watchtower society of new york president max larson died today at the age of 96.. served in bethel since 1938 (73 yrs at bethel) long before geoffrey jackson & anthony morris of the gb were even born.. http://www.jw-archive.org/2011/09/bro-max-larson-died-today.html.
Watchtower Society of New York President Max Larson died today at the age of 96.
Served in Bethel since 1938 (73 yrs at Bethel) long before Geoffrey Jackson & Anthony Morris of the GB were even born.
http://www.jw-archive.org/2011/09/bro-max-larson-died-today.html
when i was still serving as an elder in the late summer of 2006 in a congregation of jws in socal we received a letter from the "christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses" (read: the governing body) directing that anyone pursuing a higher education would be disqualified from privileges of service: elder, servant, pioneer, etc.
i remember this quite distinctly because i had just received by ba in education in june a few months before this.
in 2002, i had decided to pursue a degree under the society's then current "it's a personal decision" policy and was quite shocked at their drastic policy change.
I also remember the CO bringing the subject up circa 2006 with the elders & servants.
An appointed Brother would be deleted if...
1. He promoted going to college/university.
2. His son or himself stopped going to meetings & service.
3. His motives were becoming rich or an important someone in this system.
4. Or If even the Congregation just lost respect or was stumbled.
If a Brother or his son go to college or university, what's the difference between just working 8-10 hrs? No body gets in the business of those that work even up to 12 hrs a day. Then why meddle in the life of someone that doesn't want to be a dishwasher/pioneer the rest of their life and instead decides to improve their quality of life by getting an education?
The GB sees it as an attack on their authority and that attitude ripples down to the rest of chain of command (CO's, DO's Boe's)
If anyone still has any doubts, just ask Judah Schroeder son of GB member Albert Schroeder. He was smart enough to realize that just going out on service and not worrying about an education is not practical. Guess he didn't want to be like the rest of the rank & file who work menial jobs to put Kingdom interest in first place. Besides, he will be well compensated by a prominent position in the organization unlike those naive pioneers that followed too literally the guidance of the Watchtower. This is just another example of double standards.
William H. Conley
the wathtower admits that by reading the bible alone without their help, people will believe in the trinity, hellfire, visible return of christ, heavenly hope for all christians etc etc.. here's the quote:.
"from time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of jehovah's people those, who, like the original satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude... they say that it is sufficient to read the bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home.
but, strangely, through such 'bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." (watchtower, aug. 15, 1981, p. 29).. why would people revert back to christendoms doctrines unless the bible actually teaches them!.
The Wathtower admits that by reading the Bible alone without their help, people will believe in the trinity, hellfire, visible return of christ, heavenly hope for all christians etc etc.
Here's the quote:
"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude... They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1981, p. 29).
Why would people revert back to christendoms doctrines unless the Bible ACTUALLY teaches them!
William H. Conley
as part of my objective analysis of four month's worth of watchtower study editions from july to october 2011, i found the following gem from a question from readers, on page 22 of the august 15 magazine.
the question under discussion was "how are we to understand the figures in the annual service report?
", and it goes on to provide an idiot's guide to what the figures mean, including the following.... "memorial partakers.
The May 1st 2007 QFR Watchtower is responsable for the sharp increase in Partakers.
That article lifted the due date of 1935 for the anointed. No more 1935 limit to be of the anointed. That same article even stated that some of the anointed in the first century were not spiritually strong or serving as elders or servants.
When I read that I knew the number would increase significantly. It's interesting that they stated later on that it's a personal matter & no one should judge those who partake. However, with that article the GB is doing exactly that...judging them and even suggesting that they are mentally unstable.
Some partkers have realized that in reality they are not part of "the faithful & discreet slave" as they are never consulted on any issue. The OD and a study article several years ago put those partakers in line by letting them know who really is in charge ...the Governing Body of 7 members and that they do not need to consult with anyone else not even "fellow anointed".
as part of my objective analysis of four month's worth of watchtower study editions from july to october 2011, i found the following gem from a question from readers, on page 22 of the august 15 magazine.
the question under discussion was "how are we to understand the figures in the annual service report?
", and it goes on to provide an idiot's guide to what the figures mean, including the following.... "memorial partakers.
The May 1st 2007 QFR Watchtower is responsable for the sharp increase in Partakers.
That article lifted the due date of 1935 for the anointed. No more 1935 limit to be of the anointed. That same article even stated that some of the anointed in the first century were not spiritually strong or serving as elders or servants.
When I read that I knew the number would increase significantly. It's interesting that they stated later on that it's a personal matter & no one should judge those who partake. However, with that article the GB is doing exactly that...judging them and even suggesting that they are mentally unstable.
