Copies of letters sent prior to the publication of this book.

Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, and Mr.—
Elders of the [congregation name]
Portland, OR

Dear Elders:

    I know that you are aware of my book entitled The Tetragrammaton and the Christian Greek Scriptures. (Last year, four copies of a first-draft edition were given to an Elder in the [other named congregation] for evaluation. I have also personally discussed the first-draft edition with one of your elders.) Since the preliminary edition a year ago, it has been completely revised with much new material added…

    …This has been a personal project stemming from a very pleasant contact with two Witnesses in my home more than 13 years ago. It started as a personal study of the Kingdom Interlinear Translation which took almost two years to complete. At the onset I had no intention of publishing. I have no formal affiliation with any religious group beyond church membership. My relationship with the first publisher (to whom the present edition will also be made available) was a professional contact between a prospective author and publisher devoid of any endorsement on my part of their theological stance or ministry procedure. (It was similar to my relationship with McGraw-Hill when they published a prior electrical text.)

    Understanding as I do that this book will have a wide readership…I am particularly concerned that it be accurate. I do not want to misrepresent manuscript evidence which may be available through the Watch Tower Society. (The book examines the presence of the Tetragrammaton within the Christian Scriptures from a historical and manuscript perspective. It avoids theological arguments.)

    I am sending copies of the final book draft to each of you as well as to Mr. [Circuit Overseer]. Could you arrange a time at your convenience when you, Mr. [Circuit Overseer], and I could meet to evaluate the factual content of the book? Specifically, is there any manuscript evidence which I have omitted which would establish the presence of the Tetragrammaton within the early Christian Greek manuscripts? If there is verifiable evidence which alters the conclusions of my book, I will either amend the present text—or if necessary—withdraw the book from publication. I do not wish to publish false information.

    Inasmuch as you have been aware of my work on this project, I believe we can expedite this evaluation. I know that each of you will be busy through the District Convention at the end of June. Could I suggest that a meeting time no later than July 15th be arranged between us? This will give ample time for each of you to read the material before our discussion. I will not release this book for publication prior to July 16, 1997. If, as an outcome of our meeting, manuscript evidence for the Tetragrammaton's presence in early Greek manuscripts becomes available, I will carefully evaluate that information before proceeding. (I assume that any such material would be readily available to you through the Service Department. The presence of such manuscript evidence would be known if it was used to substantiate the wording of the New World Translation. It would be helpful if manuscript information could be provided to us at the time of our meeting. Photocopies of first to third century Greek manuscripts of the Christian Scriptures which use the Tetragrammaton would provide the most conclusive evidence.)

    It is difficult to write this kind of letter and properly convey my personal feelings to you. Please understand that this is not intended as a "demanding" letter. Nor am I attempting in any way to create an adversarial relationship between us. I want to enjoy a time together in which we can freely discuss the content of that which I have written. I will most certainly include the most accurate material available within the book; I am prepared to do extensive editing if Greek manuscript evidence of which I am unaware is presented to me. I have learned much from you already. I have also greatly profited recently by time spent in our home with an individual from another congregation; I have learned much by listening and in dialogue with him. I desire your input and will very carefully evaluate any new information you can supply for me.

    Thank you for your time on this matter. I have appreciated my association with the [congregation name] over this past year. I trust our time together will be mutually beneficial and will assure an accurate portrayal to future readers of the place of the Tetragrammaton within the Christian Scriptures.

cc: Service Department Overseer
cc: Mr. [District Overseer]
cc: Mr. [Circuit Overseer]

Mr. [District Overseer]
Puyallup, WA

Dear Mr. [District Overseer]:

    I will let the copy letter to the [congregation name] Elders convey the purpose of the meeting between myself and the [congregation name] Elders with Mr. [Circuit Overseer].

    I am enclosing a copy of the book draft. I trust you will have opportunity to read the main chapters as well as familiarizing yourself with the appendix material.

    I am sending this information to you primarily for the purpose of keeping you informed of that which is taking place. However, were you free to join us when I meet with the [congregation name] Elders, for my part I would be delighted were you also free to be present.

    I am aware that this book review will create a time involvement for you. I want you to know of my appreciation in advance. Thank you.

cc: Service Department Overseer
cc: Mr. [Circuit Overseer]
cc: [congregation name] Elders

Mr. [Circuit Overseer]
Portland, OR

Dear Mr. [Circuit Overseer]:

    We have not met, though I have heard you both at the [congregation name] Hall and in Woodburn. I am looking forward to meeting you.

