4/15/11 Watchtower--quote on ministerial servants

by sd-7 39 Replies latest jw friends

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  sd-7

  So did anyone notice the statement on page 11, paragraph 11? Is this new? "If a brother has been baptized at least one year and to a reasonable degree meets the Scriptural qualifications fo rministerial servants outlined at 1 Timothy 3:8-13, he can be recommended for appointment." I thought Paul specifically warned against appointing a "newly converted man"? What's up with that?

  Okay, Paul was referring to the appointment of elders when he warned about that, but usually I've seen them reference verse 10 in regards to ministerial servants, to 'let them be tested as to fitness first, then let them serve.' So how can someone be tested as to fitness in one year's time?

  The thing that just irked me about this--and probably this statement about ministerial servants isn't something new, but I'm just now thinking of it as a free man for the first time--is...well, probably goes back to the start of my big problems with this religion. I got pulled aside for DATING a sister who'd been baptized for a year. So how is it that if this same person was male, they'd be able to qualify to give public talks? How does that work, exactly?

  My first thought is, the need for qualified men must be severe if you have to recruit people in their sophomore year as a JW. And it seems to me a lot of these men would just end up being deleted anyway. For one, you usually end up facing some big trial to your faith at some point, be it a woman or some other temptation that hounds you. For two, you can burn out if you do too much of anything. Some actual record of endurance, I would think, would be better, wouldn't it?

  Thoughts?

  --sd-7
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  Mad Sweeney

  It seems new to me, too, though I could also be wrong.
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  minimus

  They're running out of options. It's better than elders runnung around with microphones!
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  sabastious

  They need leaders depserately, and they can't have new leaders without them going through the first step of becoming a Ministerial Servent.

  -Sab
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  Ultimate Reality

  I can't recall them ever putting an exact time frame on this. And he only has to meet the requirements to a "reasonable degree"? This a religion in decline.
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  Ex-Dub MS

  I thought it was two years once upon a time.

  But then again, what qualifications are we discussing here? Assistant Organ Grinder? Oh there's a privilege.

  Best to 'plug 'em in' right away, before they rediscover R-rated movies, boxing matches or Showtime after 10 PM, right? Fully dried baptismal candidates aren't any fun! :-)
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  OnTheWayOut

  I hear that this varies according to regions anyway. When I was less than two years past baptism, I was appointed an MS in a rural southern U.S. congregation and I was appointed elder with six years in the religion. When I moved north, I heard how that was unheard of. Typically, they used to not consider a man for MS until he had been three years in and never considered anyone for elder who was under 30 or less than 10 years total in the cult.

  Still, it seems the unwritten rule was already in place that one year was enough to be "tested for fitness." I think the organization just wants that to be universally accepted to get more men up there.
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  JW GoneBad

  Yep! I would say your quote from the Watchtower is another indicator that the Society is 'hardup' for men.

  So what was it that you, the WTBTS, were saying not too long ago about the Catholic Church and its' shortage of priests? Hmmmm!
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  miseryloveselders

  This article is ironic. We had a CO visit not that long ago, and the body agreed prior to the CO coming, that a certain brother was qualified to be a MS. The CO effectively shot this recomendation down based upon this brother not being around long enough. He was affiliated with JWs for years, and recently within the past couple years, especially the last year, has really taken the JW life seriously. Field Service time is above average, active presense in the KH, various privileges. We figured he was a shoe-in. Not happening per the CO. I'm curious if the next time this CO comes through, will he change his tune based off of the tone of this article.

  In harmony with the motive behind this article, being that they're desperate for men, its evident in our congregation. We have several men who want absolutely nothing to do with a formal title. A couple are already doing pretty much the work of a ministerial servant, but they don't want the title and the hassle that comes with it. I don't blame them. Especially after having to sit in some small KH all day for the school sessions during a holiday, I know those non-servants were happified they didn't have to sit through that mess. The older I get, and the crankier I get, I find my tolerance for younger people is paper thin, however, I have to admit and tip my hat to the younger generation. Reason being, they figured out this religion's demands of time, assets, and energy is a crock. They figured it out sooner than it took my generation and those older than me to figure it out.
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  sir82

  "To a reasonable degree" - not new.

  "Baptized at least one year" - may have been an informal qualification, but I do not recall ever seeing it in print.

  Yes indeed, they are lowering the bar.