Sometime ago I posted a discussion on H20 about the Nov. 1991 Kingdom Ministry School for Elders / MS held at Woodburn, Oregon. During that school session the CO stated that Elders who commit a serious sin, even a gross sin, did not have to be removed IF the event took place two or three years prior, and the Elder continued to be respected, giving evidence of Jehovah’s blessing. The CO stipulated that this only applied to Elders and MS and not to regular Publishers. He cited an older Kingdom Ministry, but I was never able to find it. Now, I have it, and it applies specifically to Elders.
I have added bloding and made comments in blue Here it is in its full text:
Kingdom Ministry, October 1972, Page 8, Question Box:
What is meant by “some years ago” on page 170, paragraph two, in the “organization” book?
This indicates more than a year or two. It may be noted that it did not say “many years ago.” So it is not an exact number of years, but more like two or three years. It was not intended to have a brother go back into the distant past to bring up wrongs of which he repented years ago and that have evidently been forgiven by Jehovah and are not being practiced now. In many cases the wrongs occurred prior to the time when the “watchtower” drew attention to what the Scriptures say on such misconduct.
Note that “many cases’ are about conducts that the Society did not draw attention to, BUT, not ALL cases, and therefore, it could be a well understood serious sin. But, the important factor is that two or three years pass without repeating the conduct, and that the Elder is giving “evidence” that Jehovah forgave him, likely selling lots of magazines, giving talks, attending meetings, and commenting.
If a brother has been serving faithfully for some years and has seen evidence of Jehovah’s blessings upon him, why should he now step down from office? If he has a right viewpoint now on conduct and will give good counsel he should be able to continue to serve. If the local body of elders see that he has the respect of the congregation and has shown the proper qualifications over the last two or three years, he may remain in his position of service.
Note that all a brother has to do after he commits an act of adultery, or murder, or pedophilia, he simply holds out for three years, give good counsel, and by hiding the sin he can keep the respect of the congregation, then like magic, he can continue to serve. Is this an extreme application on my part of what the Society wrote? No, because of three things, 1) The Society did not really stipulate the "nature" of the sin, 2) The Society published the now famous letter to the Elders regarding the Florida case where they told the Elders they are not to turn the brother into the authorities for his act of murder, and 3) By the fact that such people, even pedophiles have continued to serve as Elders.
Must wrongdoing be brought to public attention after many years? The book (page 168) under “Public Reproof” quotes 1 Timothy 5:20 and mentions reproof of those who confess to committing more than one offense. But it really has to do with recent events. The “Interlinear” refers to those “sinning,” something going on at the time. So if repentance occurred some years ago, three years ago or more, and sinning ceased, and he is respected by the congregation, it is not necessary now to publicly reprove one who committed more than one offense “some years ago.”
So, the trick for an Elder is, if you steal, smoke, puff a joint, have sex outside marriage, or some other forbidden act, even more than once, all you have to do is hide the fact, don’t confess it, just tell Jehovah you are sorry, and then look over your shoulder two, or better yet three years. Once the Watch Tower statute of limitations has passed, you are off the hook and can remain an Elder or MS. It is as simple as that. But, I imagine that even a regular Publisher and JW women can do this too. Just do it, but don’t tell, and all will be forgiven. You will not be disfellowshipped or even publicly reproved. Now isn’t that fascinating?
I have seen a number of Elders and MSs feel guilty for a single act from a few years earlier, even as simple as masturbation, then confess, and be removed. So, if these men had only done their homework, keeping up on the fine spiritual provisions from the FDS, such as this KM, they could have saved themselves all that trouble, and continued on as Elders and MSs.
The KM School in 1991 emphasized this article with the addition that because too many Elders and MS were being removed when the Society felt that they needed these men because they are running low on men to fill positions of service.
- Amazing