Anna

Parents are the ones who give consent to anyone, whether it be an Elder, a ministerial servant or a publisher to study the Bible with their child and/or go in service.  It is a private arrangement and agreement between the parent and the relevant person. Everyone is educated at the meetings, including the children who should sit with their parents. If someone else is "teaching their children" or if children are sitting with someone else besides their parents, then that is by the parents own arrangement. As regards the ministry, that is a grey area because the ministry can be considered "church activity" this is especially the case when someone who is not the parent, assigns the child to work with someone else (Candace Conti). As far as I know, this no longer happens. But people still make their own arrangements, for example little Johnny might ask to work with little Davie and his dad because they are buddies.
 
Like I said, there is no institutional program with MS or elders involved. If it happens, then it is outside the congregational arrangement, and at the discretion* of the parents.
*the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
And CC is wrong when he applies "It takes a village to raise a child" to the spiritual raising of children. That is exclusively the parent's/guardian's responsibility.

Let’s face it, some people are more eager to look to others for guidance than others. This has been discussed on this forum before. If an individual feels that he is inferior spiritually to someone else and wants someone else’s “spiritual opinion and guidance” then that is up to them. On the other hand, if someone is confident in their own spirituality then they might feel they should not consult with anyone else. It works both ways. You cannot lump everyone in the congregation into the same category. I have known sisters who would practically not breathe unless they asked an elder if it was OK. And I have also known sisters who were able to figure out ambiguous situations by themselves using the Bible and Bible based publications, their own conscience, and common sense. So according to your theory about a hierarchy, this would not happen. Everyone would feel they had to go and seek advice. But as it is, some people are just too lazy to do research and find answers themselves. I think this has a lot to do with personality as well....
Jesus himself set up older men to shepherd the congregation. The elders are there to be approached with concerns or questions if we wish.  If you are really interested in what the WT actually says on the subject of elders, read this article: https://www.jw.org/hr/biblioteka/casopisi/w20130115/skupstinski-starjesine/
 
In all the “questions readers ask” I have never seen private opinions but rather reasoning on what the Bible says. If the subject is not directly mentioned in the Bible then Bible principles are discussed. I am sure it is the same with the BOE letters. You seem to keep forgetting that the WT’s main concern is that we do not go against Jehovah’s principles. Therefor the Bible is the guiding force. The question is always: what does the Bible have to say on the matter?  Everyone who has a Bible can check for themselves.
If someone wants to ask what does the GB say on the matter, then as long as what they have to say is based on the Bible, then that’s OK too. If we have a Bible, it is up to us to verify if what they say is based on it.

Perhaps because Australian law says you have to keep 50 years of records, and American law says you only need to keep 25 years worth of records? I don't know. If you are so concerned about it why don't you do some proper research instead of just inventing theories of your own. I think I know what your reply will be; You can't be bothered to do research. (You would rather just read what is handed to you on a platter by opposers and stick to your own theories).

Let’s face it, some people are more eager to look to others for guidance than others. This has been discussed on this forum before. If an individual feels that he is inferior spiritually to someone else and wants someone else’s “spiritual opinion and guidance” then that is up to them. On the other hand, if someone is confident in their own spirituality then they might feel they should not consult with anyone else. It works both ways. You cannot lump everyone in the congregation into the same category. I have known sisters who would practically not breathe unless they asked an elder if it was OK. And I have also known sisters who were able to figure out ambiguous situations by themselves using the Bible and Bible based publications, their own conscience, and common sense. So according to your theory about a hierarchy, this would not happen. Everyone would feel they had to go and seek advice. But as it is, some people are just too lazy to do research and find answers themselves. I think this has a lot to do with personality as well....
Jesus himself set up older men to shepherd the congregation. The elders are there to be approached with concerns or questions if we wish.  If you are really interested in what the WT actually says on the subject of elders, read this article: https://www.jw.org/hr/biblioteka/casopisi/w20130115/skupstinski-starjesine/
 
In all the “questions readers ask” I have never seen private opinions but rather reasoning on what the Bible says. If the subject is not directly mentioned in the Bible then Bible principles are discussed. I am sure it is the same with the BOE letters. You seem to keep forgetting that the WT’s main concern is that we do not go against Jehovah’s principles. Therefor the Bible is the guiding force. The question is always: what does the Bible have to say on the matter?  Everyone who has a Bible can check for themselves.
If someone wants to ask what does the GB say on the matter, then as long as what they have to say is based on the Bible, then that’s OK too. If we have a Bible, it is up to us to verify if what they say is based on it.

