You All Need To Read This New Letter Sent To All Conregations In Victoria Australia About Police Checks For Elders

Police Minister Peter Ryan has written a letter to Mr Unthank advising that JW's are now applying, in mass, for the WWC in Victoria. To little to late. Criminal Charges still stand and cannot be backdated! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

New letter being read out in ALL Victorian Congregations about the Working With Children Check, this week. It backs the Organisation that they got it right with their thoughts on who needs to apply as they dont have Sunday Schools or Child Specific Activities. The letter also stated that JW's are NOT volunteers for Watchtower Bible Tract Society!
Yet we go from door to door promoting the articles published by WTBTS and Promote what is being said by WTBTS.
A recorded copy will be sent to Mr Unthank and I hope he will put the transcript on his JWnews site.
I also suspect a seperate letter has been sent to all Victorian Elders. With what I posted on Monday (post 1)it appears that Police Minister Peter Ryan has sent Mr Unthank a letter dated last week which was received on Monday. Something is going on behind the scenes? It looks like to me that the Corporation is trying to make each Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses, its own identity and its own responsibility. Therefore trying to make any JW responsible themselves for not complying with the WWC?
I personally know that the mumours and whispers have gone into overdrive atm!
If anyone else is from Victoria, post what you know?

If they are not volunteers of the WTBTS then who are they dedicating themselves to when they get baptized? The question that they have to agree to states "Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?" Sounds like they are should all be disfellowshipped if they are not volunteers of this organization.

These comments are from another site and just proves the WTBTS are getting a kick up the ass not just in the UK but over in Australia too

Lets hope they get some more bad press over this aswell.. Shouldn't the elders be CRB checked in the UK also ? Something else to use against the WT here in the UK if this is required by law and they think they can ignore it like in Australia.

HHG

SIGH--there is so little we can do in the US.  Our laws prevent most intervention---and yet we spend so much effort trying to keep religion OUT of government and the schools. 

NC

Interesting indeed . . . thanks for the post HHG

Didn't Gayle mention that the reporter in Victoria was going to do an update on this story? 

SIAM

If they are not volunteers for the society, why do they submit time reports to the branch each month? Just like an employee timecard. 

As the US documents elsewhere on this site show - the JW congregations are already individualized with a criss cross of separate non-profit organizations and corporations for each project, congregation, building, committee etc. This is done for exactly this reason - to shield themselves from legal issues. If you read through the documentation on the statutes for each of those corporations - only when there are no debts (which would include legal issues) is the title and remainder of the money to be handed over to the WTBTS or if WTBTS doesn't exist or is no longer tax-exempt then to another organization appointed by the Governing Body. Guess who gets stuck with the legal issues and any debts if there are any, well the local elders that were stupid enough to sign without reading into the statutes.

They are volunteers of their local Congregation (and whatever corporation or non-profit that has attached to it).

Does Victoria require a Permit to go door to door? This is one of the things  that was argued in our courts many years ago and basically the jws won.  They are not salesmen and do not need a permit.

 So  many times the reason the reason the wts does anything is to keep from coming under government control. They declare they are not salesmen also b/c it would mean the proceeds would be  subject to taxation.

 This could become like the stupid little political card  in Malawi.  The org told them they could not buy one, they suffered and died.  The brothers in Victoria are getting their own card and it's unlikely the Org will back up anyone who gets one and then has problems related to it.

The org will not back up any of the jws in Victoria if they get this permit .  I assume by having the permit they come under some kind of governmental control or at least must meet some requirements. 

 We have been trying to tell the jws for years that the org will hang them out to dry and not come to their rescue. The org serves to keep itself alive monetarily and to stay a tax exempt org.  

Get ready to revise your Saturday magazine presentations Australian Brothers and Sisters....

"Good morning! We are volunteers...uh...ummm.. I mean we aren't really volunteers....uh... We are ....... What the hell are we?"

I dont doubt what the OP is claiming, but I have to see for myself a letter from the watchtower that states that the members are not volunteers, i mean that is ridiculus, and I would think that would at least raise some eye brows among the flock. I mean, seriously? You have got to be kidding me.

Thanks Anony Mous for the information about U.S. congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses and their legal status in this country.  I remember a few years ago when the new arrangement went into effect.  The congregation was told it had to elect a "board" and hold a corporate meeting once a year.  Of course, board members were drawn from the body of elders.  I was still makikng efforts to get reinstated at that time, but I thought this was a very disturbing development that had absolutely nothing to do with "the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom".  But I entirely understood the reasons for these "adjustments" as it was clear that the WTS was shielding itself from legal actions that others might initiate because of its policies.

