Posts by Atlantis

13

Need Scan of Watchtower 1971 December 15 p.749

by ackack in

i'm looking for that wonderful organization chart.

was hoping that someone could supply a decent scan of it.

(its a cool chart anyways, would make some great t-shirts out of it) .

"Mission To Africa" (with scans)

by Atlantis in

mission to africa.

this pamphlet is printed and distributed by the watchtower.

however, many jehovah's witnesses have never seen this brochure.

MISSION TO AFRICA
This pamphlet is printed and distributed by the Watchtower. However, many Jehovah's Witnesses have never seen this brochure. Please pay close attention to page 9. The 1998 Yearbook, pages 44-45, informs us of the following: Many in the world recognize Jehovah’s Witnesses as law-abiding, family-oriented people who have high moral and ethical standards and who are actively preaching the message of God’s Word. However, there are also people who oppose our work and will stop at nothing to besmirch the reputation of Jehovah’s people and to hinder our efforts to let the light shine. They do this by providing government officials and the media with inaccurate, lying, and disparaging information about Jehovah’s Witnesses. In an effort to correct such misrepresentation, in February 1997 the Governing Body approved the formation, under the oversight of the Writing Committee, of a Public Affairs Office. General information desks have been functioning in the Society’s branch offices. Disaster Relief One way that we publicly demonstrate goodwill toward our neighbors is by our active involvement in relief efforts during times of disaster. For example, for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), a team, all of whom are Jehovah’s Witnesses, organized humanitarian aid in 1997. With the help of thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belgium, France, and Switzerland, refugees were supplied with tons of food, clothing, vitamin products, and medicine, as well as 18,500 pairs of shoes and 1,000 blankets, all of which was airlifted to Africa. The value of the supplies provided totaled nearly $1 million (U.S.). These supplies were sent primarily as a gift to Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they were also shared with others.—Gal. 6:10. The France branch was assisted in the preparation of a brochure containing details about this activity. The brochure was distributed to government officials and members of the news media, acquainting them with examples of what Jehovah’s Witnesses were doing in a positive and practical way to provide assistance to people in need. A number of officials expressed sincere appreciation for this information. They were impressed especially by what was done to ensure that the supplies would be received by those in need and would be distributed in an equitable manner. HERE IS THAT BROCHURE! Page 1=Front cover http://server4.pictiger.com/img/43466/picture-hosting/mta-10001.php Page 2=Map page http://server4.pictiger.com/img/43614/picture-hosting/mta-20001.php SUPPLIES SENT TO ZAIRE April-May 1997

Manpower
3 Observers 2 Doctors 1 Nurse

Relief Aid
End of April. From Belgium:
500 kg of medicine 1,000 blankets
3 tons of clothing 10 tons of vitamin products

End of May. From France:
6,020 cartons of clothing totaling 90 tons
630 cartons of shoes (18,500 pairs) Total: 6,650 cartons or 530 cubic meters 20 tons of food
(13 tons of rice and 7 tons of beans)

Cost of the operation up to the end of May 1997:
4.5 million French Francs [820,000 US dollars] Mission To Africa Page 3 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/46219/picture-hosting/mta-3b-0001.php Television news cameras have brought into our living rooms pictures of the terrible aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The looks of hopelessness and despair on the faces of refugees have haunted us. In the pages of our newspapers, we read of the desperate pleas for help. Uvira, Bukavu, Kisangani, Kivu. These names had become synonymous with fear and death. Many may have felt helpless, believing that no individual efforts could alleviate such massive suffering. However, others believed differently. And their efforts are continuing to reap many benefits. Page 4 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/44409/picture-hosting/mta-40001.php In the summer of 1994, Claude Hamel, a company owner from France in his fifties, and president of Aidafrique, a French humanitarian association, led a team of volunteers to set up well-organized camps and field hospitals for the Rwandan refugees in Zaire.*

By the end of their trip, more than 7,000 persons-three times the number of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rwanda-benefited from the help of the relief. However, Zaire itself soon became a land of peril. So, from April 28 to May 12, 1997, Claude brought a relief team together once again. He and his wife, Joseline, Louis de Wit of Belgium, Pierre Baudry of France, and Dr. Anton Camprubi of Switzerland left their countries to help alleviate the suffering of the Zairian people.

