an interesting post.
Ding made an excellent point :
"study would
quickly transition from them answering my questions to me answering
the WT's questions" Very true indeed.
I am not alone in beeing
convinced of the importance that every ' baptism candidate' in the
Jehovah's Witnesses organization, should be aware of the Legalistic
and Judicial aspects
of his/her future in the Jws organization. Allo me to explain:
In the early 90's
“brother “ Philip Brumley, legal Counsel for the WTBS
Inc. dealt with the subject of the WTBS Inc. ***legal right ***
to disfellowship a member of any of the Jehovah's Witnesses
congregations.
Quote:
“I represent the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., the parent
organisation of the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout
the United States.
C. Relation between the
Congregations and its members.
It is axiomatic that the
essence of the relationship of a religious society with its members
is held by the courts to be the agreements of the parties, and
generally, a profession of faith, adherence to the doctrine of the
religious society and submission to its government.
76 C.J.S. Religious
Societies 11 (1952).
A party having
voluntarily assented to become a member of a congregation thereby
nsubjects himself or herself to the existing rules and procedures of
said congregation and cannot deny their existence.
All who unite themselves
to such a voluntary religious organisation do so with the implied
consent to this government and are bound submit to it?"
end of Quote
Quite strong, legalistic
words which call for some observations:
°°° Many years ago
the term " religious, religion" etc. was referred
exclusively to the false " worship "?.but today the
recognition of " beeing an organized religion " brings, in
many countries?numerous a d v a n t a g e s !
All these ' well
couched ' words/expressions but where is Jehovah, and where is
Jesus Christ in the matter etc.?
This kind of
material/informations, does not appear in any of the WTBS Inc.
publications avalaible at the Kingdom Hall, including the ' secret'
manual for elders only .
Although clear
instructions, about the procedure, in the case of a ' prospective
baptism candidate' are given in Watchtower articles like the
following one:
*** w96 1/15 17
Jehovah's Sheep Need Tender Care
9 As an unbaptized publisher
progresses spiritually, he may make a dedication to God in prayer
and want to be baptized. (Compare Mark 1:9-11.) He should make his
desire for baptism known to the congregation?s presiding overseer,
who will arrange for elders to review with the publisher the
questions on pages 175 to 218 of Organized to Accomplish Our
Ministry.
The four parts into which
the questions are divided may be covered in three sessions by three
different elders if possible.
If they agree that the
unbaptized publisher has a reasonable understanding of Bible
teachings and qualifies in other ways, they will tell him that he
may be baptized. As a result of his dedication and baptism, he
becomes “markeed” for salvation.”Ezekiel 9:4-6.
*** w89 1/15 17 How
Baptism Can Save Us
9 Jehovah?s Witnesses do
not follow unscriptural writings, such as that just quoted, but
elders do hold discussions with those desiring to be baptized.
Why? To make sure that
these persons are believers who meet divine requirements and who
have made a dedication to Jehovah. (Acts 4:4; 18:8; 2 Thessalonians
3:2)
Discussing questions in
the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry helps to determine
whether a person qualifies for baptism.
*** w88 6/15 28 Becoming
an Ordained Minister-God's Way
To help the new believer
further, Christian elders arrange to meet with him and spend time
reviewing the basic teachings of the Bible. This, for one thing,
assures the elders that the prospective Christian has acquired an
accurate knowledge of God's purposes.
In conclusion at which
moment the " candidate for baptism " is told of the
full implications derived from - becoming a baptized member "
?
At which moment the "
candidate for baptism " is told of the full impact of
what happens in case - in the future - the baptized person should
be guilty of a 'serious sin' and the body of elders, through the
action of a 'judicialcommittee, would take any kind of action
against him/her.
Does the baptism
candidate fully understand the implication and the meaning of a
'judicial committee'?
They need to know –
be made aware - that:
*** In all judicial
proceedings, in the JW's congregations there are
no public trials, only 3
(or more elders), the accused one, and for only part of the time,
any witnesses.
*** No one else is
allowed to hear what is said.
*** The witnesses are not
required to testify publicly.
*** Contrary to the
standard procedure used in any of the nation's courts, where to
preserve/safeguard the integrity of the event and eliminate any
possible misunderstanding or deliberate mis-representation of the
testimony
given, stenographers are
employed for the transcription and/or the recording of all the
judicial proceedings in all JW's judicial proceeding this is
strictly forbidden.
Furthermore, the
'baptismcandidate' has been informed and is fully aware of all the
possible implication and the consequences of a judicial decision
toward himself/herself, his/her family, close friends, members of
the congregation, in case of a - far reaching - decision should be
taken by the body of elders?
i..e. shunning,
disfellowhipping .-
All this should be
clearly explained , well before the 'bible student' begins to '
prepare ' for baptism. Obviously such explanation should not be made
in 'a couple of words', but in such a manner which would rule out
any possible misunderstanding concerning the practical
implications and consequences of becoming affiliated with:
" the theocratic
organization of Jehovah's Witnesses and his submission to it. "
Therefore he/she should
well known what does it mean in real life, for any Jehovah's
Witnesses to be: " shunned " or " disfellowshipped "
or "dissociated "!
*** w88 11/15 17 Helping
Others to Worship God
9 The two elders will
inform the student that when he qualifies for and shares in the
field service, he may turn in a field service report and a
Congregation?s Publisher Record card will be made out in his name.
This will demonstrate his
affiliation with the theocratic organization of Jehovah?s Witnesses
and his submission to it. (This would also be true of all others
turning in field service reports.)
Final questionn oes the "
bible s t u d e n t " understand, grasps the implication of the
WTBS Inc. 3 key words :
*** A F F I L I A T I
O N
*** S U B M I S S I O N
***O R G A N I Z A T I O
N