While I understand New Chapter's dismay about the protections enjoyed by the WTS in the United States, I for one am glad they are in place.  The Society isn't the only entity which has abused Constitutional freedoms and committed all kinds of wrongdoing that cannot be sanctioned or punished.  But when I think about the alternative reality, I have to be glad those legal guarantees exist.  Many of them have been incorporated into American law precisely because of court fights the WTS made back in the 1930s and 1940s.  They were used as the basis for lawsuits involving civil rights, among other things, and the country would be much worse off if those court cases had never been argued.  So fighting the WTS in the United States will require a different approach than what works in Britain and Australia,  But I like to believe that there are people working on this even now and the developments abroad have given them hope.

Quendi

I remember the case in Plainville, Quebec, Canada. They wanted the JW's to obtain a permit card that would allow them to witness between certain hrs during the day.  There were some restrictions.  The Soc back then were strong on the Donation arrangement.  This was at the crux of the permit issue.  Then in Quebec, a special meeting ensued.  No one was allowed to ask for a donation in their door to door witnessing.  The Society told the members to cooperate with this new approach to spin it.  Till this day, we don't mention the donation arrangement in Canada.  The Soc. won the case.

The Soc has somethin up their sleeve.

I wonder what kind of an effect this will have on the witnesses. This resembles an admission of guilt for not following the law. Otherwise, they should have fought it. It seems that God forget to give them the right direction at the right time. This will also begin to reveal the extent of the pedophilia problem among Jehovah's Witnesses, with possible consequences for the whole world. I have to think that the primary motivation for complying was to avoid prison sentences and fines.

*** km 12/06 p. 6 A Volunteer Spirit Brings Blessings ***

1 When Goliath taunted the battle lines of Israel, any of the soldiers could have fought him. But it was a shepherd boy, untrained in warfare, who volunteered. (1 Sam. 17:32) When the exiled Jews went back to Jerusalem but failed to rebuild the walls, it was a cupbearer to the king of Persia who volunteered to leave his privileged position in the palace and to travel to Jerusalem in order to organize the work. (Neh. 2:5) Jehovah blessed both of these men, David and Nehemiah, for the spirit they showed.—1 Sam. 17:45, 50; Neh. 6:15, 16.

2 Today, the volunteer spirit is lacking in the world. In these “last days,” people lead very busy lives, and many are “lovers of themselves.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) It is easy for a person to become so absorbed in personal interests that he overlooks opportunities to volunteer his services when there is a need to help others. However, as Christians, we desire to imitate Jesus, who took the initiative to help others. (John 5:5-9; 13:12-15; 1 Pet. 2:21) How can we demonstrate a volunteer spirit, and what blessings will we receive?

3 In Behalf of Our Brothers: We can impart a “spiritual gift” to others by volunteering to comment when meeting parts call for audience participation. (Rom. 1:11) Commenting honors Jehovah, impresses the truth more firmly on our mind and heart, and adds to our enjoyment of the meetings. (Ps. 26:12) We can also volunteer to give a talk in the Theocratic Ministry School when a substitute is needed. This will help us to improve our teaching ability.

4 Brothers can demonstrate the volunteer spirit by reaching out to care for responsibilities in the congregation. (Isa. 32:2; 1 Tim. 3:1) All can help to keep assemblies and conventions running smoothly by volunteering to work in the various departments. When we volunteer to work with the traveling overseer in the ministry or to provide a meal for him, this results in “an interchange of encouragement.” (Rom. 1:12) When we offer to provide practical assistance to fatherless boys, widows, the sick and infirm, mothers with young children, and others in the congregation, we experience joy and Jehovah’s favor.—Prov. 19:17; Acts 20:35.

5 Another way for us to volunteer our time and effort is to assist in cleaning and maintaining the Kingdom Hall. In addition, because many people are coming into the truth, there is a growing need for new Kingdom Halls and volunteers to build them. One couple made themselves available to assist the local Regional Building Committee even though the couple were unskilled in the building trades. Over time, the couple were given training and now assist in laying bricks. The wife remarked: “Working side by side with others has resulted in very close friendships. At the end of the day, we are physically tired but spiritually refreshed.”

6 By Preaching: The most important volunteer work that we can perform today is the Kingdom-preaching work. As people are helped to understand and apply the Bible’s counsel, they gain a purpose in life and the strength to overcome harmful habits. They learn the Bible’s uplifting hope for the future. By providing Bible education, we perform a joyful volunteer service with long-lasting benefits. (John 17:3; 1 Tim. 4:16) Perhaps our circumstances might allow us to have a greater share in this work by auxiliary or regular pioneering, by moving to where the need is greater, or by learning another language.