The team, all of whom are Jehovah's Witnesses, wanted to supply humanitarian aid. With the help of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses in Belgium, France, and Switzerland they supplied the refugees with a total of 500 kg of medicine, 10 tons of vitamin products, 20 tons of food, more than 90 tons of clothing, 18,500 pairs of shoes, and Footnote:
* The country's name has been changed to Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the team of volunteers entered the country prior to the change, references to the country will reflect the former name. Page 5 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/44604/picture-hosting/mta-50001.php 1,000 blankets. The cost of the supplies totaled 4.5 million French francs or nearly $1 million (U.S.). We invite you to join the relief team by reading the following personal accounts of their work.

We arrived in Goma, which was the center of our activities in 1994. Claude and Joseline, "African veterans," and the backbone of the humanitarian action, explored the city and the surrounding areas of Rutshuru, Masisi, Uvira, Kalemie, Moba, Kabalo. In addition, Claude sent out messengers to obtain reports from Butembo and Bunia. We also received information from Kisangani, situated about 1,000 km [620 miles] from Goma. In Goma, we were taken aback by an impression of calm. Rubble, deformed and broken roads, testified however to the recent war.

In Goma, 95% of the inhabitants are unemployed. The few humanitarian organizations employ some Zairians as drivers or porters. In the hotels, some work without being paid in the hope of keeping their job when the money comes back. The people lack everything: clothing, shoes, medicine and especially food. Hunger follows the war, with ruined crops, food reserves looted, and the very high prices for the food still available. Page 6 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/44831/picture-hosting/mta-60001.php In Kisangani, at the beginning of May, a kilogram [2.2 pounds] of potatoes cost about three dollars. Poor people cannot buy them. At best, the people eat one meal per day in the evening. All day long, children and adults drink just one or two cups of tea. The daily anxiety is to obtain some meager pittance. The area of Kisangani, scene of more dramatic events recently, appeared more unstable and dangerous. One clear sign of hope was the resumption of crop sowing in Bunia and Butembo.

The Scars of Warfare-Everywhere The scars of the war-rape and the loss of human life-are greatly felt by the Zairians. Some were caught up in battles with which they had nothing to do. Others were killed by stray bullets. Others died because they belonged to a particular tribe, or were mistaken for opponents of one or the other camps. In the Kivu region, the Bembés and the Hutus are still in hiding. To get away from the combat zone, whole groups traveled almost 1,200 km [750 miles] by foot in the jungle.

Many children have lost their parents and some have even seen them die. For example, in one family, the father died of cholera and Page 7 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45086/picture-hosting/mta-70001.php the mother disappeared when the boat she was in was attacked and sank. Now, these five orphans are looked after by their grandparents or by the already destitute community. What hopelessness!

We recognized the destruction that armies have always caused. In the Moba region, the village of Kasenge, where 150 Jehovah's Witnesses lived, was completely destroyed. In Beni, Rutshuru and KanyaBayonga, dozens of houses and Kingdom Halls (the name of the religious meeting places of Jehovah's Witnesses) were burnt. Deprived of their homes, their possessions and all means of existence, these people fled to join the urban masses, already reduced to extreme poverty.

Famine follows war. Disease follows famine. Malnutrition wreaks havoc particularly in children. Poor nutrition causes serious gastric problems or dysentery. Health conditions vary from area to area. Malaria is rampant. In Kalemie, cholera is widespread. Already endemic in Zaire, it experiences an upsurge following war.

This is the assessment that we were able to make with the help of the relief committees established by Jehovah's Witnesses on a local level at the start of hostilities. Having assessed the needs, we were able to adapt our help to the actual conditions and act in a number of ways. Page 8 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45276/picture-hosting/mta-80001.php
A Call to Action Immediately, we took emergency -action. We brought money and medicine, and purchased food, though in limited quantity. More than thirteen tons of help (medicine, blankets, vitamin products) were sent to Kigali, Rwanda, from Belgium and now wait to cross the border to be distributed. We organized the distribution of what we had. In Goma, this took place at the Kingdom Hall. Just as in the past, care was given to cholera victims. People received rice, beans and oil according to the size of their family.

