Posts by darkspilver

11

Kingdom Hall construction -- Counting time and reporting travel, meals, and lodging expenses

by FatFreek 2005 in

i have two questions.

1. if you work on kingdom hall construction, are you allowed to count your time in lieu of field service?

an old thread here indicated that if you are pioneer, you can count your time.

darkspilver

Hey FatFreek 2005!

If you work on KIngdom Hall construction, are you allowed to count your time in lieu of field service?

Yes, and no:

REGULAR PIONEERS - BoE letter 25 August 2014 'Re: Regular pioneers', paragraphs 14 to 16

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwqmWMK7dwtlb0JteEJTT3RmeTg/view

A pioneer, if authorized/assigned, in certain 'theocratic' activities, such as KH construction, can claim a time credit;
The pioneer must spend some time in the actual ministry each month;
The credit plus ministry time can never exceed a total of 70 hours each month (so if they do 70 hours ministry and have 70 hours credit in a single month - they can only claim a total of 70 hours that month)
On the Publisher Record Card, the ministry time is written in the 'Hours' colums, the hour credit is included in the 'Remarks' column;
Credit can not be carried forward to the next month;
Only the actual ministry time is reported to the Bethel for purposes of counting ministry time.
NOTE: 70 hours x 12 months = 840 hours which is the annual target - therefore the 70 hour limit does not allow time for holidays, attending conventions or sickness etc
NOTE: I believe the only time you can count credit for a total ABOVE 70 hours per month is when you get hour credit credit for attending the pioneer school.

PUBLISHERS - BoE letter 7 November 2008 'Re: Field service reports', last pararaph

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwqmWMK7dwtlaGUzSkthUGhJak0/view

On the back of the Report they should write a brief note describing the additional theocratic responsibilities they cared for that month, no hour figure needs to be given - this can then be written on the Publisher Record Card under the 'Remarks' column (interestingly the new Report forms have a 'Comments' section on the front nowadays)

Not sure about Auxiliary Pioneers, but I'd suspect they'd be covered by the 'Publisher' procedure - though I'd suspect the BoE would show consideration for short-term short-fall in hours due to theocratic activity if the publisher was a regular auxiliary pioneer.

14

Memorial Attendances This Year

by steve2 in

have attendance figures at this year's memorial been released yet, including number of partakers?

sometimes the kingdom ministry (now called christian life and ministry) provided local figures say for the country.. for two to three years the worldwide figure has hovered around the 19 plus million, with a drop off in attendance last year.. just wondered if there has been any change this year or if the downward trend has continued?

.

darkspilver

The 'problem' nowadays is that the CLAM workbook is regionally generic with no space for 'local annouuncements' or even 'theocratic news' as per the old Kingdom Minstry.

AFAIR the memorial figures where generally always printed first in the 'local' KM for each country - and it's that we're missing now :(

With regard to this the 4 October 2015 letter 'Re: New Provisions Announced at Annual Meeting' that was read out at all congregation worldwide stated:

Since the workbook will not include a section for announcements, congregations will be informed of monthly literature offers by means of letters from the branch office.
(side note - this also means that NOBODY in the congregation has any real idea what the monthly offer is anymore)

9

Jonathon Edwards preached to the Red Indians

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

i never knew that the famous new england theologian jonathan edwards spent some years as a missionary to the red indian tribes.

there are various modern ideas as to how one should preach to those completely ignorant of christ and the way of salvation, but edwards had confidence that the gospel is the power of god unto salvation for all people.

perhaps someday those still living in pagan lands will accept christ and share in the blessings of america.

darkspilver

Hey freddo!

All that and a triple jump Olympic gold medallist too!

In his early days he refused to compete on a Sunday, but then he gave up a TV job presenting a religious programme because...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1542391/Olympian-Jonathan-Edwards-has-crisis-of-faith.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/jonathan-edwards-ive-taken-leap-3190574

20

Arrival of War in 1914 a Shocking Development

by berrygerry in

one comment-giver during the rules study, remarked that ww1 was predicted by wt to arrive in 1914, despite the fact that everyone expected an era of unparalleled peace.. this was something continuously drilled into our heads - how peaceful everything was prior to ww1.. when you look at wt library under 'world war i' - "unexpected" - the results are all offline - there are no recent references ( unexpected: re 106; w92 5/1 4-5; yb87 124; w86 2/15 5; w86 11/1 6 ).

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200276290.

the offline quotes are as follows:.

darkspilver

I would move that, with the advent of techological advances at that times, and the general detachment that the domestic market generally had of international affairs at a time - a time of no TV and very slow moving news. That despite what was going on politically on the international stage - with the huge number of alliances and treaties being made in order to avoid a major war - the view of the man (and woman) in the street was one of detachment and feelings of peace - and a faith in the political system to avoid a war, at least on home soil and/or the home army. Remember you are not talking just about July 1914, but rather the years leading up to it.

My history books are stored away, but below is an interesting piece which partly explains the contradictory nature of this - the principle of 'you stop war, by preparing for it.'

