I know a brother who went to the most recent Annual Meeting. Older brother, non-annointed, elder, wife a pioneer, and overall a pretty good dude. He let me take a peak at the new Awake dropping in 2013, which by the way I have to give credit where it's due as I like the new 16 page format. It's pretty much a track on steroids, and while minimal on content, it's pretty darn concise and a good adaption on the WT's part considering people's attention spans today. Not to mention it probably saves them some significant dough as most people probably toss the mags in the rubbish anyway.
Anyways, I asked the brother what'd I miss? I said there's always something significant mentioned at these meetings right? He replied, "we're all domestics now." I played dumb, like I had not the foggiest of what he was talking about. He repeated himself, "we're all domestics now. Doesn't matter if you plan on going to heaven, or living in the paradise." I asked him where that leaves Russell now, and he responded that he laid the groundwork, but he wasn't the slave. The slave didn't exist until 1919. He started to get a little choked up at that point as he started to relay to me his time at the Annual Meeting. He went on about the kids choir singing or something?
I also spoke to a sister last night who's connected with some higher up in the Circuit, and she also confirmed the new understanding. She considered this change to be a non-issue pretty much. I have to say, if these two examples are any indication, I think it goes without saying that this change in understanding is going to roll through with minimal resistance. It's truly not a big deal to the average JW. Being honest with you, as an active JW who's aware of the flaws in this organization, this change really isn't all that big of a deal to me either. They've been prepping this change for so long within the past decade or so, that it was only a given they'd assume this role. The GB already presented themselves as the Slave already, they just never came out directly and said it. Now it's official, but it's been official for quiete some time.
...OUTLAW