2025 GB Update #5 - Putting to rest issues on “Higher” Education

[Amygdala]

11 hours ago, addiedg said:

My brother in law criticized me publicly a few months ago for studying (even though I pioneer while he preaches 2 hours a week and dedicates 20 hours a week to marathon training). And most people sided with him.

It’s just me, but this is where I wouldn’t let the diss slide and speak up on my behalf and mention the same back. That would put an end to future passive-aggressions, even if the person was “well-meaning”. Some things are good to let slide, as Jesus did, but inappropriate bullying is not one of them.

[Osprey]

10 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

 

Well it it's unwritten then it's not a "clear rule"

 

I'm asking for evidence that the organization ever suggested that brothers with beards or who go to college cannot be examplary, brcause I have known several cases where this did not happen

 

Why you insist so strongly on written evidence? From experience of brotherhood worldwide it is very clear that in practice brothers had very different experiences than what you experienced or saw. It is clear that majority of JWs are not elders and they don't have information about confidential material that they have available. If something is strongly discouraged to them they may well conclude that elders may have some such official instructions, despite that not being the case. So this update clarified and slightly adjusted our view worldwide, which is a very welcome development.

[Jwanon]

14 minutes ago, Osprey said:

it is very clear that in practice brothers had very different experiences than what you experienced or saw

 

I did not disputing that brothers have different experiences

 

I am disputing that the organization has given "clear rules and strong unwritten suggestions" that brothers who have higher education are not examplary Christians. I am asking for evidence of this accusation 

Edited 22 hours ago by Jwanon

[Dages]

13 minutes ago, Osprey said:

From experience of brotherhood worldwide it is very clear that in practice brothers had very different experiences than what you experienced or saw

It's better to not go beyond what is written.

We all have to apply this.

[Andrey]

33 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

 

Well it it's unwritten then it's not a "clear rule"

 

I'm asking for evidence that the organization ever suggested that brothers with beards or who go to college cannot be examplary, brcause I have known several cases where this did not happen

 

*** yb74 pp. 97-98 Part 1—Germany ***
But more equipment was needed. For that reason Brother Balzereit asked Brother Rutherford for permission to buy a rotary press. Brother Rutherford saw the necessity and agreed, but on one condition. He had noticed that over the years Brother Balzereit had grown a beard very similar to the one that had been worn by Brother Russell. His example soon caught on, for there were others who also wanted to look like Brother Russell. This could give rise to a tendency toward creature worship, and Brother Rutherford wanted to prevent this. So during his next visit, within hearing of all the Bible House family, he told Brother Balzereit that he could buy the rotary press but only on the condition that he shave off his beard. Brother Balzereit sadly agreed and afterward went to the barber. During the next few days there were several cases of mistaken identity and some funny situations because of the “stranger” who was sometimes not recognized by his fellow workers.
https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=301974004&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=163

Edited 22 hours ago by Andrey

[Jwanon]

15 minutes ago, Osprey said:

So this update clarified

 

Since it "clarified" it means that it has always been our stance but that it was misunderstood, which is what I am saying

[Jwanon]

Just now, Andrey said:

 

*** yb74 pp. 97-98 Part 1—Germany ***
But more equipment was needed. For that reason Brother Balzereit asked Brother Rutherford for permission to buy a rotary press. Brother Rutherford saw the necessity and agreed, but on one condition. He had noticed that over the years Brother Balzereit had grown a beard very similar to the one that had been worn by Brother Russell. His example soon caught on, for there were others who also wanted to look like Brother Russell. This could give rise to a tendency toward creature worship, and Brother Rutherford wanted to prevent this. So during his next visit, within hearing of all the Bible House family, he told Brother Balzereit that he could buy the rotary press but only on the condition that he shave off his beard. Brother Balzereit sadly agreed and afterward went to the barber. During the next few days there were several cases of mistaken identity and some funny situations because of the “stranger” who was sometimes not recognized by his fellow workers.
https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=301974004&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=163

 

This article is condemning the creature worship of Russell, not wearing beards

 

Some brothers wore a beard to imitate Russell, I doubt that brothers prior to 2024 were not allowed to wear a beard by fear that they were imitating Russell

 

So there is nothing in this article that says that brothers with a beard were considered not examplary by the organization 

 

In fact, a 2017 WT article, which predates the update about beards, says that appointed brothers have beards. Why would they mention that if it was "discouraged"?

