The Governing Body are shown together for the first time on film on the new JW Broadcasting website
The Governing Body are shown together for the first time on film on the new JW Broadcasting website

The new “tv.jw.org” website is barely off the ground, but it is wasting no time in posting some intriguing content.

I have already discussed the October broadcast featuring Steven Lett in one of my latest YouTube videos. As I mentioned, giving members of the Governing Body increasing prominence could easily backfire as perceptions of their supposed ‘humility’ erode – especially among older generations of Witnesses who can remember a time when even a group photograph in the publications was a rarity.

A curious example of the Governing Body’s apparent appetite for the limelight can be found in the latest video to be uploaded to JW Broadcasting – namely the full four-hour recording of the 2014 Annual Meeting.

In the closing stages of the meeting, all seven members emerge on stage to sing along to one of the new songs. “We notice we have seven honorary members to our chorus here to my right,” says the choir conductor as the leaders walk on to applause.

This is the first time (at least, to my knowledge) that all incumbent members of a Governing Body have appeared side-by-side on film. I have a feeling it won’t be the last.

governing-body-singing

The full video can be watched on this link.

There is a nagging sense of irony in seeing seven men whose authority must never be challenged on pain of punishment by family estrangement singing “Jehovah, Jehovah, there is no God like you. There’s no other in the heavens, or on the earth below. You alone are God Almighty, and this all men must know. Jehovah, Jehovah, we have no other God but you.”

It would be easier to take these words seriously if the Governing Body were not falling over themselves to get in front of the camera at almost every opportunity, and chastising any Witnesses who refuse to show them the loyalty they crave.

To those like me who feel the effects of daring to defy these men on a daily basis, they seem very much like Gods “on the earth below” – especially when they are free to decipher the thoughts and commands of the Almighty without any need for their conclusions to make sense, stand the test of time, or even correspond with the scriptures.

The shameless adoration of the JW.org symbol marks a departure from previously held warnings against idolatry
The shameless adoration of the JW.org symbol marks a departure from previously issued warnings against idolatry

Then there is the remarkable onus on the logo for the JW.org website, which is increasingly used as a vehicle for their publicity. A cursory glance at the “jw_witnesses” instagram page shows an unnerving devotion to the symbol in its various settings, whether affixed to a kingdom hall or branch office, or adorning a tote bag or t-shirt.

Adoration of a man-made symbol that would once have been considered idolatrous, a denial that there is “no other God like Jehovah,” is now deemed perfectly kosher – and all because it has the Governing Body’s seal of approval.

The Watchtower organization of 2014 is quickly becoming unrecognizable from that which I grew up in. Surely it wasn’t that long ago when even the Watchtower symbol wasn’t given too much prominence, and any depiction of the Governing Body in the literature or videos was greeted with surprise.

I can only hope that my sense of bewilderment at the ever-more obtrusive exploits of Dave, Tony, Geoff, Sam, Mark, Steve and Gerrit, and the increasingly gaudy outfit they preside over, is shared by at least some indoctrinated Witnesses – perhaps prompting some soul searching on their part.

When the ‘humble’ men you are pinning everything on start morphing into the same tacky televangelists they once delighted in taunting and condemning, you know it’s time for a reality check.

 

 

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Further reading…

 

114 thoughts on “Governing Body takes to the stage together in newly-released Annual Meeting video

  • October 14, 2014 at 12:02 pm
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    I remember so well, being at an assembly day and talking to one sister who always struck me as being very intelligent. She said to me, “I really feel like the brothers here now are finally the ones that will lead us out of the Great Tribulation.” (Her husband was recently appointed as an elder, but even past that obvious fact, she still had that glassy-eyed stare of one of the True Believers.)
    I was flabbergasted! I thought, “These idiots?!?” I had finally reached the stage where I could perceive a smart, competant person and a faker.
    In those days you didn’t see the GB members or any of the ‘Helpers’ so you had to imagine that they were so much better than the slack-jawed, mouth-breathing morons that were trying to run the circuits and congregations. (I was always amazed that the Holy Spirit could pick such obvious failures until I had to admit to myself that these guys were using favouritism, cronyism and nepotism to do the appointments.).
    Now we can all finally see that the stupidity goes right to the top! The Australian idiot really strikes me as being one of the dumbest looking guys but really they are all at about the same level. The Austrian dictator seems to at least look the part while being able to comport himself somewhat authoritatively.
    Why can’t people see that these guys are nuts?!? There must be smart people in the Bethels and in the organization?!?
    I hope that people wake up and take away the power that they give to these creepy, old guys.

