Posted by Elder-NOT-Judge [Guest] on November 23, 1999 at 19:52:03 {KNpNN6QGfwdrpa5PWFPAni6QXcPL8M}:
Our congregation is amongst at least several nationwide considering declaring independence from the Organization. Our situation is unique in that we have no disagreements with any of the Watchtower's present teachings. We agree with their teachings on abstaining from blood (except for believing the medical usage of blood is a conscience matter). All agree that disfellowshiping is scriptural (except we only disfellowship the most severe wrongdoers, but each congregation member's conscience must decide whether to "shun" the member).
The problem is basically we have been advised that independence from the Org is out of the question. Dispensing the Watchtower teachings 100% in our meetings, promoting their literature in the field, and continued to direct contributions to the Society is not enough, our Circuit Overseer has made clear. (He is on our side but they have not the slightest clue.) He went on to convey the Governing Body internally believes Christ has given them his Faithful and Discreet slave all authority over heaven and on earth. They will represent the visible government ruled from heaven in the millenium. They expect to literally administer law in a pyramidally organized Theocracic government when the government authorities controlled by "Caesar" are destroyed at Armageddon. They even believe, as subtly outlined in their book on Watchtower ruled Theocratic government The Prince of Peace, that many Armageddon survivors could succumb to the sins of the flesh and other wrongdoing. They even believe Christ will allow them to administer capital punishment if necessary based on the principles of "an eye for an eye" found in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Accordingly the mere act of a congregation owning and running a Kingdom Hall independently is grounds for the entire congregations' disfellowshiping for apostasy. Becoming independent is similar to leaving a country and relinquishing one's citizenship. The Watchtower considers the world to have two nations, "the collective nations of the world" and "the theocratic nation of spiritual Israelites under Jehovah God." Leaving the jurisdiction and control of the latter causes one to become a citizen of the former.
I request those who can offer a method of compelling the Society to allow congregations to own and independently operate their Kingdom Halls, the legal privilege churches in other denominations enjoy.
E-N-J