2023 Governing Body Update #8 / BEARDS!!!

[Hope]

2 hours ago, Adam! said:

Are we going to have JW Beard oil suppliers now? You know... those ones with Etsy accounts and such like ...

I just proposed to our pioneer ladies that we should give beard kits for the elder gifts this year! 

[Cushi]

My heart goes out to the brothers who work in professions that don’t allow beards and now still can’t grow one…

[Brandon]

33 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

some elders can indeed go overboard

(I should mention that a mustache was permissible)

 

They were only listening to the GB’s direction at the time, which was:

 

2002, benefit book: “In areas where mustaches are widely viewed as dignified, any who wear these should keep them neatly trimmed”

 

2016 WT did not change this: “in some cultures, a neat beard may be acceptable… in other cultures and localities, beards are not considered acceptable for Christian ministers,”

 

since that wt never clarified which “cultures and localities” it was left to each congregation (perhaps with input from the CO? not sure) if this direction applied to “us” or only to “witnesses on the other continent(s)”

 

I was told it did not apply to our locality.  Honestly, I think the 2016 should never have been published with the wording that it did. It only caused confusion. 

[coolbrz731]

8 minutes ago, Hope said:

I'm to stubborn for your mind domination powers!  My wife says so!!(If I do, and it goes bad, send me your address.  I'm sleeping in your garage)

[jlocke]

13 minutes ago, Hannah said:

if brothers now have Beards ….What about sisters wearing trousers ? (City trousers not jeans ) 😀

 

 

What are trousers?

[comtemplate]

5 hours ago, Bob said:

I’m actually not surprised at all that this change was made.

Seems like to me all of the changes that are coming thru the pipes seem so logical and we aren't too surprised with them.  

[Gimestr]

12 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

This may make things more difficult for the attendants at the Assemblies and Conventions. It may be more difficult to recognize someone visiting for the first time..

Last assembly there was guy dressed in a suit with a beard sitting in front of us.  We saw that he was sitting with a brother who had a talk.  So my wife started up a conversation with him thinking he was a study.  Turns out he was a brother.  I guess there will be more encounters like that in the future.

[Kwabena]

2 hours ago, Tortuga said:

It will be interesting to see if any of the GB or Helpers decide to grow a beard. 

I'm trying to imagine Br. Noumair with a goatee and a handlebar mustache 

 

 

[MullumMiss]

25 minutes ago, Hannah said:

if brothers now have Beards ….What about sisters wearing trousers ? (City trousers not jeans ) 😀

 

 

I wear culottes in the ministry.  Mine look like a skirt.   Not sure if y'all know what they are.......

[Leslie.m]

38 minutes ago, *Jack* said:

 

When I heard the update, I was listening anxiously hoping they would approve the wearing of beards but I didn’t want to get my hopes up in case they weren’t going to approve it. When they approved it I shouted out Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!  
 

I’m not surprised they made this adjustment. I had been meaning on writing the branch and asking if it were reasonable to think that brothers would be able to wear beards in the near future because they are becoming more popular in business and politics. After a while I decided not to because I’m sure they get that question all the time and didn’t want to bother them. I used to look forward to wearing a beard in the new world. Now I can have my piece of paradise now 😆
 

(Here’s my comment from another thread)

Next time, don’t doubt yourself. Brother’s from all over the world wrote in to their branches, who all wrote into WHQ. It was such a groundswell that it was addressed, not in a WT article, but in GB Update!

 

I wonder how much of this is due to the fact that Gen Z have now started serving on Bodies around the world. They do tend to question alot…

[Kwabena]

40 minutes ago, *Jack* said:

When they approved it I shouted out Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!  

 

Well then I guess you'll be changing your avatar any moment from now . He's smoother than a freshly peeled hard boiled egg dipped in cold water. 

[Peanuts]

7 minutes ago, Gimestr said:

Last assembly there was guy dressed in a suit with a beard sitting in front of us.  We saw that he was sitting with a brother who had a talk.  So my wife started up a conversation with him thinking he was a study.  Turns out he was a brother.  I guess there will be more encounters like that in the future.

Are you in America? In the Uk there’s already a lot of beards. But in some areas elders have them and in others it’s frowned upon, so it’s wonderful to have this clarification so we can be unified 

[coolbrz731]

3 minutes ago, zauser said:

Next time, don’t doubt yourself. Brother’s from all over the world wrote in to their branches, who all wrote into WHQ. It was such a groundswell that it was addressed, not in a WT article, but in GB Update!

 

I wonder how much of this is due to the fact that Gen Z have now started serving on Bodies around the world. They do tend to question alot…

Unlike us GenX.  We just tend to go with the flow...  Whatever.... lol

[BLEmom]

2 hours ago, Adam! said:

Are we going to have JW Beard oil suppliers now? You know... those ones with Etsy accounts and such like ...

Hahaha I’m a DoTerra advocate. We already have beard oils! 😜

[Lee49]

2 minutes ago, Peanuts said:

it’s wonderful to have this clarification so we can be unified

Now, about those brothers in warmer climates that don't wear ties, at least in field service, it can get pretty warm where I'm at. 😅

 

 

[Cushi]

3 minutes ago, Lee49 said:

Now, about those brothers in warmer climates that don't wear ties, at least in field service, it can get pretty warm where I'm at. 😅

 

 

Knew an elder that would sweat a lot in the Texas heat. His tie would get so soaked with sweat it would dye his white dress shirt.

[Dages]

1 hour ago, DancesWithWife said:

One week ago when I had bladder cancer surgery. I have my pathology visit on Monday.

Apostle Paul, so that was the thorn in your flesh ?

Edited December 15, 2023 by Dages

[Kwabena]

1 hour ago, Araujo JW said:

 

I'll give you some options.

 

Imagine talking about the condition of the dead (no ghosts, so don't fear them) to a household and wearing beard number 15. He or she will completely understand. I mean, why fear ghosts when I have actual wolverine in my neighborhood. I have all the haunting I can ever have 😂

[Dages]

So the brothers doing the Jesus movie will be able to get a real beard. Nice!

[BLEmom]

4 hours ago, Lee49 said:

This seems  to be the fashion trend around here, both young and old.Some like them, some don't.To each his own.

 

 

Have a little mercy for those that may be wearing them. I know my husband has a terrible time finding shoes that don’t pain him. He has bunions and most shoes hurt him. There are a lot more foot and leg pain issues happening among the friends. 
Like was said years ago, young brothers may wear colorful socks that don’t appeal to you but there’s nothing wrong with them. 
So far this is the latest style my husband has been able to find that he can wear. 
 

 

[Cheeks]

Very happy with the beard change. Here’s one: what about goatees….?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DancesWithWife]

16 minutes ago, Dages said:

Apostle Paul, so that was the thorn in your flesh ?

That would be good company to be in.

Edited December 15, 2023 by DancesWithWife
added word "be"

[coolbrz731]

3 minutes ago, Cheeks said:

Very happy with the beard change. Here’s one: what about goatees….?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Isn't that like a beard lite? 

[Hope]

this should merge with the other thread, right? 

[Hope]

33 minutes ago, Kwabena said:

I'm trying to imagine Br. Noumair with a goatee and a handlebar mustache 

 

 

He would look fantastic!

 

Brother Lösch would, too - maybe more like a dashing villain with that gorgeous hair... but he'd look very cool, I think.

 

I think any bald brothers would be too happy for this announcement.  A nice beard will help that "empty" feeling 😉