WTBTS Elder & Ministerial Servant Problems

I attended a recent Ministerial Servant K M School on the east coast and the main school instructor mentioned among other things (Part entitled:  'Objective of the KM School Course') that the total number of ministerial servants is seriously less than it should be.  In times past the ratio of M Ss to Elders was much more than it is today.

In the U.S. apparently the total number of Elders is 88,500+ as opposed to M Ss 65,000.  The numbers show & numbers don't lie:  The Society is running out of Spiritual Men.  The instructor stated that this is a new downward trend that has (in so many words) the Society worried.

The next speaker (Part entitled:  'Why We Must Be Spiritual Men') added that in his years as a traveling servant the pool of M Ss has always been much, much larger than it is today.  Meaning they've always had a reservoir of M Ss to groom for the role of elder.  

My guess is that the current 65,000 M Ss (while they are good and decent men) for the most part may not necessarily be elder material or may not be wanting to reach out themselves for that responsiblity for whatever reason.  

My questions are:   

1.  Does anyone on the forum have any statistics of past Elder & M S numbers that shows when this downward trend started? 

2.  What are your thoughts on the reasons for this downward trend?  

Your comments appreciated.

                 Press the WBT$ on the Actions of WBT$/JW Elders and they will tell you..

                                             "Those Elders are Independant Agents"..

              If there is a Legal Problem due to WBT$ Rules..Those Elders are on their Own..

                                  Momma Watchtower won`t lift a finger to help them..

                 Who wants to enforce WBT$ Rules,with no Legal backing from the WBT$?..

                          Volunteers for WBT$ Suicide Jobs are going to go way down..

                      "Future WBT$/JW Elder"..

                                                                                     .......................... ...OUTLAW

This is very enlightening. Why can't more of you elders and ministerial servants that attended share with us nice tidbits of information like this?!

This is as we thought though, we all knew that the numbers weren't adding up and that the pool of 'spiritual men' is drying up, but to actually get some factual information or at least firsthand hearsay, this is great news.

This will force the WTS to drastic changes if this continues. Drastic times lead to drastic measures. One can only hope the drastic measures is enough to piss more off and leave!

Thank you for sharing your insights JW GoneBad.

JW GoneBad, you have a PM.

 here's to the hurrying much of the downward spiral!

wow,,with those numbers, elders average about 7 per cong.  M.S, average 5 per cong (this is considering according to 2009 Service Report showing 12,800 congs in U.S., probably more now but not knowing yet for 2010 Report).

A poster a few weeks ago, stated at an elder school meeting, he stated about 80% elders were over 50 yrs old and 50% were over 60.  So that group is aging.  M. S. are usually of the younger ones but the youth are leaving in droves according to reports.  You bet the Society would be worried.

this problem has no chance of getting better if they are going to delete people for stupid shit like your child being enrolled in college.

High-speed Internet on cell phones will be the end of 'em.

Just as a case study of the problem I was appointed an MS at 21 and ask to be an elder at 28 (turned that down) by 30 I was trying to step down and now (in my early 40's) when I should be one of the next generation of elders for them to wear out I am sucessfully faded. I am proud to say I haven't attended a meeting in over 2 years.

This great news and I hope the shitholes in crooklyn have to put there own nappies on soon as the horse has bolted and the shit has hit the fan!!

You ever seen a pack of cards go down ? Well this is soon to happen to the WTBTS!!!

HHG

Spent my 30's as a JW elder and finally had the sense to leave @ 39.  This org eats it own and will collaspe from within.

Think About It

Well, when the WT org runs out of Elders and MS to keep the sheep in the KH, then can  just hire Whiplash the monkey and his trusty steed, OutLaw, to do the job for them.

Come on OutLaw, we have to keep them JWs away from that Internet, smoking, beer and too much KFC!

-

My 'observations' .... many longtime elders are finished, with the ever increasing Alzhiemers brain disorders!!

What few younger ones there are, - the 40-60 year olds are feeling 'squeezed' from the pressure and the added load of responsibilities.

Can't see any of the 20-30yr olds getting in line for these jobs privledges!

clarity

My old congrgation has no kids or anyone who wants to reach out, MS are few and they are all nerds!! They have just had a rebuild but no more have come to the meetings, it has just cost 66k to do all of this piontless work on a hall that was ok for years more service!!! 3% interest x 25 years is money spinner for the WTBTS of around 50k . ASHOLES

HHG

well think about the laundry list of what questions to consider if a man is qualified to be an elder......

They are fishing for the company-line guys..... those not of this betamale species will quickly end up on this forum.

I hate this 'clampdown' but I see it having a lot of interesting nuances that will either deplete the numbers or change drastically the dynamic of younger believers.(born after 1964).... i suppose they are hoping to emerge into a Mormon-esque social club post 2014.... would be interesting in if they suggested the food storage thing.... most LDS do the year thing but a few still do 7 years...

OutLaw, to do the job for them......Moshe

                                          Moshe I couldn`t imagine running that circus..LOL!!..

                                                     Actual One Liners from Bethel..

                                  "Theres the Right way,the Wrong way and the Bethel Way"..

                                      "If theres a Harder way to do something..We`ll find it!"..

                                       "50% of the Bethel Staff..Is here to test the other 50%"..

                        "If you find a better way to do something..We don`t want to hear about it"..

                                                  How the F*ck do they get anything done?..

                                                         The WBT$ is Run by Idiots!..

                                                                          LOL!!..

                                                                                 .................... ...OUTLAW

Where is Holy Spirit in all this? That is where all appointments come from, right? Hmmm. Maybe it's on a break. 

Thanks for the figures Gayle.  Do you happen to know how many JWs on average there are in a congregation?  Seven is an awful lot and maybe they can do with less as they did years ago. 

@ Listener,,someone on the forum here (I haven't seen the actual scan yet) stated that on the 2010 Report for the U.S. was 1,115,786 average pubs.  On the 2009, the Report showed 12,800 congs.(probably more now) in U.S. (1115786 divided by 12800 = 87 pubs. average cong.

Yes, I agree, seven elders is a lot.  Some congs. would have more, some less.  So many are getting quite elderly and are slowing down too.