MacHislopp

Joined

• started 284 topics
• posted 1,781 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by MacHislopp

• 
  6

  Catholics Superior to Watchtower?!

  by metatron in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  so, the catholic church is using sleaze ball lawyers to try to weasel out of child molester lawsuits.. (they were asking for it/blame the victim defense).

  on the other hand, liberty magazine (jan/feb 2003) says "to it's credit, the catholic church appears to have cooperated.

  in mediation, when possible".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Metatron,

  thanks for the brilliant comment:

  " I want 'em to PAY OUT like the Catholics!

  A good solid 400 millions would wreck the Watchtower!"

  Excellent!

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  34

  Have You Ever Written A Letter To the Society?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i was a kid, i remember my family regularly visiting other friends, including a brother that was the bible study servant.

  every week, he would send a different letter to the society on a variety of subjects.

  when our families would meet, he would ask us the question and we would do research or give our opinion on what we thought the society's answer was going to be.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Minimus,

  thanks for the topic.

  I've also written to the WTBS Inc's lawyer:

  Philip BRUMLEY to ask him questions about their UN 'affiliation',

  but as you can imagine I never did receive an awswer.

  My e-mail and my 'normal' mail have been left unanswered,

  yet the DPI's office of the United Nations sent me a very

  nice answer. Btw, I did post all these 'evidences' in the

  long, long, thread of the WTBS, UN and NGO !

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  3

  CLOSING …HOURS, DAYS, YEARS… update!

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i would like to give you, the latest update

  concerning the closing hours, days, years of

  the end of the present global system of things

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  I would like to give you, the latest update

  concerning the closing hours, days, years of

  “the end of the present global system of things”

  a) From the KM/ March 2003 page 6 ,

  paragraph 25 subheading:

  “Take full advantage of the time remaining “

  Today all the evidence indicates that the end of the present global system of things is at end. Day by day our pattern of life should reflect that conviction. As zealous servants of Jehovah, we should be focused on the urgent work of declaring the good news.-

  Titus 2:13,14 .”

  b) From the Yearbook 2003, “ A Letter from the Governing Body “ page 5, paragraph 1 :

  “We face similar situation today. As we approach the

  destruction of this wicked system, we expect increased opposition. Satan is filled with “greatanger”, and that anger is especially directed against those who serve God (Rev.12:12) “

  You do remember the quote from 1950,…see what we get f rom the WTBS Inc. after … 53 years!!

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  26

  Watchtower Condemns Catholics for Pedophile Cover-Up!

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the watchtower society has condemned the catholic church for over 15 years because of their pedophile cover-up -- now, the watchtower society is trying to make a defense of their own pedophile cover-up by claiming that they are "no worse than any other religion"!.

  statements made to the media by official watchtower society spokesmen about the jehovah's witnesses pedophile problem being "no worse than any other religion":.

  christianity today, january 26th 2001:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  I thought to add these…just as reminders:

  1)

  A. J. Anderson

  June 5, 2002

  Christian Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses

  Service Department

  2821 Route 22

  Re: Letter of resignation

  Dear Brothers,

  This letter pertains to my wish to no longer serve as an elder in the Congregation. Knowing what I do about our organizations child molestation problem and other matters here in the Manchester Congregation, I find it difficult to keep serving as an elder. Undoubtedly, how we as elders handle allegations of molestation in our organization has troubled me for quite some time.

  I was pleased to note from J. R. Brown's feb 7, 2002 letter to Dateline NBC that our organization would hear views and opinions from individuals within the framework of the congregation, so I take this time to ask that you resolve some of my differences of opinion according to Scriptural principals.

  Since I have been in close proximity to the child molestation issue because of my wife Barbara, I have come to know of hundreds of molestation cases mismanaged by elders. Without a doubt, many elders are incapable of correctly dealing with molestation allegations, but others followed verbal and written directions from headquarters that caused immeasurable sorrow and lifelong unhappiness to the victims and their families. Almost every day for the last several years, Ive read accounts sent to my wife from victims describing their disagreeable encounters with elders and the Society, which, in effect, has punished them and protected their molesters. I know that Jehovahs Witnesses as a whole, plus those outside of our organization say that they hate child molesters even more than murderers, but whether they really do or not is shown by their feelings and actions.

