To get to the other side.........I'm actually going to work today, but wanted to post this old, but unusual article for anyone, such as myself, that hasn't seen it.....what was interesting was the claim that "revisions in legal structure" were dictated by the need to keep pace with growth. why then is Bethel, as rumoured, downsizing, unless this growth has declined since this article was written. sorry I don't have a link.........
Copyright 2000 Daily News, L.P.
Daily News (New York)
October 14, 2000, Saturday SPORTS FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 24 SPOTLIGHT ON RELIGION
HEADLINE: CHANGING THE WATCH AT THE WATCHTOWER
BYLINE: BY CHARLES W. BELL
BODY:
NEWS OF THE MOST far-reaching shakeup in the 116-year history of the Jehovah's Witnesses came from Brooklyn in
three intriguingly vague paragraphs.
A press release issued Tuesday by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania Inc., as the Witnesses are
officially called, talked about "revisions" in legal structure and said that they were dictated by the need to keep pace with
growth.
Some "revisions."
The president resigned, the ruling Governing Body was stripped of its legal power, and three new corporations were set up to
run the society's U.S. operations. For many of the 980,000 or so Witnesses in the U.S., news of the changes hit like a bolt of
lightning. They were made last weekend at an annual business meeting, in Jersey City, but without any public notice or
discussion.
Milton Henschel, 80, the fifth president, stepped down after eight years, along with six other directors of the Watchtower
Society. He remains a member of the Governing Body, which had run the 5.9-million member society with an absolutist hand.
The Governing Body was not abolished, but under the new setup, it will oversee only religious affairs, among them Bible
doctrine, evangelization and pastoral care.
Henschel's successor as chief legal officer is Don Adams, 75, a longtime insider who has spent 54 years at the world
headquarters in Brooklyn Heights. He was born in Oak Park, Ill.
Among his previous assignments, Adams was secretary to Nathan Knorr, the society's third president, and directed world
missionary activities.
But, even more significant than the change at the top was the corporate realignment, with threenew not-for-profits formed to
assumecontrol of U.S. legal and administrative operations.
One will oversee construction of houses of worship and technical assistance. Another will supervise personnel. A third will
direct a wide range of congregational services.
The new No. 2 man, although he is not identified as such, is Max Larson, 85, president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society of New York Inc.,which handles all legal matters, owns all U.S. facilities, and provides emergency relief.
Six other "experienced ministers" are joining Adams as directors of the new nonprofit corporations. All already held various
administrative posts at headquarters.
"Basically," said chief spokesman James Pellechia, "Don [Adams] will sign the legal papers."
Why the changes?
"For both theological and practical reasons," Pellechia said.
Previously, starting with founder (and first president) Charles Taze Russell, the Watchtower Society was led by the man at the
top. But, in recent years, presidents have kept a fairly low profile.
"I don't believe Witnesses look to any one person now as their leader," Pellechia said.
But to critics, who range from evangelical Christians to dissident former members, the official explanation for the changes
masks a deeper reason.
One prominent ex-member, Raymond Franz of Winston, Ga., a one-time member of the Governing Body until he quit a dozen
years ago, said the move was made to protect the Witnesses from lawsuit liability.
Some defectors have threatened to sue the society over its religious practices, most controversially its ban against blood
transfusions and its policy of "disfellowshipping" - or shunning - members who violate rules or practices.
Pellechia dismissed this, saying the changes were made to more effectively divide administrative and religious duties.
The new corporations, he said, affect only operations in the United States. Other corporations oversee legal matters in the rest
of the world.
Like many Witness leaders, Adams shuns the limelight. His only public comment on the change was that he deemed it a
privilege to work with the Governing Body.
Witnesses are evangelical Christians, but some of their unorthodox doctrine - among them, denial of the cross as the traditional
Christian symbol and rejection of the Trinity - draws heavy critical fire from other evangelicals.
THE SOCIETY RUNS a remarkable publishing empire - one magazine, The Watchtower, is published in 137 languages and
has a circulation of 22 million.
It also is among the religious movements showing steady growth. Its latest report showed a 2% rise in members in the past two
years.
Someone suggested maybe it was because Witnesses do not pass the collection plate at services. Pellechia laughed.
"We hear that a lot," he said.
GRAPHIC: CINCINNATI PHOTOS NEW LEADERSHIP Don Adams is the Jehovah Witnesses' new chief legal officer
following an organizational shakeup. Some question whether the changes are to protect the group from legal liability.
LOAD-DATE: October 15, 2000
Edited by - deddaisy on 23 July 2002 13:7:9