    I will let the copy letter to the [congregation name] Elders convey the purpose of our meeting rather than repeating it here.

    I am enclosing a copy of the book draft. I trust you will have opportunity to read the main chapters as well as familiarizing yourself with the appendix material. I very much want to be open to your comments and observations as we sit down together to discuss this material. I am particularly concerned that I not omit any information which might show evidence of the Tetragrammaton in early Christian Greek manuscripts.

    Again, I am looking forward both to meeting you and to our time together with the [congregation name] Elders.

cc: Service Department Overseer
cc: Mr. [District Overseer]
cc: [congregation name] Elders

Department Overseer
Service Department
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
100 Watchtower Drive
Patterson, NY 12563-9204

To the Service Department Overseer:

    As seen from the copy letters enclosed, I am requesting a meeting with the Elders of my local congregation to discuss the content of a book I am ready to publish. I will let the copy letter to the [congregation name] Elders convey the purpose of that meeting rather than repeating it here.

    I am enclosing a copy of the book draft for your evaluation. …you are free to duplicate [this] material for others' evaluation as needed. Remember, however, that there could be changes to the book draft resulting from new information presented to me in my meeting with the Elders and Circuit Overseer.

    I am writing to you for two reasons. First, I want to keep you informed of that which is taking place. I believe this subject has the potential of becoming a much-discussed topic among Witnesses.

    Secondly, I assume that you have the greatest access to early Greek manuscript material regarding the Tetragrammaton within the Christian Greek Scriptures. I am certain that the [congregation name] Elders and Mr. [Circuit Overseer] would appreciate receiving from you any material which might substantiate the presence of the Tetragrammaton's use by the inspired Christian Scripture writers. After receipt from you, they can subsequently make that information available to me in our meeting.

    Thank you for your time with this matter. I appreciate your effort on my behalf, as well as your effort on behalf of those who will be reading this material in the future.

cc: Mr. [District Overseer]
cc: Mr. [Circuit Overseer]
cc: [congregation name] Elders

Department Overseer
Service Department
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
100 Watchtower Drive
Patterson, NY 12563-9204

To the Service Department Overseer:

    This letter is in regard to my June 5, 1997 request to the [congregation name] elders for a meeting to review the contents of my book draft entitled The Tetragrammaton and the Christian Greek Scriptures.

    I was greatly disappointed that I received no response from either the congregation elders or the Service Department.

    I am anxious that every detail of this book be accurate in its representation of the textual and historical information regarding the Tetragrammaton and the Christian Greek Scriptures. For that reason, I was looking forward to a meeting with the elders which would have given us a chance to evaluate the most current information available on the subject. As I stated in my letter to them, I am prepared to edit—or entirely cancel publication of the book—if I obtain authentic manuscript information which negates the second and third century material I have used in my book draft.

    I am puzzled by the lack of any kind of response on your part. I have come to you with an unprecedented offer to bring my published writing into agreement with the best historical information available. Why have you failed to acknowledge my request with even the common courtesy of declining the meeting? Does your lack of response tell me (and my readers) that you truly have no manuscript evidence that the Tetragrammaton was actually used by the inspired Christian Scripture writers?

    May I again restate my earlier request? If you are aware of any textual or historical information which verifies the Tetragrammaton within the writings of the inspired Christian authors, I would appreciate receiving it from you. In the absence of a timely response from you, I will assume that the Watch Tower Society does not possess authentic information confirming the Tetragrammaton in the original Christian Scripture writings and I will proceed with publication of the book.

cc: Mr. [District Overseer]
cc: Mr. [Circuit Overseer]
cc: [congregation name] Elders: Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, Mr.—, and Mr.—
[Individual letters were sent to each Elder]

Note to the reader: Prior to, and during the duration of this correspondence (except for a short interval at the death of a family member), the author regularly attended either a Theocratic School / Service Meeting or a Book Study. (Weekly attendance continues until present.) At no time prior to the July 15, 1997 date suggested in the author's letters was there confirmation that the books and letters were received, nor was any attempt made to explain why a meeting would not be convened. In addition, at no time has there been formal communication of any kind from the Service Department, the District- or Circuit Overseers, or the congregation Elders to either this request or to the subsequent letter dated July 18, 1997.