  • October 14, 2014 at 1:46 pm
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    I must agree, I hardly recognise the Society from the one that indoctrinated me 60 years ago and yes, tele evangelical did cross my mind, I’m not at all sure what to make of it ?

  • October 14, 2014 at 1:50 pm
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    Cedars, i read you every day. Im an ex elder. Congratulations. Long life for you. Sorry my english. Im brazilian.
    In all history of mankind, every power or kingdom passed by. In one moment the GB by themselves will make something that make it possible. The number of their enemies is growing more rapidly than their soldies. One day – i hope it will be soon – they will be swallowed.

  • October 14, 2014 at 2:35 pm
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    @rob. It’s a valid point you make. They claim to hold the name
    Jehovah in the very highest regard , but displaying just the first
    letter of that name ( and erasing the rest.) as part. of a website
    logo shows great disrespect, and more so the way it’s displayed
    on a gaudy TV set. It’s TV evangelism , ( A euphemism for
    commercialism,) L, Ron Hubbard said, “The easiest way to make
    a million is to start your own religion”.

    So now the name of Jehovah has been reduced to an acronym
    such as BMW, VW, LG, KFC, etc. Undeniable disrespect.!
    towards the God they claim to worship.

  • October 14, 2014 at 2:36 pm
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    I am appalled at the remarkable change in direction the society is going. It seems “Watchtower Bible & Tract Society” has been dropped and JW.org has been the title now.

  • October 14, 2014 at 3:01 pm
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    Ted, I guess using acronyms is another sign that the watchtower really is just a corporation, masked as a religion. (I work for a large corporation that loves to use acronyms). I believe that you are correct in saying that they have disrespected God’s name.

    But really in my opinion, now that the gb have labeled themselves as the faithful and discreet slave, it appears that they feel that they are gods on earth who cannot be questioned, so it doesn’t surprise me that deleting God’s full name in favour of an acronym is now ok with them.

    Maybe their full names should be reduced to acronyms as well.

  • October 14, 2014 at 3:04 pm
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    Annual meeting–the corporation members (stakeholders) stony silence means the “dyed-in-the-wool” hard-liners are not in favor of those changes and had to be prodded to elicit a response.

  • October 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm
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    JW.org – What else could it stand for that is more appropriate? Just Wandering.org? Just Whacky.org? or maybe Just Wicked.org would be nearer the truth!
    An elder from a congregation I used to attend stopped to talk to me the other day. After a few niceties, I brought up the GB and how they are coming to the fore at the moment whereas we never really used to know who they were. “Well”, he said, “things are moving so fast, we have got to put our implicit trust in them now”.
    My face obviously showed my disapproval of his statement, and I followed up with “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs”. After a few more minutes debate, he said that I was doing the devil’s work for him and that he would not be speaking with me again!
    My thoughts were well, for the past thirty years I have been doing the devil’s work for him without knowing it, at least now I know who I’m working for, and it certainly isn’t the magnificent seven!!!
    Thank God I’m out!

  • October 14, 2014 at 6:36 pm
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    Kat, I totally agree with your comment, “I don’t think they are concerned about the older ones”. This year, my mother passed away at the age of eighty-eight. She had devoted four/five decades of her life to the organization. In the end the only people there for her were her three children, and the “world” she spoke so disparingly of as a witness. She benefited from provisions from the government, and the extraordinary care of health care professionals. I feel her beloved organization took so much during her life only to leave her forgotten and unneeded. It seems criminal the way this group uses people. It is not surprising that they would follow the lead of television evangelists. Thanks to Cedars for remarkable work!

  • October 14, 2014 at 10:01 pm
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    I’ve noticed this grandiose behavior from the late nineties. Once they started showing up in pictures I immediately thought, “Faithful and DISCREET?” It’s getting worse quickly, they’re downsizing any way they can while they bleed money; I think they are trying to go out with a bang and it makes me worry about the constant mention of, “we may ask you to do something that sounds just crazy but just obey and listen like the Israelites.”

