Posts by leaving

12

Are All Christians Appointed as a Watchman?

by Chris Tann in

this is a question i have been trying to answer.

at the branch visit yesterday, morris discussed eze.33,about ,how if we do not preach we are bloodguilty.

i would like very much people who are well informed on this topic to show me a thorough scriptual answer.

leaving_quietly

I, too, have pondered this question for quite some time. I've come to the conclusion that the answer is no. Christ never gave any such command or commission. The closest anything comes in the NT is to invite others to repent and be baptized, but this is to fulfill the commission to make disciples and baptize them.

The next question is: are ALL Christians given this commission? This leads to a discussion of apostles and disciples. The word "apostles" means literally "sent forth ones". All apostles are also disciples, but not all disciples are also apostles. Thus, it's worth noting the commendation Christ gave to the congregation in Ephesus in Revelation 2:2:

‘I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot tolerate bad men, and that you put to the test those who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them to be liars.

443

Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"

by breakfast of champions in

this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.

.

leaving_quietly

Ok, I've concluded that the whole thing was a huge money grab. Here's why:

At the local KHs, ALL donations were to go toward the Worldwide Work. ALL of them. Even any dropped in the Local Congregation slot.

And the only announcement that was made? You guessed it: Please make your checks out to "Jehovah's Witnesses" or to "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses".

This was a BRILLIANT move to get a massive spike in donations. Nearly 10% of all JWs in a 3 hour time period.

Wow. Just . . . Wow.

142

Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

by frankiespeakin in

with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

what say you?.

.

leaving_quietly

I don't disagree. I don't buy that crap. This reminds me of the mafia using shell corporations as layers of insulation.

142

Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

by frankiespeakin in

with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

what say you?.

.

leaving_quietly

In 1971, they made a clear distinction between the Governing Body and other legal entities. From w01 1/15 p. 29:

At that unforgettable annual meeting in 1971, a distinction was clearly drawn between the spirit-anointed members of the Governing Body and the directors of the Pennsylvania corporation. Still, members of the Governing Body continued to serve as directors and officers of the Society. Today, however, the question arises: Is there any Scriptural reason why the directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania must be members of the Governing Body?
The answer is no. The Pennsylvania corporation is not the only legal entity used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. There are others. One is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Incorporated. It facilitates our work in the United States. Jehovah’s blessing has clearly been upon that corporation, though its directors and officers have been mainly of the “other sheep.” The International Bible Students Association is used in Britain. Other legal entities are used to promote Kingdom interests in other lands. All of them harmoniously assist and have a role to play in getting the good news preached earth wide. No matter where they are located or who serve as directors or officers, these entities are theocratically guided and used by the Governing Body. Hence, such entities have assigned tasks to perform in furthering Kingdom interests.

And from w90 1/15 p. 26:

In modern times the Governing Body has been closely identified with the editorial staff of the Watch Tower Society and its board of directors. But the Governing Body differs from that legal corporation, as the speaker pointed out: “Since the corporation’s existence is purely legal, with a fixed geographic headquarters, it can be dissolved by Caesar, the State.” Not so the Governing Body, which is not a legal instrument but the members of which “are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah and Christ.” Thus, the Governing Body continues to function and to receive the unqualified support of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.

20

My 88 Year Old Mom Is Going To Special Meeting Today And Shouldn't!

by minimus in

jw
friends

my mom only goes out for doctor's visits.

they are "encouraging" her to spend three hours to hear the annual meeting at the kh.

she is on oxygen and can barely move.

leaving_quietly

It's a bit of an odd thing. They want as many to hear the program "live" as possible. They're packing assembly halls and KHs for the live program. Even my uber-JW wife is curious about this action. Makes her think they're going to announce something big. I haven't said anything to her about the rumor on this site about an announcement that will "test your faith". Personally, I think it will be much ado about nothing.

142

Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

by frankiespeakin in

with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

what say you?.

.

leaving_quietly

He said that he didn't work for the US Service Department. It is a side-step. He is probably claiming that he was still in Austria when he was connected to the service department - not in the US. It is a weasel tactic.

As of September, 2014, he DOES work in and supervise the US Service Committee. Likely, he worked in that committee prior to September, but I have no record of that. Is he making a fine line distinction between the Service Committee and the US Service Department?

