"The Worldwide Order Of Special Full Time Servants Of Jehovah’s Witnesses ("the order") invites you to become a provisional member. If you accept this invitation..."
Hi Atlanta....when I read this WT letter I thought to myself: "Where in the hell have I heard such silly gibberish before"...and it dawned on me that the Roman Catholic Church has a very similar insiders club membership with solemn vows that the upper class have to accept & comply with to remain in good standing. Here it is:
"Catholic religious orders are one of two types of religious institutes ('Religious Institutes', cf. canons 573–746), the major form of consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. They are organizations of laity and/or clergy who take solemn vows (in contrast to the simple vows taken by the members of religious congregations) and who live a common life following a religious rule or constitution under the leadership of a religious superior. According to the Annuario Pontificio, there are four branches of religious orders:
* Monastic orders: orders founded by monks or nuns who live and work in a monastery and recite the divine office.
* Mendicant orders: orders founded by friars or nuns who live from alms, recite the divine office, and have active participation in apostolic endeavors.
* Canons Regulars: orders founded by canons and canonesses regular who recite the divine office and generally are in charge of a parish.
* Clerks Regulars: orders founded by priests who are also religious men with vows and have a very active apostolic live...."