[Andrey]

6 minutes ago, Jwanon said:

 

This article is condemning the creature worship of Russell, not wearing beards

 

Some brothers wore a beard to imitate Russell, I doubt that brothers prior to 2024 were not allowed to wear a beard by fear that they were imitating Russell

 

So there is nothing in this article that says that brothers with a beard were considered not examplary by the organization 

 

In fact, a 2017 WT article, which predates the update about beards, says that appointed brothers have beards. Why would they mention that if it was "discouraged"?

 

I would be careful in my statements, so as not to manipulate what the brothers have laid out as history in our Organization. It was and must be acknowledged, not denied. Dear brother Jason, you asked to find this in the publications. Here is the publication.

Edited 22 hours ago by Andrey

[Osprey]

So you are saying that update about beards and additional education actually changed nothing? I disagree. Even if it was not clear or written rule, it was still applied in such a way for many years in many places worldwide, having a very clear consequences for many, which is in itself a problem which needed to be addressed. It was known for all these years what is the practice in these topics and it was not addressed, so it was kind of tolerated or let's say silently approved. That's why I say again these updates are welcome developments.

And based on that I think it would be more accurate to say that our view was not only clarified but did change somewhat too because of different times and circumstances.

Edited 22 hours ago by Osprey

[Jwanon]

Just now, Osprey said:

So you are saying that update about beards and additional education actually changed nothing?

 

What changed is that brother Splane told the brothers to stop being judgemental about another Christian's choice of education, since this was obviously a reccuring problem

 

So it's a good thing that Jehovah provided this update 

[Andrey]

I am very grateful to the GB brothers for helping us solve such issues. We should not impose our personal preferences because it is convenient for us, because I think so. This is especially true for brothers who take leadership in the congregations. There are biblical principles and laws, not my ego. You cannot manipulate the Bible and people.

 

“Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 2:5

[bobby]

You're all for getting some thing college doesn't work not for everybody I know cuz I went to college for computers and I'm putting them together I became  janitor shortly after that  I heard statistically the high percentage of college people don't graduate so obviously it's just a scam to your money

 

But if someone comes up to me and asked me about college and they should go or not I told him my story I went to college and it didn't work and became a  yeah Janitor after that

 

It also may hurt you in a sense it may prevent you from getting other jobs I went through a lot of interviews where I had put down I had gone to college and for that simple reason they didn't want to hire me I ended up begging to get a job as a  janitor at a mall

Edited 21 hours ago by bobby

[Violin]

7 hours ago, Cushi said:

😆 I remember when those were popular here in the states. Kids would buy them in tattoo vending machines.

Were you allowed to wear them?  We weren't, my husband won't let our kids use them either.  And I'm not a fan of permanent tattoos either, just saying that apparently a few witnesses do have them.

[Violin]

7 hours ago, Tortuga said:

Is it your opinion that California is more spiritually liberal?

That's not a very encouraging thing to share.

 

Apologies, I didn't mean to be discouraging.   I know next to nothing about California, just was surprised (not upset or anything, surprised) that these sisters were saying that in certain areas it was acceptable to have a small, modest tattoo.

[dannysharedstuff]

So…. Changing subjects… what countries do you think will host the 2026 international convetions?

This will be the ones having missionaries return to their home countries.

Edited 21 hours ago by dannysharedstuff

[Abigail]

On 8/21/2025 at 10:20 PM, way said:

Another thing I’d like to see would be some adjustment in our understanding, perhaps regarding higher education or what’s expected of parenting. On that last point, are parents responsible for ev’ry choice their adult children make? Should they be disciplined for any personal decisions their children make? It would be interesting to see. 

