I was thinking about the instructions the elders give in regard to this new arrangement and this thread.. and I have to say that I can understand both sides here.. Although I did say in an earlier post that I hate it to be micromanaged, I have to come forward and say that I also recognize and deeply respect the authority the elders have in Sheperding and taking care of the congregation. Although the GB gave this new instruction, it does not mean that all other principles in the Bible are all of a sudden erased. We still don't want to stumble or hurt others. An example: with the beard update, it was clearly said that a brother can choose. But that does not mean at all costs. In my congregation, there is a brother whom I know has difficulty with brothers having beards due to his background. Now, this brother really tried to apply the instruction and really worked on his feelings. So after a chat with him, I decided that I could wear a beard with a clear conscience. But would it be Christ-like to wear a beard and stumble this brother? No. The apostle Paul was clear about things that might stumble someone, and to avoid thinking like: "because I have the right, this brothers has to adapt, and I just don't care." As a BOE, they know the sheep well. It might be true that the GB gave a certain instruction. But this instruction did not cover all the details. What if, in a particular congregation, brothers and sisters really stumble when a brother does not wear a tie for less than 7 minutes while conducting the meeting? What if in this congregation friends chat with each other more about the tie-less conductor instead of the spiritual food provided at this meeting? It wouldn't be Christ-like, nor loving to just push and push and be insensitive to their feelings. As appointed brothers, we want to serve the friends. In other words, we want to put our own interest aside in order to be there for the friends. Maybe these brothers are wrong in their feelings, but that doesn't annul our personal responsibility to still take their stance and feelings into consideration. Given this information, it would be loving, maybe even necessary for a BOE to request this less-than-7-minutes-tie-meeting of the servants conducting it. It might very well be a way of serving your friends in the congregation. It's the same with beards. If my beard stumbles someone, Christian love should motivate me to shave. If a sisters' make-up stumbles someone or a group, Christian love should motivate her to go without. If in a congregation people are sensitive to a just less than 7 minutes field service meeting without a tie, Christian love should still motivate us to just wear it. I think if we focus more on what the needs of others are and less of what our individual rights might be, we are more useful in every way. And let Jehovah and Jesus take care of situations within congregations that need to change[emoji3590] Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-S911B met Tapatalk