xjwsforChrist

Announcement September 27, 2021
FOR ELDERS
1. COVID-19 Vaccinations and Respect for Superior Authorities: Out of concern and
love, we are sharing the following important information. (1 Cor. 12:25) As a result of the
ongoing pandemic, secular authorities in an increasing number of lands are mandating or
strongly encouraging that their citizens be vaccinated for COVID-19. The recent Governing
Body updates have helped Jehovah’s people understand the thinking of the faithful slave on
this matter.

2. Branch offices have reported that some elders have voiced strong personal opinions
against COVID-19 vaccination. Why is this of concern? Romans 13:1 says that “the existing
authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.” Also, the study note on Romans
13:5 says: “A Christian submits to human governments when a command does not contra-
dict God’s laws.” Romans 13:2 states: “Whoever opposes the [secular] authority has taken
a stand against the arrangement of God.” Thus, elders should be careful not to voice per-
sonal opinions that contradict direction from the superior authorities. If an elder has been
doing so, now is the time to stop. (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:4-7) Otherwise, he could become
guilty of causing divisions in the congregation.

3. At Romans 16:17, elders are admonished: “Keep your eye on those who create divisions
and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.”
Thus, elders have a Scriptural responsibility to counsel any, including fellow elders, who
cause divisions in the congregation. (Gal. 6:1) Circuit overseers will closely monitor the sit-
uation. We commend you brothers for “holding firmly” to God’s Word, promoting unity in the
congregation, and taking the lead in showing “honor” to the secular authorities. (Titus 1:9;
1 Pet. 2:13-17) We thank you for your cooperation in this matter, and we take this oppor-
tunity to send our warm Christian love.

FOR COORDINATORS OF THE BODIES OF ELDERS
1. Announcement for Elders: Please arrange for the body of elders to meet this week to
discuss the announcement for elders along with the cited scriptures.

The Coronavirus Crisis
Religious Groups Received $6-10 Billion In COVID-19 Relief Funds, Hope For More
August 3, 20206:57 PM ET
Tom Gjelten

Religious organizations, having received as much as $10 billion in the first round of COVID-19 aid, hope to receive more funding under any new relief package.

Churches of all denominations and other religious nonprofits were quick to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans under the CARES Act in March. The U.S. Catholic Church alone received at least $1.4 billion in funding and possibly as much as $3.5 billion under the program, according to an analysis by the Associated Press, using data provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Mainline Protestant and evangelical churches also benefited. An analysis by Ministry Watch, an organization that provides guidance on charitable giving, reported this month that churches and other religious non-profits as a whole received between $6 and $10 billion in PPP funding.

Well... of course. Should'a know'd it.
SMH.

The Official Website of the City of New York
Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Holds Media Availability

September 28, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everybody. I use a simple formula that I like to remind people, vaccination equals recovery, recovery equals vaccination. We have seen just amazing, amazing progress when it comes to vaccination in the city. It’s fueling recovery, you go around the city, you feel the energy, you see the jobs coming back, why? Because of vaccination and what worked was a combination of incentives and mandates. The $100 incentive, huge impact, the workforce mandates for public employees, the Key to NYC, dining, entertainment, fitness, all of them helped get more people vaccinated that increased health and safety and recovery. We can see it day by day. It's working. There's a new analysis out by Patch based on city data that really puts an exclamation point on it. They looked at what has happened with vaccinations since the first mandates were announced on July 21st. So, just about two months ago. Average vaccinations per day have gone up 45 percent, 45 percent since the mandates were put in place, and that has meant over 1.3 million more doses of the vaccine, huge impact, life-saving impact. And it's amazing what we're seeing overall. We now have over 70 percent of all New Yorkers, all New Yorkers, over 70 percent have had at least one dose, over 82 percent of adults, at least one dose. These are staggering numbers.

So, many parts of the country wish they had the numbers we have because we've been just incessantly focused on vaccination, pushing it, pushing it, pushing it. We've gotten help from public sector, private sector, community organizations, the faith community. One example from the faith community, and I want to correct something I said inaccurately before, because I've been given some information, turned out to be wrong, but I want to take responsibility here, I had the wrong information about the Jehovah's Witnesses community, and in fact we're really happy to say the Jehovah's Witness leadership has been very, very adamant supporting vaccination. In fact, here's a figure from the about 5,000 people who work in the offices of Jehovah's Witnesses houses of worship around the state, 99 percent are vaccinated.