The governing body has sent the letter, dated 22 April 2014 to announce this to each congregation.
According to the letter, traveling overseers are to take this responsibility based on Ac 14:23, and the article dealing with this arrangement will be discussed in the November 15, 2014, issue of The Watchtower.
Ac 14:23
23 Moreover, they appointed older men for them in each congregation and, offering prayer with fastings, they committed them to Lord in whom they had become believers.
How does this appointment was done in the first century?
Christ appointed 12 apostles.After Christ's resurrection, as the substitute of Judas Is·cari·ot, Joseph and Matthias were chosen from among disciples and Matthias was appointed by lot.
What we can notice here is that trustworthy persons were chosen from among themselves.
It was not done by a particular person who had authority, but by involved parties themselves.
Those chosen must have been ones who had the proven record of reliability and earned due respect from others.
In this manner, ones who are well known by the involved parties and are demonstrating fine works will be chosen by the people concerned.
The biblical way is different from the Watchtower's way.
They are now announcing that they give the authority of appointment to the circuit overseers, but such a delegation of authority is not biblical in the first place.
The WTS doesn't have any legitimate authority given by Christ right from the start.
The biblical way of appointment
There was no central governing body in the Christian community in the first century which had exclusive authority of appointment for entire body of Christ.Soon after the Christian congregation was established at Pentecost, the appointment of trustworthy men for daily distribution of food was conducted.
How was it done?
Ac 6:1-6
1 Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing, a murmuring arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said: "It is not pleasing for us to leave the word of God to distribute [food] to tables. 3 So, brothers, search out for yourselves seven certified men from among YOU, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary business; 4 but we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the thing spoken was pleasing to the whole multitude, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, and Philip and Proch′o·rus and Ni·ca′nor and Ti′mon and Par′me·nas and Nic·o·la′us, a proselyte of Antioch; 6 and they placed them before the apostles, and, after having prayed, these laid their hands upon them.
Who was it that chose seven certified men?
It was members of the congregation, not a particular authority figure like circuit overseer.
Then, these seven men were appointed by the apostles for the service.
Appointment of missionary Work of Paul and Barnabas
Who was it that appointed them to the missionary activity?An imaginary governing body in Jerusalem?
Ac 13:1-3
1 Now in Antioch there were prophets and teachers in the local congregation, Bar′na·bas as well as Sym′e·on who was called Ni′ger, and Lucius of Cy·re′ne, and Man′a·en who was educated with Herod the district ruler, and Saul. 2 As they were publicly ministering to Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said: "Of all persons set Bar′na·bas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then they fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them and let them go.
Notice that it was the holy spirit that chose Paul and Barnabas for the ministry activity, and then the local congregation of Antioch appointed them.
It was not by so called governing body which is claimed being located in Jerusalem by the WTS.
In fact, there was no such a central governing figure in the early Christian community.
Individuals such as Paul, Barnabas, Philip and the like were appointed to ministry work directly by resurrected Jesus in the first century.
There is no record in the Bible that shows the governing body in Jerusalem was involved in such an appointment, nor there was the governing body in Jerusalem.
As the number of the new congregation was increasing, at first appointing to the responsible job was conducted by the missionary who established the congregation.
Then later, the role was entrusted to the local congregation.
For this reason, the Bible contains the standards for the responsible work in the congregation, so that each congregation can appoint any brother qualified to take care of their need.
1Ti 3:1-13 (Tit 1:5-9)
1 That statement is faithful. If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. 2 The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, 3 not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, but reasonable, not belligerent, not a lover of money, 4 a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner, having children in subjection with all seriousness; 5 (if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God's congregation?) 6 not a newly converted man, for fear that he might get puffed up [with pride] and fall into the judgment passed upon the Devil. 7 Moreover, he should also have a fine testimony from people on the outside, in order that he might not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil.
8 Ministerial servants should likewise be serious, not double-tongued, not giving themselves to a lot of wine, not greedy of dishonest gain, 9 holding the sacred secret of the faith with a clean conscience.10 Also, let these be tested as to fitness first, then let them serve as ministers, as they are free from accusation.11 Women should likewise be serious, not slanderous, moderate in habits, faithful in all things. 12 Let ministerial servants be husbands of one wife, presiding in a fine manner over children and their own households. 13 For the men who minister in a fine manner are acquiring for themselves a fine standing and great freeness of speech in the faith in connection with Christ Jesus.
There was no central governing body in the Christian community in the first century which had exclusive authority of appointment for entire body of Christ.
Appointments to the necessary tasks were made by each congregation.
A persons who is well known by the involved parties and are demonstrating fine works will be chosen by the people concerned. Thereafter appointment to necessary position is made by each congregation.
The Bible describes standards for responsible ministry in congregations. So, based on biblical standards each congregation can appoint a qualified brother to take care of their needs.
Each congregation is under Christ's direct oversight.
Christ says ➡ "I know your deeds" to the 7 congregations in the Revelation.
The WTS' way of the personnel affairs' decision is not biblical.
Their way is similar to the way of secular corporation in personnel evaluation and appointment. It is centralized and top-down.
Christian brotherhood is not like that.
If you carefully examine the Acts of Apostles, you will know how to conduct the appointment, Christian ministry and Christian life.
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