2024 Governing Body Update #2

[Dages]

Brothers who may have to do a replacement at the last minute may want to have a tie in their pocket just in case.

 

Anyway, when the video was out, my wife and I went preaching and to the meeting with no tie/jacket and her with slacks so the friends would feel at ease about this new "freedom", seeing an elder and his wife like that.

[Alice]

I think that was very Loving and thoughtful on Y’all’s part. 

[Qapla]

6 hours ago, JonE said:

There’s a difference between having a talk every so many weeks or months, and having to be in uniform much more regularly for other parts on the meeting.

 

In our congregation, there are students parts every week on the MWM that are given by non-appointed brothers (elders and ministerial servants) as well as sisters every week. Also, we have non-appointed brothers who read the WT and CBS as well as appointed brothers. Likewise, since we have more appointed brothers than parts on the meeting, some of the appointed brothers have chosen not to wear a coat and/or tie for every meeting.

 

Somehow, I don't think out small, rural congregation is the only one that has this.

 

[LeolaRootStew]

When a sister has a part on the program, she should wear a skirt or a dress if that is the standard of dress in that land."

 

Where does the standard of platform=ties/dresses even come from? How do we know that dresses and ties are a standard in our land?

[Mike047]

Your Bethel Branch, will be sending to travelling overseers and local elders instructions based on the GB update, this will surely be sufficient. In the UK, for example, we would expect it to be dress/skirt and smart top for sisters on the platform, jacket and tie for the bothers on the platform. 

 

So platform assignments will be as before, attire for congregation duties may be something determined locally, but likely based on any spirit-directed advice from the Branch.

 

 

[Abigail]

45 minutes ago, Mike047 said:

Your Bethel Branch, will be sending to travelling overseers and local elders instructions based on the GB update, this will surely be sufficient. In the UK, for example, we would expect it to be dress/skirt and smart top for sisters on the platform, jacket and tie for the bothers on the platform. 

 

So platform assignments will be as before, attire for congregation duties may be something determined locally, but likely based on any spirit-directed advice from the Branch.

 

 

 

Good, the direction needs to come from the Branch. Otherwise there will be inconsistencies within one land!!

[Tortuga]

Are the dress guidelines for visiting the Branch different in each country?

The guidelines for visiting the US Branch are suit, tie, dress, etc. Is that the same in every country?

 

It seems that if anyone wants to know what the standard of dress is for a meeting part in their country, they can look at the guidelines for visiting their local Branch.

 

Obviously, the Update isn't requiring a suit, tie, dress or skirt in lands where that isn't normally worn. I remember Mark Sanderson giving a part wearing an Anorak. A suit and tie would have been inappropriate in the area he was in.

Edited March 23 by Tortuga

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

Are the dress guidelines for visiting the Branch different in each country?
The guidelines for visiting the US Branch are suit, tie, dress, etc. Is that the same in every country?

The DownUnder guidelines are the same as the US. Jacket & tie, dress/skirt... etc.

Old (Downunder) Tone

[Qapla]

1 hour ago, LeolaRootStew said:

Where does the standard of platform=ties/dresses even come from? How do we know that dresses and ties are a standard in our land?

 

 

What was worn on the platform in your KH before Update #2 ?

 

That is the standard of dress in your area.

 

The standard of dress for the platform did not change with Update #2. Even before that update there was variation in what was worn from one culture to another. Many places had adopted the suit/tie as standard for the platform. That has not changed with this update. Areas that allowed native and/or local attire on the platform before the update can still allow that style of dress.

 

Most of us know what normal attire on the platform is for where we live - there should not be any confusion ... just keep dressing as you did before the update, and you will be fine.

[Broseph]

2 hours ago, LeolaRootStew said:

When a sister has a part on the program, she should wear a skirt or a dress if that is the standard of dress in that land."

 

Where does the standard of platform=ties/dresses even come from? How do we know that dresses and ties are a standard in our land?

Except that was the same reasoning that was used with beards. “It’s not the custom here”, therefore the prohibition was self-perpetuating until they had to come out and specifically put an end to it.

[jwhess]

6 minutes ago, JonE said:

Except that was the same reasoning that was used with beards. “It’s not the custom here”, therefore the prohibition was self-perpetuating until they had to come out and specifically put an end to it.

When customs in a cultural society change or are modified, we are informed at the proper time.  To push ahead to promote a local modification is ambitious at best and a "running ahead" of the chariot at worst.  Patience is the key.  We are not in the fashion buisness.  We are in the preaching and teaching business.

 

Coming across as a little more formal or a little more polite than the worldly people in your neighborhood is not as bad as coming across as slovenly or disheveled.  An old addage said...never be the first to embrace a fad, nor be last one to leave it...💗

[Mike047]

Well said John, as always.

