Governing Body Held Accountable Eighteen Years Ago
When Dateline aired their expose on the cover up of child abuse within JWorg in May of 2002, they attempted to disfellowship all on the program before it aired. For those reasons I decided to flip the two eye-witness principle on them. The letter below is to the Service Department, sent by mail to request a Judicial Hearing for the Governing Body. It was sent by certified mail so they could not deny receiving it. The letter stated that on September 27, 2002 we would present over one hundred eye-witnesses to the Governing Body’s crimes against children.
Why?
As the letter explains, to “no longer share in the sin”. Millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses share in the sin that the GB continues to perpetrate against children through their egregious policies. Recently the Zalkin Law Firm filed charges directly against the Governing Body. It reminded me of one of the first meetings I had in working with the Zalkin Firm as I told them, “It is my ultimate goal to see the Governing Body led out of Bethel in handcuffs for their culpability in hurting kids.” Well, ten years later the legal precedents have been laid for that to happen. These haughty, arrogant, demagogues, may soon find out while they may be above the laws of their organization, they are not above the laws of the land, when it comes to hurting children.
When and if this happens you can thank the ones that started the movement to speak out on abuse within Jehovah’s Witnesses;
Silentlambs gave a voice and the platform for victims to be heard when no one was listening. They identified the database in 2002 as a hiding place for thousands of pedophiles. It was Silentlambs that got Dateline to take notice and then the New York Times to do a major article about the abuse cover up. It was Silentlambs that produced the first elder to back the survivors and explain how the two witness rule was being used to hurt kids. This gave the foundational credibility that allows the programs we are seeing today. The Body of Elders letters that Silentlambs released, are the foundation of successful litigation that has cost JWorg millions in payment to victims. The work of Silentlambs is the voice of thousands that are found on the website that each day helps others to know they are not alone.
The letter below was an indictment of the Governing Body to show they live above the very laws the impose on their followers. Some Bethelites actually left Bethel after seeing those in the “March” as they knew we were telling the truth and trying to seek justice. If you read the link above you will see how the GB responded like the cowards they are. They hid and used their henchmen to escape justice from their victims. While we know no justice will ever compensate for the harm they have caused, yet, it is good to know they might just be hearing the hoofbeats of their self induced apocalypse as the end draws near.
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June 6, 2002
Service Committee/Service Department
c/o Watchtower
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Dear brothers,
I am writing to address a serious matter involving the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The basis of this letter is found in the scriptures at Galatians 2:11-14. In those verses it describes the occasion when Paul confronted Peter for wrongdoing. The humble reaction of Peter not only showed his repentance but his willingness to follow theocratic direction.
It is interesting to note in a recent letter dated February 7, 2002, this position was reiterated by the head of the Department of Public Information, J. R. Brown. Therein Brother Brown states, “Our Governing Body is willing to resolve differences of opinion within the framework of the congregation and according to Scriptural principles.” This is a welcome affirmation of how an organization directed by God’s spirit should operate. No one is above God’s law, even as Peter who walked with Christ did not consider himself above reproof from a fellow elder when he became involved in wrongdoing.
Wrongdoing is a serious matter within God’s organization. By the directions we are offered, no one is above the directives offered by His organization and anyone who knows of serious wrongdoing and does not report it would in effect, “share in the sin” thus making them subject to a similar judgment for not reporting the matter. To provide the basis for this opinion I refer to the 1985 Watchtower where it makes this statement:
*** w85 11/15 21-2 Do Not Share in the Sins of Others ***
Elders must also be alert not to protect one another or ministerial servants if one of them has committed a serious sin that could result in disfellowshipping. They should follow the principle outlined by Paul, who wrote: “Never lay your hands hastily upon any man They should follow the principle outlined by Paul, who wrote: “Never lay your hands hastily upon any man; neither be a sharer in the sins of others; preserve yourself chaste.”—1 Timothy 5:22.
Today I write this letter as a fellow elder and Jehovah’s Witness in good standing. Why do I make that statement? In December of the year 2000 I made public my decision to resign as an elder in protest of Watchtower Policy regarding how child molestation was handled in the Christian congregation. While on December 31, of that year the Circuit Overseer informed me that he accepted my resignation, yet to date, no announcement to the congregation has been made in that regard. By protocol within the organization it would appear as a result I remain an elder until that announcement is made. Please refer to the June 28, 1999 letter to All Bodies of Elders where it states:
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“An announcement of deletion should be made to the congregation after receiving from the Society the returned S-2 form or an S-52 letter indicating that the recommendation has been approved. In such a case, the brother should be informed of his deletion before the announcement is made.”
So according to this information the deletion does not take effect until the announcement is read to the local congregation and I am informed of it being given, thus it appears that along with being a Jehovah‘s Witness in good standing I also remain an elder. It is true this is a loophole but you might compare it to the loophole used by Watchtower Legal to avoid reporting child molestation in 33 States. As they use their loophole to protect the image of the organization, I use my loophole to try and protect children.
Therefore with the above thoughts in mind I as a Jehovah’s Witness and fellow elder wish to make the following charges against the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses:
1. Apostasy-The Governing body has taken action against the true worship of Jehovah and the established order among his dedicated people (Jer.17:13; 23:15; 28.15,16 ; 2 Thess. 2: 9,10) They have deliberately spread and stubbornly held to teachings contrary to Bible truth in the establishment of an organizational Policy that hurts children.
2. Loose Conduct-The Governing Body has shown a. disregard for theocratic order in their failure to protect the flock. ( Gal. 5:19:2 Pet. 2:7; w83 3/15 p.31; w73 9115 pp, 574-6; it-2 p. 264 )
3. Causing Divisions-The Governing Body has committed deliberate action to disrupt the unity of the congregation and undermined the confidence of the brothers in Jehovah's arrangement by their inaction on matters concerning child abuse and battered women. ( Rom. 16:17, 18; Titus 3: 10,11 )
The actions of the Governing Body in establishing Watchtower Policy with regard to how child molestation is handled in the Christian Congregation at the direction of the Service Department, Legal Department, District Overseers, Circuit Overseers, and local elders, has broken God's law and destroyed the lives of many faithful brothers and sisters.
Therefore I formerly request to resolve this matter “within the framework of the congregation and according to Scriptural principles,” by calling for a judicial committee to be convened in Brooklyn, New York on September 27, 2002 of three impartial elders who are spiritual men with no fear for standing up for righteousness, I will bring several hundred eye-witnesses who will provide extensive evidence in the form of written documentation, personal experience, and eye-witness testimony, to accuse the Governing
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Body that by their policy on child molestation they are guilty of racketeering, witness tampering, conduct unbecoming a Christian and crimes against children.
It is my hope the judicial committee will be able to find acts of repentance commensurate with their wrongdoing committed against children. If so then Public Reproof will help the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses to know the Governing Body has become truly repentant humble men and will act in the best interests of Jehovah's Witness children. On the other hand if proper works of commensurate repentance cannot be found or if they try to minimize the wrong, the Governing Body should be disfellowshipped and not reinstated until they take responsibility for their actions.
The date has been set months in advance to give the Governing Body time to make appropriate arrangements to be present as well as prepare for their defense and also to give the witnesses against them sufficient time to make travel arrangements.
It is my optimism the Governing Body much like the Apostle Peter, will humbly address these matters in the best interests of the entire organization so as to bring God's blessing and holy spirit in full flow upon his people. I offer you ten days from the date of this letter to respond in a timely manner, along with this letter goes my warm Christian love.
Very truly yours,
William H. Bowen on behalf of
Silentlambs, inc.
PO Box 311
Calvert City, KY 42029
cc. Governing Body