In this Possibility, we propose that the first phase in effecting positive and lasting changes within the Watchtower organization begins with a bold statement of humility by the Governing Body. These men need to humble themselves and ‘come clean.’ They need to cut away the baggage in one swift action rather than ‘piecemealing’ a gradual change. Lives are at stake. We cannot waste anymore time in polite niceties to avoid offending those who have willingly ‘shut their eyes and closed their ears’ to truth. (Matthew 13:15)

We understand that there are two basic divisions in the Watchtower organization – (1) the corporations that provide the scaffolding for the organization; and (2) the fellowship of believers. We leave the matters of corporate affairs to those who have more insight into their formation and operations. Our interest is in their most valuable resource – the men and women of faith who are in line for a glorious future in the heavens as the children of God. Once the faith children have developed a proper relationship with the Father and Christ Jesus, the corporations will either reorganize to accommodate the new Fellowship, or they will likely lose their tax exempt status and implode on their own devices. No longer will ‘the tail wag the dog.’

This is the leadership letter that we believe the Governing Body should publish. It will accomplish four important goals: (1) it will swiftly extricate them from their past role as false prophets and confused teachers; (2) it will provide direction for the brothers and sisters in their care on how to begin anew; (3) it will lay the foundation for the Christian Jubilee; and (4) it will demonstrate leadership by example and show the kind of humility that will be necessary if these men truly want to be a part of the Father’s Kingdom. The letter goes something like this:

TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

Dear Brothers,

As many of you may know, there have been many developments within our organization, some favorable, but many not so favorable. We are discovering that many of the unfavorable developments have arisen due to a failure on our part to truly discern the will of the Master Christ Jesus at this time in history and ‘the time of our being inspected.’ (Luke 19:44) While we deeply appreciate the tireless and well-intended efforts of our predecessors in teaching truth to the best of their ability, we can no longer assent to those teachings that are not in harmony with what we have discovered are the original, actual, authentic, plain and open teachings of Christ Jesus.

We are not placing the error solely on our past leadership, as we have knowingly promoted and furthered those teachings ourselves. Though it may very well appear that we continued with these errors due to an improper motive, the truth is that we simply did not know how to right the wrongs in a way that would not completely destroy the faith of so many of our brothers and sisters who have trusted us over the years. We had hoped that if we could somehow establish a clear channel of authority, we could gradually turn the organization toward the light. But these efforts backfired and had the opposite effect of what was intended. It has now become clear that the only way to right matters is to completely let go of the errors and start anew.

In particular, the following scriptures have become abundantly clear:

“You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.”
– Galatians 3:26-28

“But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
– Matthew 23:8-12

Yes, brothers. We have one Leader, Christ Jesus. We all have one Father, the Great and Awesome Heavenly One. As such, we are all brothers who all have the hope of eternal life in heaven as sons of God and heirs of Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:15-17) We humble ourselves before our one Father in the hope that in due time, He will accept our offer of corrected and humble service and bless us once again as Witnesses, but this time of His appointed sovereign, Christ Jesus, even as Jesus himself said:

“But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth.”
– Acts 1:8

This one truth effects so many of our teachings and publications that mere revisions are not possible or proper. What is now needed is a fresh start – a new era of truth and light – beginning with a new education program to teach the plain and open teachings of Jesus, first in our congregations, and then for use in the ministry. Yes, dear brothers, it is time for our entire organization to be ‘born again.’ (John 3:3) As such, we declare this the Jubilee Year for Jehovah’s Witnesses!

The first step of the Jubilee will be the formation of a new Fellowship that will be dedicated to the religion of Jesus as he taught it and as he practiced it. We will be known as “Anointed Witnesses of Christ.” This new Fellowship will take over the teaching program and will be directing the preaching work. Then we will reorganize our current companies and corporations so that they fully support the new Fellowship.

This change in no way minimizes the love we have for Jehovah, but we cannot expect to have His favor if we circumvent His divine will “that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground” (Philippians 2:10), nor His divine command that we “listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5) Therefore, in true obedience to Jehovah, we deem it necessary that our name be a reflection of the true ministry we will be engaging in.

