As appointed elders and christian overseers, you have been given the responsi. Its been nine years since the first shepherd the flock of god elders handbook came out, that was so top secret that nonelders were forbidden to read it, and sisters were not even allowed to touch it, and to this day, most jehovahs witnesses are not aware that the book even exists. View or download secret jehovahs witness elder manuals, textbooks and handbooks, including the. It also gives the official descriptions of the elders role. Shepherd the flock of god in your care shepherd the flock of god in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly.
Helps both pastors and elders understand the biblical function of elders in the local. So many reports may not meet that criteria so, its likely most of the time elders wouldnt provide parents with the fact that they can choose to report to secular authorities. A letter to all bodies of elders in the united states, february 15, 2002 stated that elders were not to prevent witnesses reporting child abuse to the police, which has been added to the 2010 elders manual. Shepherd the flock of god secret jehovahs witnesses elder. The seventhday adventist church manual provides important policies and procedures, especially for the local congregation. View or download handbooks, manuals and textbooks used by elders of. The revised edition ofpay attention to yourselves and to all the flock is presented as a practical and convenient handbook for congregation elders and traveling overseers to use in caring for responsibilities as shepherds of the flock of god. It is a private, internal document on how witnesses run their church. Aug 23, 2010 secret elders book in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released. This publication, shepherd the flock of god, is confidential. Watchtower child abuse paedophile policy and related court. Where possible, they should also be the congregation book study. Sometime before nero launched his persecution against christians in rome, the apostle peter wrote his first letter.
The book is entitled shepherd the flock of god, and caused a bit of a stir on the internet, as many former jehovahs witnesses attempted to circulate. May 08, 2018 these are the 8 most shocking and confounding things i found in the handbook for jehovahs witness elders, shepherd the flock of god. The elders extend this spiritual assistance confidentially. In addition to their work in the congregation, most elders also have secular jobs and. Shepherd the flock of god 2019 confidential handbook of. They want to keep the content of the book secret since it is essentially a manual of sins and consequences. In addition to their work in the congregation, most elders also have secular jobs and family responsibilities that require their time and attention. Some things that hinder the appointment of elders 1. Normally the body of elders holds four meetings a year. The handbooks are mainly used for judicial matters. It is strongly implied that if a jw does not confess to the elders any grave wrongdoing, he cannot be cleansed from his sin. The scriptures are only understood and applied as viewed through the towers prism. See letter dated march 16, 2015, to all bodies of elders regarding digital formats of this textbook.
Instructions re garding the school are found in the book benefit. Church manual policy ba 60 05 on human relations which states. The secret watchtower elders manual dispel the darkness. The body of elders can arrange other meetings any time that circumstances necessitate.
Shepherd the flock of god 2019 confidential handbook. Both men are accused of violating laws by posting copies of a secret elders manual on the internet. Nov 14, 2010 in 2010, the watchtower society released a new manual for use by elders in congregations of jehovahs witnesses. May 08, 2012 the rank and file are under the impression that jehovahs spirit will guide the actions of the elders to make honest and just decisions. Shepherd the flock of god thetruthofjehowaswittness. Never suggest to anyone that they should not report an allegation of child abuse to the police or other authorities. The governing body of jehovah s witnesses have authorised today the release of a 274 page fully revised and updated 2019 pdf version of their secret elders book shepherd the flock of god.
I am not sure why the need to pick out especially women in this question. Instruction is also given if elders feel they should deliver a warning talk to the congregation. Less than 24 hours later, the manual was leaked and seemingly nonstop analysis and. To you, the wife of an elder poem written with the wives. This publication is divided into chapters, each pertaining to a particular aspect of your work. The manual is a combination of objective principles and suggestions for how to recruit and train elders. Much like the pharisees added laws and regulations, the flock book is just a how to guide for elders. What circumstances were christians facing when peter wrote his first letter. Everyone associated with the congregation should know who the elders are, so they can benefit fully from their services. Apr 10, 20 jw elders are untrained, and therefore unqualified, in many fields of learning, including law, psychology, medical field i. If there are enough elders, they should be appointed to be congregation servant, assistant congregation servant, bible study servant, watchtower study servant and theocratic ministry school servant.
The elders should then promptly telephone the legal department. Reading from elders secret handbook on polish public. The book mentions consulting other publications but says nothing about consulting the. There is nothing illegal or unethical about anything the manual directs elders to do a practical guide for church leaders paperback october 5, 20.
Note that there are no instructions on what to do if the man says that yes, he has been. Sometime before nero launched his persecution against christians in. They are not to be viewed by anyone but themselves. These are the 8 most shocking and confounding things i found in the handbook for jehovahs witness elders, shepherd the flock of god. The manual says they need contact the legal department first. In 2010, the watchtower society released a new manual for use by elders in congregations of jehovahs witnesses. The manual is revised only at general conference sessions. Secret elders manual shepherd the flock of god ex jw. In addi tion to the two meetings held in conjunction with the visits of the circuit overseer they should schedule another meeting about three months after each visit. Therefore, paper records of all judicial matters should be in those files. They have since been published under this category. In january of 2019, elders in the congregations of jehovahs witnesses were issued a. Elders manuals, branch manuals, and circuit overseer manuals. The 8 biggest shocks from the elders secret handbook.
Elders need to be familiar with the manual and follow it. Just like your boss will have information you dont, so do the elders. Jw elders book shepherd the flock of god explains judicial committee and disfellowship procedures. Shepherd the flock of god has been designed as a handbook for elders to supply vital information that will help them care for congregation matters. Feb 05, 2019 the jehovahs witnesses appear to have felt the mounting pressure to change their written policies on how to handle child abuse. In congregations that have few elders, qualified ministerial servants may be used as counselors for secondary schools.
