Back in the 70's, the new elder arrangement created a great deal of optimism and hope
in the organization. There was serious talk that, one day, every man in the congregations
would qualify as someone spiritually mature. Qualifications like being loving, hospitable,
and "approachable" were taken seriously. I knew many older brothers who had trouble
becoming elders because they were told they had to be more out-going.
Sadly, this brief era of "Spring in Prague" came to an end because it conflicted with
the Society's age-long obsession with maintaining control. Thus,
A few (naive) brothers asked how Brother Knorr could be appointed as an elder
since he clearly was unapproachable and unpleasant. This was greeted with
the expected "how dare you" response.
Next, Circuit Overseers were questioned because, logically, whole bodies of
elders were appointed by "holy spirit", so why accept the C.O.'s dictates?
This was quickly corrected!
Initially, it was felt that the position of Presiding Overseer should rotate thru each
elder body in turns. This caused trouble because some brothers can't manage very
well. It created a great sense of egalitarianism in congregations but was dropped.
For some reason, the Society appointed "Bethel elders" too - even if they weren't
appointed as such in their own congregations. Since there was a good deal of rebellion
in Bethel at the time, maintaining control was the likely motive.
As time went on, the whole elder arrangement was compromised into little more
than unpaid employees of the Watchtower Society empowered to enforce its rules
and keep peddling its literature. I served for a decade with one elder who never
invited anyone into his home - I have no idea what the interior of his house looked
like! Other qualifications were discreetly ignored because fewer brothers bothered
to "reach out" and the Society needed men to run things. Circuit Assembly parts
came to be dominated by elders who were "helpful" in paying for the Circuit Overseer's
"needs" - such as fancy restaurants, rounds of golf, or simply direct contributions.
Finally, things sagged into the system you have today - in which many elders
are chronically ill, burned out, inept, or just too tired to care - but unable to bring
themselves to boldly say "I quit". Things didn't start out this way.
While there are many who contributed to this malaise, I particularily blame various
Governing Body members who, after decades of yeoman service at Headquarters,
fell in love with rules and developed an aversion to individual conscience.
Men like Karl Klein (deceased) - who I remember as shamelessly praising Brother
Knorr, in a Watchtower comment while Papa Nathan himself was conducting. You
have no idea what "kissing up" really can be! Klein was the also the hack, who
hated rock music and wrote articles of dubious accuracy in the magazines about it.
He - and those who have followed him - spend their lifetimes denigrating the concept
of conscience - while wondering how the organization is full of Witness kids leading
"double lives" - or adult Witnesses who seem to have no idea about goodness
unless it's something they can number on a form from the Society.
Eventually, something will have to "give". It's sad how an idea started with such
expectation has devolved into the sterility that now marks Jehovah's Witnesses in 2004.
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