Some partkers have realized that in reality they are not part of "the faithful & discreet slave" as they are never consulted on any issue. The OD and a study article several years ago put those partakers in line by letting them know who really is in charge ...the Governing Body of 7 members and that they do not need to consult with anyone else not even "fellow anointed".
out of interest, i have just been scanning through the four latest available watchtower study articles (july thru october 2011) and in doing so i am reading them objectively for the first time.
i have been shocked, outraged and amazed by some of my findings.. as one example, take the article "a history-making meeting" from the august 15th watchtower, 2011. the article, beginning on page 18, discusses the 126th annual meeting of the watch tower bible and tract society, and begins with a summary of the opening talk by governing body member stephen lett.
it concludes the highlights of his talk in this way:.
Yes the GB has proven to be faithful & discreet such as:
* Predicting the end of the world 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975 & 2000 (although very discreetly....2000 that is)
* Banning Organ Transplants because it was cannibalism (changed in 1980)
* Being responsable for thousands of male youths going to prison for refusing alternative service (changed again to conscience matter now)
* Allowing Mexican brothers to bribe authorities to have a cartilla (ID to work etc) but forbidding Malawi brothers to buy a card from the ONLY political party in the country. Many sisters were raped, beaten & killed.
* Strongly discouraging youths from getting an education in College or university and now the organization is full of non-skilled, window washers & house cleaners that struggle financially. (If you're a relative of a member of the Governing Body the prohibition of Higher Education does not apply ie Judah Schroeder)
* Predicting the end of the world then blaming the rank & file when not fulfilled or even Satan as the Judge did for 1925.
* Telling Bethelites every day in morning worship to make Bethel their home until Armageddon and then start dismissing them to cut on cost. Daniel Sydlik once told the family specifically that the Society would Never dismiss Bethelites just to downsize but rather stop recruiting new ones.
* Banning Blood Fractions then making it a personal matter years later. How many died? Nobody can really know...Hey they are discreet by not disclosing the numbers!
William H. Conley
i saw it and read through it at the bethel family library in my assigment in latin america.. it's in english.
it's blue, in a three-ring binder with the wt logo on it and the numbering of the pages is hyphenated, like chapter 3-21, so they add more pages occasionally and update.. it has everything in there that a branch needs basically, like how circuits and districts are organized, how the branch is organized, how correspondence with new york should be handled.. one thing i remember is that it says circuit overseers should be a minimum of 25 years old before the branch recommends them to the governing body.
(elders and servants are appointed by the local branch) the book said something like, "youthful enthusiasm and energy are not the primary qualities a branch should look for in a brother.
Can I have a copy of the Branch Organization Manual?
William H. Conley
does anyone know where i can get a copy of the updated "branch organization manual?"..
.
william h. conley.
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the updated "Branch Organization Manual?".
William H. Conley
hey i'm wondering if anyone can give some good advice on how to step down in the safest way.. i have served as an ms for a number of years, but can't do it anymore.
i know too much i want to fade in the future when i get some family things straightened out.
i can't move right now so that's out unfortunately.. what should i tell the body?
Body of elder letter states that if a brother wants to step down, the elders must be given the reasons why.
The elders will then meet and discuss what they can do to avoid you stepping down. If you tell them that it's family or financial reasons they can then write a letter to the Society and state in that letter if they agree that you step down or not. They must wait for response from the Society before the announcement is made. The announcement must be read the following way (even if you step down) "_____________ is no longer serving as an (elder or ministerial servant)".
Telling them that you want to concentrate in your family is probably the best "reason" to step down without much drama of several meetings with the elders.
William H. Conley
there is an elder at my hall that was removed last week.. he was not df, he still is in good standing.
he did not request it.. how can an elder be removed?.
what is the process?.
An elder can be deleted for several reasons ie drunkenness, affair, not having children in subjection etc.
What is not told is that an elder can also get deleted for not going along with the whole body even if they're acting unjustly.
I have seen cases in California where an elder stands against an injustice and the whole body feeling threatened trumps up charges against him. Brother appeals the decision, society sends CO & tells the elder that he has to go along with the body even if they are wrong. Just sit & wait as Jesus sees everything anyway was their answer. Exodus 23:2 says something very different. If an elder applies that verse & has guts to go against the grain, he can be accused of running ahead of theocratic order, pride, and unreasonable. Hence result will be deletion.
Sad thing is that a couple elders knew that the charges were false but out of fear kept quiet and elder was deleted.
The sad truth is that The Watchtower Society is willing to sacrifice justice & truth for the sake of imposed unity. "Unity at all cost"
Very Disappointing to say the least. Elders that are cowards, don't stand up for anything, go along with whatever the majority say must be done will very likely remain as an elder for a long time. Any elder that actually cares about the congregation, and avoids playing politics will not last very long.
William H. Conley
