AT THE conclusion of the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania on October 7, 2000, a special announcement was made by the chairman, John E. Barr of the Governing Body. This announcement built further on discourses given earlier that day by Theodore Jaracz and Daniel Sydlik.—See pages 12-16 and 28-31 of this magazine.
Making a very significant point, Brother Barr stated: “‘The faithful and discreet slave’ and its Governing Body have had entrusted to them interests that are higher and far more encompassing than those granted to legal corporations. Set out in the chartered purposes of each of such entities are matters that are limited in their scope. Our Master, Jesus Christ, however, has appointed the faithful slave class over all his ‘belongings,’ or Kingdom interests here on earth.”—Matthew 24:45-47.
Concerning the Pennsylvania corporation, Brother
Barr added: “Ever since its incorporation in 1884, the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society of Pennsylvania has played an important role in our modern-day
history. Still, it is merely a legal instrument available for use by ‘the
faithful and discreet slave’ when it is necessary.”
In their discourses, Brothers Sydlik and Jaracz had
explained that the fact that “the faithful and discreet slave” has been
entrusted with all of the Lord’s earthly belongings does not prevent the slave
class from allowing qualified men from among the “other sheep” to care for
certain routine administrative responsibilities. (John 10:16) Nor is there any
Scriptural reason to insist that all or any of the directors of the legal
entities used by Jehovah’s Witnesses be anointed Christians.
Brother Barr told the audience that recently certain
members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had been serving as
directors and officers voluntarily stepped aside from the boards of directors
of all the corporations used by “the faithful and discreet slave” in the United
States. Responsible brothers of the other sheep class were elected as replacements.
This decision is beneficial indeed. It allows
members of the Governing Body to spend more time in preparing spiritual food
and in otherwise caring for the spiritual needs of the worldwide brotherhood.
*** w01 1/15 p. 31 A Special Announcement ***