Waiting was sometimes long. More often than not, it was the women who waited, sitting on the black pumice floor in their brightly-colored garments. They protected themselves from the intense sun under red, yellow or blue umbrellas. Sometimes, with their beautiful voices they would sing hymns. They spoke to Joseline, about their problems-of the too-frequent pregnancies that they do not know how to prevent. The distribution of food completed, we watched emotionally as the last woman left-beautiful, upright, her child wrapped in her garment on her back. She departed with a large packet of rice in the shape of a pumpkin on her head, a yellow tin containing three liters Page 9 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45388/picture-hosting/mta-90001.php of oil in one hand, a blue bucket filled with a few precious goods in the other.

Anton, a young Swiss doctor, and Pierre, a graying French nurse, give essential medical help. Anton examines the sick either in private homes, such as the hotel waiter's home, or more often in the Kingdom Hall. Over a period of five days, he gave 400 consultations. For this also, the wait was long. The many children show what for us Europeans is remarkable patience. We have the needed medicine to treat common infections and money donated by the assemblies of Jehovah's Witnesses from Belgium, France and Switzerland to have more thorough care carried out. One example highlights the terrible consequences of our friends' destitute state. One man broke his leg. Nobody had the money for him to be treated so he went without treatment. When we were finally able to give the necessary money, the leg was infected and had to be amputated.

Our activity was often hindered by difficulties particular to the region. Distances are vast and lines of communication almost nonexistent. The best form of travel, if not the only one, is the airplane. Often we used the H.C.R.'s (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) planes. Administrative formalities also held us up. Just getting a Page 10 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45474/picture-hosting/mta-100001.php pass to go from one town to the next was quite a business. It was only granted for a limited period. The dispatching of our cargo suffered delays which the urgency of the situation made painful. However, we did not come up against an uncooperative spirit in our area. Once we convinced the authorities of the purely voluntary nature of our mission, they were quite cooperative. Claude met a senior official for the region's security. Interested in our activity he facilitated our work.

Planning for the Future

On May 12, we all met up in Kigali for a meeting of African (Rwandan and Zairian) relief committee members and the European (Belgium, French and Swiss) representatives. Together they assessed what had been done. They also drew useful conclusions from the inquiry conducted at the grass-roots level. Medicine needs to be imported. Apart from exceptional circumstances, there is a need to supply the population with food that they normally eat. The Butembo region produces rice and beans, and it is easier to get the necessary money to buy and deliver them, than to transport food from Europe. Medicine and clothing should be distributed to local institutions (orphanages or non-governmental organizations). Page 11 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45567/picture-hosting/mta-110001.php The same principles apply to individuals. Cholera was rampant in Kalemie. A qualified nurse from Bukavu was without work. We invited him to join us. So, we decided to get the help of local unemployed medical personnel. To achieve this, local committees will seek out nurses without work at the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses and invite them to give their help.

The appraisal of our humanitarian action would be incomplete without mentioning and assessing the specific needs of another "front" involving first aid. It is in a totally different context that Loïc Domalain, a French Jehovah's Witness doctor, has been working in the east of Africa since May 3. He has been visiting refugee camps established in Tanzania (a neighboring country of Zaire), for persons who fled from the war. Even in a 4x4, access was difficult. Tracks are bad and a storm is all it takes to make them unnavigable. To travel, transport medicine or use a stethoscope, many authorizations are needed. 44,000 persons, including 500 Jehovah's Witnesses, their children and family, live in Nyarogoso. Each day, 15 people die in the camp. Lung and intestinal problems, dysentery and malaria favored by the rainy season and stagnant water affect the malnourished population. Loïc gave 245 consultations in three days. In the second camp-Mutabira Page 12 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45645/picture-hosting/mta-120001.php there are 72 Rwandan Witnesses. Dysentery and amebiasis are common there. In Lugufu, there are 47,000 persons including 80 Witnesses. Amebic dysentery is rife. The doctor made up a list of the most destitute children.