Perhaps because Australian law says you have to keep 50 years of records, and American law says you only need to keep 25 years worth of records? I don't know. If you are so concerned about it why don't you do some proper research instead of just inventing theories of your own. I think I know what your reply will be; You can't be bothered to do research. (You would rather just read what is handed to you on a platter by opposers and stick to your own theories).

Opposers want to argue that the WTBS has full responsibility over individual conscience and its application. That's garbage as are the motives of those who suggest the same. These would Satanically deny humans free will and the consequent responsibility.

As you know, Jehovah's eyes see everything, whether in public or in private. When the GB "counseled" couples using principles in the Bible as to what isn't proper sexual conduct through WT articles and through the letters to elders,  they did so because individuals asked for guidance. Every Christian is and should be concerned about whether the way they are living (public or private) is pleasing to God. Some were not sure whether what they did with respect to sexula acts was proper. So they asked. They wrote letters to Bethel. I know personally of a case where a sister didn't agree with doing something that her husband wanted. So she took it to the elders (!) This was 30 years ago. The elders pulled out WT articles that addressed this "problem" and gave them to her for her husband. Today, as far as I know, the elders would rather not interfere with what goes on inside a bedroom. There is a WT article that came out some years after which  basically says that it is up to the conscience and mutual agreement of the couple with what they do inside their own bedroom. I will try and find that article. Or  someone else might find it...
The point is, had members not asked about private matters inside a bedroom, there probably would have been no articles writen about it. And like I said, because of the Christians concern about not offending Jehovah, they did ask about it. This is the problem with some people. We all have the Bible and our conscience, but for some this is not enough and they need "confirmation" from men. But I can see why that happens. As in the case of the sister I mentioned previously, she obviously didn't want to do what her husband wanted, so she went for backup, instead of figuring things out with her husband only. Some people are like that....
And this is why this happens:
A person can only be influenced if he allows it.
Paul said:  "Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing". (2 Corinthians 1:24)
 

It is funny, but more importantly, it is instructional.
This is not hypocritical, 4Jah, nor is it hard. Don’t be such a little girl over it.
The Aussie authorities devise a plan that fits all other parties for the institutional abuse of their youth clubs, youth schools, youth camps. They invite organizations to join. The WT declines because they do not have such settings. Whatever outlier cases may occur with them they will handle on a case by case basis.
The Aussie authorities then say they MUST come aboard, on pain of losing the tax status that is afforded every other charity. At that point, it becomes an operational cost. They still don’t think it is justified, but it becomes a cost of operating in Australia.
There are times in life when it is all about money. One of those times is when someone is trying to take it from you and you alone. 

The problem is you know just enough to get confused. You do not have all the facts nor knowledge, just bits and pieces from various sources. Not only that, but also twisted information. It's like when opposers say Br. Lett said that child sexual abuse in the congregation are all apostate lies. When in fact he said that the JWs supposedly not caring about child sexual abuse are apostate lies.  One says that we deny there is child sexual abuse, and the other says there is sexual abuse and we do care about it. Big difference.

Parents are the ones who give consent to anyone, whether it be an Elder, a ministerial servant or a publisher to study the Bible with their child and/or go in service.  It is a private arrangement and agreement between the parent and the relevant person. Everyone is educated at the meetings, including the children who should sit with their parents. If someone else is "teaching their children" or if children are sitting with someone else besides their parents, then that is by the parents own arrangement. As regards the ministry, that is a grey area because the ministry can be considered "church activity" this is especially the case when someone who is not the parent, assigns the child to work with someone else (Candace Conti). As far as I know, this no longer happens. But people still make their own arrangements, for example little Johnny might ask to work with little Davie and his dad because they are buddies.
 
Like I said, there is no institutional program with MS or elders involved. If it happens, then it is outside the congregational arrangement, and at the discretion* of the parents.
*the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
And CC is wrong when he applies "It takes a village to raise a child" to the spiritual raising of children. That is exclusively the parent's/guardian's responsibility.

... apparently not, as it IS up to God ...