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/286203/1/2014-JW-News

2

Regional Building Committee - volunteers?

by Lynnie in

so how do the regional building committee work?

i found out one of my female cousins (born in, left for many years and is now baptized) has filled out an application to "volunteer" on this committee.

what would she be doing since she's female?

leaving_quietly

The Regional Building Committee (RBC) is basically a group of volunteers who handle KH / Assembly Hall construction / remodel. Many female volunteers are in there, and what they do range across all sorts of skills. I've seen some finished carpenters, some accountants, some roofers, etc. Most unskilled ones will either be selected to be training in an area that they express interest in, or they'll end up in the kitchen. That's fairly typical. About the only thing they can't do is be an overseer. Only elders can be overseers, skilled for the position or not.

She can't just work on any local project, though. Each volunteer has to be specifically assigned to work on a project.

As the name indicates RBCs are local. To go back to work at new Warwick project or any other non-local project, she'd have to fill out an application specific to those projects. About the only thing that she might be asked to help with, if necessary, is if a natural disaster hit elsewhere in the country. Then RBC volunteers from all over the country would be asked to help.

21

Announcement that will "test your faith"

by tezrichmond in

i saw this exact headline on jw-archive.org and couldn't find no other info about it.

anyone know anything?.

possible hoax ha ha.. .

leaving_quietly

@The Searcher, yes, I agree with you. Seems silly to have a major announcement at a Branch Visit (they don't call them Zone Visits anymore per a letter earlier this year.) However, until two years ago, major changes were never announced at Annual Meetings, either. But what happened in 2012? And again in 2013? So, I am not discounting the possibility.

@Bobcat, you've succinctly stated what I've been feeling for the last three days about this, but couldn't get my head around it for some reason. Thanks. We usually seem to be on the same page.

@Gustv, I agree with you... this is a rumor that I've only seen here, but then again, I don't frequent other forums all that much. This board has tons of great information and discussion. Not all of it is accurate. Much of it is rumor. Much more is fun / sarcastic speculation. A lot of it turns out to be true. Thus, without speculating myself, I take the attitude: just wait and see what happens. Personally, I don't really care one way or the other. I expect "surprises" nowadays. It's the only thing keeping JWs distracted from actually doing any real studying and research. JW TV is a prime example. JWs can sit around their TV or computer and watch hours of that without ever opening their Bibles. It takes a lot of time, patience and persistence to actually think through what is pushed in the publications as "truth" and once one sits down and does that, nothing else matters. The gimmicks, the pretentious boasting, the campaigns... they all become background noise once one does the studying and research for themselves.

47

preface question:

by mohrb in

order of operations is important, so, i'll ask a question before i make assumptions and start "fixing things.".

obviously, the site heavily encourages the viewpoint of former j-dubs and others who have disagreements with the political posturing of the wbts.

i get that, and see your points.

leaving_quietly

Mohrb, I am an active JW. I know a brother that has the same take as you, that more people should offer constructive criticism in the form of letters to the Society. I am not of that opinion. Why? Because letters have ALREADY been written ad nauseum about some of the doctrinal issues I have an issue with. Proof of that is that some of these have found they way into Questions From Readers. It just tells me that the Society does not really listen all that well to constructive criticism. And, since they have a bad habit of returning letters to the body of elders, it simply makes the whole process uninviting.

I have personally come to the conclusion offered by Ecclesiastes 1:15: "What is crooked cannot be made straight and what is lacking cannot possibly be counted."

18

NOT on JW.ORG: A.P. and International Press break stories about rampant child abuse by Jehovah's Witnesses MINISTERS and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Cover-ups.

by Balaamsass2 in

$13.5m award in jehovah's witnesses molest caseby associated press.

published: 21:45 est, 31 october 2014 | updated: 21:45 est, 31 october 2014. .

san diego (ap) the jehovah's witnesses were ordered to pay $13.5 million to a southern california man who said he was molested as a child by a church member.. a san diego judge ruled wednesday that the church's governing body covered up years of sexual abuse by a member who later became an elder.. superior judge joan lewis said actions of the watchtower bible and tract society of new york were "reprehensible and reckless," u-t san diego reported friday (http://bit.ly/1uf519r ).. jose lopez, who was awarded the money, sued the group, alleging that he was molested in 1986 at age 7 by a member of the spanish congregation in the linda vista area of san diego.. lopez said the elders suggested gonzalo campos as his bible teacher even though they knew he had molested at least one other boy, the suit contended.

leaving_quietly

Two years ago, an Alameda County jury awarded $21 million to a woman who claimed the church allowed an adult member of a Fremont church to molest her when she was 9 years old in the mid-1990s. The award was later reduced to $8 million.

Is this referring to the Conti case? Wasn't that in Alameda County? It was $21 million plus $7 million in punitive damages, right? Was it actually reduced to $8 million total? Or was this a difference case altogether?

leaving_quietly

Posts by leaving_quietly