Urgent Call For Reform Among Jehovah's Witnesses!

In this forum, you can find a variety of articles of special interest which are provided for those wishing to acquaint themselves with the basic tenets and beliefs of the YORWW Congregation.

Moderator: SNS Administration

Post Reply
User avatar
Donald C. Burney
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 163
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:02 am
Location: Founder YORWW Bible Institute & Training Center resides YORWW Headquarters
Contact:

Urgent Call For Reform Among Jehovah's Witnesses!

Post by Donald C. Burney »

URGENT CALL FOR REFORM AMONG JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES!

Please note below, an urgent appeal for reform is currently being circulated among Jehovah's Witnesses. This letter is specifically addressed to "The Body of Elders" in all congregations worldwide. Of course, bible prophecy shows wicked Headquarters leadership is not interested in genuine reform for the organization but will oppose it vehemently. (For more details see article entitled: Revelation 12 & Jehovah's Witnesses In Bible Prophecy.) Still after considering the following, you the reader, will clearly see the contents of this anonymous letter is quite telling to say the least, about the many problems affecting God's Name People of our time. Indeed, this letter shows Jehovah's Witnesses are unmistakably fulfilling bible prophecy as a people.

Here is the link to the special reform letter to be circulated: Jehovah's Witnesses Reform Letter To All Bodies Of Elders

--------------------------------------------------------------------copy of letter---------------------------------------------------------------

The Body of Elders

Dear Brothers,

It is with matters of great concern that we write you. We feel at this time the organization is in serious crisis. Indications are that Jehovah may have removed his spirit from the organization as he did to his people in ancient times. This is reflected in the yearly report and a definite downturn particularly in countries where the work is well established. Many have lost their zeal for the ministry and are inactive. Too many young ones are not staying with Jehovah. The increase of family breakdown, poor meeting attendance, fewer baptisms each year and the apathy of the brothers also indicate a withdrawal of God’s spirit. Depression is a real issue among the brothers. The internet is having a major impact with thousands of brothers frequenting ex-witness sites while still remaining active in meeting attendance and field service.

A number of issues may have lead to this situation and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

1) Our young people in general are not learning to be spiritual men and women. Too many are turning to the world. Many seem to have a foot in both camps. It is common practise for young ones to be in the field ministry in the morning and drinking at night clubs in the evening. Little is provided for our young people. Other religious groups are flourishing because they recognize the special needs of youth. We urgently need programs for our youth. Individual congregations are unable to initiate such programs. The future of the work depends upon our young people. They are the Elders and Servants of tomorrow.

2) Too much emphasis has been placed upon the organization and following its lead rather than on a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. Following Christ has become equated with following organizational directions. For instance the blood issue is now so complex that many are confused and an example of how they must consult the publications on every little matter. It is noted that many brothers do not seem to have a personal relationship with God and are better able to explain congregational or organizational tradition and procedures than the scriptures.

3) Our record of interpretation of Biblical Prophecy is very poor, one for which we all need to take responsibility. It would seem our own words condemn us. (WT May 1 1997 pg.8.) Much of the older literature is now available through the internet enabling anyone to confirm the embarrassing past record of failed predictions, the truth of what was said prior to 1930 regarding 1914 and the manner in which they were presented. The Proclaimers book was less than candid about many things. God’s blessing depends on setting things straight with a detailed apology and recognition that Jehovah had nothing to do with these interpretations as was claimed. It is time for honesty and repentance. No other religious organization can match the list of failed predictions made on a worldwide scale for which we are responsible.

4) The disbanding of the 1914 generation teaching in 1995 only after it had clearly failed showed we acted with hindsight, not insight. After publicly preaching for nearly fifty years the generation of 1914 would see the end, this fundamental teaching was abandoned, even though claiming in every issue of Awake up to the time that it was God’s promise. This teaching was not speculative as suggested in the WT 1 Sept 1995. It was taught as definitive truth. It was listed among the unique truths of Jehovah’s Witnesses and apostasy to deny it. The Watchtower was less than honest in the way it dealt with this major change.

5) The discovery the Watch Tower Society applied for and was associated with the United Nations as a Non-Government Organization, (NGO) from 1992 until 2001 when exposed by a British journalist, despite condemning other religions for their association (WT June 1, 1991 pp. 15-20 par. 11). The library card excuse is not valid as an NGO associated with the UN DPI must support the principles and the charter of the UN. Time is overdue for a printed apology in the Watchtower for such hypocrisy in light of the faithful example of our brothers in Malawi and other countries. Many have left over this issue having felt betrayed, including some anointed ones. Details are still clear for all to see on the United Nations website showing the seriousness of this matter.

