Hello everyone,
Looking into an article concerning the WTS use of U.S.A. postal services:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:e6GwqZSOrhI:www.naa.org/ppolicy/postal/R2000-1-V2.pdf+phillip+brumley+counsel+for+watchtower&hl=en
" UNITED STATES OF AMERICA POSTAL RATE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20268-0001 November 13, 2000
and
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. (Watchtower)* Phillip Brumley
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. (Watchtower)
Watchtower is a nonprofit publisher of Periodicals publications.
It annually distributes 275 million copies of The Watchtower and Awake!
These are sent out in 50 million mail pieces per year via the United States Postal Service."
---------------------------------
one cannot fail to notice a name: Philip Brumley Counsel fo the WTB&TS !
This rings a bell, …further reasearch and …yes it is him, the same person who many
years ago ( early 1990s ), in his function as WTS attorney wrote concerning the
Society's legal right to disfellowship a person.
He wrote this:
*** I represent the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., the parent
organisation of the congragations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the United
States.
C. Relation between the Congregations and its members. It is axiomatic that the essence
of the relationship of a religious society with its members is held by the courts to be the
agreements of the parties, and generally, a profession of faith, adherence to the doctrine
of the religious society and submission to its government. 76 C.J.S. Religious Societies
11 (1952). A party having voluntarily assented to become a member of a congregation
thereby nsubjects himself or herself to the existing rules and procedures of said congre-
gation and cannot deny their existence. All who unite themselves to such a voluntary
religious organisation do so with the implied consent to this government and are bound
submit to it…"
Quite strong, legalistic words which call for some observations:
° Many years ago the term " religious, religion" etc. was referred exclusively to the
false " worship "….but today the recognition of " beeing an organized religion "
brings, in many countries…numerous a d v a n t a g e s !
° In all these words, where is Jehovah, Jesus Christ etc.,
° I do not remember having see any of this , in any of the WTS publications avalaible
in every KH, including the Ks manual for eleders! The latest mention of the grounds,
motives for the disfellowshipping action are mentioned in:
w98 3/15 22 Living Up to Christian Dedication in Freedom
16 But if decisions as to conduct are a personal matter, why are some of Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowshipped? Nobody arbitrarily determines that the practice of a particular sin requires disfellowshipping. Rather, this action is Scripturally required only when a member of the congregation unrepentantly engages in gross sins, such as those enumerated in the 5th chapter of First Corinthians. Thus, while a Christian may be disfellowshipped for practicing fornication, this occurs only if the individual refuses to accept the spiritual assistance of loving shepherds. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not alone in following this Christian practice. The Encyclopedia of Religion notes: “Any community claims the right to protect itself against nonconforming members who may threaten the common welfare. In a religious setting this right has often been reinforced by the belief that the sanction [of excommunication] affects one’s standing before God.”
As one can see this article does not mention any of the things stated by the WTS
attorney Philip Brumley.
Nor these articles , which mention "… elders do hold discussions with those desiring to be baptized. " and " review …the questions …"
*** w96 1/15 17 Jehovah's Sheep Need Tender Care
9 As an unbaptized publisher progresses spiritually, he may make a dedication to God in prayer and want to be baptized. (Compare Mark 1:9-11.) He should make his desire for baptism known to the congregation’s presiding overseer, who will arrange for elders to review with the publisher the questions on pages 175 to 218 of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry.
The four parts into which the questions are divided may be covered in three sessions by three different elders if possible. If they agree that the unbaptized publisher has a reasonable understanding of Bible teachings and qualifies in other ways, they will tell him that he may be baptized. As a result of his dedication and baptism, he becomes ‘marked’ for salvation.—Ezekiel 9:4-6.
*** w89 1/15 17 How Baptism Can Save Us
9 Jehovah’s Witnesses do not follow unscriptural writings, such as that just quoted, but elders do hold discussions with those desiring to be baptized. Why? To make sure that these persons are believers who meet divine requirements and who have made a dedication to Jehovah. (Acts 4:4; 18:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:2)
Discussing questions in the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry helps to determine whether a person qualifies for baptism. If some points are not clear to him, or he has not brought his life into harmony with divine standards, the elders are pleased to render spiritual assistance."
*** w88 6/15 28 Becoming an Ordained Minister-God's WayT
To help the new believer further, Christian elders arrange to meet with him and spend time reviewing the basic teachings of the Bible. This, for one thing, assures the elders that the prospective Christian has acquired an accurate knowledge of God’s purposes. And, of course, the review proves most helpful to the student. As needed, certain matters that were not correctly understood are clarified."
° At which moment the " candidate for baptism " is told of the possible implications
derived from - becoming a baptized member " i.e. the full impact of what happens
in " s h u n n in g " or even in " di s f e l l o w s h I p p I n g " ???
Not in a couple of words , but clearly let him/her understand fully the
consequences of becoming" a person to be shunned " or a
"disfellowshipped person"???
After all " the student …" if he/she qualifies, " may turn in a field service report and a Congregation’s Publisher Record card will be made out in his name."
And most important , the w. article mentions:
"This will demonstrate his affiliation with the theocratic organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses and his submission to it. "
*** w88 11/15 17 Helping Others to Worship God
9 The two elders will inform the student that when he qualifies for and shares in the field service, he may turn in a field service report and a Congregation’s Publisher Record card will be made out in his name. This will demonstrate his affiliation with the theocratic organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses and his submission to it. (This would also be true of all others turning in field service reports.) The discussion should also cover Bible counsel, such as is outlined on pages 98 and 99 of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry. Hence, this would be an appropriate time for the student to obtain a personal copy of that book."
°A big question comes :
Does the " s t u d e n t " understand, grasps the implication
of the THREE key words : - a f f I l I a t I o n " and " s u b m I s s I o n " and
" o r g a n I s a t I o n "??
I do believe that the vast numbers of "prospective brothers and sisters " WERE
and still ARE left with the idea that " members are free to leave any time they
want; the door is open " and we all know that , in reality , it is not so !
Your comments are welcome, agape to you all , J.C. MacHislopp