  • October 14, 2014 at 11:32 pm
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    The Watchtower has a history of buying in to its own righteousness. That mentality permeates throughout the organization. The self righteous belief that they are the truth is a scary one . No one has the ability to read the heart of an individual although some of the characteristics of individual GB members are humorous:-) if not extremely ignorant.
    Perhaps there maybe one/two who are awake. We live in hope. Personally I would have liked the ‘can can’ music to interrupt this deeply spiritual occasion:-)

  • October 14, 2014 at 11:58 pm
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    ‘I have hated your solemn assembly’s’ . . .
    Who hasn’t?

  • October 15, 2014 at 1:44 am
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    @ EVERYONE

    Jb has posted a link to an e petition, it will go to the White House, asking them to look at the two witness rule. When I went on it this morning I expected it to have gone up in number, but it has hardly moved. That shocked me. This is a petition that will benefit all. They are easy to do online, you could do your own. If many lands did this surely we would get heard.

    @ Cedars hope I have not overstepped any rules.

    Here is JB’s link

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/investigate-jehovahs-witness-leaders-child-abuse-cover-and-protecting-child-abusers/nLBCT5mN

  • October 15, 2014 at 2:52 am
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    ‘The tolling of the iron bell brings the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spell’.

  • October 15, 2014 at 3:07 am
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    Ah Pink Floyd!!

    Here’s another great lyric, this from Bruce Cockburn: “Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight.”

    It is interesting to see the shift from a publishing based business to promoting their website. I wonder how that will affect their already dwindling revenue streams.

  • October 15, 2014 at 5:09 am
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    Can anyone else recall the experience that was in a watchtower once about how someone went to visit the bethel and the then president of the society was mopping the floor in the lobby? But it was little known that he was the dude at the top if you will. I can’t see things like that transpiring today with these 7 jesters. Hardly discreet by any means. Did you see on the video how the audience began whipping out their phones to photograph the GB with the choir. Ridiculous. The very definition of celebrity.

  • October 15, 2014 at 5:54 am
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    In the annual meeting when Splane was talking, he deceitfully left out that it was Chas. Taze Russell who was basing all his calculations of the last days on the study of pyramids and Russell’s books were full of it. It was deceitful. Rev. 14:5 says that the bride of Christ would have no deceitfulness in their mouths. Splane made it appear that it was only his followers who were making it their hobby the study of pyramids. Even in the Faith on the March videos, they show the cars with the pyramids on the sides of the cars.

    I can’t support liars.

  • October 15, 2014 at 6:11 am
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    If it ain’t truthful it ain’t from God.
    There are only excuses after that.

  • October 15, 2014 at 7:26 am
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    Reader,

    The transition from a physical printing company to an Internet based company will save them millions of dollars! They will be wealthier than ever IN THE SHORT TERM.

    They can happily sell off all of the printing facilities and spin it as expansion.

    I think that the gb and their puppet masters will accept that they will not make significant further profits going forward. They can enjoy an excellent return on the property they already own, and they will always have the opportunity to flip Kingdom halls in lucrative areas.

    They are deluded of course! The poor victims of paedophilia in the WTBTS will continue to sue the Society for damages and I am glad to say that more and more of these poor victims are finding the support to come forward
    and hold the WTBTS to account.
    The JW Religion is being revealed for what it is and always has been – a property and printing empire, run as a cult, in the guise of a Christian Church.

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • October 15, 2014 at 7:28 am
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    It looks like the JW ORG is right back. in captivity to Babylon
    the Great. W,T, 1st/5/1989. Discusses how prior to 1919
    they were in spiritual captivity, observing Christmas, birthdays,
    wearing crosses, and , indulging in creature worship, centred
    around the personality cult of C,T,Russell.

    Recently we’ve seen a plethora of photo’s of the G,B, both
    collectively, and individually, as well as written profiles of each
    one. As we know, this is exactly what celebrities do to.
    publicise themselves and draw acclaim.

