Is the term “governing body” unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses? Growing up as a JW, I would have thought so. The Watch Tower Society uses the term so frequently in connection with their work they give that impression. In fact, the Watch Tower Society makes it seem that the term “governing body” was in use in the first century, and that the modern day activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses follows that model (using the search terms “governing body” and “first century”). In this essay, I will demonstrate that the use of the term “governing body” is a common legal term that in no way is exclusive to JWs. Furthermore, the term “governing body”, being a legal term, cannot be found in scripture. What are the implications for Jehovah’s Witnesses as a result?
Over the summer, I attended a course as a part of my master’s degree program called “Administration of Non-Profit Organizations”. The course included an analysis of the role of the executive director as well as the board of directors of the non-profit. I was amazed that several terms were used, seemingly interchangeably, to refer to the board of directors, such as “governing board” or “governing body”. Governing body? Yes, I was surprised to see the term, after having been ingrained all my life that the Governing Body referred to the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It seems that it is actually a common term, a quasi-legal expression, to refer to the group of directors of any nonprofit.
A quick look at Wikipedia confirms that the term governing body has a variety of uses outside of the JW organization. While Wikipedia does mention the Watch Tower Society as one of the potential uses of the term “governing body”, it also indicates more mainstream definitions, such as the board of directors of a company or school. Thus, just as the Watch Tower Society, as a non-profit, has a legally constituted board of directors that serves as its governing body, so do all other non-profit organizations, including religious ones. Thus, there must be a governing body of Episcopalians, Catholics and Baptists, as well as a governing body of the Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Ford Motor Corporation and so on. In fact, just below the mention of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the next Wikipedia entry is “Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness”. So Jehovah’s Witnesses certainly do not have a monopoly on the term.
The Watch Tower Society originally used the term “governing body” in this strict legal sense, and in fact, used the term quite sparingly. As stated in the Watchtower, it was not until “the year 1944 the Watchtower magazine began to speak about the governing body of the Christian congregation (italics theirs).” (Watchtower, Dec. 15, 1971, p. 755) Since the 1950s, the term would frequently be used to refer to the first century, making assertions such as, “The apostle Paul belonged to the governing body in the first century” (Watchtower, April 15, 1951, p. 235 par. 7) without citing any scriptural backup. On the other hand, the magazine described the modern day “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, [as] the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1950, p. 10 par. 2)
The Watch Tower Society admits that the original use of the term “governing body” merely referred to the directors of the Watchtower Society, a legal corporation: “This governing body has through the years been associated with the publishers of the Watchtower magazine and the board of directors of the legal religious corporation now known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.” (Watchtower, Dec. 15,1971, p. 755) The term “legal” was frequently seen in connection with the phrase “governing body” as in this example: “These ‘goods’ (new world interests) have been placed under the jurisdiction of the anointed remnant with its legal governing body operating through the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (italics mine).” (Watchtower, April 1, 1953, p. 216 par. 3)
As time has progressed, the Watch Tower Society has made increased use of the term “governing body” in the Watchtower magazine. Note the following chart:
In the 1950s and 1960s, the term was used quite infrequently in the Watchtower, rarely occurring more than 20 times, and frequently meriting only single-digit mentions. However, it can be noted that the use of the term has increased significantly since 1971, when an article appeared in the Watchtower explaining that the “Governing Body” was different from a legal corporation. (Watchtower, Dec. 15, 1971, p. 755) This change caused a power struggle among members of the Governing Body, as the president and vice-president of the Watch Tower Society wanted to maintain their control of the organization, and did not wish to share their power with the other members of the newly expanded Governing Body. After the fiasco of 1975, however, the Governing Body, which had been expanded since 1971 and included Ray Franz, began to assert its power, and increased mention was made in articles in the late 1970s.
Interestingly, a decline can be seen in the early 1980s. This could be due to the fact that Ray Franz was disfellowshipped in 1981, and the Watch Tower Society did not want to remind its followers that a defection had taken place on the Governing Body. Thus, in 1980 and 1981 the term was rarely used. The memory of the sheep being short-lived, the Watch Tower Society once again in 1982 began to make at least 20 references to the Governing Body each year, with another set of articles in 1990 reasserting the Governing Body’s authority and attempting to provide a biblical base for the use of the term. Similar articles have once again appeared in 2008, as the Governing Body fears the growing number of people who question its authority and attempt to squelch the ever-growing amount of information unmasking the Watch Tower Society on the Internet.
