Nathan Homer Knorr
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Nathan Homer Knorr (April 23, 1905 - June 8, 1977) was the third president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doing so on January 13, 1942, replacing Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who had served in the position since 1916.
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[edit] Life
Born April 23, 1905, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he began to show interest in the International Bible Students at age 16. He left the Reformed Church in 1922 and in 1923 he was baptized as a Bible Student. Ironically, the person who gave the talk that day was Frederick W. Franz, who, though he was some years older, outlived Knorr and succeeded him as the president of the Watchtower Society. The two men became close friends and companions, and they served several years together as members of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Knorr died from a cerebral tumor June 8, 1977.
[edit] Contribution to Jehovah's Witnesses
Knorr's most striking contribution to Jehovah's Witnesses was an intense educational focus. Within a month of his taking office, arrangements were made for an Advanced Course in Theocratic Ministry, a school that featured Bible research and public speaking. On September 24, 1942, Knorr suggested that the Society establish another school to train missionaries for service in foreign countries where there was a great need for Kingdom proclaimers. The suggestion was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. In upstate New York, the first class of Gilead School -- the name given to this missionary school -- commenced on Monday, February 1, 1943. The doctrine of not accepting blood transfusions also came under Knorr's leadership.
Knorr was an excellent organizer who understood that good branch organization was needed to keep pace with the forward movement of the preaching work. In 1942, when he became president, there were 25 branch offices. By 1946, despite the bans and hindrances of World War II, there were branches in 57 lands. Over the next 30 years, the number of branches increased to 97.
[edit] Publications
Some of the publications used by Jehovah's Witnesses which were released during Knorr's stewardship were: Equipped For Every Good Work, Let God Be True, Make Sure Of All Things, From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, Awake! magazine, which replaced Consolation (formerly The Golden Age), All Scripture Is Inspired Of God And Beneficial, and the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
[edit] Organizational adjustments
Beginning October 1, 1972, adjustments began in the oversight of the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. The writing of Aid to Bible Understanding lead to a new interpretation of the Bible's mention of elders and "older men" and seems to have been the catalyst for the religion to adjust its organizatonal structure. (Franz 21-22) A revision to the Watchtower Society's organizational manual in 1972 explains this adjustment as, "it is noteworthy that the Bible does not say that there was only one "older man", one overseer, in each congregation. Rather, it indicates that there were a number of such." (Organization 53) There would no longer be one congregation servant, or overseer, but a body of elders and ministerial servants. One elder would be designated chairman, but all the elders would have equal authority and share the responsibility for making decisions. Frederick W. Franz, then vice president of the Watchtower Society, is cited as codifying this organizational change despite Knorr's initial reluctance. (Franz 24-25)
Later, the chairmanship of the Governing Body would also be affected, rotating according to alphabetical order. And finally, in December of 1975, leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses passed from the president of the Watch Tower Society to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Beginning 1 January 1976 the Governing Body formed several committees to oversee publishing, writing, teaching, service and personnel. Knorr worked with the new arrangement until illness forced his move to Watchtower Farms in Wallkill, New York shortly before his death.
[edit] References
- jv 96, 98, 101, 592
- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Organization for Kingdom-Preaching and Disciple-Making. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.: New York, 1972.
