3, 4. What problem was addressed in the Watch Tower of November 15, 1895, and what far-reaching change was announced?
3 An extensive article published in the Watch Tower of November 15, 1895, laid bare a problem: Stormy waves of trouble were disrupting the peace in the association, or organization, of Bible Students.
... 15. (a) The arrangement for congregations to have a body of elders has yielded what benefits? (b) What shows that our King acted with foresight?
15 The arrangement of sharing congregation responsibility among members of bodies of elders has proved to be a great improvement.
HOW THE MANNER OF OVERSIGHT IMPROVED
1881—To establish contacts among Bible Students living in the same area, Brother Russell asks those who regularly hold meetings to inform the Watch Tower office where they meet.
1895—All congregations are instructed to choose from among themselves brothers who can serve as elders.
1919—In each congregation a service director is appointed theocratically by the branch office. His responsibilities include organizing the preaching work and encouraging participation in the field ministry. Some of the congregation elders do not support the arrangement of having a service director.
1932—The annual election of elders by the congregation is eliminated. Instead, the congregation elects a service committee made up of brothers who zealously share in the preaching work and who live up to the newly adopted name Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of their number, nominated by the congregation, is appointed by the Society or branch office to be the service director.
1937—Brothers who are part of the great crowd can serve on service committees alongside their anointed brothers.
1938—Congregations adopt a resolution requesting that all congregation servants be appointed theocratically. This marks the end of democratic elections in the congregations.
To learn more about historical developments in organizational structure, see Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, pages 204-235.