The Governing Body has decided that the traveling overseers arrangement is to be deleted. All currently serving traveling overseers (circuit overseers), and their wives, will be reassigned to ‘the field’.
The Watchtower magazine. April 15, 2013. JW.ORG
The adjustment
Country and regional Branch Committees will bare the responsibility to recruit and then re-assign elders from each locality region (think former circuit), who will then serve a small number of congregations on a temporary basis when needed. Former traveling overseers will be given preferential consideration for the assignment privilege.
One corporate advantage of this adjustment is that appointments of elders, and ministerial servants, will be given the outward appearance of a local arrangement with no direct branch office (or Watch Tower Society) involvement. This removes the current vicarious liability of elder / agent / employee arrangement.
In addition, with the recent removal of the field service hours reporting requirement, and the newly introduced permission to grows beards for brothers, ‘co-ordinating overseers’ will have very little to go on in their appointment of both new elders and ministerial servants. This is expected to potentially increase appointments, but may actually back-fire.
This new adjustment also removes both the Watch Tower Society’s liability, and the overall institutional liability, in relation to future appointed ‘agents’, while at the same time allowing the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses to retain full control of congregations, bodies of elders, and assets at the local congregational level.
Elders appointed as a local ‘co-ordinating overseer’ (circuit overseer) will not visit their own congregation, but rather will be assigned to audit and shepherd other congregations. No renumeration, reimbursement, or stipend will be paid by the organization.
Current serving traveling overseers, and their wives, will be primarily reassigned to ‘the field’.
Motor vehicles on current lease will be required to be returned after a short readjustment period. This readjustment period is not for the benefit of the deleted traveling overseer, but rather to prevent an influx of used motor vehicles having needed to be prepared for return to the lease companies, or prepared for resale. Excess vehicles will be offered for sale via dedicated online websites.
A special Branch Committee sub-committee will also bear the responsibility to recommend and recruit suitable elders, or former traveling overseers, from each congregation locality region (think former circuit), who will then serve a small number of congregations on a temporary basis. This establishes a legally binding relationship between the locally appointed elder and the local congregation under the new ‘co-ordinating overseer’ arrangement. This arrangement places all vicarious liability and legal liability for appointments, and retention, of elders and ministerial servants on the regional and local ‘co-ordinating overseer’.
A key consideration for any elder, or former traveling overseer, in considering accepting such an ‘assignment’, would be the protection of their own assets in the event of a lawsuit, particularly in relation the mishandling of child sexual abuse allegations by the congregation and body of elders, who ironically appointed the new ‘co-ordinating overseer’ to overseer such matters. There will be no insurance offered by the Watch Tower Society, or the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as this creates an agent / employee relationship.
Further, there will be no so-called ‘circuit overseer wives’.
A hierarchical readjustment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organisational arrangement will also take place so as to remove and protect the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses from liability.
The financial savings alone, directly and indirectly, will be enormous.
An increase in Kingdom Hall sales
An increase in Kingdom Hall sales will follow, with an increased focus on wealthy non-English speaking regions (i.e. real estate asset rich) in the Asia Pacific region.
These newly appointed local ‘co-ordinating overseers’ will also bare the responsibility in facilitating the selling off of congregation Kingdom Halls, but not their own, in selected areas, and the removal of bodies of elders that refuse to co-operate with the redistribution of ‘dedicated funds’. Download actual letter of removal of bodyof elders.
This Kingdom Hall sales readjustment arrangement creates a pseudo ‘at arms length’ position for both the Watch Tower Society and the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Monies derived from the increase in the sale of Kingdom Halls will be transferred out of the relevant country / region and placed into one of a number of inter-related Cash Management Centers (CMC), currently operating under the direct control of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Evidently, the ‘light gets brighter’.
JW LEAKS
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This article was produced in conjunction with JW News.
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About JW Leaks
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks shines a light on, and holds to account, the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, or that cause religious harm to sections of the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879
On 1 November 2023, the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses issued instructions to selected branches around the world to commence the solicitation of members of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are government officials, school teachers, professors, and academics. The purpose carried the intention of undermining investigations in Japan into allegations of systemic and ongoing “child abuse” within the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.