In each camp, he assessed the urgent needs. Some means to sterilize the water would be very useful. In each camp there is a pressing need for clothing, shoes and blankets. Zaire is in need too. Our immediate efforts would concentrate on this. We had already informed our friends in Europe. Now it was time for them to react.

And what a reaction! No sooner had we got back, than the Jehovah's Witnesses invited Claude and Joseline to the office of Jehovah's witnesses at Louviers, to show them what they were sending to Zaire. Alerted by our initial messages, they had sounded out the call in local congregations in the Rhone valley, Normandy, and in part of the Paris area. Can you give clothing and shoes? Many seized this occasion to give with joy. Bagfuls poured into the Kingdom Halls. Their contents, folded or boxed, were transported to Louviers and off-loaded into the warehouse of the Association of Jehovah's Witnesses. Four hundred volunteers decided to devote a part of their three-day Whitsun weekend to the "Help Zaire" operation. Page 13 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45771/picture-hosting/mta-130001.php Volunteers of all ages positioned themselves behind very long parallel tables. On the other side of the tables, others-brought the boxes that were handed to them on trolleys. The boxes were emptied. Then women sorted them, folding the clothing into uniform boxes which were stacked thirty to a palette. Nine containers were filled which will be taken to Le Havre to be shipped and then directly transported into Zaire or via the surrounding countries-Zambia and Rwanda.

How much was prepared for shipment? A total of 90 tons, taking up 530 cubic meters, plus 20 tons of food consisting of 13 tons of rice and 7 tons of beans. There was no haste, no collisions or jostling. It was like a beehive. Joseline showed the volunteers photos taken in Zaire and hopes to show the Zairians the images of this large sorting and packaging center. A real link between the two continents could be felt-that of brotherhood and love. Something very touching happened. French children had thought about toys. Placed on a table were green, pink and blue fluffy toys, shiny cars, multi-colored spinning tops. A girl named Eloïse, in a red dress and white collar, took teddy bears, dolls and a rag doll that flopped on top of the pile, out of a large bag. Page 14 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/45903/picture-hosting/mta-140001.php Some of the toys will go to the Ndosho orphanage. We were told of this institution in Goma by an immigration officer. 85 children of varying ages, either abandoned, lost, or real orphans, live there. We visited the dilapidated buildings-work is being carried out to have better ones-but nevertheless very clean judging by the bunk beds. We liked the classroom. We saw children playing on the concrete courtyard floor. They sang lined up in front of us. We promised to supply their needs with 50 boxes of protein products, 100 blankets, 5 boxes of clothing and 20 packets containing 1,000 tablets of various medicines. We already had many of these necessary things. However, we did not have a football. The football that the young ones themselves had asked us for. We will buy one soon and will bring it to the children as soon as we return.

We plan to return to Africa. Our destination will be the Democratic Republic of Congo. What changes await us? Uncertainty, yes, but speculations about the future, or lamenting over the past, are not the most important thing for us. What is important is that we can use the present to help and comfort the victims. We have the resources and the earnest desire to do so. Page 15 http://server4.pictiger.com/img/46076/picture-hosting/mta-150001.php The relief effort by Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe in behalf of the Zairians is a small part of a larger work of community service that Witnesses have performed in the past century. Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a worldwide Christian religion that has been active in Europe for about a century. Worldwide, they have helped many victims of natural disasters, hunger, famine, and war crimes.