    Their theatrical entrance in front of the choir at the Annual Meeting
    was a blatant example of attention grabbing.

    One photo I found disgusting, was of them in the foreground and
    Jesus enthroned in the background… The message I got from that
    was, “If you want to get to Jesus you’ve got to go through us first”

    It’s evident we’re back to pre 1919 days, So time to heed the warning
    at Rev,18/4, “Come out of her my People.”

  • October 15, 2014 at 8:24 am
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    Another thing I don’t get when watching that annual meeting is I think it was Loasch when he was talking to the elderly about how do they adapt to new stuff and he was showing all those buildings that they bought in Brooklyn. I am wondering how much did the Society pay for all those buildings and what were they for? Those buildings look like they were each millions and millions to buy and what are they all being used for? At the same time that the Society was making us all believe that they were really poor, they were buying up all that property.

  • October 15, 2014 at 9:27 am
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    anonymous. My wife has just read your comments.
    And she says, “It’s easier for a camel to pass through
    the eye of a needle , Than for a rich man to enter the
    Kingdom of Heaven.”

  • October 15, 2014 at 9:33 am
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    That’s from Ted not Tedbp

  • October 15, 2014 at 10:11 am
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    This annual meeting was a real three-ring circus event with Mark Sanderson playing the ringleader. All he needed was a top hat! I can’t help but feel for those who actually believe these seven circus clowns are God’s own and only channel of communication to the world as we know it. If it is, then stop the world, I want to get off!!! I couldn’t even concentrate on the subject matter of Lett’s speech (i.e. discourse?) with his over-the-top theatrics. He reminds me of an animatron ran on pneumatic cylinders usually found on stage at a kiddie pizza joint. Then the interview with Gerrit Lösch and the three older couples was especially saddening. These people were practically slaves for this false religion their whole lives and glad of it! Lösch sat there when they were answering his questions almost with an air of ‘this is all for me.’ Then there was that evil elf-like guy Anthony Morris. His speech seemed to have a sinister overtone to it; ‘Do it my way or suffer the consequences!’ was what I got out of it. I find this in all of his speeches that Cedars posted concerning Morris. Hey, and everyone here is right about that TV setup. It looks like a carbon-copy of something from Pat Robertson or the Bakers in the 80’s. Wow, how low can these guys stoop!

    Sorry if I offended anyone here, but I can’t help but be cynical about this comedy or tragedy they called an annual meeting. You all are correct in saying that they are in a downward spiral and really cannot help but trip over themselves at every turn.

    My nickname here is “Searcher”, but I don’t really think I need to search anymore. I have found this organization to be a false religion and a bona-fide cult. No doubt about it! I am so glad that I don’t drink the kool-aid anymore.

    Thanks to Cedars for bringing this to light.

  • October 15, 2014 at 10:48 am
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    I was born in and was an elder for over a decade. I don’t even recognize this mess anymore. It is literally a televangelist vehicle for the “magnificent seven” now… it is just…. creepy as hell

  • October 15, 2014 at 10:50 am
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    Today I checked Mormons.org…Give me the same, but different…

  • October 15, 2014 at 12:15 pm
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    And what was all that baloney about why there was no way to find out who was on the writing committee for the New World Translation because it was not to draw undue attention to themselves?????

  • October 15, 2014 at 1:03 pm
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    Wait, there was a choir? I thought that the Borg specifically did not want to have a choir, in case some people would get to show that they had actual talent. Much like how they abolished the piano players because some sisters were actually enjoying their opportunity to participate.

  • October 15, 2014 at 3:09 pm
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    So what’s with the baggy trousers, oh, yes, it’s to hide those paunches, getting fatter daily.
    “They have grown fat; they have become shiny.” – Jer. 5-28.

  • October 15, 2014 at 3:14 pm
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    Just a thought on the number seven.
    I think I’ve mentioned it before, but near the top of the Masonic Pyramid of power is written ‘The Seven’.
    The links to the ‘Russellite pyramidology’ appear to have not completely gone away. It will be very interesting to see if the GB recruit anybody else into their ranks at this late stage in their history.
    The ‘Mr. Big’ who really controls these puppets may prefer it to stay at this ‘perfect number’.