 

Naughty ...

[Abigail]

On 8/21/2025 at 11:08 PM, Adam! said:

Let's wait on the faithful slave to release any information at the correct time. If you try to get in front the chariot, you might get knocked over.

or run over and squished!!

[Knight]

3 hours ago, Jwanon said:

 

Show me the publication that said that a brother cannot be examplary if they had a beard or if they were attending college please

My dear brother, elders know them.

Edited 20 hours ago by Knight

[Knight]

1 hour ago, Jwanon said:

In fact, a 2017 WT article, which predates the update about beards, says that appointed brothers have beards. Why would they mention that if it was "discouraged"?

You mean the article of 2016? 

 

Actually, the whole quotation doesn't confirm your statements:

w16 September p. 21 par. 17: 
In some cultures, a neatly trimmed beard may be acceptable and respectable, and it may not detract at all from the Kingdom message. In fact, some appointed brothers have beards. Even so, some brothers might decide not to wear a beard. (1 Cor. 8:9, 13; 10:32) In other cultures or localities, beards are not the custom and are not considered acceptable for Christian ministers. In fact, having one may hinder a brother from bringing glory to God by his dress and grooming and his being irreprehensible.—Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 7.

 

That's all.
 

 

[Honeyflake]

Am I the only one who learned from the update that the risks of higher education are still great and that everyone should be committed to serving Jehovah? It was even positively emphasized that one could begin pioneering right after school without any training... Why is it that I get the feeling that some people interpret the update as a recommendation to study?

[Abigail]

23 hours ago, Andrey said:

 

Dear brother, Nathan. You remain loyal to Jehovah. Jehovah loves you very much! 🙏

 

Here, here!

 

23 hours ago, Buckeye said:

Sure wish I had been allowed to go to college. I mean this is such a change. The circuit overseer told me if I went to college how disappointed Jehovah would be in me.  Now parents should be encouraging us to go to college. I’m 45 now and it’s too late.  It’s so frustrating to me at times when these changes happen 

 

Have you lost out brother? I do not feel that I have. I could have gone to university, I was "university material" as the teachers called it. For a while I wanted to do significantly more additional education. But looking back on my life, it would not have been good for me. I had poor health when I was young and struggled with full-time school. I took vocational training in useable skills, got part-time work, still wasn't well enough to pioneer, but I did my best. Then I had 20 years caring for my elderly parents. No way could I have coped with any more. Changed career, still part-time, even fewer hours. My employer paid for some more additional education so no debt. Parents have now passed and my mental health fell apart. Now medicated and doing more for the truth than I ever have been able to - but still don't have the strength to pioneer. Have I missed out? Not a bit, I have my own house, share it with wonderful friends, most of the time I am satisfied and happy. I feel blessed by Jehovah. I have given up much, but he has given me much more ... and I have never had to worry about the bills or where my next meal is coming from.

[Jwanon]

11 minutes ago, Knight said:

Elders know them.

 

Can an elder show me the supposed publication that says that a Christian cannot be examplary if you have a beard or go to college then?

 

4 minutes ago, Knight said:

You mean the article of 2016? 

 

Actually, the whole quotation doesn't confirm your statements:

w16 September p. 21 par. 17: 
In some cultures, a neatly trimmed beard may be acceptable and respectable, and it may not detract at all from the Kingdom message. In fact, some appointed brothers have beards. Even so, some brothers might decide not to wear a beard. (1 Cor. 8:9, 13; 10:32) In other cultures or localities, beards are not the custom and are not considered acceptable for Christian ministers. In fact, having one may hinder a brother from bringing glory to God by his dress and grooming and his being irreprehensible.—Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 7.

 

That's all.
 

 

 

It says beards are not considered proper in some places, which is not what I am disputing. 

 

The inappropriateness of wearing a beard is not dependent on a rule of the organization. 

