Has the Governing Body Extorted Authority?

jst2laws

I hope I have not missed this being covered some time ago. If so I apologize. It seems to me the Governing Body has subtly violated their own faithful and discreet slave doctrine by obtaining unfettered control.

For almost one hundred years the WT has been promoting the idea that a faithful and discreet slave has been given all authority over all of Gods belongings. This Slave Class is supposed to be made up of anointed ones. For almost as long it has provided for what the WT calls a Governing body to represent the anointed.

How did the GB represent the anointed? Originally the GB was composed of the 7 directors of the WT of Pennsylvania Inc. The anointed stock holders of this corporation were to meet once a year at their annual corporate meeting to vote on matters, sometimes including appointment of new directors, i.e., new appointees to the Governing Body. While these votes were really just rubber stamps on whoever the president wanted appointed, it gave the impression that the anointed were appointing the men who would represent their wishes in Governing Gods household.

About two years ago the GB resigned their positions in both the Pennsylvania and NY corporations appointing largely non-anointed men to manage the business of the WT. I understand these men gave a vow of loyalty to the GB. This I suppose assures the Governing Body will still have control of these men and thus the corporations.

Here is the problem. While the GB has assured control of the corporations, in what way do the anointed (Faithful and Discreet Slave) control the GB? From the stand point of WT theology the scriptures only allow the Faithful Slave to have authority over Gods household. Now the GB has complete control and the faithful slave (anointed) no longer can even vote for who represents them. The GB appoints their own replacements without any input from their faithful slave.

To make this situation worse the official faithful slave does not even know what is going on except from what the GB tells them. Yet in the last 12 months the GB has not only lied to us about their UN involvement and their Pedophile protection policy, but they are lying to their own bosses, the faithful slave.

Does anyone else see a subtle theft of control, even from a loyal JW point of view?

Nathan Natas

I think you are correct, and this is a point I haven't heard discussed before.

Do you see any sort of remedy for the situation?

Joyzabel

Yeah...leave.

Sam Beli

Good to "see" you again Just.

"Does anyone else see a subtle theft of control, ?"

Not really. They (GB) can not steal from the "faithful slave" what that slave never had. As far back as I can remember (the 40s) the "anointed" have been totally out of the loop. The WT publications have helped keep the confusion intact by using the words "Governing Body," Faithful Slave Class," "Remnant" and "Anointed" rather interchangeably.

According to JW dogma, the "remnant" make up "the remaining ones of the 144,000 still on earth." Much of what they claim that scripture gives by way of power to the FDS, is actually given to the GB in the JW system of things.

I recall as a kid wondering about this issue. Why was the nice old lady who seldom ever spoke during a meeting considered one of the anointed? What input did she have regarding matters dealt with in Brooklyn? Was she asked for her opinion on important mattes?

Why did the brother who returned home from Bethel to marry a local lady say that he was a voting member of the Society, yet he did not partake of the emblems (remember, this was 50 years ago)?

It has been commented on in threads sometime back that the big boys in Brooklyn do not trust the younger "anointed." Maybe, like some of used to, they question the authenticity of their claim? But then, some of us question the claim of the GB in Brooklyn.

Sam B.

Valis

To make this situation worse the official faithful slave does not even know what is going on except from what the GB tells them.

And who appointed anyone the "faithful slave"? Those who claim to be anointed are just as delusional as tha GB.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Dino

Hello Just 2 and Sam.

When Ed Dunlap was hauled before his inquisitors, he asked them, and Im paraphrasing here, How is it that the "faithful and discreet slave" is brought in on any decision at all? Do they have any input?

All he got was blank stares Im sure.

P.S. Just2, you've got mail...

Nathan Natas

Sam, if we're talking about reality and the real world, well then of course you are correct - the governing body can't steal something that never existed in the first place.

But if you "suspend disbelief" for a moment and get into the spirit of the psychodrama, it's easy to see that the (imaginary) authority of the entire remnant of the anointed has been co-opted by the Governing Body. Probably if pressed for an explanation, the GB would explain that the Holy Spirit has directed the actions of the GB, and that all true earthly members of the anointed FDS would always be in exact synchrony with the GB, since they're all running under the guidance of the Holy Spirit on Pleiades Standard Time.

jst2laws

Hello Sam,

Good to hear from you again too!

They (GB) can not steal from the "faithful slave" what that slave never had.

Your are right, in reality. But I was speaking from the perspective of a loyal Dub. Russel had complete control. Rutherford, against the dying wishes of Russel, established an autocracy and called it theocracy (true if he was god). Knorr was also the undisputed ruler of the organization as president. But the official scriptural teaching that gave them the authority has always been that God found the anointed faithful in 1918 and appointed them over all his belongings.

We could have a lot of fun with the issues: Were they really the anointed, Were they really faithful, was anyone really appointed over all God's belongings in that year? But in simply discussing the WT teaching, there is no scriptural bases for a governing body. By there own teachings the governing body gets its authority from the "faithful slave" which is the anointed all over the earth. They used to argue that the 'slave' had their influence on the GB by their votes at the annual meetings. It wasn't true but that was the 'theocratic view'.

Now they can't even pretend to represent their own 'faithful slave' because the anointed have lost even that theoretical control of the GB. The share holders of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania Inc. are completely separated from the "governing body".

I would like to see a WT article explaining how this new arrangement fits their theology. BTW, to my knowledge the new corporate arrangement has never been explained in print, nor any attempt made as yet to justify this arrangement with their 'faithful slave' teaching. I suspect that those who claim to be of the anointed do not even know they are completely OUT OF THE LOOP. The GB RULES!

Jst2laws

Sam Beli

NN said: " and that all true earthly members of the anointed FDS would always be in exact synchrony with the GB, since they're all running under the guidance of the Holy Spirit "

Yes, of course, we all know and have faith that these thousands would agree as though they were one, just as the GB made up of just over a dozen members thinks and acts together in total and complete harmony and agreement always on all matters.

Sam Beli

Hi again Just,

Maybe I am getting too old to make the mental jump you are asking. My point was that I think many anointed have long known that in reality they have never been in the loop.

As a kid (that was back when I could still do some thinking) I too noticed that the anointed got their Watchtowers and studied them just as we did. I recall asking my dad if the Society asked the anointed for input, called them all to Brooklyn, etc (boy, was I nave).

I also remember my dad saying that an old-timer (anointed) expressed to him some doubt about truly being of the anointed. Ive heard younger anointed complain about not having any communication with the higher-ups in Brooklyn.

Deep down I think many know in their hearts that not all is "right" with the JW world.

That having been said, you certainly have a point from the legalistic perspective. But I do not recall that the GB or big boys that preceded the GB ever claimed to be selected by the rank file anointed (how is that for a new expression?). Seems to me that it was always excepted that somehow Jehovah selected the big boys/GB to represent the anointed on earth.

Your point about most not even being aware of the multitude of corporations currently existing is accurate, Im sure. That in it self will keep most anointed and others from waking up to the problem you outline.

Sam

Has the Governing Body Extorted Authority?

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