  Inasmuch as child molestation is an act done in secret, and since we the elders and the Society compound this by keeping such acts committed within our group a secret, the Witnesses are under the illusion that our organization doesnt have a problem with molestation. Of course, each elder knows if there are any accused or confessed molesters within his congregation, but elders dont know if there are molesters in other congregations. Consequently, because elders are unable to gage the scope of this situation because of the secrecy, most think there isnt a problem. Now, due to media coverage of many distressing cases of molestation within our organization, many elders are very disturbed. Without question, Im sure that you are also.

  Here's one example of why keeping molestation a secret from the congregation does not work: Im personally acquainted with a woman who was divorced, and when her little girl was molested she went straight to the elders. They did not report the accused to the police, although requires ministers to report child abuse. It took a sister in the congregation, who found out about the rape years later, to go to the police. This resulted in the molester being sentenced to eight years in prison. As far as I know, this man was previously accused of molesting three girls in another state and when he moved to , the elders were notified of his past, yet they warned no one in the congregation as per the Societys instructions. Before he was arrested, he molested two girls in . So who was right? The sister who reported him or the elders who kept the secret? In our congregation, one elder told the other elders that if anyone molested his child, he would call the police first and elders later. Are you aware of how many elders feel this way? I personally know that many elders feel that they really can do nothing to help in these cases. Yet you instruct that an accusation of molestation within the congregation be reported first to the elders.

  The October 8, 1993 Awake! states that child molesters want something else from their victimsSILENCE. Are we not sharers in guilt with the molester when we dont encourage victims to go to the authorities where they will get help? Wouldnt this be the Christian thing to do? Are we not sharers in guilt with a molester, who silences the victim with threats, when we silence members in the congregation with threats if they warn others? In the May 24, 2002 letter to all the congregations in the , you stated that even one abused child is one too many. This same letter says, At least since 1981, articles have been published in our journals, with a view to educating Jehovahs people on the need to protect children from child abuse. How can you educate Jehovahs people by keeping such secrets? To be able to protect their children, Jehovahs Witnesses have a right to know as part of their education if there are any people within the congregation accused of molestation.

  Incidentally, it seems to me that if concerned people had not gone to the media about the child abuse problems in our organization, this subject would not have been addressed at the elders school last year. It was obvious that there was a change of attitude by the statement made that Child abuse is a crime. Now elders no longer treat molestation as a sin like adultery or fornication, but as something far more serious, a crime. This was a welcome change.

  Recently, a woman who used to be a Witness told me, after she read an article in our locaewspaper about Jehovahs Witnesses and allegations of child abuse, that she was molested by someone who attended the Manchester Congregation many years ago. Ive known her family for over twenty-five years and remembered her as a young girl. The man she accused is a very good friend of mine for over thirty years. If I go to my friend with another elder confronting him and he denies the allegation, Im in a dilemma because I want him not to be guilty. How can I provide justice when Im partial? Of course, I could remove myself from this situation, but why should we even be put in a position to judge our brothers in such matters where it takes the wisdom of Solomon to sort it out. According to the October 8, 1993 Awake! it is improbable that a child who accuses a person of molestation is lying. However, I believe it is better to err in behalf of a child than the accused. But the question arises, why are we as elders even investigating this crime of child abuse? Can we as elders really identify a person as a molester when an accusation is made?

  Of course, something has to be done when accusations are made but cant be proved, but most Witnesses want to leave situations like this in Jehovahs hands. To me this is shifting responsibility. Our organization has guides to settle disputes and discover truth, but in the above case, if the accused denied the allegation, the investigation is over until someone else comes forward accusing the same person (something that happens infrequently). Since elders have been told that molestation is a crime, why cant our brothers go first to the authorities with an accusation and then inform the elders. We expect our brothers to go first to the authorities with an accusation of murder. Moreover, it is inconceivable to think elders would investigate an allegation of murder to determine guilt or innocence, so why would we investigate an allegation of child abuse to determine guilt or innocence? This is just not our field of expertise. We are ministers of God, not police. The authorities and their child abuse experts sometimes make mistakes, but nothing like the mistake of just asking the accused Did you do it? and the reply is No. If there is not another witness to the act, consequently, all charges are dropped, the matter is closed, and the victim is warned not to talk about it or else.