In order to care for our individual spiritual needs, local elders may visit with us in our home or at the kingdom hall to offer help and comfort from the scriptures. Although this book covers most aspects of our work as elders, at times you may need to. In january of 2019, elders in the congregations of jehovah s witnesses were issued a new version of their confidential handbook, shepherd the flock of god. Shepherd the flock of god secret jehovahs witnesses. These documents are meant to be kept secret by the elders. Secret elders book leak 2019 version shepherd the flock. Jehovah s witnesses rely on their governing body, the faithful and discreet slave, to provide them with food in due season through the literature of the watchtower bible and tract society watchtower, march 15, 1990, p. More adventist churches around the world receive their primary pastoral leadership. I guess they want to make sure they know everything congregation file. Jul 26, 2018 i am not sure why the need to pick out especially women in this question.
Leaked branch and elders manuals pull back the curtain. Still they say the best place to keep it is at the kh. On february 4, 2019, rumors of the release of a new elders manual, meant only for the eyes of the top leaders in each congregation of jehovahs witnesses jw, began to surface on exjw forums across the internet. Leaked branch and elders manuals pull back the curtain of. There are symptoms of comments around the jw elders manual that find to route at higher gifts and are instead 64bit to learn on first things, then joint very. As overseers, they are responsible for everything that is related to the work of the church. They are just part of the congregation just like the rest of the men who are not appointed as elders or ministerial servants. Generally speaking, the education level of elders does not go beyond high school or trade school. View or download handbooks, manuals and textbooks used by elders of jehovahs witnesses.
If there is a need to do so, the elders may obtain the inquirers name and phone number and inform him that their attorney will contact him. Within minutes of the highly controlled release of the shepherd book it has been leaked onto the internet. As such, the training and directing of elders fall. This book is for elders only, as made clear in letter to elders, august 23, 2010, which states. Jehovahs witnesses why are untrained elders given the. Jehovahs witnesses why are untrained elders given the power.
In 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released. It is true that the bible does encourage us to confess our sins to one another. Shepherd the flock of god royal commission into institutional. The manual pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock tells local elders how to conduct closeddoor trials and other actions controlling the personal lives of jehovahs witnesses. The jehovahs witnesses appear to have felt the mounting pressure to change their written policies on how to handle child abuse. On february 4, 2019, rumors of the release of a new elders manual, meant only for the eyes of the top leaders in each congregation of jehovahs witnesses jw, began to surface on ex jw forums across the internet. A revised, softcover textbook entitled shepherd the flock of god l peter 5. If an elder is deleted for reasons other than moving to another congregation with a favorable recommendation, he should turn over this publication to the congregation service committee to be destroyed, and any electronic copies in his possession should be deleted. The governing body of jehovahs witnesses have authorised today the release of a 274 page fully revised and updated 2019 pdf version of their secret elders book shepherd the flock of god.
Jw elders are untrained, and therefore unqualified, in many fields of learning, including law, psychology, medical field i. This book is fascinating information if youre a jw or are interested in what they believe. Watchtower child abuse paedophile policy and related court cases. Jehovahs witnesses rely on their governing body, the faithful and discreet slave, to provide them with food in due season through the literature of the watchtower bible and tract society watchtower, march 15, 1990, p. These documents once lived on the website, but when the founder, jason wynne, faced legal pressure from watch tower to remove them, he sent them all to faithleaks. Consequently, we do not comment on whether elders are currently or have formerly met to assist any member of the congregation. Merely not liking jw s or disagreeing with their doctrines does not give anyone the right to do this.
Interesting changes in the 2019 shepherd the flock of god. Secret elders manual shepherd the flock of god ex jw forum. But this is not talking about going to the elders as a catholic would go to a priest for confession. Secret elders book in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released. Jw elders look at them as a people of the second rank. According to this text in shepherd book, page 84,85 woman in jw congregation are viewed as minor children, not entitled to hear information that are important for her marriage and family life and her life at all. Do you think its right that jehovahs witness elders have a. Jw elders book shepherd the flock of god explains judicial committee and disfellowship procedures in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god. What are some benefits of a local church being organized with qualified elders and deacons. Should i inform the eldershelp, advice, and answers to. List common hindrances in the ordination of elders and deacons that should be avoided. A large portion of the book is devoted to the procedure for judicial committees and disfellowshipping. In january of 2019, elders in the congregations of jehovahs witnesses were issued a new version of their confidential handbook, shepherd the flock of god. Below are some excerpts of this updated version with my commentary.
Leaked branch and elders manuals pull back the curtain of inner. But i offer it as something god was graciously pleased to bless in our church. Dec 22, 2017 this is the one the wt gave to a female. The manual says they must follow the two witness rule. Secret elders book leak 2019 version shepherd the flock of. Jw elders book shepherd the flock of god explains judicial committee and disfellowship procedures in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released. The instruction to appoint elders in every city titus 1. So many reports may not meet that criteria so, its likely most of the time elders wouldnt provide parents with the fact that they can choose to report to. Jehovahs witnesses instruction manual for elders, overseers. The current 2010 jw elders manual shepherd the flock of god, pages 71,72 states under the section evidence establishing wrongdoing that there must be two witnesses to a confession, and the confession must be clear and unambiguous. Merely not liking jws or disagreeing with their doctrines does not give anyone the right to do this. D printing and jw elders manual page ns are it compatible to trace people and chips yourself at site. Shepherd the flock of god was made available to elders in 2010 with strict orders to keep its contents secret at all costs.