They have started pencilling in dates for one day assemblies in early 2022. I guess these could easily be postponed if they feel there is still too much risk, especially if they are at JW owned assembly halls where you think there wouldn't be a cancellation fee (though I would certainly think the congregations are still being called on to fund maintenance costs)..
eyeslice
JoinedPosts by eyeslice
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21
'Theocratic Careers' and the Covid Pandemic
by eyeslice inthe watchtower has always banged on about not pursuing worldly careers and that best career was 'theocratic service.
but now i am wondering what line they will take.
let's have look at the options;.
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eyeslice
The Watchtower has always banged on about not pursuing worldly careers and that best career was 'theocratic service. But now I am wondering what line they will take. Let's have look at the options;
- Missionary Service
Not sure if any are being trained at the moment or which countries they can be sent to. Surely, this is not an option in these Covid times. - Bethel Service
My guess is that there are less than 15,000 worldwide in Bethel service now, so a pretty limited option at the best of times. As far as I can make out Bethels are pretty much locked down at the minute, though I would concede there will be some turnover at the slave-labour level, i.e. the 19 to 26 year olds donkey workers. - Serving Where the need is Great
I would guess this is pretty much off the table now. So many countries are in locked down and therefore getting into them would be extremely difficult. Even moving in your home country could be tricky but though not impossible. - Construction Work
Has this been stopped? My guess would they don't really want to get a bunch of people together who could possibly spread Covid. That would be pretty bad press - 300 people at a quick build infected with Covid. - Foreign Language Groups and Congregations
Don't even think about it - we are told these are their way out. Apparently, they don't produce results and the majority of the foreign targets speak the local language far better than you could ever get to speaking theirs.
That leaves the old cookie - pioneer service. So, there you have it - your career could be writing letters to people you don't even know, that wouldn't be read, simply tossed in the bin.
Sounds a great career move to me.
- Missionary Service
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Covid Virus and serving where the need is greater
by eyeslice ini get the impression that many of those serving where 'the need is greater' have had to return to their home countries due to the current covid pandemic.. just over a year back the society was pushing people to go to places like india; not the easiest places to get to grips with at the best of times.
now i see that the covid pandemic is pretty much out of control in india.
it seems to me that 'needs greaters' were the watchtowers way of getting missionaries on the cheap.
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eyeslice
I get the impression that many of those serving where 'the need is greater' have had to return to their home countries due to the current Covid pandemic.
Just over a year back the society was pushing people to go to places like India; not the easiest places to get to grips with at the best of times. Now I see that the Covid pandemic is pretty much out of control in India.
It seems to me that 'needs greaters' were the Watchtowers way of getting missionaries on the cheap. You have to make your own way there at your expense then cover your own housing and medical costs. I would be pretty surprised if any financial assistance has been offered to those struggling to get home due to the pandemic.
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7/2021 WT Highlights
by neat blue dog in.. darn, the beard trope is back.
bible student has beard, then shaves when coming in the truth.. .
it's also kinda weird that this jw met what looks like his biological brother in the door to door work.
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eyeslice
That's not a beard - see my avatar or here's some proper beards.
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20
Big Cull of Foreign Language Groups and Congregations
by eyeslice ini overheard mrs eyeslice listening to '2021 governing body update 3' yesterday.
apparently, they have started ditching foreign language groups and congregations as these weren't exactly roping anyone in.
of course there is a positive spin on all this - '4,000 plus elders freed up to serve in local language congregations' and of course there has been immensely positive feedback from various branches about the benefits of this.. i suspect though there will be an awful lot of elders who were serving as king pins in these congregations who are going to have their noses put out by going back to local language congregations where they will barely be used.
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eyeslice
I overheard Mrs Eyeslice listening to '2021 Governing Body Update 3' yesterday. Apparently, they have started ditching foreign language groups and congregations as these weren't exactly roping anyone in. Of course there is a positive spin on all this - '4,000 plus elders freed up to serve in local language congregations' and of course there has been immensely positive feedback from various branches about the benefits of this.
I suspect though there will be an awful lot of elders who were serving as king pins in these congregations who are going to have their noses put out by going back to local language congregations where they will barely be used. Also, there won't be the opportunity to share 'experiences' at assemblies from the work these do - the sort of 'we have been studying Chinese for 5 years now and recently we met a lonely student from China who has take the truth back to 10 million people back home in China'.
All of this cut back of course because of Jehovah's rich blessings being poured out.
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My Very First Thread Criticizing the WTS....................
by Judge Dread ina couple of posts by hamsterbait motivated me to post this.. the elimination of the book study: it was the only place where those who were shy, or anxious, about commenting would comment.
it was small, intimate and we had a lot of fun.
remember the "f" word?
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eyeslice
Totally agree - there is no fun left in this organisation.
At least at the old 'book study' there was the chance for a cup of tea and a cake and a good chin wag. Now everything is so structured and controlled. Special Assembly days have no atmosphere compared to the days when we had 3 day circuit assemblies with a cooked lunch, and food prepared on site. It was great fun preparing the food, washing up, etc, I was able to miss most of the actual sessions.
Nearly every social activity is frowned on now. Again, I remember organising concerts where we used to have everything from stand-up comicals to 'rock' groups and sisters singing opera. I am sure that they were really cheesy and amateurish but great fun!
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Apostacy - according to the new elder book
by EndofMysteries in16. apostasy: apostasy is a standing away from.
true worship, a falling away, defection, rebellion,.
abandonment.
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eyeslice
I used to worry about being disfellowshipped but now I have virtually no 'fellowship' with any of my former friends.
My wife is still in so I am not sure if they would come after me. I keep my views to myself and don't celebrate any religious holidays, etc. But who knows, I have come across some crazy actions by body of elders over the years; I was even party to some of them.
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Forget disfellowshipping, reinstatement is grossly unbiblical
by sabastious indisfellowshipping has a "measure" of validity since in the 1st century you could be removed from the christian congregation for practicing sin.
(but not shunned outside of worship ceremonies).. the process in which someone is accepted back into the fold in the jw policy is completely made up.
it's funny that witnesses will poke fun at catholics for making up purgatory when they have completely pulled the reinstatement process out of their asses!.
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eyeslice
I am not sure that they would agree with your arguments. The key passage they use to justify 'disfellowshipping' is in 1 Corinthians. They then point to 2 Cor chapter 2 to argue that the person in question was forgiven and accepted back into the congregation.
The problem is that Paul's word seem to be addressed to the congregation and the individuals in the congregation, not to a 'judicial committee' - a term not found anywhere in my Bible.
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DMCA Complaint from The WatchTower for links to KS-10 'Shepherding' book
by Simon inyes, that's right, they really do not like people being able to read that book so they wanted links to it removed (it appears they have also been going after the hosts of the content itself as well).. unfortunately, i had to removed the links (which were dead anyway when i checked) and i'd ask that people don't re-post them (sorry).
i'm sure there are lots of alternative ways for those with the information to get it to those who need it.. here are the discussions on the book:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/200524/1/ks10-chapter-one-discussion.
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eyeslice
The problem the WTB&TS has is they regard any dissenting voices as the enemy. They fear their 'secret' material falling into enemy hands.
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To Those Still Going To Meetings---How Do You Still Do It?
by minimus ini have to hand it to some of you!.
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eyeslice
I know some who only continue to go because of family ties, which I can well understand.
It must be hard though as I took the view you had to be either 100% in or out. Personally, I took the decision simply to stop going, no slow fade or the like. The slow fade means that you have to put up some pretense of being a faithful witness; field service, meeting parts, etc, which wasn't for me.