  This brings me to the subject of victims having to provide another witness to his/her molestation. There are contradictions associated with this rule. In the past, Watchtower literature stated that two witnesses to each act must be provided before judicial action could be ta. Now theres something new: two persons as witnesses to separate incidents of the same kind of wrongdoing can be deemed sufficient to take action. Which is it? Also, just what kind of action is to be ta? Judicial action which could lead to disfellowshipping? Or investigative action leading to the determination of guilt and then reporting the allegation to the authorities? If our teachings mean we must meet the above criteria before we report to the authorities, as many elders think we do, I say, NO! We shouldnt invoke the two-witness rule when it comes to whether elders should report an accusation to authorities. In fact, let me reiterate, I believe that elders should not be investigating an accusation of child abuse before the authorities are called in.

  The flock is told that elders are loving, kind and sensitive. Yet, time and again, I have heard of extremely ignorant or worst behavior on the part of elders when involved in sexual abuse cases. For instance, a child in our circuit accused her grandfather of molestation. Her mother went to the police and the man (a brother) admitted his guilt. I was told that the case was handled satisfacly by all concerned except when the mother was approached by the presiding overseer of the congregation and he said, If its any consolation to you, your daughter enjoyed the act! The mother left the organization because she couldnt handle the idea that this man was her spiritual shepherd!

  Another case comes to mind: A sister told of being molested when she was eight years old. The man confessed, but one of the elders asked her then, What kind of clothes were you wearing? She was advised to make peace with the perpetrator, and her family was counseled to invite him over for a meal. Its obvious that a question and advice like this proves that elders are not qualified and shouldnt be involved. If I know of hundreds of cases like these, you must know of thousands.

  Children and women are very vulnerable in this male-dominated world, and this is true also in our organization. I have quoted James 1:27 many, many times and have heard it quoted from the platform an equaumber of times. Of course, you well know this scripture where James said, The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself with out spot from the world. Generally, we emphasized the end of this scripture and rarely analyzed the situation orphans and widows found themselves in when the husband and father died. Primarily they were without a protector, which made them extremely vulnerable. Although the situation has changed somewhat today, there still are many areas where orphans and widows need help and elders should give special care to their needs. And especially is this so with regard to those who are sexually abused. Who are their protectors, if not those who can be lied to spiritual fathersthe elders. God puts them under our care and yours too. Whatever it takes, we should go the extra mile to help abused ones. However, it appears that our organization will sacrifice a child to keep the person who denies an allegation of molestation.

  In your letter to All Bodies of Elders, February 15, 2002, you instruct us to, Never suggest to anyone that they should not report an allegation of child abuse to the police or other authorities. Why should elders be put in a position to suggest or not to suggest reporting an allegation? The victim or caregivers and the rest of Jehovahs Witnesses should be informed by elders to always call the police if a crime has occurred, no buts or ifs about it.

  Also, in this same February 15, 2002 letter, you say, If you are asked, make it clear that whether to report the matter to the authorities or not is a personal decision for each individual to make This is inaccurate information and illegal in seventeen states. In these seventeen reporting states, everybody is obligated to report even suspicion of child abuse. In this has been the law since 1972. In the law is the same. And why would resident, Bill Bowen, as seen on Dateline, be told by someone in the Legal Department to not report a case of molestation? What is the Societys Legal Department doing giving us wrong information such as the above?

  In the January 1, 1997 Watchtower, a policy statement is found that a man known to have been a molester can not hold a position of authority within the congregation. This policy is certainly appreciated and shows your concern for protecting the flock. However, the word known appears to be a confusing problem. Who is he known to, the eldersis the determination of his guilt or innocence in their hands? What if the victim cant prove to the elders that he/she was molested because of being unable to produce another witness to the act, does this mean the accused remains in his position? I believe this is so because he is then known or considered by the elders to be not guilty. (He is then not known to be a molester.) Elders should never be given the power to determine who is to be a known molester or not because they are untrained and unqualified. This policy puts children in the congregation at risk and should be reevaluated.