As television news cameras continue to highlight the plight of the refugees, and as newspaper articles continue to cover the events of the effects of the war in Zaire, we confidently prepare for a new mission, stimulated by the generosity of our European companions and by love for our African friends. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other quotes from Watchtower literature concerning Jehovah's Witnesses using United Nations airplanes or equipment: WT-94-1-1p.-6 A missionary writes: “Concerning our brothers who found themselves in refugee camps in Tete Province, an interesting observation was made by a representative of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.) He said that Jehovah’s Witnesses had organized their own camps, separate from other groups. ‘Their camp,’ he said, ‘was the only one that was properly run,’ adding, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses are clean, organized, and educated.’ He then offered to take me by plane across the bush to see for myself. Awake-2001-7-22p.-9 One UNHCR official in the Democratic Republic of Congo was so pleased with the orderliness of the relief efforts carried out by the Witnesses that she put her vehicle at the disposal of the volunteers. WT-2003-2-15-p.-8 We were shown where to cut trees and collect grass to use in building our own small house. We made mud bricks. The UNHCR gave us a plastic sheet that we put on the roof. It was hard work, but we were happy when our simple home was ready.”

12

WT Branch Office Guidelines

by Lady Lee in

.

a few years ago i downloaded a document from the internet that seems to be parts of the branch office guidelines manual.. it contains: chapter 1, ps 1-77chapter 9, ps 1-18chapter 15, ps 1-52chapter 18, ps 1-83chapter 19, ps 1-21chapter 23, ps 1-16chapter 24, ps 1-18chapter 25, ps 1-31chapter 27, ps 1-7chapter 28, ps 1-3. i have no idea if this is what it seems to be.

can anyone pm me if they have some info on this?

Atlantis

Thank you Elsewhere! Excellent work! Much appreciated!

Cheers!

12

WT Branch Office Guidelines

by Lady Lee in

.

a few years ago i downloaded a document from the internet that seems to be parts of the branch office guidelines manual.. it contains: chapter 1, ps 1-77chapter 9, ps 1-18chapter 15, ps 1-52chapter 18, ps 1-83chapter 19, ps 1-21chapter 23, ps 1-16chapter 24, ps 1-18chapter 25, ps 1-31chapter 27, ps 1-7chapter 28, ps 1-3. i have no idea if this is what it seems to be.

can anyone pm me if they have some info on this?

Atlantis

Lady Lee:

The links went to Kent's old server which is no longer operational. But those are the numbers that correspond with what you downloaded. The same information is contained on the top link.

Cheers!

12

WT Branch Office Guidelines

by Lady Lee in

.

a few years ago i downloaded a document from the internet that seems to be parts of the branch office guidelines manual.. it contains: chapter 1, ps 1-77chapter 9, ps 1-18chapter 15, ps 1-52chapter 18, ps 1-83chapter 19, ps 1-21chapter 23, ps 1-16chapter 24, ps 1-18chapter 25, ps 1-31chapter 27, ps 1-7chapter 28, ps 1-3. i have no idea if this is what it seems to be.

can anyone pm me if they have some info on this?

Atlantis

http://www.geocities.com/le_thanh_y/Quit_files/Branch.htm

INDEX:

Chapter 1: Governing Body and Branch Committees
Chapter 9: Legal Problems
Chapter 15: Monthly Reports and Correspondence to the Governing Body
Chapter 18: Printing
Chapter 19: Printing Costs and Accounting
Chapter 23: Schools for Theocratic Training
Chapter 24: Writing Articles for "The Watchtower" and "Awake!"
Chapter 25: Translating
Chapter 27: Zone Overseer Service
Chapter 28: Responsibility of Branch Committee Members

12

WT Branch Office Guidelines

by Lady Lee in

.

a few years ago i downloaded a document from the internet that seems to be parts of the branch office guidelines manual.. it contains: chapter 1, ps 1-77chapter 9, ps 1-18chapter 15, ps 1-52chapter 18, ps 1-83chapter 19, ps 1-21chapter 23, ps 1-16chapter 24, ps 1-18chapter 25, ps 1-31chapter 27, ps 1-7chapter 28, ps 1-3. i have no idea if this is what it seems to be.

can anyone pm me if they have some info on this?

