Posted by J [J] on April 05, 1999 at 13:27:14 {6.uz.4vynMehU3MO1aSEeFQE7AtTPE}:
In Reply to: ****?s for the reform minded posted by 5GJW on April 05, 1999 at 12:03:27:
Hey 5th.
I must agree with Friend on this one. ( I am the other forum participant who has read the letters).
Society Lawyer Glen How was quite instrumental in forwarding and championing the mandatory stand on the blood issue. I have read the correspondence between the friends and Brother How as well as his correspondence with the Governing Body.
Even now (as strange as it may seem) some policy is reflective of the attitudes and commetns of the brethren (sorry just thinking about all those old letters brings back the terminology :-)
The generation change was partly a result of brothers questioning the Scriptural understanding of generation. As an example an older brother (former Branch Coordinator) who did a lot of writing for the mags approached me one day (1994)while I was still at Bethel. He asked me to write an article using only the Bible proving our current understanding of generation.
I couldn't do it. A lot of loose inferences but proof...nope.
He has been writing Brooklyn for about 12 months before asking me to do this assignment. He also had a thick folder of letters from the field asking for clarification. He forwarded my comments along with his. After much correspondence (over 12 months) we were told something was in the works and we should stop writing about this.
The new light WT article soon was released. (albeit a far cry from the ones we submitted) Ours focussed more on no-one knows the day or the hour as opposed to spending several pages on "generation"
It was actually this kind of process that caused me to wonder if Jehovah is directing the Org or is it simply strongly opinionated and strong willed people?
I'd be interested in hearing what your father, grandfather's etc have said that would cause you to believe the above is not true.
J