  In your statement in the May 24, 2002 letter to all congregations you say, We have long instructed elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities where it is required by law to do so Where God is concerned, if this is a crime, its a crime everywhere. If wrong in one state, why not in others? Also, if its wrong we should do the right thing whether the laws of the land require it or not. Arent we supposed to be morally better than the world? Do we not go an extra step or two because of conscience? Another point ta from the same statement as quoted above is this: You say, We have long instructed elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities Where is it written as policy that elders are instructed to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities? Your statement as quoted above is a half-truth and misleads the reader. What is not understood is that elders have written instructions to call the Legal Department where they will be told that if their state requires a minister to report the allegation, they should report it. Thats a far different matter than long instructed elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities

  Another point I want to discuss with you is the recent disfellowshipping of my wife, Barbara. The scriptures used for disfellowshipping her are found in 1 Corinthians 5:1-12. The letter from L. Seely, presiding overseer of the Manchester Congregation, said that Barbara was disfellowshipped for causing divisions, not for committing any of the wicked acts Paul described in 1 Corinthians 5:1-12, i.e., gross wickedness, sexual immorality, etc. It was the Societys spokesman, J. R. Brown, who accused my wife of committing some unspecified spiritual violations or sins for which she was being called before a judicial committee. This most certainly blemished my wifes character before the whole world, especially since no proof was offered then or ever.

  It was the Watchtower Society that forced Barbara to go to the media about the judicial hearing convened by the local congregation at orders of the Watchtowers Legal Department. It is obvious that because she went to the media about the sexual abuse issue that she caused divisions among the flock. Why didnt J. R. Brown just say so instead of accusing her of sins and blac her character? It was because headquarters knew there was absolutely no proof she caused divisions by propagating her views about child abuse before she went to the media.

  If Barbara was disfellowshipped because of causing divisions, the Apostle Paul should have been disfellowshipped for causing divisions among the flock because he publicized sensational sexual immorality in the Corinthian congregation. Not only did he discuss with the Corinthian Congregation how he felt about the congregation hiding fornication in their midst, he recorded his accusations for millions of people to read in the Bible during the past 2,000 years. Why is it okay for Paul to have gone public revealing disgraceful conduct that was being condoned in the congregation, but when my wife goes public about the organization condoning and protecting immoral people by bad policies, she is punished? Moreover, wicked and immoral acts have been equated to her by applying 1 Cor. 5 as the reason for her disfellowhipping. I believe this to be untian. I also believe that disfellowshipping my wife violated the Apostle Pauls command to each one of us to work to keep the congregation clean no matter what the cost. Furthermore, disfellowshipping her for causing divisions because she publicly spoke out about uncleanness in our organization is a violation of the freedom of speech Christ brought us.

  Inasmuch as I cannot be guided by your polices on child molestation, it is difficult for me to remain an elder. Im not expecting a response to this letter. If any changes in your policies occur, Im sure they will appear in our publications.

  Thank you for considering this letter and I hope nothing less than the Christian thing will be done in behalf of the victims and those speaking out.

  Sincerely,

  A. J. Anderson

  XC: Manchester, TN Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses

  Edited by - silentlambs on 19 July 2002 17:35:2

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  2)

  .J.: Attorney wages war on clergy sex abuse
  C.J.
  Star Tribune
  
  Published Apr 28, 2002
  St. Paul attorney Jeffrey Anderson's zeal for suing priests for sexual abuse is renewed every time he looks at his daughter Amy. Now 28, Amy was 8 when she was molested by a therapist who happened to be a former priest, according to the April 22 People magazine. "I came to feel like I didn't protect her, and to this day I understand how parents of victims blame themselves," Anderson tells People. In 20 years he has represented more than 400 plaintiffs in lawsuits against church officials, and last month sued a number of bishops, alleging a pattern of criminal wrongdoing. But his personal motivation has not been widely known. "I don't make a secret of [Amy's molestation]. I don't volunteer it. That was the first time anybody had ever asked me that question, Were you sexually abused or anybody in your family?" As Pope John Paul's summit ended with Boston Cardinal Bernard Above the Law -- as he is being called -- out of sight but not yet out of a job, Anderson has a hunch about the denouement. "He will not be the first and the only" church official forced out," he said. I think you're going to see several cardinals and several bishops resign as a part of an overall scheme of accountability. I don't think it will originate from the Vatican. I think the pressure will mount . . . just like the Berlin Wall crumbled. There is a huge crash now, and the dam is effectively broken. There isn't going to be accountability until some of those guys step down." Anderson also foresees criminal charges against Catholic officials who moved known abusers around: "Criminal indictments . . . for aiding and abetting and this kind of stuff."

  http://startribune.com/stories/462/2261176.html

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  3)

  (from teejay …20/07/02)

  A profound observation (or two) from Brother Anderson's letter:

  In the May 24, 2002 letter to all the congregations, you stated that even one abused child is one too many. This same letter says,

  At least since 1981, articles have been published in our journals, with a view to educating Jehovah's people on the need to protect children from child abuse. How can you educate Jehovah's people by keeping such secrets? To be able to protect their children, Jehovah's Witnesses have a right to know as part of their education if there are any people within the congregation accused of molestation.

