not going out in Service enough, or that we better not be getting an education to improve ourselves...........

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................

zev

i remember back in the late 70's that rags name changed from one thing to another. the EXACT name eludesme at the moment and e search through the cd rom ONLY shows OUR KINGDOM MINISTY....

but i am sure it changed names from one thing, to another and back again during those years.

Gamaliel

Maybe they were cancelled due to sloppy writing like the following:

In all, 128 brothers attended, and 107 wives accompanied them

Makes it seem like Bethel didn't care whose wife belonged to whom.

Seriously, this was a pretty interesting experience at Bethel.

the Governing Body obtained much valuable information from them, such as on the spiritual condition and needs of the brothers in their lands and comments about assemblies, meetings, field service, and so forth.

That quote doesn't reveal just how much trouble is buried in those final words "and so forth." Many of the Branch Overseers came in with questions like: "How do we explain to new ones why we are still expected to bribe government officials here in Mexico? or "How do we explain that the 144,000 is not a great crowd; many people here in Malawi believe 144 is a big crowd, and have never even seen a crowd bigger than 1,440?" Or "We had trouble translating the expression: 'young elder.'" Or, "We were supposed to change from 'Kingdom Ministry' to 'Kingdom Service', but in our country the expressions' meanings were as different as "The King's Officers" and "The King's Slaves" and the King himself didn't like it!" etc. etc. etc.

Gamaliel

RunningMan

Zev: The KM changed its name for a few years in the late 70s to "Our Kingdom Service". Then, it changed back again. I have original copies dating back to the mid-70s and some from the 60s that show the changes.

Interestingly, or rather uninterestingly, the newsletter has changed very little in the past 40 years. It is still printed on recycled toilet paper, and looks like it was produced in someone's garage.

LoyalLeon

They're back.

Just check the September 2003 issue.

LL

dmouse

That's very interesting if true LoyalLeon, but I haven't even got Augusts KM yet! Any chance of a scan?

Wow! Makes me wonder if the bros at bethal read our comments here and agreed that dropping the branch letters was a bad idea.

It seems strange that they're back after a 20 year break the very month after the issue was raised on an apostate site.

Nah, must be just coincidence!

Branch letters in the older KMs

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