Why do we subsidize Higher Education for the Elite JW's while discouraging most JW's from University Educations?

[Jack Ryan]

Legal Seminar: South African Bethel

 

 

The Legal Seminar

The seminar was a full day event held at the “residence hall.” I had come with my wheelchair bound friend, from the same congregation. We were a few minutes late, so as we rolled in into the foyer, we got handed our seminar pack, our bottled water, and lapel badges by two pretty ladies (hell yeah, I still remember that). This was the same residence hall that I had shook Anthony Morris’[3] hand a few weeks ago prior to his official Branch Visit talk in South Africa on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with his “sidekick” Anthony Griffin.

The seminar was split between matters that were strictly legal, and those that were more tax related; of course, there was an obvious overlap between the two as can be expected. The key speakers were select members of the Branch Committee, in-house legal counsel, and those from the accounts department. A lot was said about Europe, Africa, the U.S., Hayden Covington,[4] child custody, divorces, Advance Medical Directives (“blood cards”), alternative service, Road Accident Fund, legal battles here, legal battles there, tax etc. The bottom-line was this: There’s a lot going down, and we’d appreciate your assistance in these affairs.

It should be noted, however, that “these affairs” require tertiary qualifications… higher education.

South Africa Bethel - Tax and Legal Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015)
South Africa Bethel – Legal and Tax Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015). I’m on the bottom left, sporting a pair of shades on my head.

the Australian branch sent out a letter, dated November 18, 2015, to all Service Committees throughout the congregations of Australian. The letter was “confidentially” seeking for baptised members of the congregation who were “qualified as solicitors, barristers, certified practising accountants or chartered accountants.” But all of this exploration was to be done discreetly “without consulting the publisher” (I suppose this is how they canvass for potential seminar candidates). Now, let’s juxtapose these two events, the South African seminar and the Australian request letter, and contextualise them.

The Point

The organisation tells folks not to pursue higher education, in fact, if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review. What does that tell you? That the organisation has a default disdain for higher education. But now, at the same time, they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses, many of who have complied with this “mandamus” from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” But, then, per chance that you didn’t comply with this mandamus, and remain a Witness, they implore you to use your “worldly gifts” in service to God, namely, in furtherance of the organisation – to a large extent, free of charge.

What’s wrong with this picture?

And if you take the global downsizing that the organisation has been conducting lately, where veteran bethelites are sent home and special pioneers being sent up the creek without a paddle. Why? Because it’s now becoming too expensive to accommodate them. A burden. And, yet, many of these bethelites forfeited higher education in order to at the full time service, now you’re telling them to hamba kahle (“go well”)? C’mon, man, c’mon.

What is wrong with this picture, people

If the organisation was cool and was like, you know, “Go to university, don’t go to university, that your decision to make, as long as you are aware of the challenges.” That would be one thing. But what we’re seeing here is the constant badgering badgering badgering. There has to be some kind of accountability here. You can’t enjoy the assets of other people’s labour without taking ownership of the liabilities peculiar with that asset, as well. It’s immoral. This whole thing is just patently duplicitous. Scandalous. Why all these backdoor “transactions?” You say one thing on stage, but, then, em’va kwethu you do something else. Hai wethu.

Conclusion

Brimstone and humour aside, I personally don’t have a problem with the organisation seeking professional assistance from willing qualified Witnesses per se. It is the duplicity that irks me. It is the selfishness of their approach that vexes me. It is the ruination of people’s lives that ticks me off. It is the unconscionableness of their methods that pisses me off, treating genuine people as expendables and collateral damage for their own selfish gains, gains which they clothe as “divine service,” service to Jehovah.

If it were up to me, I’d have Governing Body pipe down on their take of higher education and to resist this laughable attempt at gaining some kind of moral high ground in this matter.

#LegalSeminarBethel
#ThinkingWitnesses

http://thinkingwitnesses.org/legal-seminar-south-africa-bethel/

[b4ucuhear]

While it's true to say that at times, men at various levels of authority within the organization live with a "do as I say, not as I do" ethic and get away with things the rest of us don't, I'm seeing this post as a non-sequitur - "it does not follow."  Although there might be more specific information that has not been included here, from what has been included, I think he is going beyond the scope of his reference in asserting "they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses..."  It is my understanding from what is referenced above, they were looking for people who ALREADY HAD these qualifications beforehand (as opposed to "sponsoring" or funding them in order to now send them to university to obtain those same qualifications).  That was a common practice in Bethels some time ago, but currently that does not appear to be the case - although it may be required now in some exceptional circumstances.  It seems a main concern of theirs was that people with EXISTING qualifications also were seen to have spiritual qualifications also in order to be asked.         