6) We have become legalistic, even Pharisaic in many ways. Insisting on trivial matters and creating a myriad of rules both written and unwritten that weigh the brothers down and rob them of the joy that should be theirs in serving Jehovah. While disfellowshipping wrong doers keeps the congregation clean, there is little consistency between congregations and a myriad of guidelines has devalued the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus. We find no scriptural example for our judicial procedures. Thousands of families have been torn apart and many are suffering. This goes far beyond what Jesus implied at Matt.10:37 and is only a result of our policies.

7) We have been too judgemental of others, belittling them as “so-called Christians”. Though quoting religious leaders of the past and condemning them and their religion as a whole to destruction, we have distanced ourselves from our own words, explaining them away with terms such as “present truth” or “new light”. If we have judged others for what they said and did in the past then surely we too should be responsible for what was said and printed in Jehovah’s name. Surely Jesus words at Matt 7:2 apply to us.

8) Most concerning is the issue of child abuse. A recent court case in the Superior Court of California saw Jehovah’s people fighting a case against a victim of abuse for the right to withhold information it held about the abuser.

How is this different from Christendom’s behaviour? We lost the case. Will elders be asked to destroy information regarding child abusers to deny courts access to this information? Would the brothers be happy to know their donated money is being used to fight cases in court that really only protect the rights of abusers and the organization rather than the victims? This is most disturbing after the distribution of Kingdom News #37, highlighting the failures of other religions in handling child abuse.

Of further concern, the Society lawyers claimed before the court “clergy penitent privilege” despite the fact we have always claimed to have no clergy as distinct from Christendom. The court rejected this claim.

One recent out of court settlement to sixteen victims of child abuse by Elders and Ministerial Servants cost the Society millions of dollars in donated money. This was widely publicised in the media. Many more cases are pending. While our procedures have tightened up in recent years this has only been a result of legal action and bad publicity. We now face many years of legal action by abuse victims and costly settlements for our lack of insight in the past.

In ancient Israel, God’s earthly organization at the time, Jehovah sent faithful men to set things straight. Men like Jeremiah, Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and others spoke out before Jehovah’s anointed ones at the time. Today any person who speaks up is fearful of being disfellowshiped. Individuals have no voice within the organization. Even anointed brothers with many years of faithful service have been disfellowshiped for raising concerns to the Governing Body. It seems in reality that the “faithful and discreet slave” does not include these anointed ones after all. Any expressed criticism of the Governing Body or denial they are the sole channel Jehovah is using is considered apostasy. This is an unhealthy situation.

For this reason we have decided to remain anonymous for fear of losing our families. Many active brothers are in contact, including anointed ones, Bethel family members and Elders, secretly communicating with each other about these matters. How sad an “underground” has even developed among Jehovah’s people. These brothers are genuinely concerned, love Jehovah and have strong faith in the ransom of Christ but have lost confidence in the earthly organization. No person or group is making any claim to being used by God in this matter. Love of God and Christ and the brothers is the only motivation. We feel more can be accomplished by remaining in our positions of oversight and having an effect upon the brothers at a local level and working for change with Jehovah’s direction.

Attacks by apostates are increasing particularly through the internet. This can be negated by being honest both with ourselves and with others. As Luke 8:17 says, “There is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, neither anything carefully concealed that will never become known and never come into the open”. Instead of shooting the messenger, we need to take responsibility and repent before Jehovah. The apostate problem will disappear if we become more reasonable and admit our mistakes. The internet problem will not go away by simply warning the brothers against typing “Jehovah’s Witnesses” into their search engines.

It is hoped this letter will appeal to the conscience of those with honest hearts to make a real examination of the situation. We believe Jehovah’s future blessing is dependant on our repentance. We can no longer say we have the “truth” if we are not truthful with ourselves. It is our prayer that all Bodies of Elders will pray on these matters and express their concerns to their Circuit Overseers and the local branch. We have no doubt it will bring Jehovah’s blessing. Our fear is the organization will become irrelevant if change is not made. The very fact we need to send you this letter anonymously is a striking example of the situation we have created for ourselves.

We pray for Jehovah’s blessing in your consideration of these matters.

Your Brothers in Jehovah’s service

***
User avatar
Donald C. Burney
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 163
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:02 am
Location: Founder YORWW Bible Institute & Training Center resides YORWW Headquarters
Contact:

Re: Urgent Call For Reform Among Jehovah's Witnesses!