  Incidentally, it seems to me that if concerned people had not gone to the media about the child abuse problems in our organization, this subject would not have been addressed at the elders school last year. It was obvious that there was a change of attitude by the statement made that Child abuse is a crime. Now elders no longer treat molestation as a sin like adultery or fornication, but as something far more serious, a crime .This was a welcome change.

  Since elders have been told that molestation is a crime, why can't our brothers go first to the authorities with an accusation and then inform the elders. We expect our brothers to go first to the authorities with an accusation of murder. Moreover, it is inconceivable to think elders would investigate an allegation of murder to determine guilt or innocence, so why would we investigate an allegation of child abuse to determine guilt or innocence? This is just not our field of expertise. We are ministers of God, not police. The authorities and their child abuse experts sometimes make mistakes, but nothing like the mistake of just asking the accused, "Did you do it?" and the reply is, "No."

  °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

  Greetings, J.C;MacHislopp
• 
  26

  Watchtower Condemns Catholics for Pedophile Cover-Up!

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the watchtower society has condemned the catholic church for over 15 years because of their pedophile cover-up -- now, the watchtower society is trying to make a defense of their own pedophile cover-up by claiming that they are "no worse than any other religion"!.

  statements made to the media by official watchtower society spokesmen about the jehovah's witnesses pedophile problem being "no worse than any other religion":.

  christianity today, january 26th 2001:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Undisfellowshiped,

  thanks for the excellent topic and the relative links.

  What I do find shocking is this :

  "Witness spokesman [J.R.] Brown says that the incidence

  of pedophilia is no worse in his religion than in others,

  but he admits that some elders have not reported suspicions of abuse."

  So much for all the articles highliting the "pedo.." problems of the Catholica,

  and others!

  I'm wondering what kind of reactionthis will generate.

  Thanks again, for the excellent research.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  20

  What Do You Think About "Jehovah's" Organization?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as witnesses, you are constantly bombarded with the expression,"jehovah's organization".... if we don't believe in jehovah's organization, we are doomed.

  we must put faith in jehovah's organization.

  jehovah's organization is the modern day "ark of survival"........these types of expressions have been drilled in the heads of jehovah's witnesses for decades.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Minimus,

  Thanks for your interesting post. Here is , for the moment,

  my …small contribution:

  ‘Jehovah’s organization’ is mentioned

  ***Index ………………………..76 times

  ***The Watchtower ………….1,056 “

  ***Awake!…………………… 42 “

  ***Kingdom Ministry………… 220 “

  ***Books…………………….. 78 “

  ***Yearbooks……………….. 223

  ***Brochures ……………….. 6

  Grand total of…………………..1,701 times

  Old article with most use: w. 15.1.1953 pp. 52-60 …..18 times

  Recent article “ “ “ : w 15.1.2001 pp.17-21 …….14 times

  (all the data are taken from the 2001 WTBS Inc. CD-ROM)

  I do hope you’ll like this.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  10

  Watchtower statistics

  by Realist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone actually added up the numbers in the wt statistics?.

  look at http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report.htm.

  if you add the numbers up you get actually 5,682,705 witnesses....not 6,117,666.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello realist,

  a very good question to come back after a nice and correct research.

  JW: a fast one..

  If you add all the population of the listed countries you still have

  more than 2 BILLIONS people, and according to the mighty WTBS Inc.

  only 10,672 publishers (peak) ...suppose to do the "preaching "

  for the 28 nations not mentioned!!!

  To give you an idea: China, Marocco, Algeria, Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq,

  Lybia, Syria, Afghanistan,South Korea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia,

  Tibet, etc. etc.