As for: "if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review." I have heard that said, but I can't find where.  It's not in the elder's book or Organized book, or in any recent magazine articles (up to 2014) as far as I can tell.  Yet I persistently hear that said/quoted.  I would be interested in knowing the source of this information - because I've heard it quite often.  Is this a clear direction from the FDS or yet another "could be" that has been turned into a law?  Im not saying there is no basis for the statement or that there is nowhere to find it officially, but just that I haven't been able to find any definitive statement regarding that.  Anybody?

 

[Ann O'Maly]

There was a JWTV broadcast last year (can't remember the month) that interviewed a lawyer who had been funded by the Org. to get his law degree. Anthony Morris (?) said Bethel wouldn't be sending Bethelites to College anymore because of the dangers.

Also last year (1/13/15), a letter was sent out to the Bodies of Elders calling for legal experts within the congregation who might be able to volunteer their services to HQ and to quietly make enquiries. The letter said:

"We trust that you will use discretion in approaching publishers regarding volunteering to
assist the organization in the above way. Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to
pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to legal matters. (w13 10/15
pp. 15-16 pars. 13-14) Thank you for your assistance."

4 hours ago, b4ucuhear said:

As for: "if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review."  I have heard that said, but I can't find where.  It's not in the elder's book or Organized book, or in any recent magazine articles (up to 2014) as far as I can tell.  Yet I persistently hear that said/quoted.  I would be interested in knowing the source of this information - because I've heard it quite often.

3/6/12 BOE letter.

"Appointed men must be exemplary in heeding the warnings given by the faithful slave and
its Governing Body when it comes to education. (Matt. 24:45-47) Would an elder, a ministerial
servant, or a pioneer continue to qualify to serve as such if he, his wife, or his children pursue higher
education? Much depends on the circumstances and how he is viewed. When such a situation
arises, the body of elders should consider the following questions and scriptures:

• Does he show that he puts Kingdom interests first? (Matt. 6:33)
• Does he teach his family to put Kingdom interests first?
• Does he respect what has been published by the faithful slave on the dangers of higher
education? (3 John 9)
• Do his speech and conduct reveal that he is a spiritual person? (Ps. 1:2, 3; 1 Cor. 2:13-16)
• How is he viewed by the congregation?

• Why is he or his family pursuing higher education?
• Does the family have theocratic goals? (Phil. 3:8)
• Does the pursuit of higher education interfere with regular meeting attendance, meaningful
participation in field service, or other theocratic activities?

As the body of elders prayerfully and carefully considers the matter, it may be readily apparent
that the brother has a positive attitude about what the organization has published regarding
higher education and still retains the respect of others in the congregation. They may also observe
that he and his family are keeping Kingdom interests first if the education does not interfere with
meetings and the ministry. In such a case, the elders may determine that he could continue serving.—
1 Tim. 3:2, 4-6; Heb. 13:7.

On the other hand, if an elder or a ministerial servant is promoting higher education to others for the material advantages or the status it may bring, he is calling into question his qualifications to serve the congregation because of the effect on his and his fellow appointed brothers' freeness of speech. (1 Tim 3:13; Titus 1:9) The body of elders may therefore determine that the brother no longer qualifies to serve. In most cases, however, such a determination should be made in conjunction with the visit of the circuit overseer." 

 

[b4ucuhear]

Excellent!  Thank/you Ann. 

[Menrov]

This is another topic in which the WBTS acts with double standards. If the higher education is to the benefit of the organization, it is embraced, but if it is in the benefit of the R&F, it is denied.......

 

[ken]

Think Jay is on the wrong road.  Other post he is asking for $.  He could try making tents.  

[Matthew9969]

On ‎3‎/‎6‎/‎2016 at 1:05 PM, Ann O'Maly said:

There was a JWTV broadcast last year (can't remember the month) that interviewed a lawyer who had been funded by the Org. to get his law degree. Anthony Morris (?) said Bethel wouldn't be sending Bethelites to College anymore because of the dangers.

