Ministerial Assistant

A ministerial assistant is a member of the Témoins of Jéhovah which occupies of the particular functions within a local congregation. Its function is equivalent to that of a Diacre in others Religion S Christian, and is exclusively reserved for a male member.

Origin and significance of the name

The Témoins of Jéhovah say that after having enumerated the requirements of those which are useful like “supervisors” (Greek épiskopoï ) in the congregations, the Apôtre Paul quoted those which the faithful ones must fill designated as “ministerial assistants” (grac diakonoï ). At certain places, the Greek word diakonos is translated simply by “minister” or “servant” for example into Matthieu 20:26; 22:13. Since, according to the teaching of the Pilot of Jéhovah, all their members are “ministers” or servants of Jéhovah, the term diakonoï must with their directions take on here a particular direction having milked with the order and the structure within the congregation. So they deduce from it that there are two groups of men who assumed at the time biblical responsibilities in the congregation: “old hand” “supervisors” or, and the “ministerial assistants”, whose function would be less important.

Until 1995, the ministerial assistants was called ministerial servants.

Requirements

The Témoins of Jéhovah are based on verses such as 1 Timothée 3:1 - 10, 12,13 and Tite 1:5 - 9 to define the requirements to reach the function of ministerial assistant. Here these conditions such that they appear in the Traduction of the new world:

“Irreprehensible; having a beautiful testimony on behalf of people of the outside; free from charge. ” It must be free of any reproach and above any charge justified having milked with a bad conduct or lesson nonin conformity with the official Doctrine S the organization. If, in the past, it made a reprehensible Péché according to the religious movement, it can be named with this function only provided that the consequences of sound Péché are not visible any more and that it enjoys a good reputation.

“Husband of only one woman. ” It cannot be polygamous.

“Which chairs its house in an excellent manner, which holds his/her children in the tender. ” It must have gained the respect of the others while directing its household according to the directives of the organization, particularly at the spiritual level. Even if one of the members of its family rejects the Témoin worship of Jéhovah, the ministerial assistant is not necessarily to disqualify his function, if it made any possible sound to help his relative to embrace the Foi this religion.

“Not a drunkard quarreller, nor devoted to much wine. ” It should not misuse alcoholic beverages.

“Not friendly of the money nor avid of profits déshonnêtes. ”

“Not a new convert; put initially to the test to judge its aptitude. ” It cannot be baptized recently; the duration of the testing period is not fixed, but must show that he is a spiritual man following the requirements of the Témoins of Jéhovah.

Serious
“. ” It is necessary for him to behave in a worthy way, which gains the respect of others to him.

“free from duplicity; who is a pure aware. ” It must always say the truth, not to be talkative nor twisted, to firmly defend the teaching of the Witnesses of Jéhovah, and to be right.

Reasons for disqualification

According to the writings of the Pilot of Jéhovah, a member can be to disqualify of his function of ministerial assistant for reasons such as those:

to attack a child sexually;

the fact that he asks an exorbitant dowry;

of the intrigues violent one with respect to his wife or her children;

the loss of the respect of others in the business connections;

a remarriage for a reason other than the Adultery.

Functions

Currently, the ministerial assistants carry out various tasks within the congregation to which they belong: they deal in particular with, the organization casch management of the activity of preaching, the maintenance of the Salle of Kingdom, etc Parfois, according to their personal capacities, of the ministerial assistants direct their clean study of book, present a public speech during the meeting of the weekend, chair part of the program of the meeting of service or direct a secondary school of the École of the theocratic Ministry.

Criticisms

According to Dany Bouchard, ex-Witness of Jéhovah, to progress in the hierarchy jehovist, it is usually necessary to obtain favor near an old at least. It is advisable to be more active in preaching, to render more services rendered, to take part more in the meetings, and to hold its family especially well. A phase of observation will take place, neither too long, not to discourage the applicant, nor too short, so that progress of this one is confirmed. One will entrust initially minor tasks to him (to count the assistants with the Réunions of the congregation, to distribute publications, etc) and generally, these services “will be rendered with an eagerness curling servility”. The position of ministerial assistant can constitute “a position that, precisely, much will not be likely any to take down in the civil society”.

It estimates that sometimes the choices of old in the nominations “so inappropriate or are tinted nepotism that they need a great force of persuasion to make them pass”. She criticizes the claim which the assistance of the the Holy Spirit has the college of old to assert of the choice of its decisions. To final, she says that it is old “the most persuasive, most resistant (...) which gains the adhesion of the others”.

See too

Internal bonds

References

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