Leslie.m

So nice you said it thrice! 🤣

Richard, I like you and respect you from this forum, particularly as you always come across as reasonable and level headed in your comments. If I was ever travelling in your area, I would have reached out to have a cuppa. So I’m going to move on from this part of the topic after asking this: Swop out ties with white shirts in your comment above. How does that play to you? How would that make non-elders and non-appointed brothers feel? What would they be saying to their friends and family in other Congs? None of us are disrespecting the Elders by respectfully asking these questions. We are in a new time - where the Governing Body is now sometimes speaking to everyone - with new direction. It’s not just coming through letters to the Cong like it used to. It’s an adjustment for all of us - and we are all subject to them.

Just came back from touring the Australasia Branch in Sydney. When my friend came by to pick me up - I confirmed whether he had a jacket - he did not. Because of what the update said I asked him to please swing by his place to get his jacket - which he did. He was a little confused though, as he’s from Sydney and he had toured the Branch previously some years ago, without a jacket. We were invited to have lunch at the Branch but couldn’t make it in time due to the jacket detour. When we got to the Branch our jacket less host told us that Australiasia Branch is exempt from the jacket rule due to the heat 🤣🤣🤣. I had informed him we were running late after we picked up the jacket so he waited to let us know when we got there 🤣🤣🤣

But… that’s a rule… that you’ve all made…

Hi @carlos, I get where you're coming from, but "part on the program" has been a standard term amongst Witnesses globally, as evidenced by this quick search in WT Library: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q="part+on+the+program"&p=par&r=occ&st=a If you had told someone you had a part on the program at an Assembly for example, not a single Witness would think you were an attendant or doing A/V.

What would be feeling be if this was the first century and the GB had just announced “no circumsisions required” and the local bodies were saying: yes, but in these and these and these instances they’re still required? The GB has just announced, to everyone, worldwide (not in a letter to the bodies only, not in a congregation announcement only, not even in a video to be shown only in the midweek meeting) that jackets and ties are not required unless you have a part on the program (ie actively giving a talk, doing a demonstration, reading, etc on the stage or platform). What “part on the program” meant was never in question up until the day of the announcement. It still isn’t. What local bodies are doing is in effect saying: The GB doesn’t know best / didn’t think this through completely. Jackets and ties are therefore still required for these and these and these instances. Opinions of bodies are differing not just across different areas or countries, but also for different congs meeting at the same hall. All bodies have good intentions; hopefully they all see the need to “relax” their own rules though…

Wow, that all seems waaaaay more complicated than it should be!

I do appreciate these changes being announced worldwide in an update. Those of us who were privileged to watch the Annual Meeting live felt a bit guilty; and we weren't allowed to discuss parts of it for months afterward - even with our closest friends and family. I understand the important role the AM plays, but I'm all here for the big changes being announced to everyone all at once. I, for one, hope it expands...

They came right out and said they were doing it right here on the forum. What @jwhess said next summarises it best.

Depends on your Body of Elders - some seem to be going “beyond the things that are written” and enforcing jackets and ties for all manner of assignments that have nothing to do with parts on the program…

That was about disfellowshipping… I personally can’t understand why the suit & tie part would need anything further - they were very clear - only if you have a part on the program or are visiting Bethel…

Do we know this for a fact? That branches are sending out guidelines related to the update?

With beards there were no restrictions… this change has platform part restrictions - and as we’ve seen here some BOE’s have added other restrictions as well - carrying mics etc… it creates a bit of uncertainty…

Yes and what’s the view in your locations about attending the Memorial without a jacket or tie. It’s not required anymore, so it’s a personal choice, but it’s a personal choice I think is a bit weird to make (for me, personally).

What’s the feeling about going to the Memorial no jacket / tie / with slacks in your locations? Technically only the 4 or so brothers up on the platform need to be fully suited up, and I was the first to applaud the tie / jacket change for brothers, but it feels weird (for me) even thinking about attending the Memorial without a suit or jacket / tie. Is this akin to first century Jewish Christians feeling weird about eating pork suddenly?