Overall, as can be seen by the above chart, the Watch Tower Society has increased its use of the term “governing body” each decade since the 1960s. Given that a series of three articles praising the Governing Body has appeared in the 2008 Watchtower, insisting that Jehovah God and Jesus trust the Governing Body (how they know what Jehovah and Jesus think now is not so clear), the number of occurrences for the decade 2000-2009 will likely be more that the previous decade, and will continue the upward trend.
Returning to the subject of the origin of the term “governing body”, it is clear that the phrase has a legal origin, even considering the introduction of the term into the Watch Tower’s publications. The term “governing body” cannot be found in the Bible at all. The Watch Tower Society use of the term “first-century governing body” is an anachronism, using a modern quasi-legal term to refer to an ancient religious synod. The Bible does not make specific mention of an organized group that directed the actions of all Christians, as can be seen by the Apostle Paul’s considerable independence from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. (Acts 16:6-9, 19:21, 22; Galatians 1:17-19)
Thus, the Watch Tower Society’s use of the term “governing body” is an adoption of a common modern quasi-legal term. The Watch Tower Society frequently accuses the Catholic church of having made the mistake of incorporating worldly terms into its body of teachings: “Such practices and teachings (such as the trinity or immortality of the soul), Cardinal Newman (a cleric that the Watch Tower Society frequently quotes) claimed, were ‘sanctified by their adoption into the Church.’” (Awake, Dec. 22, 1994, p. 20) While the Watch Tower Society criticizes the Catholic church for adopting worldly or pagan customs, the Watch Tower Society has committed the same error by insisting that the term “governing body” is a biblical term, when it is nothing of the sort. Perhaps the Watch Tower Society feels that the use of the term is “sanctified by its adoption” into the Watch Tower.
While the Watch Tower wanted to claim that this change was theocratic, in order to make the organization better follow the biblical pattern, the fact that they chose the name Governing Body, a legal rather than a biblical term, is typical doublespeak that convinces the average Jehovah’s Witness. However, thinking about the use of the term “governing body” helps people to see that it is just another example of abuse of power, as those in control “lord it over the flock”, governing the bodies of the willing masses.
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Lance Goller is a former Gilead-trained missionary who left Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2008.
Popularity: 15%
September 28th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Thank you so much Lance for such a well researched and well written essay.
I and my husband are part of the ‘conscious class’ and trying to fade quietly, as to not lose our family. Web sites such as this one and articles like yours are so helpful and so very much appreciated!
Thank you!
September 28th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Nice, very well written.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:13 am
What I find most interesting is that someone actually took the time to count references to a term that is used frequently by other organizations. To the point where one feels compelled to say “Duh.” I guess having left so recently the author is still discovering how JW’s are just like everyone else but with a different schtick. Personally, I haven’t claimed to be a JW in ten years so I can’t imagine taking my time to research such information. I’d be too busy watching paint dry.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
@ Leah: This article was not for you then, but for those that are still not convinced that the JW organization is little more than a tax-free money making institution, with a completely secular and legal power structure. This article helps to show that over the years the WTBTS has taken a legal term and concept and adopted it and transformed it into “god’s spirit directed” leadership, all the while over the years doing a bait and switch, slowing convincing people that “governing body” is a biblical concept that goes back to the first century christians, despite the fact that there is no biblical support for such a notion.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:31 am
May i repost in another forum in spanish?, the forum is http://www.testigosdejehova.com , also extj.com , this forum is about ex jehva’s witnesses.. in spanish…
i waiting your answer, sinceryly
JoseFidencioR.
September 30th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
@Jose, Yes feel free to re-post as long as you provide a link back to the original article here.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
The Governing Body , wont openly admit that they view themselves as the modern equivalent of the 12 Apostles . They may not use the term Apostles , however they assume the same authority , in much the same way as the Mormon Church does with their “Quorum of the Twelve Apostles” or the Catholic Church does with its “College of Cardinals” and as the article has pointed out most religions have very similar governing structures all assuming authority from God!