  Another quick one: The n° of congregations in Japan:

  year 2002 ......total 3,305 year 2003 ......total 3,213

  Greetings, for now J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  5

  CLOSING …HOURS, DAYS, YEARS, …???

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  quite recently the wtbs inc., wrote the following:

  comparably, for more than a century now, the anointed brothers

  of christ, those with the heavenly hope, have served as a holy

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello everyone,

  I would like to add something to your nice comments.

  To Ozziepost:

  “Now, under the Kingship and mediatorship of Jesus, the individual Christian could approach the living God directly, and not through a mediator.”

  Very true, basic …but denied by the WTBS Inc.

  To Dave:

  Thanks for the appreciation. Thes tyle, the presentation of the research is with the aim to get…to the core of the subjetc and not

  to be submerged by the massive verbage of the WTBS Inc.’s

  literature. After all , we desire to be clear and concise.

  Btw, your closing quote: " Millions Now Living Will Never Die Know ", is really a true gem!

  To Dan the Man: thanks for the quote! And this part:

  “You realize that it is just an old recording, and you wonder if there even IS a conductor.”

  Really makes me think!

  To Latte:

  Thanks . I do like to imagine my posts as a:

  ‘ …a voluntary contribution so that…few , may

  be many, now living, … WILL KNOW !”

  Greetings, to all of you

  J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  16

  Is it ‘Christian Freedom ‘ or WTBS Inc. slavery? ***

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this one is for those who might have missed this 'enlightening '

  article , or if you prefer, this 'brilliant flash of divione light' :

  w98 3/15 pp.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Waiting,

  As I have promised, here we do start, and please don’t take any notice about the supposed ‘Bible based ‘ evidence of the existence of a “christian governing body”, already in the 1 st century, because for that , I’ve already written a specific topic.

  So, I’m using the following quotes, only with the aim, to give … the – WTBS Inc’s own definition of …’ a governing body’

  As a comparaison let’s see the WTBS Inc’s view of the Jewish Sánhedrin at Jerusalem , existing in the 1 st century C.E.:

  I) *** w50 11/15 pp. 444-445 Subjection to the Higher Powers ***

  20 Jesus’ apostles took this position. In their day the Jewish Sánhedrin at Jerusalem was charged with certain judicial and legal functions by Caesar’s government. But it was not for this reason part of the “superior authorities” among Jesus’ followers. Jesus had separated his disciples from the natural Israelites and had formed them into a spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16) So the Jewish Sánhedrin was no longer a governing body among God’s true people, but was an alien governmental body now. Its being a religious body of priests and clergymen added nothing to its power over Jewish Christians.

  Then some quotes about ‘ the modern days…governing body’ :

  II) *** w71 12/15 pp. 755-756 A Governing Body

  as Different from a Legal Corporation ***

  At this meeting a question came up and was discussed from the platform. It was as to what the relationship is between the Board of Directors of the Society as a legal corporation and the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Are they the same, identical, or are they different? Such questions were due to the fact that it has been published in print that the Governing Body of Jehovah’s witnesses at headquarters is associated with the Board of Directors of the said Society. How did this come about, and does this make the Board of Directors the same as the Governing Body of Jehovah’s witnesses all the earth around?

  The official magazine of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses is The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. In the year 1944 the Watchtower magazine began to speak about the governing body of the Christian congregation. The true Christian congregation was established on the festival day of Pentecost of the year 33 C.E. at Jerusalem in the Roman province of Judea. On that notable day this congregation of dedicated Christians, consisting then of about 120 members, was anointed with holy spirit, which Jehovah God poured out upon them through the glorified Jesus Christ. This anointed body of dedicated, baptized Christians was then given a special assignment of service. According to the prophetic words of Jesus Christ at Matthew 24:45-47, it was given the appointment as the “faithful and discreet slave.” The now heavenly Jesus Christ was the Master and Lord of this anointed “slave” class.

  The Bible book, Acts of Apostles, discloses that this anointed Christian congregation as a “slave” class had a visible, earthly governing body. On that day of Pentecost it was composed of twelve men, namely, the twelve apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Years later, about the year 49 C.E., this governing body was reported to include the then surviving apostles of Christ and the spiritual elders of the Jerusalem congregation. (Acts, chapter 15) This Christian governing body did not use as an administrative agency any legal corporation recognized, authorized and chartered by Caesar or any province of the Roman Empire. The decree issued was written up and carried by personal messengers to the Christian congregations that were concerned because of the non-Jewish or Gentile converts among them. The Christian apostle John, who wrote the last books of the Holy Bible toward the close of the first century C.E., was apparently the last surviving member of the original governing body appointed by Jesus Christ.