This Jubilee will have a significant effect on the organization and will include the following phases, all of which will be discussed in more detail in future correspondence:

• All persons who are currently disfellowshiped, disassociated, marked or shunned, are no longer considered as such and are free to rejoin the congregations in full fellowship if they so choose, without any repercussions. And likewise all who choose to leave the organization may leave without any repercussions. Accordingly, all congregation publisher cards will be destroyed. There will be an opportunity in the future for those who choose to become a part of the new Fellowship to provide their contact information.
• The formal preaching and teaching work will temporarily stop until our brothers and sisters are “adequately qualified to teach others.” (Timothy 2:1-2)
• A new education program will begin within the congregations that will educate our brothers and sisters as to the ‘true good news’ and their role as Witnesses and Ambassadors of Christ Jesus.
• We will provide opportunities for re-baptisms for all those who desire to start anew in their dedication to God in imitation of Christ Jesus.
• After it is determined who will choose to become a part of the new Fellowship, there will be a reorganization of administrative and service positions, such as overseers, pioneers, traveling, branch and regional servants and those in the Worldwide Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

As mentioned, more information on each of these phases will be provided in the near future.

While we are undergoing these initial changes, those brothers and sisters who already recognize their sonship with God and are already pursuing the heavenly hope according to the plain and open teachings of Jesus will be asked to assist in this transition. Their assistance will be
paramount in helping our new Fellowship become truly God-oriented, Christ-following, and Spirit-directed.

We recognize that the greater number of those associated with the current organization do not consider themselves qualified as sons of God with the heavenly hope and therefore may have strong misgivings about these changes. Our hope is that such brothers and sisters apply themselves to the education program and remain open to the possibility that our Grand Father has greater things in store for them. And as those with the earthly hope begin to realize and accept the true Christian hope, it will be as John the Baptist stated: Those belonging to the old organization will keep on decreasing, while those belong to the new Fellowship will keep on increasing (John 3:30) until there is a complete transition and we all become “Anointed Witnesses of Christ.”

We know this announcement will come as a shock to many. Please know that it was equally shocking to those of us who must implement these changes. But we also know that for those who truly love God, there is no stumbling block that we cannot overcome.

“Abundant peace belongs to those who love your law; Nothing can make them stumble.”
– Psalms 119:165

We will begin our Jubilee on October 1. We welcome all who wish to join themselves to “Anointed Witnesses of Christ” where we will begin a new religious and spiritual life in service of our Lord and Master Christ Jesus.

We know there will be many, many questions. Please bear with us as more directions will be given in the near future as to how these changes will be specifically implemented. In the meantime, we ask for your prayers and for forgiveness for the terrible errors in our leadership, even as we humble ourselves before our Great God and Father, and His Christ.

We wish peace to the entire association of our brothers and ask for your support of the new Fellowship,

Your Brothers,
Samuel Herd, Jeffrey Jackson, Stephen Lett, Gerrit Losch,
Anthony Morris, Mark Sanderson, and David Splane
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (2014)

We know this is a lot to expect of the Governing Body, but it is the least that should be offered by them given their history. Imagine if they would pursue such a course. Imagine the positive energy that would be immediately infused into the Fellowship. Imagine those who left the organization who might now consider rejoining such a new Fellowship. Imagine those onlookers who might want to become a part of such a true Christian Fellowship. And imagine the freedom of those who had been held captive to man’s laws who can now freely associate with their friends and families without repercussion. It will be like the Hebrew Jubilees where it was written:

“You must sanctify the 50th year and proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants. It will become a Jubilee for you, and each of you will return to his property and each of you should return to his family.”
– Leviticus 25:10

Of course, this is only a beginning step, but it is a significant one. And it shows that change is just that simple, as is forgiveness. As Jesus told the woman caught in adultery: “Go your way; from now on practice sin no more.” (John 8:11) So to the Governing Body and all Jehovah’s Witnesses who have failed to properly honor the Son, you can have a fresh start, a clean slate. Simply move forward “and practice sin no more.”

True Christian freedom has always been at our fingertips. All we ever needed to do is to speak it and live it. The Father and Christ Jesus have already done all the heavy lifting necessary.

So, we wonder: What do you think about this Possibility? Whether in favor or opposed, we welcome your comments.