Parents are the ones who give consent to anyone, whether it be an Elder, a ministerial servant or a publisher to study the Bible with their child and/or go in service.  It is a private arrangement and agreement between the parent and the relevant person. Everyone is educated at the meetings, including the children who should sit with their parents. If someone else is "teaching their children" or if children are sitting with someone else besides their parents, then that is by the parents own arrangement. As regards the ministry, that is a grey area because the ministry can be considered "church activity" this is especially the case when someone who is not the parent, assigns the child to work with someone else (Candace Conti). As far as I know, this no longer happens. But people still make their own arrangements, for example little Johnny might ask to work with little Davie and his dad because they are buddies.
 
Like I said, there is no institutional program with MS or elders involved. If it happens, then it is outside the congregational arrangement, and at the discretion* of the parents.
*the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
And CC is wrong when he applies "It takes a village to raise a child" to the spiritual raising of children. That is exclusively the parent's/guardian's responsibility.

The problem is you know just enough to get confused. You do not have all the facts nor knowledge, just bits and pieces from various sources. Not only that, but also twisted information. It's like when opposers say Br. Lett said that child sexual abuse in the congregation are all apostate lies. When in fact he said that the JWs supposedly not caring about child sexual abuse are apostate lies.  One says that we deny there is child sexual abuse, and the other says there is sexual abuse and we do care about it. Big difference.

The problem is you know just enough to get confused. You do not have all the facts nor knowledge, just bits and pieces from various sources. Not only that, but also twisted information. It's like when opposers say Br. Lett said that child sexual abuse in the congregation are all apostate lies. When in fact he said that the JWs supposedly not caring about child sexual abuse are apostate lies.  One says that we deny there is child sexual abuse, and the other says there is sexual abuse and we do care about it. Big difference.

Parents are the ones who give consent to anyone, whether it be an Elder, a ministerial servant or a publisher to study the Bible with their child and/or go in service.  It is a private arrangement and agreement between the parent and the relevant person. Everyone is educated at the meetings, including the children who should sit with their parents. If someone else is "teaching their children" or if children are sitting with someone else besides their parents, then that is by the parents own arrangement. As regards the ministry, that is a grey area because the ministry can be considered "church activity" this is especially the case when someone who is not the parent, assigns the child to work with someone else (Candace Conti). As far as I know, this no longer happens. But people still make their own arrangements, for example little Johnny might ask to work with little Davie and his dad because they are buddies.
 
Like I said, there is no institutional program with MS or elders involved. If it happens, then it is outside the congregational arrangement, and at the discretion* of the parents.
*the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
And CC is wrong when he applies "It takes a village to raise a child" to the spiritual raising of children. That is exclusively the parent's/guardian's responsibility.

I was walking along the dockside when I felt a brushing at my pocket. I clamped my hand down instantly upon another that was trying to lift my wallet!
”What hypocrisy!” the fellow bellowed. It’s all about money money money with you, isn’t it?!!!”
Conscience-stricken, I handed over my wallet to him.
 

No, I did not say this was fake news. It is true.

If I may butt in here. Srecko's first language is not English. Also @Srecko Sostar, when someone says "Don't imagine...something" it does not literally mean that the person saying this is accusing you of illusions, it's just a phrase that essentially means : "don't think....you are the only one....etc. (Zar ne mislite. Nemoj misliti da jesi...)

4Jah2me already alluded to this in his previous comment, not sure if I should post this in this topic. It's merely informative: We will join the redress scheme in Australia after all.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/03/03/jehovahs-witnesses-redress-scheme/
Worth noting:
“Jehovah’s Witnesses did not voluntarily join because we object to the assertion that the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses assumes responsibility for children,” the group said.
“Our objection is based on the fact that the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not and has not sponsored any activities that have resulted in children being under its care, custody, supervision, control or authority.”
(Children have ALWAYS been the responsibility of the parents. Plain and simple).
 
 

And we all know who you are 😂

He keeps mentioning my name, and calling me apostate, maybe it's because I'm totally ignoring him 😂

No, I did not say this was fake news. It is true.

If I may butt in here. Srecko's first language is not English. Also @Srecko Sostar, when someone says "Don't imagine...something" it does not literally mean that the person saying this is accusing you of illusions, it's just a phrase that essentially means : "don't think....you are the only one....etc. (Zar ne mislite. Nemoj misliti da jesi...)

What a strange alliance has taken place, for 4Jah frequently makes this point as well.

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