2024 Governing Body Update #2

[jwhess]

Change can be unsettling.  I recall an old Star Trek quote the Captain Kirk gave to the Mirror Universe Mr. Spock...

 

“If change is inevitable ... doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?”

[Pjdriver]

29 minutes ago, JonE said:

 I thought the goal was to get closer to the fact that the Bible simply doesn’t make these rules, and yet here we are always ending back at the same place.

 

 “The Bible principle is to show honor and dignity.....how we apply that as it specifically relates to styles of clothing.....is a directly related to the "cultural norms”.   Make sense?

 

With Cultural norms where I live, most people do not wear a suit and tie anymore. However, some groups, organizations, politicians, and businesses persons may feel it more appropriate to dress more formally at certain times. That’s the "cultural norm" where I live. In some areas they never wore a tie.

 

We have found a balance. The friends teaching the congregation with talks and parts from the platform would dress more formal.....But otherwise just look clean and not casual.   It’s no right or wrong, it’s our cultural view point, and following the principle: “when in Rome, do as the Romans do".  That’s all!  

 

Does that make more sense? 

 

 

Edited March 18 by Pjdriver

[Pjdriver]

23 minutes ago, McKay said:

 

Good points, although also keep in mind that Jehovah is making the changes, not men. So that must mean Jehovah trusts his people not to take things too far. 

 

I don’t believe all decisions made.... MUST be from Jehovah. If that were true it probably would have been done sooner. Jehovah allows the GB to think on their own, following bible principles as they can understand them.  This dress code is as much about policy, culture  as it is about Bible principles. So discretion is often left to the Faithful and “Discreet” slave. 

 

If this wasn’t true we would not need to correct mistakes and interpretations etc... 

 

 

[Sofia]

1 hour ago, McKay said:

Finally, my wife and others have suggested that part of these changes might end up being a protection during the GT as it will harder to distinguish us. 

I agree ❤️ 

[Esined]

Big changes take time, people are just concerned about doing the right thing, and I am NOT IN ANY WAY comparing those who are just trying to be conscientious to Pharisees or that anyone is "full of plunder and wickedness." But the announcement from the Governing Body was very simple. Jesus set the perfect example in emphasizing what is most important and what principles we should focus on.

 

From The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, "Dining With a Pharisee"

 

 

Quote

 

"AFTER Jesus answers critics who question the source of his power to heal a man who could not talk, a Pharisee invites him to dinner. Before they eat, the Pharisees engage in the ritual of washing their hands up to the elbow. They do this before and after a meal and even between courses. Although the tradition does not violate God’s written law, it goes beyond what God requires in the matter of ceremonial cleanness.

 

When Jesus fails to observe the tradition, his host is surprised. Even though his surprise may not be expressed verbally, Jesus detects it and says: “Now you Pharisees, you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but the inside of you is full of plunder and wickedness. Unreasonable persons! He that made the outside made also the inside, did he not?”

 

Jesus thus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who ritualistically wash their hands but fail to wash their hearts from wickedness. He counsels: “Give as gifts of mercy the things that are inside, and, look! all other things are clean about you.” Their giving should be motivated by a loving heart, not by a desire to impress others with their pretense of righteousness."

 

Jesus holds these experts on the Law responsible too, saying: “Woe also to you who are versed in the Law, because you load men with loads hard to be borne, but you yourselves do not touch the loads with one of your fingers!" ...

The loads Jesus mentions are the oral traditions, but these lawyers would not so much as lift one little regulation to make it easier for the people. "

 

 

 

Out of curiosity I looked at some pictures from the Greatest Man book. We are living in different times, but it's interesting to note who looks more formal vs who looks nice, dignified, and approachable while teaching and preaching, and whether they look way more formal than those they meet in the ministry.

 

[undeserved]

24 minutes ago, Pjdriver said:

I remember I had a personal conversation with Brother Jaracz years ago and we were talking about changes. 

He specifically said; Before we take any action or make any changes, we want to be sure, we won’t have to “Backup”.   Meaning reverse any decisions.  

One thing you can be sure of is that the GB gave this a lot of consideration, including the optics and feelings of some the Ultra Conservations among us....and the culture shock some may experience . 

