2024 Governing Body Update #2

[Pabo]

1 minute ago, Qapla said:

Like her, you guys are keeping me in stitches.

 

 

As does this woman's husband.

 

But I am not sure what he is wearing of her clothing? A shirt made from her dresses perhaps?

 

 

[Hope]

19 hours ago, Pabo said:

So, it begs the question, do meetings such as the field service group or perhaps, meetings for elders, service committees, hall committees etc require the need for jacket and ties? Would there be any adjusted guidelines for these types of meetings?

 

The Update said that any platform assignments should be formally dressed. That's very clear and plain to me.  In our congregation, neither the service groups, elders meetings, nor committees, et. al. are conducted from the platform.  Even when the CO is having the field service meetings, he's on the floor - not the platform.

 

I don't see what the difficulty is.  

[Tortuga]

23 minutes ago, Qapla said:

Like her, you guys are keeping me in stitches.

 

Sew it seams..!

[Friends just call me Ross]

This entire topic is totally fabricated! 

 

 

😂

[New World Explorer]

1 minute ago, Friends just call me Ross said:

This entire topic is totally fabricated! 

 

 

😂

Are you trying to pull wool over my eyes? LOL 

[JonE]

4 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Are you trying to pull wool over my eyes? LOL 

Stop trying to skirt the issue.

[MullumMiss]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

That sister is obviously very busy, she looks all tied up...

You are choking me….

[Pabo]

18 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Are you trying to pull wool over my eyes? LOL 

 

Maybe removing the veil so you can see more clearly?

[Qapla]

At least no one is hemmed in

 

[Pabo]

5 minutes ago, Qapla said:

At least no one is hemmed in

 

However, I have always copped a few belting's for not tucking my shirt in and straightening my tie when I was young (which was primarily the reason why my shirt and tie was always unkept, from these beltings - a vicious cycle I always had to endure).

 

[blue-jay]

12 hours ago, carlos said:

 

 

If someone calls Bethel the brothers won't give any explanation. They will only tell us to watch the update again, apply Bible principles and follow the instructions by the elders. Every body of elders knows what is the feeling of the local congregation.

 

Idk. It feels like the white shirt situation to me...

[Leslie.m]

18 hours ago, carlos said:

 

I don't think it's complicated or distracting. The elders are in charge of the congregation. If they give instructions, follow the instructions. If they don't, do as you feel is better.

 

Things only become complicated when we disagree with the instructions and try to argue with the elders.

 

 

If someone calls Bethel the brothers won't give any explanation. They will only tell us to watch the update again, apply Bible principles and follow the instructions by the elders. Every body of elders knows what is the feeling of the local congregation.

 

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…

[Keep Fighting]

The body of elder in our congregation met 4 days after report no. 2. the only thing we discussed was the part that had to do with the disfellowshipped person. We did not discuss anything to do with clothing, as there was no mention of this in the guidelines. We will have our circuit convention at the end of April and co visits in May.

If we haven't received a letter by then, we can ask. Was this a test of what is being done in the different body of elders? 🤔

[undeserved]

39 minutes ago, Keep Fighting said:

The body of elder in our congregation met 4 days after report no. 2. the only thing we discussed was the part that had to do with the disfellowshipped person. We did not discuss anything to do with clothing, as there was no mention of this in the guidelines. We will have our circuit convention at the end of April and co visits in May.

If we haven't received a letter by then, we can ask. Was this a test of what is being done in the different body of elders? 🤔

A pattern may develop. 

[jlocke]

On 3/25/2024 at 7:43 AM, carlos said:

 

I don't think it's complicated or distracting. The elders are in charge of the congregation. If they give instructions, follow the instructions. If they don't, do as you feel is better.

 

 

 

I have to correct you.... Family heads and Single ones report directly to Jesus. The Body of Elders reports to the Governing Body. Jesus is head of the Congregation and everyone should be willing to submit to those taking the lead. Including Elders.

[carlos]

16 hours ago, Leslie.m said:

What local bodies are doing is in effect saying: The GB doesn’t know best / didn’t think this through completely.

 

Leslie, I don't think that comment is fair.

 

You understand that "a part in the program" means only having a part on the platform. But others understand the Governing Body includes in that expression the brothers assigned to scene, audio/video, mics... They don't think they know better than the GB, they think they are applying the instructions from the GB. Maybe you are right, but maybe they are right. Maybe we will get further clarifications, or maybe not.

