Response from WT Dutch Branch Office

avengers

Below is the english translation of the answer the WT gave me. The original answer is in Dutch. You can read it here. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=15508&site=3

WACHTTOREN Postbank 183765
ING Bank 66.43.24.533
BIJBEL- EN TRAKTAATGENOOTSCHAP

NOORDBARGERSTRAAT 77 7812 AA EMMEN NEDERLAND
TELEFOON (0591) 68 35 55

SCA 8 november 2001

Mr. A. van Engers
Holtackers 42
7824 LB Emrnen

Beloved brother Van Engers,

Your 5 November letter, with enclosure is in our possession. Because we could not make up out of your letter how we should address you in our answer, we have for the good order informed the elders of congregation Emmen-Angelslo to ask if they know you.

We have now understood that, though you are momentarily not actively connected to the local congregation, you are in fact a baptized Witness---therefore the above opening words.We don’t know if you may already have done inquiries in the congregation, about the in your letter named matter, and therefore we are sending the responsible elders a copy of our answer, so that they in any way are informed.

Your question came down to this if the Society during a certain period has been a member of the United Nations and how that can be viewed in the light of what has been published in our reading matter about that organization (for instance in chapter 34 of the Revelation-book). We would like to give the following reaction.

In De Wachttoren of October 1 1995 was on page 7 a paragraph titled "The Christian view on the United Nations". Inthere was said that Jehovah’s Witnesses view the UN just as they view other governments in the world, namely as a "superior authority".---Romans 13:1

There cannot be said "that the Society was a member of the UN". Though the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York has during a certain period been registerd at the UN as an NGO (‘non-governmental organization’). What formed for that the reason, and why is that now not anymore the case?

The purpose of being registered at named corporation with the ‘Department of Public Information’as a ‘non governmental organization’in 1991 was to have access to available research-material about health, ecology, and social problems at the library-facilities of the United Nations. The library was during many years before 1991 used, but in that year it became necessary to register as an NGO in order to continue the entry. The registrationpapers that were submitted to the United Nations and that the Society has in her archives, contain no declarations which are in conflict with our christian beliefs. On top of that are NGO’s informed that "association of NGO’s with the DPI doesn’t make that they are taken in to the system of the United Nations, nor does it

SXA 8 november 2001
Page 2

give connected organizations or their staff any right or any sort of privilege or any exemption or special status".¹ Nevertheless contain the Criteria of Alliance of NGO’s ----at least in their latest version ---- terms which we cannot underwrite. When the Society realized this, the registration was immediately withdrawn. They were thankful that the matter was brought to their attention.

We trust it to have been of service to you with this information and send you our cordial greetings and wishes for Jehovah’s blessing,

your brothers,

Wachttoren B.&T.Genootschap

C: body of elders,
congregation Emmen-Angelso
______________________

¹ The English version of this citation is: "Association of NGOs with the DPI does not constitute their
incorporation into the United Nations system, nor does it entitle associated organizations or their staff to any kind of privileges, immunities or special status~"

zev

very interesting.

-Zev
-The "Truth" is out there! TRUST NO ONE!
I WANT TO BELIEVE!

biblexaminer

They are just re-issueing the same lies that Crooklyn sent them. Crookly pulls the strings, and they hop hop hop.

GermanXJW

I think the most interesting thing is that they seem to check everyone asking about NGO and inform the local elders.

NeonMadman

With regard to the "library card" defense, I'll restate what I said on another thread:

To put the matter in perspective, ask yourself what would happen to a baptized JW who joined the YMCA, not because he agreed with its objectives as an organization, but simply to have access to its facilities (i.e., the gym, the swimming pool, etc.) After all, by keeping in good health, he would be able to do more in the Kingdom work, right? Do you think a judicial committee would buy that explanation? Or would they tell him to 'quit touching the unclean thing'?

Tom
"The truth was obscure, too profound and too pure; to live it you had to explode." ---Bob Dylan

anewperson

They are afraid elders will begin quitting over this "final straw" and are probably directly that the elders put those making such inquiries under closer surveillance. Rampant paranoia. Their own big mistake that they would love to brush aside. As well as Henschel having a UN travel pass, as well as missionaries possibly getting the same, as well as entree to UN Human Rights committee work etc. Their having to withdraw from the UN does not necessarily mean they will not continue to work with it unofficially. See the Nov 22, 2001 AWAKE for several nice, warm, cozy pro-UN articles which cannot deny since they wrote those themselves.