from the WT Library CD ROM (2001):
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w01 1/15 pp. 30-31 How the Governing Body Differs From a Legal Corporation ***Distribution
of God?s Word PromotedJehovah?s people have consistently borne witness to his name and have upheld his Word by publishing and distributing millions of Bible-based publications as well as the Bible itself. In the early 1900?s, the Watch Tower Society became the copyright owner of The Emphatic Diaglott, Benjamin Wilson?s Greek-English interlinear edition of the Christian Greek Scriptures. The Society published the Bible Students? edition of the King James Version, which included a 500-page appendix. In 1942 it published the King James Version with marginal references. Then in 1944 the Society began to print the American Standard Version of 1901, which uses the divine name. The name of Jehovah also was a feature of The Bible in Living English, by Stephen T. Byington, published by the Society in 1972.
The legal entities used by Jehovah?s Witnesses have assisted in printing and distributing all of these Bible translations. Most notable, however, has been the very close cooperation between the Watch Tower Society and the group of anointed Witnesses of Jehovah comprising the New World Bible Translation Committee. We rejoice that, in whole or in part, to date over 106,400,000 copies of this translation have been printed in 38 languages. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania truly is a Bible society!
?The faithful slave? has been ?appointed over all his master?s belongings.? These include facilities at headquarters in New York State, U.S.A., and the 110 branches now operating worldwide. The members of the slave class know that they will be called upon to render an account for the way in which they have used what has been entrusted to them. (Matthew 25:14-30) Yet, this does not prevent the ?slave? from allowing qualified overseers from among the "other sheep" to care for legal and administrative responsibilities. In fact, this allows members of the Governing Body to devote more time "to prayer and to the ministry of the word."?Acts 6:4.
As long as conditions in this world permit, the Governing Body, representing "the faithful and discreet slave," will make use of legal entities. These are convenient, but they are not indispensable. If a legal entity is dissolved by government decree, the preaching work will still go on. Even now, in lands where restrictions are in effect and no legal entities are used, the Kingdom message is being proclaimed, disciples are being made, and theocracy?s increase continues. That is happening because Jehovah?s Witnesses plant and water, and ?God keeps making it grow.??1 Corinthians 3:6, 7.
As we look to the future, we are confident that Jehovah will care for the spiritual and material needs of his people. He and his Son, Jesus Christ, will continue to provide the heavenly direction and support needed to complete the Kingdom-preaching work. Of course, whatever we accomplish as God?s servants is done ?not by a military force, nor by power, but by Jehovah?s spirit.? (Zechariah 4:6) We therefore pray for divine help, knowing that in the strength that Jehovah supplies, we will be able to finish the work he has given us to do in this time of the end!
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w01 1/15 p. 31 A Special Announcement ***A
Special AnnouncementAT THE conclusion of the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania on October 7, 2000, a special announcement was made by the chairman, John E. Barr of the Governing Body. This announcement built further on discourses given earlier that day by Theodore Jaracz and Daniel Sydlik.?See pages 12-16 and 28-31 of this magazine.
Making a very significant point, Brother Barr stated: "?The faithful and discreet slave? and its Governing Body have had entrusted to them interests that are higher and far more encompassing than those granted to legal corporations. Set out in the chartered purposes of each of such entities are matters that are limited in their scope. Our Master, Jesus Christ, however, has appointed the faithful slave class over all his ?belongings,? or Kingdom interests here on earth."?Matthew 24:45-47.
Concerning the Pennsylvania corporation, Brother Barr added: "Ever since its incorporation in 1884, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania has played an important role in our modern-day history. Still, it is merely a legal instrument available for use by ?the faithful and discreet slave? when it is necessary."
In their discourses, Brothers Sydlik and Jaracz had explained that the fact that "the faithful and discreet slave" has been entrusted with all of the Lord?s earthly belongings does not prevent the slave class from allowing qualified men from among the "other sheep" to care for certain routine administrative responsibilities. (John 10:16) Nor is there any Scriptural reason to insist that all or any of the directors of the legal entities used by Jehovah?s Witnesses be anointed Christians.
Brother Barr told the audience that recently certain members of the Governing Body of Jehovah?s Witnesses who had been serving as directors and officers voluntarily stepped aside from the boards of directors of all the corporations used by "the faithful and discreet slave" in the United States. Responsible brothers of the other sheep class were elected as replacements.
This decision is beneficial indeed. It allows members of the Governing Body to spend more time in preparing spiritual food and in otherwise caring for the spiritual needs of the worldwide brotherhood.
In conclusion, the chairman told his delighted audience: "While various legal and administrative duties have been assigned to experienced overseers, . . . all of them serve under the spiritual direction of the Governing Body. . . . All of us prayerfully look to Jehovah for his blessing upon our united efforts in doing his will, to the honor and glory of his great name."
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w93 5/1 p. 17 Expanded Activities During Christ?s Presence *** 6
From the time Christ?s presence began and down to 1918, the slave class, despite unpopularity, persecution, and even some confusion, had been seeking to give timely food to the domestics. This is what the Master found when his inspection began. The Lord Jesus was pleased, and in 1919 he pronounced that faithful approved slave class happy. What was the slave?s delightful reward for doing what his Master had appointed him to do? A promotion! Yes, larger responsibilities were given in advancing his Master?s interests. Since the Master was now a heavenly King, why, then, his earthly belongings became even more precious.
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So, what are "all his belongings"? These are all the
spiritual assets on earth that have become Christ?s property in connection with his authority as heavenly King. This definitely included the commission to make disciples of Christ, with the grand privilege of acting as representatives of God?s established Kingdom to all the nations of the world.
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Such a promotion to oversight of all the Master?s belongings demanded that the slave class give more time and attention to getting the Kingdom work done and, yes,
develop larger facilities for that work. It now had a much greater field of work?the entire inhabited earth.
