A brief history of Watchtower simplification (Jehovah's Blessing)

by truthseeker 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  truthseeker

  With the latest insider news regarding the Awake magazine going to a monthly publication, now would be a good time to examine a brief history of how Jehovah has blessed the organization by simplifying it.

  1993 Paid for literature went to donation-based literature.

  mid 1990s No food at assemblies and conventions.

  Bring your own food

  Hardbacks go paperbacks

  2000s Kingdom Ministry went from a four cycle color to a two cycle color

  Outside companies printing SOME literature, mainly bound volumes and making CDs

  Bethel becomes less self-sufficient and starts buying chickens etc.

  No more Bethel icecream either.

  2002 No more magazine subscriptions

  Some Awakes in foreign languages go from bi-monthly to monthly and monthly to quarterly

  editions

  2005 Announcement that Awake! goes to monthly publication

  What's next?

  "The faithful slave has given us a new provision that we bring our own toilet roll with us to the district conventions."
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  stillajwexelder

  1980s pioneers do not report hours direct to branch but to local bodies of elders
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  POs Son

  Can we bring our own paper towels too?? Maybe them we can use more than just one.

  Can you imagine going to any other convention and being told how many paper towels to use, and "not to cook in your hotel room"?
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  stillajwexelder

  5 years ago aux pioneer hours down form 60 hours to 50 hours per month

  Refgular pioneer hours down from 90 to 70 hours per month
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  willyloman

  "The elderly and the infirm, who haven't been turning in FS reports for some time now, can start counting time in 15-minute increments."
  

  I believe that was 2003, the same year dubs started using the "new" Theocratic Ministry School textbook that "simplified" many of the talks, allowing students to read some of them right off the page.
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  ballistic

  OK I dont know when 1930's? conventions down from 7 days to 4.

  1980's 2 cicuit assemblies down to 1 and a half.
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  stillajwexelder

  1970s (late) Thursday meeting down from two meetings at an hour each to total meeting time including song an prayer to be 1 hour 45 minutes
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  blondie

  1978 public talk went from 1 hour to 45 minutes.

  1977 paragraphs were read first in the WT then comments were taken rather than being read after the comments as a summary.

  *** w77 2/1 p. 96 New Method of Conducting "Watchtower" Study

  Elders who preside at the weekly Watchtower study, as well as those who conduct the congregation book studies, are anxious to teach in the most effective and helpful way. (Rom. 12:8; 2 Tim. 4:2) Moreover, all in the congregation desire to make the most of opportunities for taking in spiritual nourishment so that they may attain to "accurate knowledge and full discernment" of the truth.?Phil. 1:9.

  With this in mind, we recommend to all congregations the following order of study: (1) Read the paragraph in The Watchtower (or other publication); (2) Read the question thereon; (3) Call on those raising their hands for answers, discussing fully the paragraph and supporting scriptures.

  There should be a number of advantages in reading the paragraphs before they are discussed. This will quickly refresh the minds of all who have studied over the lesson in advance, and in the event some have not been able to do this previous to the meeting, the reading will at least familiarize them with the material before it is discussed. Everyone will be encouraged to concentrate on the reading, rather than look ahead for the answer in the next paragraph. Those who are shy, or who are slow in organizing their thoughts, will be able to prepare better to put their words together and so gain confidence to raise their hands. There should be freer participation and fuller discussion of the finer details of the study, with emphasis on the application of key scriptures before passing on to the reading of the next paragraph.

  This new arrangement should be a blessing to all of God?s people, as they seek to "be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah."?Col. 1:9, 10.
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  Samuel Thorsen

  1950's: 8 days conventions

  1970's 4 days conventions (including field service on the friday)

  1990's 3 days conventions (no service)

  2000's no food, no cafee, no camping

  Regular pioneering hours from 100 to 90 to 70 hours

  Aux pioneering hours from 100 to 60 to 50 hours
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  Leolaia

  Check out this Kingdom Ministry article that referred to the recently-eliminated food service itself as "simplifying" compared to cafeteria service.

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  km 4/78 pp. 5-6 "Victorious Faith" International Convention of Jehovah?s Witnesses ***

  After considering all these factors, the Society has decided to simplify the entire food service operation so that nearly everyone, including those working in the Food Service Department, will be able to hear and benefit from the spiritual program. Hence, instead of serving a cafeteria meal at any convention in this country, there will be a fine tasty menu served out of conveniently located refreshment stands. Hot items such as chicken, fish, hamburgers, hot dogs and coffee, and cold items, including large sandwiches, fruit bags, Danish pastry, potato chips, chocolate and vanilla pudding, orange juice, soft drinks, milk, and so forth, will be available. There will be plenty to eat and it can be easily obtained throughout the stadium so that, if you wish, one or two members of the family can obtain all the hot or cold food needed and bring it back in a bag.

  More simplifications:

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  km 2/80 p. 3 Attend the "Divine Love" District Convention This Summer ***

  In order to assist everyone needing accommodations and simplify the overall rooming operation, the Society has decided to take a new approach to rooming this year for those attending the "Divine Love" District Conventions. Under the new arrangement it will be easier for you to make your own arrangements directly with the hotel/motel and yet enable everyone to share in the benefits, including lower rates, that often come from a single organization using a large number of rooms in a facility.

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  km 8/86 p. 3 Continued Increase Calls for Simplification of Procedures ***

  A major factor in resolving problems arising from rapid growth has proved to be the simplification of procedures. Jehovah?s visible organization has demonstrated an awareness of this important fact. During recent years we have seen numerous simplification measures taken regarding rooming and food service arrangements at conventions, literature orders and shipments, the obtaining of congregation supplies, Memorial invitations, handbills, and circuit assembly programs. Publishers, pioneers, congregations, elders and ministerial servants, traveling overseers, and the Society have all benefited greatly....

  In order to care for the volume of work this increase brings, further simplification is called for. A great deal of time is being used to enter nearly 55,000 congregation and individual regular pioneer reports in the Society?s records each month. There has also been a corresponding increase in mail received from congregations and pioneers. Because of this increase in volume of mail, we have not always been able to respond to important correspondence as quickly as we would like, especially during certain busy times of the year. The need to simplify certain procedures so that our resources and time can be utilized to the best advantage has become quite evident.

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  km 12/86 pp. 4-5 Accelerating the Kingdom Hall Construction Program ***

  We have learned many things about building Kingdom Halls in recent years. Already, many persons have been trained to help with the work. So now there can be an acceleration of the building program. We are also in a position to simplify some of the procedures so as to accomplish the most good in a short period of time and with a reduced number of workers.

  *** km 1/87 p. 5 1987 "Trust in Jehovah" District Convention ***

  Starting in 1978 the Society standardized and simplified district convention food service, volunteer service, rooming, and other arrangements, which resulted in the elimination of much work. In view of the pressures and demands made on our brothers by daily living, the Society is seeking further ways to simplify convention operations.

  *** km 5/90 pp. 5-6 Come to the 1990 "Pure Language" District Convention ***

  In addition, this year the Society will adjust and simplify the food service arrangements, making all food items available at no charge to those attending the convention, in the same way as the literature.