They found a balance, which is not easy to do. 

 

Now we just have to also be balanced in our approach to being less “formal”, yet not casual.  

It’s very sobering indeed to think of these men sitting around a table and deciding whether to make these decisions/changes.
You mentioned balance,…they have to push, but not push too hard. They have to appear authoritative, and still remain approachable, humble, and loving. 
I believe it illustrates their utmost confidence in the Ultra Conservatives, as you say, as well those who understand the importance of love, loyalty, and unity as being the most important qualities to display as we all endeavor to support one another to survive this system of things. 
THEY have the responsibility of directing and guiding Jehovah’s visible organization, always progressing with the times. 

WE have the responsibility to comply. 

[Dages]

1 hour ago, McKay said:

Finally, my wife and others have suggested that part of these changes might end up being a protection during the GT as it will harder to distinguish us. 

I think that's the majority opinion.

It could be very interesting to gather these theories and make a poll topic here in jwtalk.

[Sofia]

31 minutes ago, jwhess said:

Change can be unsettling.  I recall an old Star Trek quote the Captain Kirk gave to the Mirror Universe Mr. Spock...

“If change is inevitable ... doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?”

❤️

These changes are being gradual. Why not all at once back in December? because the slave is DISCREET.

Prudent.

It took a few months to see how all JWs reacted to the change to beards.

We have been told several times: "WE MAY RECEIVE WEIRD INSTRUCTIONS as GT aproaches fast. "

The way we all deal with these changes will prepare us for the next updates.

I feal that we will receive more and more instructions directly from GB in the next Updates. 

The faster, apropriate, and ready to obey we react, the more prepared we are for what´s comming.

 

Holy spirit is telling GB to instruct us this way. I feel GT is so close, but so close that this could be the last memorial we attend.

Edited March 18 by Sofia

[Tia]

20 minutes ago, Sofia said:

I agree ❤️ 

Indeed, I felt this way with the beards, and countless others in my Congregation 

felt the same, now even more so with update #2 - although I love the changes,

as I do not have to keep a change of slacks or skirts in my car any longer.

Edited March 18 by Tia

[Tortuga]

1 hour ago, McKay said:

 

Good points, although also keep in mind that Jehovah is making the changes, not men. So that must mean Jehovah trusts his people not to take things too far. 

In a sense yes but remember that the earthly part of the organization is following the chariot, it's not in the chariot. The GB have made many decisions and then waited to see if Jehovah has blessed the decision. I agree with you that this is no doubt coming from Jehovah, we just need to remember that not every decision made by the GB comes from Jehovah. There were a few comments recently from the GB about property they had purchased and then tried to sell, however after a while they realized Jehovah had a use for it. Their decision to sell it didn't come from Jehovah. I'm not saying that to undermine any decision made by the GB, we obviously need to support it 100% but we need to remember how the process works and be prepared for adjustments if needed.

Edited March 18 by Tortuga

[Dages]

5 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

be prepared for adjustments if needed.

So true.

[Qapla]

[Tortuga]

1 hour ago, JonE said:

With the different standard for stage, there are jokes about keeping extra ties and jackets for emergency use. Explain to me how this is any different than white shirts years ago, or the long black coat decades before that. I thought the goal was to get closer to the fact that the Bible simply doesn’t make these rules, and yet here we are always ending back at the same place.

I think you misunderstood the instructions from the GB. Ties and jackets are required for anyone with parts on the meeting.

 

if none of the other brothers are wearing ties and jackets then no one is available to fill in if one of the scheduled brothers are not able to give their part. So the jokes are about keeping a tie and jacket available in case someone volunteers to give a part and needs a tie and jacket.

 

If you have any questions about when ties and jackets are required, then please see the Update or read the announcement again.

Edited March 18 by Tortuga

[ChrisW]

1 minute ago, Tortuga said:

So the jokes are about keeping a tie and jacket available in case someone volunteers to give a part and needs a tie and jacket.

Yes, I thought about that.  Unfortunately sometimes when someone cancels it's at the last minute (though sometimes that's when things happen). So having a tie and jacket on hand would definitely be smart. 

[Tortuga]

32 minutes ago, Qapla said:

Trouisers?