Also last year (1/13/15), a letter was sent out to the Bodies of Elders calling for legal experts within the congregation who might be able to volunteer their services to HQ and to quietly make enquiries. The letter said:

"We trust that you will use discretion in approaching publishers regarding volunteering to
assist the organization in the above way. Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to
pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to legal matters. (w13 10/15
pp. 15-16 pars. 13-14) Thank you for your assistance."

3/6/12 BOE letter.

"Appointed men must be exemplary in heeding the warnings given by the faithful slave and
its Governing Body when it comes to education. (Matt. 24:45-47) Would an elder, a ministerial
servant, or a pioneer continue to qualify to serve as such if he, his wife, or his children pursue higher
education? Much depends on the circumstances and how he is viewed. When such a situation
arises, the body of elders should consider the following questions and scriptures:

• Does he show that he puts Kingdom interests first? (Matt. 6:33)
• Does he teach his family to put Kingdom interests first?
• Does he respect what has been published by the faithful slave on the dangers of higher
education? (3 John 9)
• Do his speech and conduct reveal that he is a spiritual person? (Ps. 1:2, 3; 1 Cor. 2:13-16)
• How is he viewed by the congregation?

• Why is he or his family pursuing higher education?
• Does the family have theocratic goals? (Phil. 3:8)
• Does the pursuit of higher education interfere with regular meeting attendance, meaningful
participation in field service, or other theocratic activities?

As the body of elders prayerfully and carefully considers the matter, it may be readily apparent
that the brother has a positive attitude about what the organization has published regarding
higher education and still retains the respect of others in the congregation. They may also observe
that he and his family are keeping Kingdom interests first if the education does not interfere with
meetings and the ministry. In such a case, the elders may determine that he could continue serving.—
1 Tim. 3:2, 4-6; Heb. 13:7.

On the other hand, if an elder or a ministerial servant is promoting higher education to others for the material advantages or the status it may bring, he is calling into question his qualifications to serve the congregation because of the effect on his and his fellow appointed brothers' freeness of speech. (1 Tim 3:13; Titus 1:9) The body of elders may therefore determine that the brother no longer qualifies to serve. In most cases, however, such a determination should be made in conjunction with the visit of the circuit overseer." 

 

Maybe this was written by an apostate, wow!!!

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

I see nothing wrong with what the Society is doing, per se, in recruiting ... and paying for seminars for specially qualified people to fill a need .... but the duplicity does bother me ... and also the fact that the Society obviously intends to take all the information the Elders feed upstream into account to decide whether or not to contact the "selectee" ... and send no information whatsoever about what is going on downstream to the Elders acting as private investigators.  It seems to me painfully obvious that the Elders are deliberately being kept from knowing what is going on as far as interviewing, selection, AND COMPENSATION, of lawyer types recruited.

We should be proud of EVERYTHING we do ... and have complete and total transparency .... not compartmentalizing information like it was nuclear secrets.

[Matthew9969]

On ‎12‎/‎28‎/‎2017 at 1:00 AM, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

I see nothing wrong with what the Society is doing, per se, in recruiting ... and paying for seminars for specially qualified people to fill a need .... but the duplicity does bother me ... and also the fact that the Society obviously intends to take all the information the Elders feed upstream into account to decide whether or not to contact the "selectee" ... and send no information whatsoever about what is going on downstream to the Elders acting as private investigators.  It seems to me painfully obvious that the Elders are deliberately being kept from knowing what is going on as far as interviewing, selection, AND COMPENSATION, of lawyer types recruited.

We should be proud of EVERYTHING we do ... and have complete and total transparency .... not compartmentalizing information like it was nuclear secrets.

Maybe the info was in Hillary Clintons email server?

[Matthew9969]

I see building their luxury compound came at an inconvenient  time, with the onset of settlement payouts and fighting several lawsuits at once. They are going broke paying for lawyers.

[Srecko Sostar]

http://thinkingwitnesses.org/organisation-sponsored-my-higher-education/

 Vincent Joseph Toole, 67, legal counsel for the Australian branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

Philip Brumley, 59, overseer of the legal department at world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was himself a beneficiary of a Watchtower sponsored higher education.

[Sam Anya]

Well if the society can sponsor for higher education in other to fill various gap in times of need, then why hammering strongly on no higher education, these ones acquiring higher education can still be of help to the society and their skills will be harnessed if they choose to serve.