Watchtower, May 15, 1995 . Article: “Flashes of Light great and small”
Quote: “In 1971 another flash of light showed that each congregation was not to be directed by just one congregation servant. Rather, each should have a body of elders, or overseers, assigned by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. So by the increasing light over some 40 years, it became evident that elders and ministerial servants, should be appointed through the Governing Body.”
When the articles says “by the increased light over some 40 years’ I assume it commences counting from this previous statement in the article:
QUOTE: “There was the question of who should serve as elders and ministerial servants in the congregations. To get away from the hierarchical structure prevalent in Christendom, it was concluded that these should be elected democratically by the vote of the members of each congregation. But increasing light contained in The Watchtower of September 1 and of October 15, 1932, showed that the Scriptures do not provide for elective elders. So these were replaced by a service committee, and a service director was chosen by the Society.”
So from the mid 30s thru to 1971 each congregation was run by a ‘service director’ (singular) appointed by the “governing body” ?? ( a “governing body” that didn’t exist incidentally )
QUOTE: “There was also the matter of the operation of the Watch Tower Society. For many years the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses was synonymous with the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and matters were largely in the hands of its president. As shown in the 1977 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses (pages 258-9), in 1976 the Governing Body began to function with six committees, each assigned to care for certain aspects of the worldwide work”… “The Personnel Committee deals with personnel matters, including the interests of all who serve in the worldwide Bethel family. The Publishing Committee handles all secular and legal matters, such as property and printing. The Service Committee concerns itself with the witness work and supervises traveling overseers, pioneers, and the activities of congregation publishers. The Teaching Committee is responsible for congregation meetings, special assembly days, circuit assemblies, and district and international conventions as well as the various schools for the spiritual education of God’s people. The Writing Committee supervises the preparation and translation of publications in all forms, making sure that everything is in line with the Scriptures. The Chairman’s Committee cares for emergencies and other urgent matters. “
Yuk. What a ghastly rigid structure. So, by 1977 the ‘dangers’ inherent in a single individual having complete authority at any level of the org had been stamped out. Interesting that Nathan Knorr, the last El Supremo President of the org died that year. I guess they didn’t want to offend him till he was dead.
QUOTE: “To get away from the hierarchical structure prevalent in Christendom, it was concluded that these should be elected democratically by the vote of the members of each congregation”
Back in pre 1932 times that is. How sad and forlorn this statement appears now.
But, I wonder, in what way is the ultimately revealed, theocratic’, committee oriented, organizational pyramid any different from any other corporation on earth? IS it any different?