Atlantis

BRANCH OFFICE PROCEDURE

A typical "warning-sign" for people thinking about joining any club, church or cult - is "hidden agendas". When the leaders have secret books and secret rules - not available to the rank and file. Jehovah's Witnesses has lots of such rules and regulations. All "elders" in the congregations have an "Elder-manual"; the internal law-book on how to keep the members in line, how to set up internal courts, what "offences" does REALLY result in actions from the cult, etc. This book is called: Pay Attention To Yourself and To All Of The Flock. This book is ONLY available to the "elders", and absolutely nobody else is allowed to take a glimpse at that book. In fact, most JW's doesn't even know that it exists!!

Another example is BRANCH OFFICE PROCEDURE. This is TOP SECRET, and is supposed to be available to the top official in each country, the "Coordinator". These rules are changing all the time, according to what happens in the Watchtower Society, and what happens to tax-laws etc. in different countries.

We have shosen to go public with some parts of this manual, much to the disproof of the Watchtower Society. This manual isn't even copyrighted, since not even the members at the "

4

Classic Watchtower publications now available for download!

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

these are old publications which have expired copyrights, so they may be copied freely.

a few of the more interesting items available are:

photo drama of creation

Atlantis

Great work Elsewhere!

Keep up the good work my friend!

33

"A Time to Speak"----When? (with scans).

by Atlantis in

(adds found on pictiger are not associated with jwd) urls for watchtower scans can be found at the bottom.

(from kent's old archive).

this was the title on an article in the watchtower 1987 9/1, pages 12-15. this article should scare any employer that do have employees that are jehovah's witnesses.

Atlantis

We hope you leave the Doctor's office with a good report concerning your health! We want you healthy and strong Lady Lee!

33

"A Time to Speak"----When? (with scans).

by Atlantis in

(adds found on pictiger are not associated with jwd) urls for watchtower scans can be found at the bottom.

(from kent's old archive).

this was the title on an article in the watchtower 1987 9/1, pages 12-15. this article should scare any employer that do have employees that are jehovah's witnesses.

Atlantis

You are quite welcome Lady Lee! Thank you so much for your hard work we really appreciate your efforts!

Cheers!

33

"A Time to Speak"----When? (with scans).

by Atlantis in

(adds found on pictiger are not associated with jwd) urls for watchtower scans can be found at the bottom.

(from kent's old archive).

this was the title on an article in the watchtower 1987 9/1, pages 12-15. this article should scare any employer that do have employees that are jehovah's witnesses.

Atlantis

(Adds found on pictiger are not associated with JWD) URLs for Watchtower scans can be found at the bottom. (From Kent's old archive). This was the title on an article in The Watchtower 1987 9/1, pages 12-15. This article should scare any employer that do have employees that are Jehovah's Witnesses. This because these employees may cost millions of dollars - because the Jehovah's Witnesses will break their oath of confidentiality! Here is the article as printed in the Watchtower. “A Time to Speak”—When? MARY works as a medical assistant at a hospital. One requirement she has to abide by in her work is confidentiality. She must keep documents and information pertaining to her work from going to unauthorized persons. Law codes in her state also regulate the disclosure of confidential information on patients.

One day Mary faced a dilemma. In processing medical records, she came upon information indicating that a patient, a fellow Christian, had submitted to an abortion. Did she have a Scriptural responsibility to expose this information to elders in the congregation, even though it might lead to her losing her job, to her being sued, or to her employer’s having legal problems? Or would Proverbs 11:13 justify keeping the matter concealed? This reads: “The one walking about as a slanderer is uncovering confidential talk, but the one faithful in spirit is covering over a matter.”—Compare Proverbs 25:9, 10.

Situations like this are faced by Jehovah’s Witnesses from time to time. Like Mary, they become acutely aware of what King Solomon observed: “For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under the heavens: . . . a time to keep quiet and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7) Was this the time for Mary to keep quiet, or was it the time to speak about what she had learned?