A copy of the German language email can be download below.
An English translation of the above email solicitation is provided further down in this article.
The email is interesting in that it contains two oversight errors. The first is it addresses “Sisters and Brothers” instead of Brothers and Sisters, and secondly it has a subheading in English titled “Deadline” instead of the German word Frist.
In addition the Jehovah’s Witnesses PID logo footnote (blocked by software from downloading and replaced with a ” ? “) contains an embedded tracking cookie.
What is the problem?
The World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses is worried about current developments in Japan involving child abuse allegations within Jehovah’s Witnesses.
At a press conference held on November 20, 2023, a team of lawyers in Japan released the results of a comprehensive survey on alleged incidents of child abuse by members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Japan. Extensive media coverage followed.
The World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses have commenced soliciting members of the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses to use (misuse or abuse) their positions of authority within the community to produce so-called ‘official’ letters on letterheads in support of the policies of Jehovah’s Witnesses on raising children. A special request was made not to mention the current situation in Japan, this despite stating the letters and endorsements received would be used for Japan.
The governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses could have reached out to the alleged 159 child sexual abuse victims within the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution in Japan, or the victims of institutional-endorsed corporal punishment, but rather they have taken a potentially subversive approach to child abuse.
Central Europe Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Selters, Germany. Image courtesy of SaySorry.org and JW News.
Extract of email
Translation of email from German into English
PID.DE@jw.org To: pid.de@jw.org RE: URGENT: Request for Friday, December 1, 2023 at 18:31:04 GMT
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We are writing to you today about a sensitive and very urgent matter in which we would like to ask for your help.
In a meeting scheduled at short notice, we learned today that we have the great privilege of supporting the World Headquarters in a very important project.
What is the problem? Our brothers and sisters in Japan are currently struggling with a serious problem: a new ministry, which has only been in office for about a year, regrettably assumes that child rearing by Jehovah’s Witnesses is harmful to children and even constitutes a kind of “child abuse”. This is of course a worrying development.
How can you help? We are looking for positive statements from authorities, but also from experts such as school principals, teachers, professors, academics, etc., e.g. on the following topics:
On the experience of raising children by parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses in general (loving, caring, balanced upbringing, appropriate interest in children).
To the material for children and young people on jw.org
About children of Jehovah’s Witnesses (e.g. are not conspicuous at school, but exemplary; do not take drugs, are not criminals; are well integrated, balanced, etc.).
About positive contributions of our young people in society
We would be delighted if you could comment on these points yourselves in your respective function – if possible on an official letterhead showing your current function. We are of course also very interested in further statements from outsiders. Can you think of any colleagues or other people who could make well-founded statements in this context? If so, please contact them as soon as possible and ask them for a written statement (if possible on official letterhead). IMPORTANT: The requested statements, which do not have to be long, should not refer to Japan but should be formulated in general terms. It is also best not to address a specific person, but “to whom it may concern” (“Dear Sir or Madam” or “to the relevant office”).
If you are addressing outsiders, you could justify the request by saying that in an Asian country a newly founded ministry that has no experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses has prejudices against our religious minority due to misinformation. Surely the European perspective would be helpful to them, as they have had experience with Jehovah’s Witnesses for decades. We ask you not to mention “Japan”, but to clarify the desired direction and the urgency of the request.
Deadline: We need the statements as early as next week.
We consider it a privilege to work with you in this important endeavor and thus contribute to the “defense and legal establishment of the good news” (Phil. 1:7). Please make this matter the subject of your personal prayers as well. We are fully convinced that Jehovah will bless the joint efforts for the glory of his name (2 Cor. 10:4, 5; Isa. 54:17).
One final request: Please treat the information confidentially and do not forward this e-mail without consultation!
Thank you in advance for your valuable support and have a good weekend
Your brothers Central Europe Branch Office
Public Relations Am Steinfels 165618 Selters (Taunus) E-mail: pid.de@jw.org Phone: +49 6483 41-3110
What is the truth?
The governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide are currently:
denying that children are or were ever members of the religion or institution
denying the existence of institutional child sexual abuse
denying institutional policies exist instructing the corporal punishment of children
For many decades, the official journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Watchtower magazine, has encouraged the corporal punishment of children.
________________________________________
This article was produced in conjunction with JW News.
JW Leaks receives ongoing support and funding via JW News.
Please support JW News for as little as the cost of a coffee
Click above and support JW News for the cost of a coffee
About JW Leaks
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks shines a light on, and holds to account, the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, or that cause religious harm to sections of the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879
On Thursday 13 April 2023, JW LEAKS received a direct email from Mr Daniel Scott of Peake Legal Solicitors, on behalf of one of his Australian-based clients, informing us that documents, relating to…
the ABC Four Corners program “Bearing Witness” (first aired on 13 September 2021);
the complaint made by Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Limited, and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Australasia) Limited directly to the ABC about the above program;
the Raglan Kingdom Hall Fire and police correspondence;
the Bathurst Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses; and
the complaint and correspondence made by two Jehovah’s Witnesses legal entities to the Australian Communications and Media Authority about the ABC Four Corners program,
…have recently been published on the official government website of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
JW LEAKS extends its gratitude for the exclusive ‘tip off’ to Mr Daniel Scott – whom we understand is an active Jehovah’s Witness and the current lawyer for Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited (his client referred to in the opening paragraph), in addition to also being the lawyer representing Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Limited, and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Australasia) Limited.
The documents released under the Freedom of Information Act by ACMA reveal the extensive lengths that Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia Limited, and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Australasia) Limited, went to in trying to have the ABC Four Corners program on the Jehovah’s Witnesses
“removed from any website on which it appears and [to] never be rebroadcast.”
[Doc 8. Attachment E to complaint – Part 1_Redacted. Item F. Conclusions, “Complaint to ABC …” page 46 of complaint.]
Ironically, they requested that the ABC say sorry for the program.
The documents released evidence the extent, and the lengths of deception, i.e. ‘theocratic warfare’, and potential defamation (libel), that Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited has engaged in while trying to launch their planned “civil proceedings” [email sent obo Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited by Peake Legal to NSW Police, dated 5 November 2021].
The documents also reveal the complete, total and utter failure of Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited to prove or establish any of its complaints in relation to, not just the broadcast itself, but also in relation to comments made by the numerous persons who appeared in the ‘Bearing Witness’ program.
What is of serious concern is that Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, a company trust, was a party to the original complaint to the ABC. This 46-page complaint [Document 8. Attachment E to complaint – Part 1_Redacted] goes to great lengths in trying to individually and collectively discredit those persons who appeared on the ABC Four Corners program.
Due to the defamatory nature of the written complaint by Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, JW LEAKS has decided not to publishDocument 8 [Doc 8. Attachment E to complaint – Part 1_Redacted – as read in conjunction with – Doc. 9 Attachment E to complaint – Part 2_Redacted].
Instead, we have provided below a link directly to the ACMA website for downloading of all documents in one convenient zip file. (Note: this is an Australian government website).
The actions and conduct of Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited also raise serious questions as to whether they have engaged in massive unlawful breaches of privacy laws and the Australian Privacy Principles, both in the collection of personal and sensitive information, and in the use of this information, in relation to those that appeared as part of the ‘Bearing Witness’ program.
Among those also singled out for criticism and attack included Lisa Flynn of Shine Lawyers and Irwin Zalkin of The Zalkin Law Firm.
We strongly recommend all those that appeared on the ABC Four Corners program ‘Bearing Witness’ seek legal advice in relation to the conduct and actions of Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, specifically in relation to:
Defamation (libel) laws in the jurisdictions of Australia and the USA; and
Privacy laws within Australia (specifically the Information Privacy Principles in the Australian Privacy Act 1988).
According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, a breach of an Australian Privacy Principle is an ‘interference with the privacy of an individual’ and can lead to regulatory action and penalties.
Disclosure: JW LEAKS provided documents and other information, including footage, to ABC Four Corners for use in the ‘Bearing Witness’ broadcast.
