Intellectual dis-honesty is a primary trait of the Watchtower Society ... one only has to randomly look at any of their articles to see what Double-Speak is all about. The following is taken from their current web site (Watchtower.org), article: What does God Require of Us?, Lesson 14, Item 4 on how the their congregations are organized:
4. In each congregation, there are elders, or overseers. They take the lead in teaching in the congregation. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17) They are assisted by ministerial servants. (1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12, 13) These men are not elevated above the rest of the congregation. (2 Corinthians 1:24) They are not given special titles. (Matthew 23:8-10) They do not dress differently from others. Neither are they paid for their work. The elders willingly look after the spiritual needs of the congregation. They can provide comfort and guidance in times of trouble.?James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 5:2, 3.
Now to parse each sentance:
a. In each congregation there are elders, or overseers: Mostly true, except that actually, the elders ARE overseers. No "or" about it. Some JW congregations do not have Elders, though this is not common, it does happen.
b. They take the lead in teaching in the congregation: True. Yet this sounds like the elders do tis naturally, or their own accord. In reality, only the elders are allowed to take such a lead due to their training by the Watchtower Society, and appiointment to their religious positions.
c. They are assisted by ministerial servants: True, sort of. Their service is less of any real assistance; and more closely to the truth, the ministerial servants do the grunt work so that the elders can concentrate on other matters, like Judicial Committees, etc. However, ministerial servants who gain acceptance among the elders can be used to assist in teaching, etc. as they are groomed to become elders.
d. These men are not elevated above the rest of the congregation: What?! Who are they kidding? The elders are indeed and practice elevated above the rank and file members. For one thing, they are allowed to get by with sins and remain elders that the average members would be quickly disfellowshipped. [See my article: WTS says Elders sins don't count." - http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/7414/1.ashx]
e. They are not given special titles: Really?! the label 'elder' and 'overseer' are in and of themselves titles ... and furthermore, the Society totally neglected to stated that the Elders are given added titles and ranks, such as Book Study Overseer, Theocratic School Overseer, Service Overseer, Presiding Overseer, Circuit Overseer, District Overseer, Zone Overseer (Branch Committe), Bethel Elder, Factory Overseer, and Member of the Governing Body ... all titles in any sense of the meaning. Marvelous!
f. They do not dress differently from others: True, no self respecting male Jehovah's Witness would be caught dead in the Kingdom Hall without a suit and tie. Few non-JWs run around in suits unless they are executives, sales people, or going to a wedding or funeral. Otherwise, JW elders do indeed dress out of the norm for the average person.
g. Neither are they paid for their work: Well, well, this is a dicey issue. Technically true, congregation elders are not paid a salary by the congregation or the Watchtower Society ... but they are given advantages that at are a form of compensation ... at times at conventions special parking, or seating, or other consideration ... and a Circuit Overseer, District Overseer, on up to the Governing Body are paid a small salary plus a tax free room and board with other "perks' according to time served and position held.
h. The elders willingly look after the spiritual needs of the congregation: Absolutely true. The elders do not have to be concerned for any physical suffering of the personal, medical, or financial needs of congregation members ... and the Society defines the spiritual needs to mean overlording the flock to press them into sales service ... and then the perk is when a member sins, the elders get to be accuser, prosecutor, judge, jury, and finally executioner of Watchtower style justice ... and ... when the day is done, they can sit around prognosticating how they kept the congregation oh, so clean ... a fun power trip that any person would find it hard to charge a salary for doing.
i. They can provide comfort and guidance in times of trouble: Yes, they can ... but the unstated, overwhelming questions that is left unasked is: Do they? A JW elder who has any sense of humanity and compassin left in him comes to realize over time that the Watchtower system really does not allow him to be a true comfort, nor one who can give any eal guidance ... no ... he realizes, like Pontious Pilot, that his hands are tied ... and if he gives up his humanity, he, like Pilot, just washes his hands and looks the other way.
Jim Whitney