International relations of the Great Powers (1814–1919)

Coming of World War
The main causes of World War I, which broke out unexpectedly in central Europe in summer 1914, included many factors, such as the conflicts and hostility of the four decades leading up to the war. Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and ethnic nationalism played major roles. However the immediate origins of the war lay in the decisions taken by statesmen and generals during the Crisis of 1914, which was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the Archduke of Austria Hungary) by a Serbian secret organization, the Black Hand.
By the 1870s or 1880s all the major powers were preparing for a large-scale war, although none expected one. Britain focused on building up its Royal Navy, already stronger than the next two navies combined. Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Russia, and some smaller countries, set up conscription systems whereby young men would serve from 1 to 3 years in the army, then spend the next 20 years or so in the reserves with annual summer training. Men from higher social statuses became officers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations_of_the_Great_Powers_(1814%E2%80%931919)#Coming_of_World_War

182

Major congregational quake in Southern California

by Hecce in

this notice is not official yet and it should be confidential until released thru the proper channels.

a friend of mine told me about a huge elders meeting in southern california.

the subject was the relocation and dissolution of some congregations; it seems that this is the result of some project that has been going on for some time and is going to be implemented right now.. please let me know if this is happening all over the country?.

darkspilver

Hi steve2

It will be interesting to check the 2017 Yearbook to see how many congregations there are in the USA compared with the 2016 Yearbook.

It'll be back to 2014....

2008 Yearbook	12,494 congregations in USA
2009	12,635
2010	12,800
2011	12,995
2012	13,309
2013	13,546
2014	13,714
2015	13,871
2016	14,063

2

Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's Vision of Glory now online for free

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

read barbara grizzuti harrison's vision of glory, online, for free at.

https://web.archive.org/web/20051217183855/http://www.exjws.net/vg.htm.

i understand that barbara gave her permission to publish her book for free at the above website - i don't think it is available else where??.

darkspilver

Read Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's Vision of Glory, online, for free at

https://web.archive.org/web/20051217183855/http://www.exjws.net/vg.htm

I understand that Barbara gave her permission to publish her book for free at the above website - I don't think it is available else where??

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/30356/_post/392131

5

Suggestions Please

by Lostandfound in

my daughter is an ex jw as are all my children and my wife.

she works at university and as seems to be the case with uni staff, always looking for another degree to obtain.

she has had some suggestions and is keen on something along the lines of research into cults such as wt and scientology, more specifically why so many former jws fo example, are living with the need to destroy and oppose quite loudly the wt.

darkspilver

Hi steve2

Then there is the crème de la crème of ex-JW books, Barbara Gruzitto Harrison's (I'm just about to look up the title)

Nathan Natas said:

Barbara gave Randy Watters permission to publish "Visions of Glory" on line where I expect it will be enjoyed by the current "generation" of soon to be X JWs.
You can read it for free.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/30356/_post/392131

edited to add - check out:

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6258747057897472/barbara-grizzuti-harrisons-vision-glory-now-online-free

3

Robert 'Big Sonny' Edwards of The Intruders Dies at 74

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

robert “big sonny” edwards of the intruders -- the soul vocal group best known for the chart-topping r&b single “cowboys to girls” -- has died.. as one of the first acts signed to gamble & huff’s fledgling gamble label, the intruders scored a string of r&b hits from the mid-’60s through the early '70s -- and simultaneously set the stage for the writing/production duo’s pioneering philly soul sound and the establishment of the legendary philadelphia international label.. memorial services will be held on oct. 29 at kingdom hall of jehovah’s witnesses (noon et) in philadelphia.. .

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7549038/the-intruders-robert-big-sonny-edwards-dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtepd1af4_i.

darkspilver

haha, way before my time - but I appreciate the historical significance with the 'Philly sound'

you?

10

South Korea court frees JWs who refused to serve in military

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

from the times of london website.

south korea court frees jehovah’s witnesses who refused to serve in military.

two south korean men who refused to do military service have had their convictions overturned in a landmark ruling against the government.. [snip].

darkspilver

Hi My Name is of No Consequence

We probably won't see this in the Watchtower. When was the last time they printed something about a jw being freed from prison? Rutherford in 1919?

Yearbook 2014, page 30

ARMENIA
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rendered a favorable judgment on November 27, 2012, in the case of Khachatryan and Others v. Armenia. The government had brought unlawful criminal proceedings against 17 Witnesses for refusing to perform alternative civilian service under the control of the military. Armenia has paid compensation as well as legal expenses to the victims of this unlawful action.
Despite the favorable ruling in Khachatryan and the earlier landmark judgment in Bayatyan v. Armenia, as well as subsequent ECHR judgments, the Armenian government continued to prosecute and convict young Witness conscientious objectors. However, on June 8, 2013, the government passed amendments to the Alternative Service Law that seem to eliminate military control and supervision of alternative service. All imprisoned Witness conscientious objectors were released by November 12, 2013, and young Witness men who apply for alternative service are having their applications granted.

https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/armenia/armenia-releases-imprisoned-jehovahs-witnesses/

3

Robert 'Big Sonny' Edwards of The Intruders Dies at 74

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

robert “big sonny” edwards of the intruders -- the soul vocal group best known for the chart-topping r&b single “cowboys to girls” -- has died.. as one of the first acts signed to gamble & huff’s fledgling gamble label, the intruders scored a string of r&b hits from the mid-’60s through the early '70s -- and simultaneously set the stage for the writing/production duo’s pioneering philly soul sound and the establishment of the legendary philadelphia international label.. memorial services will be held on oct. 29 at kingdom hall of jehovah’s witnesses (noon et) in philadelphia.. .

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7549038/the-intruders-robert-big-sonny-edwards-dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtepd1af4_i.

darkspilver

Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards of The Intruders -- the soul vocal group best known for the chart-topping R&B single “Cowboys to Girls” -- has died.
As one of the first acts signed to Gamble & Huff’s fledgling Gamble label, The Intruders scored a string of R&B hits from the mid-’60s through the early '70s -- and simultaneously set the stage for the writing/production duo’s pioneering Philly soul sound and the establishment of the legendary Philadelphia International label.
Memorial services will be held on Oct. 29 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses (noon ET) in Philadelphia.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7549038/the-intruders-robert-big-sonny-edwards-dead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtepD1aF4_I