Word: franzes
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...Franz is a third-generation Witness. His uncle, Frederick W. Franz, 88, has been the religion's top ideologue for decades and, since 1977, its head. Raymond Franz began full-time work for the sect as soon as he finished high school. He suffered penury during 20 years as a missionary in the Caribbean, became a trusted writer of official publications, and joined the 17-member Governing Body...
Known to outsiders for their persistent door-to-door proselytizing, Jehovah's Witnesses exist within what Franz calls a "hermetically sealed" community; every doctrinal blip or scintilla of sin is closely monitored. Nowhere is this more true than at Bethel, the sect's Brooklyn headquarters. By Franz's account, reading or studying of the Bible is considered "evil" unless conducted in authorized discussions following Watch Tower doctrinal guides, lest staffers veer into error...
Because of his own work as an author of an official volume about the Bible and a growing feeling that Watch Tower discipline was too harsh, Franz privately concluded that the religion emphasized human organization rather than biblical teachings. Says he: "While producing people who were outwardly moral, they subverted the essential qualities of humility, compassion and mercy...
...Franz never hinted at his uncertainties as he delivered speeches in 50 nations through the 1970s. But to ease his internal strain, he took a leave of absence from his Bethel duties early in 1980. Meanwhile, the Governing Body had begun a secret investigation of heresy rumors, and it used star-chamber tactics. Initially there were no direct confrontations. Instead, staff members were allegedly threatened with disfellowshipping to get their testimony about doctrinal discussions with others. On May 21, Franz was summoned to Brooklyn for a fateful grilling by his Governing Body colleagues. Did he doubt that Jehovah had only...
...pursuit of Franz was not over. As a refugee from Bethel and his life's work, he found himself with few marketable skills, a $10,000 settlement from headquarters and $600 in personal savings. He turned to an old friend in the faith, Peter Gregerson of Gadsden, Ala., who runs a regional supermarket chain. Gregerson loaned Franz and his wife a house trailer to live in and gave him work as a handyman. By 1981 Gregerson too had begun to question Watch Tower dogma and resigned from the faith...