Post by Donald C. Burney »


Hi all,

Here is another letter that is now being circulated by "Reformers" within the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/frie ... -Ex-Elders


Open Letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Dear Brothers,

I served for 7 years as an Elder in the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I recently relinquished this privilege for the following reasons:

1. My whole life I was taught that Armageddon is going to be here any moment and is imminent. The direction from the Holy spirit said that the end was going to come in 1914, 1925,1975, Before the end of the twentieth century, and you would never grow old or fulfill any career. It didn't happen. "Imminent" and "soon" has stretched on for over 100 years. These interpretations of bible prophecy have proven to be false yet you continue to pretend that they were directed by Jehovah.

2. I was taught that there would be few anointed left when the end came and that the number will decrease as the end drew near. The number of anointed is increasing.

3. I was told that field service is a life saving work that must be performed with a sense of urgency. So far not one persons life has been saved, and even though it is "urgent" the antiquated method of calling on empty houses is used as the primary way of trying to reach people. Television, internet, email, postal service, social networking are not used even though the effectiveness of these methods are proven. I doubt that you feel that this is a lifesaving work yourself.

4. We are taught as an organization that the light gets brighter as Jehovah blesses his servants with Holy Spirit and increased understanding. Is Jehovah responsible for flip flopping doctrines such as the generation of Matt. 24:34, organ transplants, Blood transfusions, the superior authorities etc. or is it men who claim to be inspired? Despite these changes each time credit/blame is given to Jehovah. If the Faithful and Discreet slave were actually inspired, faithful, or discreet, these teachings would have never changed.

5. We are taught that we live in a spiritual paradise and associate with the safest group of people on earth. As Elders we were given instructions in some cases not to tell the authorities or to warn the congregation. The organization has tried in the past to sweep the problem under the rug, and continues to do so in the misguided effort to protect its reputation.

6. Disfellowshipping as practiced within the organization, cannot be found in the scriptures. Would Jesus have treated sinners the way that we as Witnesses treat sinners?

7. I was taught that the United Nations organization is the wild beast described in Revelation and is one of the organizations controlled by Satan. Despite this, the Watchtower Society was partners of the UN for a number of years as a Non-Governmental Organization. This is the height of hypocrisy.

8. Even though the "truth" changes, if you believe something other than what is published as the latest light (right or wrong) you can be disfellowshipped. I have seen this personally happen and remain anonymous because of fear that this will happen to me.

9. 1914 cannot be proved by scripture as the end of the Gentile times. No one other than the Witnesses believes that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE. Brother Russell used the Great Pyramid of Giza's measurements to corroborate 1914 as the end of the Gentile times. The calculation arbitrarily uses a lunar year of 360 days to come to a date based on a solar year of 365.25 days.

10.Even though I have been told repeatedly that world conditions are deteriorating in fulfillment of Matt. 24 Earthquakes are not increasing in frequency according to the USGS. Crime rates have dropped dramatically according to the Department of Justice. The life span of mankind has risen dramatically since 1914 as pestilence is treated, controlled, or eradicated according to the Department of Health. Food shortages are decreasing. Wars are not increasing.

11.Even though I pray through Jesus to Jehovah, I am taught and am expected to teach that Jesus is not our mediator. This is despite what the Bible says at 1 Tim. 2:5,6.

Brothers, these are some of the reasons that caused me to resign serving as an Elder. I cannot with a good conscience support an organization that pretends to be something that it is not, just as I cannot pretend to be something or someone that I am not.

I ask that you consider the large number of appointed men resigning as a symptom to a larger problem within the organization. The problem is the Governing Body assumes an arrogant and authoritarian position in that it acts as God’s sole channel here on earth today. I can see it, many others have seen it and are quitting because of it. The vast majorities that resign are not doing so because they want to live an immoral life without Godly principles, they resign because they are men of principle.

You cannot control people’s thoughts and intentions, even as much as you would like to. Jehovah created each of us with a sense of fairness and honesty, and most importantly free will.

Members of the Governing Body, I ask you to act as men of principle yourself. Allow people to have the freedom to choose for themselves whether they want to be a part of your organization or not, and if they choose to leave, allow them to do so without sanctions. Honestly admit it if you are not sure of a scriptural interpretation, do not force people to believe something that you are not convinced of yourself. Do not allow past mistakes in policy or doctrine to continue to morph into future mistakes that may cost people their families or even their lives. Lastly, protect the people under your spiritual care not through secrecy, but through transparency, with the foremost quality of love in mind.

Your Brother,

SIAM
***Let's All Pray For The Miraculous Peace, Growth & Spiritual Prosperity Of Jamaica! -- See Isaiah 44:3-5.***
Post Reply