The final complaint outcome
On 4 July 2022, ACMA informed the Jehovah’s Witnesses about the outcome of the official investigation into the ABC Four Corners broadcast ‘Bearing Witness’. The correspondence stated in part:
Thank you for your correspondence, received by the ACMA on 13 May 2022, on behalf of Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Australasia) Limited, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of Australia and Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations, about the compliance of the Four Corners episode, ‘Bearing Witness’, with the ABC Code of Practice 2019 (the Code). I appreciate your patience while the ACMA has considered your clients’ complaint.
We have reviewed the complaint and note that, in summary, it expressed concerns relevant to Standard 2 (Accuracy), Standard 4 (Impartiality), Standard 5 (Fair and Honest Dealing) and Standard 7 (Harm and offence) of the Code.
I appreciate that this matter is of concern to your clients, and I thank you for taking the time to raise it with us.
When we receive a complaint about a broadcast, we weigh up a number of factors to help us decide whether to investigate further.
We have undertaken a detailed assessment of the complaint, a copy of the broadcast, the broadcaster’s response and the relevant rules in the Code. Based on those assessments, we have concluded that there were no issues that raised fundamental concerns with the ABC’s compliance with the Code and we have decided to take no further action.
[Doc 15. Email from ACMA to the complainant 4.0.02022_Redacted]
Watch the ABC Four Corners program “Bearing Witness”
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Why did the Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited trust get involved?
Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited was established in 1982 to hold title to real property, namely all Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The properties are held in trust on behalf of individual congregations and/or beneficiaries.
In the ABC Four Corners program footage was shown of the Raglan Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, NSW (see above). This hall is used by the Bathurst Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Five days after the ABC Four Corners program aired, in the early morning hours of Saturday 18 September 2021, the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Raglan, NSW, was completely destroyed by fire. The premises were not in regular use at the time due to the COVID pandemic.
A crime scene was immediately established by detectives from Chifley Command (Chifley Police District, NSW Police) and an investigation commenced with the assistance of Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service. The investigation is still ongoing.
Image via Facebook
The fire correspondence
On Friday 5 November 2021, some seven weeks after the fire, NSW Police received an email from Peake Legal Solicitors representing Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited. This email exchange is included within the bundle of documents released by ACMA [Doc 10. Attachment E to complaint – Part 3_Redacted].
The email exchange states:
Dear Constable [redacted],
I refer to our telephone conversation this afternoon.
We act on behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited, the legal title holder of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses premises located in Raglan NSW, which was recently the site of a fire. Our client holds the property on trust for the Bathurst Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is an unincorporated association.
Our client is seeking any information or evidence that the Police have been able to uncover, or conclusions that they have drawn, which tend to establish whether or not the fire was started accidentally or intentionally, and if so by whom. Such evidence is critical to civil proceedings which our client wishes to commence as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
NSW Police did not immediately acknowledge receipt of the email. On the morning of 10 November 2021, NSW Police received a follow up email from Peake Legal Solicitors which stated:
My client [Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited] has also asked me to ensure that the Police are aware, that only days before the Bathurst (Raglan) Kingdom Hall was burned down, an article was published on the ABC news website and a Four Corners report was aired on the ABC, both of which contained inflammatory falsehoods about Jehovah’s Witnesses, which in our view were capable of inciting hatred. The report and news article also featured footage of the Raglan Kingdom Hall.
…
We look forward to receipt of your advice regarding any evidence the police may have, that the fire was intentionally started.
Detective Senior Constable [redacted] of NSW Police responded to the email that afternoon, stating:
I am aware of the media articles surrounding the Jehovah’s Witnesses featuring the Raglan Kingdom Hall.
The investigation in relation to the circumstances surrounding the fire at the Raglan Kingdom Hall is ongoing.
I can confirm the following-
[redacted]
The email exchange reveals a potential strategy of Jehovah’s Witnesses Congregations Limited to launch “civil proceedings” in relation to the ABC Four Corners program ‘Bearing Witness’.