[MichiganMan]

The natural way things progress, in almost every organization, is more and more rules & laws are added and they accumulate over time. It seams new rules or laws are generally easy for humans to accept. It happened in ancient Israel, and is true with governments. In the US thousands of new laws are passed every year. The tax code is so enormous that any one person cannot grasp it all. The recent GB updates, in my opinion, are designed to move us back to individual responsibility and principles. That transition is hard for some as they will look for new rules for mic carries, AV operations, attendants, or rules for the type of shirt a brother can wear, or material woman’s slacks are made of. We should rejoice that the GB puts confidence in us to apply Bible principles as we worship our God.


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[Dages]

6 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Trouisers?

AI are often bad with words

[Tortuga]

2 minutes ago, MichiganMan said:

The natural way things progress, in almost every organization, is more and more rules & laws are added and they accumulate over time. It seams new rules or laws are generally easy for humans to accept. It happened in ancient Israel, and is true with governments. In the US thousands of new laws are passed every year. The tax code is so enormous that any one person cannot grasp it all. The recent GB updates, in my opinion, are designed to move us back to individual responsibility and principles. That transition is hard for some as they will look for new rules for mic carries, AV operations, attendants, or rules for the type of shirt a brother can wear, or material woman’s slacks are made of. We should rejoice that the GB puts confidence in us to apply Bible principles as we worship our God.

and they still provide guidelines to help us make those decisions and keep us united. We know exactly what happens in a world without standards, principles and guidelines, so we truly appreciate the GB keeping us pointed in the right direction while we learn to apply Bible principles.

[Foxes53]

Trousers is the correct term to use in some countries like England where pants can refer to underwear.

So you can get in trouble if you use the wrong term😀

Plus spelling error in picture!

 

Edited March 18 by Foxes53

[Tortuga]

1 minute ago, Foxes53 said:

Trousers is the correct term to use in some countries like England where pants can refer to underwear.

So you can get in trouble if you use the wrong term😀

It's important to spell it correctly too.

 

I heard that the man that invented spell check died recently, his funnel is this moth...😞

[Esined]

13 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

I heard that the man that invented spell check died recently, his funnel is this moth...😞

 

Nice one, Richard! 🔥 😂

[DancesWithWife]

2 hours ago, jwhess said:

If change is inevitable ... doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?”

 

[Mrs.Blessed]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

I think you misunderstood the instructions from the GB. Ties and jackets are required for anyone with parts on the meeting.

 

if none of the other brothers are wearing ties and jackets then no one is available to fill in if one of the scheduled brothers are not able to give their part. So the jokes are about keeping a tie and jacket available in case someone volunteers to give a part and needs a tie and jacket.

 

If you have any questions about when ties and jackets are required, then please see the Update or read the announcement again.

I think the point our friend is concerned about is how some friends are automatically thinking ties and jackets (and skirts/dresses) are mandatory on stage... but the GB didn't say that ties and jackets are absolutely required on stage... 

They said:

"When a brother has a part on the program, he should wear a tie and a jacket if that is the standard of dress in that land."

Some are maybe forgetting the last part of the announcement. 😬

 

 

 

[JBH]

19 hours ago, Qapla said:

We had a few sisters in pants and all the brothers wore pants. The brother who handled the A/V did not wear a tie, even though he wore a dress shirt and a vest.

 

It seems our congregation is going to expect those who are "seen" are to wear tie and coat/jacket. This includes those on the platform and the mic carriers.

 

We will see what direction is yet to come from the Branch

 

 

Do the friends who comment have “a part on the program?” 😏

On the stage is how we are interpreting it (for now 😁).

Conductors, readers, talk givers, interviewees, and demo givers.  Not the help 😂

 

[Mrs.Blessed]

6 hours ago, Mike047 said:

A fine outfit for social events, but is it as appropriate for the meetings or ministry, where we are all trying to blend in with the rest of our brothers and sisters?

Dear brother Mike, is it the woman's TOP/shirt, that you are asking us to consider if is appropriate?

These pants/trousers look very modest IMHO. They are as close as a sister can find to a skirt..?

The sister said she wanted to wear the pants WITH a more MODEST TOP.

I am trying to understand the concern? 

Edited March 18 by Mrs.Blessed