  • October 15, 2014 at 3:59 pm
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    An interesting thought bad penny.
    It is believed that the bankers funded the Napoleonic wars hence the begining of the national debt.
    It is also believed that the masons/ illuminate were deliberately creating doom day cults to turn people away from God when their predictions failed.
    What is if interest about the theory of the new world order and the one world government is the scriptures agree.. . I.e . The ten kings you saw will rule will the beast one hour. . The king of the north.

  • October 15, 2014 at 4:05 pm
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    Of historical fact was the attempt of the third Reich and the master race. What’s of interest is, who funded Hitler?

  • October 15, 2014 at 4:33 pm
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    Is it possible that through his business contacts the Watchtower was funded who knows? But what is factual is his grave site and his preoccupation of pyramidology.

  • October 15, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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    Gary
    Your thoughts are appreciated.
    It seems that Russell had his finger in many pies – see the link to The Four Presidents of The Watchtower under Solon Society on google.
    Kindly brought to our attention by Mikey and Kim.

  • October 16, 2014 at 1:27 am
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    If you all want to have some fun with friends and family who are still in the cult have them listen to the last speech on the program about who will soon attack God’s People by Jackson. I paused it every 2 or 3 words and wrote it out by hand and then typed it word for word. In the end, all he is saying is that it’s not Satan (like we used to think) but it’s a coalition of nations (we don’t know who that is until it actually happens). It was nonsensical and pointless but let your friends tell you that because that’s the fact of the matter.

  • October 16, 2014 at 1:29 am
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    and to add to my last comment, he was also saying that the battle at the end of the thousand years is the very same battle at the end of the Great Tribulation (Armageddon) only a different name. Write it out word for word and you will see that is exactly what he is saying. He points to each word he is saying so as not to make a mistake. Watch him as he reads it.

  • October 16, 2014 at 1:48 am
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    to add to my last comment, so if what Jackson was saying is the the Society is saying that the battle at the end of the thousand years is the very same battle after the great tribulation only under different names, does that mean that the great tribulation lasts 1,000, because it’s only after the thousand years and everyone has passed the “test” that they are handed ever lasting life and immortality and if that is what he was saying, then what is all this talk about how everyone is going to reach perfection at the end of the thousand years and like Armageddon is happening next week and everyone is going to be perfect after Armageddon, like it’s next week already? In his talk, he is saying like they all talked about it and that is the conclusion they came to.

    Listen to his talk and see if any of you all get the same thought as I did. You have to listen real closely and pause it and write it out word for word. Sometimes I would miss a word and had to back it up to get every word.

  • October 16, 2014 at 2:37 am
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    but wait. What signals the start of the Great Tribulation??? I am so confused….

  • October 16, 2014 at 3:30 am
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    anonymous,

    You’re not the only one who is confused, dear lady!!!

    There are 2 massive wars mentioned. The first is the battle of Armageddon, where Christ and his army of angels (accompanied by all the gb who are in heaven) give all the nations of the world a great kicking and kill off billions of people for the gross sin of not being a Jehovah’s Witness.

    The second battle occurs AFTER THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST. Apparently, the MAJORITY of “perfect” human beings will choose Satan’s side and attack the faithful. Then these benighted individuals, along with Satan and his demons, will be hurled into the lake of fire.

    If that knucklehead Sanderson believes they are the same war, then the war of Armageddon is followed by a 1000 year ceasefire!!! The whole human race will live in a situation similar to the 2 Koreas!

    What kind of “Paradise” is that?

    I’m sure that you are right, anonymous, in your transcription of his words. What kind of God would do this? Would Christ really sign up for a situation of this kind in his Kingdom?

    I think that the gb will find “new light” and say that we are living in the 1000 year reign now! They then have 900 years to fleece the flock. The physical paradise will be replaced with a figurative paradise, or some such nonsense!

    watch(tower) this space!

    Peace be with you

    Excelsior!

  • October 16, 2014 at 4:10 am
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    to add to my thoughts too Excelsior, for them to say that they don’t know who is going to attack God’s people yet (an unknown coalition of nations) until they actually see it happening, is to say “we don’t know what we are talking about but if we see something happening to us, then we will take credit for predicting it. See how smart we are!!!!

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