The very day before, on 9 December 2021, the Jehovah’s Witnesses submitted a formal ‘complaint’ to the Australian National Office for Child Safety in relation to the ABC Four Corners report that also featured the Bathurst Congregation’s Kingdom Hall.
The complaint stated:
False Media Reports Regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses
On 14 September 2021[sic], the ABC Four Corners report on Jehovah’s Witnesses focused on sensational and unchallenged accounts of hostile ex-Witnesses. The program made false and defamatory statements about the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A number of false representations have arisen based on a gross misinterpretation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse[sic] data that was recklessly and maliciously perpetuated by ABC Four Corners.
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks shines a light on, and holds to account, the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, or that cause religious harm to sections of the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879
AG SHAPIRO ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST FOUR MEN FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA
October 27, 2022
Victims and defendants in all four cases were members of Jehovah’s Witness congregations; defendants’ charges range from rape, indecent assault to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
UPDATE: On February 7, 2023, Pennsylvania Acting Attorney General Henry announced an additional five men had been charged | Media Release
HARRISBURG– Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced criminal charges against four individuals in Pennsylvania, Jesse Hill, formerly of Berks County and now a resident of the state of Georgia, Jose Serrano of Lancaster County, Eric Eleam of Butler County and Robert Ostrander, formerly of Cambria County and now a resident of New York, for the sexual assault and exploitation of children. In each case, all of the defendants’ victims were minors and members of Jehovah’s Witness congregations.
“These cases are disturbing, the allegations hard to imagine, and all share one common tie. The 19 victims and the four men who are being charged with sexually violating them are all members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. These children deserved to be protected and grow up in peace, not to be preyed upon,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “My office will not stop until these defendants are held accountable for their crimes against innocent children and until justice is achieved for these courageous survivors.”
The charges stem from the 49th Investigating Grand Jury and are charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Through the investigation, it was revealed that these men sexually abused and exploited 19 minors with whom they had close contact, in some cases their own children.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the following offenses:
Jose Serrano, 69, of Lancaster County is alleged to have molested six young girls, including his own daughter, in 2011. He confessed to committing many of these criminal offenses to the Grand Jury, and admitted to a life-long struggle with deviant impulses. He has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and Endangering the Welfare of Children.
Jesse Hill, 52, formerly of Berks County, now a resident of the state of Georgia, is alleged to have used his milling business to attract young boys from his Jehovah’s Witness congregation, with promises of alcohol, marijuana, and pornography to his property for parties in the 1990s. Hill would later expose himself to the children, grope them and force them to perform oral sex. The investigation revealed at least 10 victims of Mr. Hill’s abuse. Hill has been charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors.
Robert Ostrander, 56, formerly of Cambria County, now a resident of New York state, is alleged to have sexually abused at least two minors, including his own step-daughter and her friend. He has been charged with Indecent Assault, Endangering Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
Eric Eleam, 61, of Butler County was alleged to have sexually abused his daughter and used sexual molestation as a form of discipline when she was a child. He has been charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual intercourse, Aggravated Indecent Assault, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. When agents from the Office of Attorney General and police from Butler County attempted to take him into custody, he retreated into his bathroom and killed himself behind closed doors.
All of these charges have been filed in the corresponding counties of Lancaster, Berks, and Cambria. Under the leadership of Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has arrested over 500 child predators.
Anyone with information regarding child sexual abuse is encouraged to report information to the Office of Attorney General’s hotline at 888-538-8541. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Dan Dye.
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About JW Leaks
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks exposes and holds accountable the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, and that cause religious harm to sections of the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879
The special talk will be held the week before Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate the 2019 Memorial of Jesus death, on Friday 19 April 2019. Each special talk will be available for downloading via JW Stream for viewing in Kingdom Halls only.
We are currently seeking further confirmation the Mark Sanderson, of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will be giving the Russian-language special talk via Finland.
Will this be the last memorial before the end comes? “It could be. It could be.”
JW Leaks is about openness, transparency and accountability within the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society.
JW Leaks exposes and holds accountable the Watch Tower Society and those leaders within the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization that disregard or violate the laws of the land, and that cause harm to sections of the community.
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Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879.
JW LEAKS 