In his book ” New Creation” Russell sets out what he sees is the biblical structure for the church after the death of the Apostles , each congergation independant from the Watch Tower Society ( which was always meant to be a Bible Society and a tool that could assist in spreading the gospel and nothing more ) serving under Christ as head so no centralised governing structure all elders elected by the members of each ecclesia/congregation and serving one another as brothers and sisters all accountable to each other individually and collectively. Even church discipline was to be a a collective church matter involving all members and not a judicial committee.How far from Biblical Christianity the Watchtower has fallen !
October 6th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Very good… Congratulations. I’m one od the “consciuos class”.. so I still being inside some how..
October 6th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Excelent…. now the evolutiom theory has become to be true
October 9th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
There qare many JW’s who believe the Governing Body are made up of a body from the anointed class. They want to argue this. I don’t beliefgve even the WT claims this now-a-days. Can you share sources to teach them?
December 23rd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
My question is if a Jehovah’s witness preaches from door to door – why are they called a ‘publisher’. I haven’t published anything in my life.
Your response will be appreciated !
April 21st, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Being that I have been under rehab with a energy physcologist, I have come to understand the impact that the term ‘governing body’ will have on the brain and mind. The power of words and the conection with word association continuously demonstrates that the peoples mind understand that they are actually ‘governing’ the peoples bodies physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. This is the reason that people trying to leave this organiztion have an enormous challenge to not only leave physically but mentally as well. Their termonologies are very clever.
May 25th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Very Impressive Lance,
although all of your stories,
research,
videos are!
Great Work!
May 25th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
To Marina, what we published were the hours spent in field service.
and
Cindy, I remember several times explaining to my JW mom that the word govern means to rule over people, and thus she was under the rules of a government. After begrudgingly checking for meanings with me in the dictionary, she said that there were too many meanings for the word GOVERN in worldly dictionaries so she was fine with the Watchtower which has only one meaning. She is the type that does not believe in anything unless there is a Watchtower logo attached!
June 8th, 2010 at 2:55 am
My brother and I seriously have to thank you, this was good to read.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
How can I get free money to start my own business Most of us want to start with our own business at some point of time or the other. But then what stops us or causes a hindrance is the lack of funds. now this can be a major problem but then, you need to get rid of the problem so that your idea of a ….
July 15th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Lance,
What happenned to your wife once you became an apostate? Is she still with you? did she leave you?
August 25th, 2010 at 10:22 am
There are two terms that are not well explained by the Watchtower.
1. Governing Body.
2. The Faithful and Discreet Slave.
The Faithful and Discreet Slave according to scripture is appointed by the Master to prepare food. The Watchtower says all members of the anointed on earth are as a group the Faithful and Discreet Slave. As they are appointed by the Master and not the Governing Body. Are they allowed to prepare food for the Watchtower. How do all members have a say in what is printed in the Watchtower?
From the scriptural viewpoint it would be correct to say the Faithful and Discreet Slave direct the Governing Body of the Watchtower Magazine to print information they have prepared. So what process is in place so that all members of the Faithful and Discreet Slave can do so?
August 30th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Interesting informaton. And that’s just what they do…. govern and control. They just love playing God. They will be made known by their fruits. And it’s been made known more and more now. They have alot of blood guilt on their hands by their governing and control. Thank you for your imput. Good reading…………Linda
December 31st, 2010 at 12:02 am
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January 28th, 2011 at 2:35 am
`,’ I am very thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information “;
February 26th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
LANCE
you know what the truth is, we are imperfect, only the Jehova is perfect, and whatever the case, since the Bible does not lie
and see that the prophecies are being fulfilled, but make no mistake, please meditate
April 3rd, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thank you
April 4th, 2011 at 1:46 am
Adore this article. Where did you uncover these details?
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September 18th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Very well written. Could this be one of the reasons the Wtbts does not encourage higher education? You stated that you discovered this while doing your masters degree. Lets keep learning!
“Stupid is forever. Ignorance can be fixed” Quote Don Wood
October 28th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Thanks for such a great information, i have bookmarked your site and will check out once more.
November 9th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
A religion strictly controlled by an organisation comprising of the president and his governing body makes no different from Roman Catholicism controlled by the Pope and his cardinals. Do you think our Heavenly Father Jehovah and His Son, Jesus are really pleased with acts such as disfellowshipping, shunning that results in family break ups and hatred among family members, discouraging higher education to children who are brilliant in sutdies?
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