7 King David prophesied that at the time the Messiah would begin his rulership, God’s people would “offer themselves willingly.” (Ps. 110:3, ftn.) With Jehovah speeding up the final spiritual harvest, there is much work for which to volunteer. (Isa. 60:22) Have you said: “Here I am! Send me”? (Isa. 6:8) Truly, by our demonstrating the volunteer spirit, we please Jehovah and reap rich rewards.

*** w99 11/15 p. 9 Dedication of the Watchtower Educational Center—A Festival to Jehovah ***

This video showed how the Watchtower Educational Center came about. Interviews disclosed incidents clearly indicating Jehovah’s direction in matters and his blessing on efforts to bring this 15-year project to a successful conclusion. Thousands shared in the actual construction work. At one point in 1994, there were 526 workers on site, including 350 full-time volunteers, 113 temporary workers, and 63 who commuted each day to lend a hand. Many more supported the work with donations. All of them realize that this would never have been possible without Jehovah’s spirit.—Zechariah 4:6.

*** w00 7/1 p. 20 Good Examples—Are You Benefiting From Them? ***

Consider, too, the traveling overseers and their wives, the men and women who serve as volunteers at the offices of the Watch Tower Society, and the pioneers who minister to the congregations. Can such examples motivate others?

*** w79 5/1 p. 27 Building to Jehovah’s Glory ***

Today, some 1,830 volunteer workers at Brooklyn and 650 others at Watchtower Farms handle the factory work, as well as the work in supplying food, furnishings and many services for all who serve so zealously at these two headquarters installations.

*** km 6/79 p. 3 Young Men, Can You Accept This Special Privilege of Service? ***

Presently at Watchtower Farms and Brooklyn Bethel there are 2,400 serving as a result of willingly volunteering themselves for this facet of Kingdom service. Like Isaiah they have said: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8)

***Doing God’s Will/ je p. 9 Jehovah Gathers and Equips His People for Work ***

In 1909 the headquarters of the Watch Tower Society was moved to Brooklyn, New York, to further the expansion of the preaching work on an international scale. It became necessary to form an associate corporation under New York State law, which is now known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. In 1914 the International Bible Students Association was formed in London, England, to advance the activities of the Bible Students throughout the British Commonwealth. At present some 70 legally formed corporations and associations in many countries around the world are serving the purposes of the Watch Tower Society. All are philanthropic, being supported by voluntary contributions and volunteer workers.

*** jt p. 11 Their Modern Development and Growth ***

But from 1927 on, much more literature was turned out in the eight-story factory building in Brooklyn, New York, owned by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. This has now expanded into other factory buildings and an office complex. There are additional buildings nearby in Brooklyn to house the ministers who volunteer to operate the publishing facilities. In addition to this, a combination farm and printery is operated near Wallkill, in upstate New York. It handles printing of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and produces some of the food for the ministers serving in the various locations. Each volunteer worker receives a small monthly reimbursement to cover incidental expenses.

If this case truly has compelled Brooklyn to tell all the JW's of Victoria to comply then we need to get a case up in the US and other countries asap.

-Sab

SIAM,, I sent the copy of the newspaper article in England regarding the infamous expression of the WT about "mentally diseased" former or ex-JWs to Graeme Hammond in Victoria, Australia.  I understood that it would be about the "mentally diseased" subject that he would be writing about in this next week.  However, now, with this new turn maybe he will writing about the "background check" issue instead.

So, will the 5 hearings be dropped now?   Can we get a scan of this letter sent to congregations in Victoria?  Will penalty fees be dropped?  Who specifically will have to get the background checks done?  Elders, ministerial servants and who else?  I wonder if some will refuse?   Who will be the "watch dog" of this maneuvering. 

From the public edition Watchtower 1st October 2011, still available on their official website.

About a year after I started
studying the Bible, my parents
and I visited my older brother
who was a volunteer at the
branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses
in Germany. When I saw
how happy my brother was, I
felt deeply moved. That happiness
was exactly what I had been
looking for! I was also impressed
by the other Witnesses who volunteered
there. Theywere far different
from the dishonest, thrillseeking
people with whom I had
been associating. Shortly thereafter,
I offered a heartfelt prayer
to Jehovah, promising to serve
him for the rest ofmy life. At the
age of 19, I symbolized my dedication
to Jehovah by getting baptized.

I think we should get more information on this idea that JWs are not volunteers before getting too excited about it.

What's the source?

If this is true, it's a great victory for Mr. Unthank, apostates everywhere, and especially children.

hhg,,thx you for this info,,so much is happening regarding the WTS,,it's like watching a chicken without a head anymore,,

These comments are from another site ,,what site?,,can you say?

This issue about a volunteer or not,,I know the Church of Scientology in Australia is fighting about their full time people being 'volunteers' or 'workers.'  The CoS says their full time people are volunteers but the Australian law is bringing this into question there.  It's a different angle or issue than the JW issue though.