Circumstances can vary greatly. Hence, it would be impossible to set forth a standard procedure to be followed in every case, as if everyone should handle matters the way Mary did. Indeed, each Christian, if ever faced with a situation of this nature, must be prepared to weigh all the factors involved and reach a decision that takes into consideration Bible principles as well as any legal implications and that will leave him or her with a clear conscience before Jehovah. (1 Timothy 1:5, 19) When sins are minor and due to human imperfection, the principle applies: “Love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) But when there seems to be serious wrongdoing, should a loyal Christian out of love of God and his fellow Christian reveal what he knows so that the apparent sinner can receive help and the congregation’s purity be preserved? Applying Bible Principles What are some basic Bible principles that apply? First, anyone committing serious wrongdoing should not try to conceal it. “He that is covering over his transgressions will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving them will be shown mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) Nothing escapes the notice of Jehovah. Hidden transgressions must eventually be accounted for. (Proverbs 15:3; 1 Timothy 5:24, 25) At times Jehovah brings concealed wrongdoing to the attention of a member of the congregation that this might be given proper attention.—Joshua 7:1-26.

Another Bible guideline appears at Leviticus 5:1: “Now in case a soul sins in that he has heard public cursing and he is a witness or he has seen it or has come to know of it, if he does not report it, then he must answer for his error.” This “public cursing” was not profanity or blasphemy. Rather, it often occurred when someone who had been wronged demanded that any potential witnesses help him to get justice, while calling down curses—likely from Jehovah—on the one, perhaps not yet identified, who had wronged him. It was a form of putting others under oath. Any witnesses of the wrong would know who had suffered an injustice and would have a responsibility to come forward to establish guilt. Otherwise, they would have to ‘answer for their error’ before Jehovah. This command from the Highest Level of authority in the universe put the responsibility upon each Israelite to report to the judges any serious wrongdoing that he observed so that the matter might be handled. While Christians are not strictly under the Mosaic Law, its principles still apply in the Christian congregation. Hence, there may be times when a Christian is obligated to bring a matter to the attention of the elders. True, it is illegal in many countries to disclose to unauthorized ones what is found in private records. But if a Christian feels, after prayerful consideration, that he is facing a situation where the law of God required him to report what he knew despite the demands of lesser authorities, then that is a responsibility he accepts before Jehovah. There are times when a Christian “must obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.

While oaths or solemn promises should never be taken lightly, there may be times when promises required by men are in conflict with the requirement that we render exclusive devotion to our God. When someone commits a serious sin, he, in effect, comes under a ‘public curse’ from the One wronged, Jehovah God. (Deuteronomy 27:26; Proverbs 3:33) All who become part of the Christian congregation put themselves under “oath” to keep the congregation clean, both by what they do personally and by the way they help others to remain clean. Personal Responsibility These are some of the Bible principles Mary likely considered in making her personal decision. Wisdom dictated that she should not act quickly, without weighing matters very carefully. The Bible counsels: “Do not become a witness against your fellowman without grounds. Then you would have to be foolish with your lips.” (Proverbs 24:28) To establish a matter conclusively, the testimony of at least two eyewitnesses is needed. (Deuteronomy 19:15) If Mary had seen only a brief mention of abortion, she might have decided conscientiously that the evidence of any guilt was so inconclusive that she should not proceed further. There could have been a mistake in billing, or in some other way the records may not have properly reflected the situation.

In this instance, however, Mary had some other significant information. For example, she knew that the sister had paid the bill, apparently acknowledging that she had received the service specified. Also, she knew personally that the sister was single, thus raising the possibility of fornication. Mary felt a desire lovingly to help one who may have erred and to protect the cleanness of Jehovah’s organization, remembering Proverbs 14:25: “A true witness is delivering souls, but a deceitful one launches forth mere lies.”

Mary was somewhat apprehensive about the legal aspects but felt that in this situation Bible principles should carry more weight than the requirement that she protect the privacy of the medical records. Surely the sister would not want to become resentful and try to retaliate by making trouble for her, she reasoned. So when Mary analyzed all the facts available to her, she decided conscientiously that this was a time to “speak,” not to “keep quiet.”