  III) *** w71 12/15 p. 757 A Governing Body as

  Different from a Legal Corporation ***

  GOVERNING BODY

  According to the apostolic example of the first century C.E., these dedicated, baptized Christians known today as Jehovah’s witnesses have a governing body, as specifically noted from the year 1944 onward. This governing body has through the years been associated with the publishers of the Watch Tower magazine and the Board of Directors of the legal religious corporation now known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

  IV) *** w71 12/15 pp. 757-758 A Governing Body

  as Different from a Legal Corporation ***

  Are the directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania the same as the governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses, who are an unincorporated body of dedicated, baptized Christians and who worship Jehovah as their God? Also, at the annual corporation meeting of the Watch Tower Society such as that at Buckingham, Pennsylvania, do the members of the Society automatically elect the members of the governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses by electing the members of the Society’s Board of Directors? Such questions interested those attending the meeting.

  V) *** w71 12/15 p. 758 A Governing Body as

  Different from a- Legal Corporation ***

  Let us keep in mind that the governing body must be made up of dedicated, baptized Christians who are anointed with God’s spirit and begotten by Him to be his spiritual children, and who are to be united with the glorified Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom.

  This must be so because, as in the case of the twelve apostles of Christ , the governing body is part of the “faithful and discreet slave” class and presides over it as spiritual shepherds and overseers.

  This “slave” class is made up of the spirit-begotten, spirit-anointed followers of Jesus Christ, and these followers make up his congregation on earth and unitedly serve as a composite “slave” of God under the Head of the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ

  VI) *** w71 12/15 p. 758 A Governing Body as

  Different from a Legal Corporation ***

  Not just because they are not anointed heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, but because the governing body of the “slave” class is not appointed by any man. It is appointed by the same one who appointed the twelve apostles in the first century C.E., namely, Jesus Christ the Head of the true Christian congregation and the Lord and Master of the “faithful and discreet slave” class.—John 15:16, 19.

  VII) *** w90 1/15 p. 26 Godly Devotion—Beneficial

  for All Things ***

  The Friday afternoon program started with the talk “‘The Faithful Slave’ and Its Governing Body.” Confident of the loyalty of his faithful creatures, Jehovah delegates authority. So does his Son. From among his anointed followers, “the faithful and discreet slave,” he has chosen a few to serve as a visible governing body. (Matthew 24:45) In the first century, this group was composed of the apostles and several other older men in Jerusalem.

  In modern times the Governing Body has been closely identified with the editorial staff of the Watch Tower Society and its board of directors. But the Governing Body differs from that legal corporation, as the speaker pointed out: “Since the corporation’s existence is purely legal, with a fixed geographic headquarters, it can be dissolved by Caesar, the State.” Not so the Governing Body, which is not a legal instrument but the members of which “are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah and Christ.” Thus, the Governing Body continues to function and to receive the unqualified support of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.

  I do hope that this material can give you a better idea of what the mighty

  WTBS Inc. menas when they write about ‘ a governing body’.

  As I’ve already written in another post it was Rutherford who mentioned

  in a very negative way ‘ the governing body ‘ of the Catholic Church…

  and few years later…in 1944…here it comes:

  “ . In the year 1944 the Watchtower magazine began to speak about the governing body of the Christian congregation.”

  ( w71 12/15 pp. 755-756 A Governing Bod as Different from a Legal Corporation “)

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
• 
  16

  Is it ‘Christian Freedom ‘ or WTBS Inc. slavery? ***

  by MacHislopp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this one is for those who might have missed this 'enlightening '

  article , or if you prefer, this 'brilliant flash of divione light' :

  w98 3/15 pp.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MacHislopp

  Hello Waiting,

  a very interesting set of questions. I'll try to give you

  an ' accurate annswer' from the WTBS Inc., various

  definitions or if you prefer : terminology.

  As soon as I'll finish the research , I'll post the result.

  Greetings, James Charles MacHislopp