How About A Preparing For A Judicial Committee Booklet?

by DT 12 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  DT

  Imagine if someone prepared a small booklet about preparing for a judicial committee that could be shared as either an actual booklet or a pdf.

  I think it would be best if such a booklet were written in a neutral, nonjudgemental way, but have quotes from the elder's book that discuss the various rules that relate to judicial committees. A complete list of disfellowshipping offenses could also be useful. It could end with a few strategies and tips for dealing with a judicial committee.

  It's only fair that JW's have access to the actual rules of judicial committees. Since the Governing Body hasn't seen fit to fill this need, we could help them out. What do you think?
• 

  Blind_Of_Lies

  I think it’s a great idea but I doubt it would get much use. The booklet would be labeled apostate any anyone caught using it or sharing it would have another charge to answer too with the judicial morons. Non elders and women are not supposed to be in the same room with that Sheppard The Flock book when its opened. If a booklet with direct quotes from that book came out they would say just about anything to prevent people from seeing it.

  It’s a great idea, if it helps just 1 person then it is a success. It would appeal to people who didn’t care the outcome of the judicial committee in the first place. I wish I had a handbook called “leaving with dignity” or something that walked me through the phases of leaving and what recourse the elders have… Had I known 20 years ago that if you just stop going to meetings and cut all ties that make you seem like a Witness…there is nothing they can or will do.
• 

  snare&racket

  Why bother?

  If you want to stay and fight them , then i dont know where to start...

  If you want to leave then leave,

  if you want to leave but don't want to be DF'd then be smart.

  As for the elders court, if they want you out, your out... Forget some fancy lines repeated back to them from a pamphlet... You can read them verses from the bible that won't make a blind bit of difference. They have their commands from a higher source, Brooklyn docks.
• 

  IsaacJ22

  I can think of several reasons for this. Sometimes, those who don't believe wish to remain to keep in contact with their loved ones. Hence, the book could give "legal" advice and strategies to help you avoid being DFed. Or it could help someone who wanted to expose what a joke the system is. Or it could even offer a chapter that helps anyone make their last stand against the elders before bowing out on their own.

  Personally, I think the whole system is screwed up. In "the world," you get a lawyer and all that. JWs get no such expert advice. The system is stacked against them. The flow of power is totally one directional in the org.
• 

  00DAD

  Here's a chapter that should definitely be included in such a book along with my contributions:

  How to Record a Judicial Meeting
• 

  jwfacts

  Great idea. I think a lot of people regret the way it went as they did not know what to expect regarding the format, the response from the elders or the outcome. It would be good to include different approaches for people that want to avoid getting disfellowshipped, compared to people that want to give a message.
• 

  EmptyInside

  I definitely would make use of it. I have no idea what the future will bring with my fade,can't stay in limbo forever. So far,the elders haven't bothered with me.
• 

  00DAD

  Hey everyone, check out this new thread by Marvin Shilmer:

  Judicial Committee Preparation
• 

  DT

  Thank you for all your comments.

  Unfortunately, I don't have time for a project like this at the moment, but I would be willing to consider it for the future. I would also be happy to support someone else who would like to try this.

  There is already a lot of good information about this topic and some great ideas for a possible future publication.

  I thought I would elaborate some more about my specific ideas if I end up working on this.

  I would make current, believing Witnesses my focus. Although, I would want to help those who are facing a judicial committee, my main goal would be to provide access to the elder's secret rules. Although, the Watchtower Society is able to block distribution of the Elder's manual due to copyright, it's my amateur, nonlawyerly opinion that a booklet that makes use of appropriate fair use quotes from that book should be safe.

  I think that a well designed booklet would be almost irresistable for some witnesses. Ideally, it would be nice for current elder to put the finishing touches on the booklet and express his opinion that the publishers should have access to the information so they can prepare themselves. (Of course, he should protect his identity.) I don't think it's necessary to criticise or have a negative tone. The quotes would mostly speak for themselves.

  The final document could be shared on document sharing sites and even printed. If it's small enough, it could be hidden in Watchtower publications in the library or the literature counter. It could even be designed in a way that it looks like an official Watchtower publication.
• 

  DT

  I just had another idea.

  Suppose, the cover of the booklet said something like, "Not for general distribution. A copy should be made available to those who are invited to a judicial committee."

  This might overcome the common initial fear of apostate literature. Someone who looks at it might conclude that it is a real publication and that they are just being a little bit nosy by looking at it.