[Ms. Piffle]

1 hour ago, jwhess said:

We are not in the fashion buisness.  We are in the preaching and teaching business.

 

💗

Love that!  

[Andrey]

I'm reminded a little bit of the situation, with clothing, of the story recorded in the Bible.

 

"Now some men came down from Ju·deʹa and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” But after quite a bit of dissension and disputing by Paul and Barʹna·bas with them, it was arranged for Paul, Barʹna·bas, and some of the others to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem regarding this issue." (Acts 15:1, 2)

 

Issue: Or “dispute.” The Greek word zeʹte·ma often refers to a controversial question or a specific issue being debated. (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition))

 

In the gathering of the first Christians, there was a great change. All who wished to become Christians had to give up the Law of Moses, especially the Jews according to the flesh. But the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, drew attention to the immutability of Jehovah's Laws and emphasized the importance of their application. 

 

"Decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”. (Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29)

 

I like the wording of the decision made by the apostles and elders, "Not in troubling (confusing) the nations" - verse 19. And then they go on to remind us of the fundamental truths that are important for all to observe: "abstain" - verses 20, 28, 29.

 

In 2024 Governing Body Update #2, the brethren told us that we can use clothing, for brethren: beards, no beards, jacket, tie, no jackets, no ties; sisters: dresses, skirts, pants. So as not to embarrass both the Christians themselves in the assemblies and the new ones who join the Organization of God. And then they go on to remind us of the fundamental truths that are important for all to observe. Observe fundamental principles for speakers and speeches in meetings and congresses. As well as visits to Branches and Bethel. It was clearly expressed and emphasized as unassailable. Perhaps, in time, things will change once again. We'll get new leadership. For now, let's be patient and apply what is asked of us. (2 Kings 5:10-15)

Edited March 23 by Andrey

[LeolaRootStew]

10 hours ago, JonE said:

Except that was the same reasoning that was used with beards. “It’s not the custom here”, therefore the prohibition was self-perpetuating until they had to come out and specifically put an end to it.

 

That's what I was getting at. It seems we may be caught in a loop until another update.

[Leslie.m]

12 hours ago, Mike047 said:

Your Bethel Branch, will be sending to travelling overseers and local elders instructions based on the GB update, this will surely be sufficient. In the UK, for example, we would expect it to be dress/skirt and smart top for sisters on the platform, jacket and tie for the bothers on the platform. 

 

So platform assignments will be as before, attire for congregation duties may be something determined locally, but likely based on any spirit-directed advice from the Branch.

 

 

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

[Ahuvah]

That's what the update said. That elders will be receiving  further instruction.  ( not verbatim) 

And the process for new information is via the branch offices. Unless that was about the disfellowshipping part. 

Our Elder I spoke to re: dress/grooming said they were waiting for more information. 

Edited March 24 by Stormswift

[New World Explorer]

4 minutes ago, Stormswift said:

That's what the update said. That elders will be receiving  further instruction.  ( not verbatim) 

And the process for new information is via the branch offices. Unless that was about the disfellowshipping part. 

Our Elder I spoke to re: dress/grooming said they were waiting for more information. 

We got additional information regarding disfellowshipping, very specific and loving instructions indeed. 

[lesage NM]

Good morning. According to the latest governing body update: if we have an assignment, can we just wear a *shirt with tie* right?  Should we wear a *jacket* too?

[Leslie.m]

3 hours ago, Stormswift said:

That's what the update said. That elders will be receiving  further instruction.  ( not verbatim) 

And the process for new information is via the branch offices. Unless that was about the disfellowshipping part. 

Our Elder I spoke to re: dress/grooming said they were waiting for more information. 

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…

[lesage NM]

Good morning. According to the latest governing body update: if we have an assignment, can we just wear a *shirt with tie* right?  Should we wear a *jacket* too?

[Leslie.m]

2 minutes ago, lesage NM said:

Good morning. According to the latest governing body update: if we have an assignment, can we just wear a *shirt with tie* right?  Should we wear a *jacket* too?

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…

[Dages]

3 hours ago, lesage NM said:

Good morning. According to the latest governing body update: if we have an assignment, can we just wear a *shirt with tie* right?  Should we wear a *jacket* too?

Ask your elders

[MullumMiss]

I am doing a Metro shift tomorrow and I’m going to wear slacks if the weather is similar to today which is cool.  ATM I only have 1 pair of slacks suitable for service/meetings.  Last week I bought myself another pair for winter and I look forward to wearing them when it is cold.  

[Cheeks]

It seems that all the way back in 1985 Phil Collins already knew the change for not having to wear a suit jacket would come!




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