Now Mary faced an additional question: To whom should she speak, and how could she do so discreetly? She could go directly to the elders, but she decided to go first privately to the sister. This was a loving approach. Mary reasoned that this one under some suspicion might welcome the opportunity to clarify matters or, if guilty, confirm the suspicion. If the sister had already spoken to the elders about the matter, likely she would say so, and Mary would not need to pursue matters further. Mary reasoned that if the sister had submitted to an abortion and had not confessed to this serious transgression of God’s law, she would encourage her to do this. Then the elders could help her in accord with James 5:13-20. Happily, this is how matters worked out. Mary found that the sister had submitted to an abortion under much pressure and because of being spiritually weak. Shame and fear had moved her to conceal her sin, but she was glad to get help from the elders toward spiritual recovery.

If Mary had reported first to the body of elders, they would have been faced with a similar decision. How would they handle confidential information coming into their possession? They would have had to make a decision based on what they felt Jehovah and his Word required of them as shepherds of the flock. If the report involved a baptized Christian who was actively associated with the congregation, they would have had to weigh the evidence as did Mary in determining if they should proceed further. If they decided that there was a strong possibility that a condition of “leaven” existed in the congregation, they might have chosen to assign a judicial committee to look into the matter. (Galatians 5:9, 10) If the one under suspicion had, in effect, resigned from being a member, not having attended any meetings for some time and not identifying herself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they might choose to let the matter rest until such time as she did begin to identify herself again as a Witness. Thinking Ahead Employers have a right to expect that their Christian employees will ‘exhibit good fidelity to the full,’ including observing rules on confidentiality. (Titus 2:9, 10) If an oath is taken, it should not be taken lightly. An oath makes a promise more solemn and binding. (Psalm 24:4) And where the law reinforces a requirement on confidentiality, the matter becomes still more serious. Hence, before a Christian takes an oath or puts himself under a confidentiality restriction, whether in connection with employment or otherwise, it would be wise to determine to the extent possible what problems this may produce because of any conflict with Bible requirements. How will one handle matters if a brother or a sister becomes a client? Usually such jobs as working with doctors, hospitals, courts, and lawyers are the type of employment in which a problem could develop. We cannot ignore Caesar’s law or the seriousness of an oath, but Jehovah’s law is supreme.

Anticipating the problem, some brothers who are lawyers, doctors, accountants, and so forth, have prepared guidelines in writing and have asked brothers who may consult them to read these over before revealing anything confidential. Thus an understanding is required in advance that if serious wrongdoing comes to light, the wrongdoer would be encouraged to go to the elders in his congregation about the matter. It would be understood that if he did not do so, the counselor would feel an obligation to go to the elders himself.

There may be occasions when a faithful servant of God is motivated by his personal convictions, based on his knowledge of God’s Word, to strain or even breach the requirements of confidentiality because of the superior demands of divine law. Courage and discretion would be needed. The objective would not be to spy on another’s freedom but to help erring ones and to keep the Christian congregation clean. Minor transgressions due to sin should be overlooked. Here, “love covers a multitude of sins,” and we should forgive “up to seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21, 22) This is the “time to keep quiet.” But when there is an attempt to conceal major sins, this may be the “time to speak.” [Footnotes] Mary is a hypothetical person facing a situation that some Christians have faced. The way she handles the situation represents how some have applied Bible principles in similar circumstances. In their Commentary on the Old Testament, Keil and Delitzsch state that a person would be guilty of error or sin if he “knew of another’s crime, whether he had seen it, or had come to the certain knowledge of it in any other way, and was therefore qualified to appear in court as a witness for the conviction of the criminal, neglected to do so, and did not state what he had seen or learned, when he heard the solemn adjuration of the judge at the public investigation of the crime, by which all persons present, who knew anything of the matter, were urged to come forward as witnesses.” It is the right and loving course to encourage an erring Witness to speak with the elders, confident that they will handle the problem in a kind and understanding way. (Top of page 15, in red section). http://server4.pictiger.com/img/26658/picture-hosting/speak-a-10001.php http://server4.pictiger.com/img/26704/picture-hosting/speak-b-20001.php http://server4.pictiger.com/img/26745/picture-hosting/speak-c-30001.php http://server4.pictiger.com/img/26784/picture-hosting/speak-d-40001.php http://server4.pictiger.com/img/26815/picture-hosting/speak-e-50001.php Watchtower Observer Archives