I have not heard of the change either, but think about it.  "The Society"  "The Organization" sounds so cultish.  It really does if you think about it.

But to refer to it as "The Faithful and Discreet Slave" makes me want to hurl!!

Could it be for legal reasons?  In light of the recent spate of lawsuits against WTBTS, it might be an effort to obscure the connections between corporate headquarters and the actions of individual congregations.  Imagine trying to explain the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" in a court of law.  They'd think you were out of your mind.

I think the legal reason is right on. The "society" and "organization" are reasonably understood to refer to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, which is a legal entity that can be pinned down.

On the other hand, "the slave" means just about nothing. It is a short hand reference to a misapplied biblical parable. Witnesses know what it means, but a court doesn't.

This is yet another example of an insider/outsider doctrine. It looks one way to someone on the outside, but those on the inside know what it really means.

Why is it, everytime I see something quoted from the "slaves" literature that I want to take a stack of old Watchtowers and Awakes down from the attic, make a little paper nest with the crumpled pages and take a big dump right in the middle of it?  Can anyone explain?

This is similar to talks and a study article some time ago that said we should refer to the Bible as the source of our beliefs and stop saying the "society says"

As an attorney I can appreciate that such a trend could help with liability issues.

As for why there might be such a trend, we must consider the unique period in the org's history that we are in.  For the first time in the org's history the faithful don't have either a concrete date or a ticking "biological clock" like the Generation Doctrine to look forward to. (This isn't quite true because there is still the occasional reference to the belief that the anointed will be alive when Armageddon comes--this is the last such "biological deadline" still within the organization.)

We are approaching a full century after 1914.  And while there are wars and other global problems and these make all persons concerned, the foretold calamities have not occurred according to past Watchtower claims.  Wisely, the Society has shifted away from making any more prophetic claims.  Therefore the result is that the whole organization is in a period of stagnation and drift.

The Internet has had a profound effect on access to information.  (This is the subject of a book I am working on.)  This has opened the eyes of the younger witnesses, combined the relaxation towards pursuing higher education, all of which points towards a desperate future for the organization and retaining its membership since these two things alone make for a more critical or should be say "observant" (in the positive sense of the word) member of the flock.

the FDS doctrine is the last major doctrine which allows the leadership to claim control as the only source of divine communication among the world today.  The belief that this org is directly inspired and led by God and Jesus via the implement of the FDS is what keeps many persons in the org.  It is an open question as to how many would leave or not be attracted to the org without this doctrine.

Yet make no bones friends,the doctrine of the FDS is a dying doctrine.  By its very terms, the FDS consists of persons claiming to be of the anointed.  By current teaching these anointed were sealed as a class in 1935. (And there are only very conservative procedures for so called replacements of the number of anointed.) That means that within the next 30 years the entire generation of remaining anointed will be dead--sooner or later.

Just ask yourself what will happen when all of the "anointed" are dead.  Where will the FDS slave be then and what will that mean for the claim that divine truths are coming from FDS ON EARTH.

No, the doctrine is dead and it is only a matter of time before it will be revised or dropped entirely.

Then will come a major change in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

So it is very strange that there should be any movement towards vesting authority in the FDS when the FDS will eventually die.  If anything, there should be a trend away from vesting the authority for the teachings in the hands of the FDS. (Which in any case we know to be a popular fallicy since the vast majority of persons that make up the FDS,i.e. of the anointed, have absolutely nothing to do with creating/providing the "food".  Not too mention that the very doctrine is a gross error anyway.)

If this is a true trend and official position it is going to come around to bite the org in the behind.  Again this is because the FDS doctrine is destined for MAJOR revision if not complete abandonment!

-Eduardo

I've noticed on some of the correspondence posted here that they have changed the way they sign letters to the congregation.  Haven't seen the same change with letters specifically to the elders.

Used to be

But in letters to congregations they are now signed by "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses"

Love, Scully

I think they will be moving to apply the term "slave" to non-anointed ones in the future, therebygetting them out of the anoire dying  binThis will have to be accompanied by a new "understanding" that the anointed will die off before armageddon.

Thier new light "dogma" has always been just a way for them do deal with reality when it hits them squarely in the face. It has nothing to do with "god's holy spirit" which should be obvious to any with an open mind. I think I realized this while I was still "in" and they made the generation change

I remember when they had us use the little card that identified us as being associated with the local congregation in preaching the good news.We were not to say to the householder that we part of the WB&TS..

The reason was that when you got into any trouble on someones property, it was between you and them not the WB&TS. There were other reasons too,but,you know them already. Blueblades

I heard they were suppose to just refer to them now as BIG BROTHER