 

There is no publication that says Christians can't wear a beard. 

[TJ]

I think if someone sacrificed an opportunity at higher/additional education because of how previous direction was carried out, his or her feelings regarding this clarification are valid (within reason). Here's my thoughts on this:

 

• In the past, pursuing higher education was consistently discouraged by the organization because of the dangers associated with the traditional educational system, especially when impressionable young people go to live on campus with many bad influences and are exposed to professors that are outright hostile to faith. To do so was (or should have been) at least tolerated by the congregation, but it was also viewed as not 'exemplary' if not foolish/sinful.
• Now, pursuing higher education is still being given all the same warnings of danger (I expect these warnings to continue), though it is explicitly stated that it is to be a personal decision (think 'swim at your own risk') and that no Christian, including elders, should judge anyone else in regards to it.
• This clarification is not the organization flipping its opinion that pursuing higher education is now 'good' nor should it be seen as any type of endorsement of it.
• Instead, this seems to be a very direct statement from the GB that any type of stigma attached to those pursuing additional education should stop.
• Where there is room for legitimate criticism IMO, is that the GB needs to know and be aware that they set the tone, and when they discourage something generally (even for appropriate, scriptural reasons) although still tolerate it, the way that gets carried out in the field is uneven and can cause hard feelings. Some elders will take a more extreme position that doing something that is generally discouraged means that you must be of weak faith, foolish, or even sinful. I've heard the same thing for younger ones that felt compelled to partake of the Memorial emblems when it was felt that that door was closed.
• Where I applaud the GB is that it is evident that they have really been re-evaluating many of our positions, looking for opportunities to improve our alignment with scriptural principles with current world conditions. And I like that when they do change something, they come right out and tell everyone plainly that this is a change or clarification, and then make statements like how no one should judge others in this respect or how no one should brag that they had the 'right' opinion all along, etc. They have a really tough job.
• Where I see parallels to the first-century GB is the controversy over circumcision. As Paul carried out his mission to the Gentiles, he was constantly delicately dealing with tensions while forming mixed Jewish and Gentile congregations. Then 'men from Jerusalem' would arrive from James, probably with the intention of making things better, but would really cause lots of problems by insisting that the Gentile believers get circumcized. This came to a head when finally the GB at the time met and made a ruling that, given the evidence before them, they are going too far to place this burden upon believers. And so they reversed course.
• Even Peter and Paul had conflict over the settling of this matter, i.e. how Gentiles should be received and treated in the congregation, so such controversies in our day aren't always smooth. But like Peter and Paul, we need a lot of principled love for our brothers in order to cover over a multitude of sins.
• If one feels that their personal sacrifice of secular education continues to hinder them today, I do not want to be dismissive of that. But scriptural principles to dwell upon is how Jehovah will provide, he doesn't forget our sacrifices, and we should strive to be content with food and covering. Certainly around the world there are right now brothers that are going to prison for years, some even die for the faith. Your sacrifice of economic hardship is just as real and is known to Jehovah, even if it seems that no one else recognizes it.

[Tortuga]

51 minutes ago, Violin said:

Apologies, I didn't mean to be discouraging.   I know next to nothing about California, just was surprised (not upset or anything, surprised) that these sisters were saying that in certain areas it was acceptable to have a small, modest tattoo.

Let me help you. I was baptized in southern California over 50 years ago, I currently live in northern California, I do not think California is a 'more liberal' area. I have heard for many years that a large portion of Bethelites come from California and WHQ had once considered opening a Branch office in California. We recently hosted a Special Convention.  Please mention that to anyone that assumes California isn't as spiritually minded as the rest of Jehovah's organization. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Tortuga

[Shawnster]

3 hours ago, Jwanon said:

 

Show me the publication that said that a brother cannot be examplary if they had a beard or if they were attending college please

 

It's not appropriate to share with you confidential communications from the Branch. Likewise, it is impossible to share with you verbal direction given by circuit overseers.