 

3 hours ago, jlocke said:

I have to correct you.... Family heads and Single ones report directly to Jesus. The Body of Elders reports to the Governing Body. Jesus is head of the Congregation and everyone should be willing to submit to those taking the lead. Including Elders.

 

I'm happy to be corrected, John, and everything you say here is right. But those elders are also trying to follow the instructions, even if some understand some details differently than others.

 

As an individual, you report directly to Jesus, so you can dress as you wish. You can go to the KH without a tie, or in jeans, or in pajamas. If the elders consider your attire is not appropriate for certain responsibilities, you won't have those responsibilities, but of course you will be able to attend the meetings anyway.

 

[Hope]

Beautiful, @carlos ❤️ 

[Leslie.m]

1 hour ago, carlos said:

 

Leslie, I don't think that comment is fair.

 

You understand that "a part in the program" means only having a part on the platform. But others understand the Governing Body includes in that expression the brothers assigned to scene, audio/video, mics... They don't think they know better than the GB, they think they are applying the instructions from the GB. Maybe you are right, but maybe they are right. Maybe we will get further clarifications, or maybe not.

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.

Edited March 27 by Leslie.m

[Bryan]

Our BOE had a meeting on the GB Update and discussed the part on disfellowshipping, as directed, but didn't talk about the dressing part and let the brothers decide from their understanding of the update. However, other BOE's discussed about what is allowed and what's not and have gone ahead and made some rules on the matter. Some of it may seem "out of place" according to the update.

 

I have been there and sometimes the BOE may make decisions based on their understanding of the update, how things have transpired in the past regarding dressing and grooming, and what the local CO's say about the matter. Each elder and BOE feels the weight of their assignment and makes decisions to ensure they are following the directions of the GB.

 

I understood this weight when I became an elder and have been doing this faithfully for the past 10 years, and its a blessing when the congregation supports us, even when our decisions weren't right. In fact, we laugh out about it with our friends later on when more clarifications come.

 

Whatever the decision, Jehovah expects us to loyally conform to the decisions of the BOE, and if necessary, Jehovah will correct matters in his own time.  I guess let's give a break to our elders, this year is not going to be easy for them.:)

[Pabo]

40 minutes ago, Leslie.m said:

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.

 

I think where things may go astray in the translation of what may term as "has a part on the program(or meeting)" and that of "having an assignment on the program (or meeting)".

 

Some may think part/assignments and program/meeting can be that of delivering their talk/demo from the stage and that of carrying microphones, attendant etc. Part or assignment, can and often be used interchangeably, as you may be "assigned" a "part" for a "meeting" (or "program"). However, the terminology for "program" and that of "meeting" really are two different things, as a "meeting" is for all who attend together as a whole, whereas "program" is only a select few that are involved who are on the stage. That is where some are having an issue, "how big is that stage"?

 

Yes, we all know that the answer is really simple, but some just cannot tell the difference between certain words and terminology. There are ones who want things written down as black and white, whereas others can grasp the principle and do what they understand of what has been said.

 

It is just sad and funny at the same time when some go beyond the things that have been written.

[AH173]

On the USA English jw stream of the midweek meeting, the stage brother wore no tie but suit with jacket and dress shirt. 👍

[Dages]

14 minutes ago, AH173 said:

On the USA English jw stream of the midweek meeting, the stage brother wore no tie but suit with jacket and dress shirt. 👍

Which week ? They all have tie in the stream I see.

[AH173]

The midweek meeting that just came out after the memorial. The brother has a maroon suit on 

 

I believe they have a normal Tuesday meeting. 

March 25-31.

 

At 5:00 min mark 

14:15 and 14:40 marks for example 

 

[Exter]

33 minutes ago, AH173 said:

On the USA English jw stream of the midweek meeting, the stage brother wore no tie but suit with jacket and dress shirt. 👍

Like by us, the most prominent persons, in Government, Parliament and german Broadcasting

[Dages]

17 minutes ago, AH173 said:

The midweek meeting that just came out after the memorial. The brother has a maroon suit on 

 

I believe they have a normal Tuesday meeting. 

March 25-31.

 

At 5:00 min mark 

14:15 and 14:40 marks for example 

 

Ho, you mean the stage mic brother  I was wondering about the brother speaking on stage. I was worried