...a new governing body needs to be elected. I know this sounds like a joke, but I'm serious.
I'm sure you're thinking that would be nice, but it will never happen. I believe it can and will happen. We can get it done here in a reasonable period of time, with minimal effort. I believe it is our right and privilege (maybe even our responsibility) to do so.
Let's talk about the legalities and practicalities. I'm not a lawyer and I'm not qualified to give legal advice. However, in the United States, the freedom of religion is a protected constitutional right. I believe this includes the right to coordinate religious efforts and assemble with others of similar beliefs. It's not necessary to have a legal degree to do this. Furthermore, the Watchtower Society has energetically opposed judicial involvement in their internal affairs. For the most part, the courts have allowed Jehovah's Witnesses to follow and enforce their own policies and procedures. This is a tricky thing. A lot could happen in terms of internal disputes and power struggles without the courts getting involved. The leadership has the burden of enforcing their decisions with whatever they can get away with legally (judicial committees, shunning etc.). There's not much that they can do if people just say no.
I contend that the governing body has already disassociated themselves by committing "spiritual fornication" with the United Nations. This is in accordance with official Watchtower policy. Other charges will follow. This has left a power vacuum, with no official policies to guide us. It is up to current members (and former members who have been dismissed unjustly or while the Jehovah's Witnesses were under illegitimate leadership) to step in and elect a new governing body. I submit that this new governing body will be completely valid for all those who accept it as valid. It is part
of our constitutional right of free exercise of religion. The brutal policies of the Watchtower leadership make this difficult to do in a more traditional way. However, this forum allows us to coordinate our efforts, while maintaining a measure of privacy, and reduced threat of punishment, including enforced shunning. I believe this forum is the most logical place to accomplish this.
I have a plan worked out. The first step should be to just get your views. Do you believe that the members of the governing body have disassociated themselves by their actions or at least have invalidated their leadership roles because of their actions? Feel free to provide comments and evidence. This is not official, at this point. The purpose is to find out if there is enough support to take this further. It is not necessary to have a consensus or establish a majority. We just need enough people who feel the current governing body is illegitimate. They can then take the steps to elect a new one. Those who disagree don't have to participate or view the new governing body as representing their interests.
Assuming there is sufficient interest, I propose the following steps:
On another thread we can start nominating potential candidates. A person must be nominated and have someone else second that nomination.
A person can't nominate himself. The person must accept the nomination in order to be a candidate.
I propose that only three people be elected to the new governing body. If they wish to add members beyond that, they can elect them according to the procedures they set up.
An election will take place. I propose limiting voting to 24 hours here on JWN.
After the election, the three new governing body members can do as they wish, with the knowledge that their legitimacy will be determined by the number of people who approve of their actions and accept them as legitimate. I recommend these steps. They publish a short list of new rules. I suggest they get rid of disfellowshipping and enforced shunning. I would like to see things like blood transfusions and holidays become a conscience matter. I suggest that a public judicial committee be conducted for each member of the former governing body (one member per post on JWN) Everyone can weigh in. Of course, the former governing body members will be invited to comment. The new governing body can then decide on what to do. They might decide on censure or even expulsion. (expulsion isn't the same as disfellowshipping. Disfellowshipping implies shunning. I hope enforced shunning will be done away with under the new enlightened leadership.) After that it wouldn't be strictly necessary for them to do much of anything. The mere fact that they exist would be a powerful statement. There's little that the former governing body can do. It would be a grave mistake to seek help from the courts and I doubt they would be willing to interfere anyways.
I welcome your comments. If you agree with this, please say so, even if you don't want to comment further at this time.