An elder called my wife's cell because it was the only number he had on hand. She answered and he asked if I would call him back.
I had a meeting with this elder and another about 4 months ago. It went really well, I stated my feelings and doubts and they felt I was just a man on a path of his own and left me alone.
I have never held any position in the WT, pretty much just got baptized and fell off the radar so they don't feel me as any kind of threat to the congregation.
My family on the other hand are trying to get me DF'ed.
They know my internet screen name and have been printing out "incriminating" statements made by me on this forum and have finally submitted it to the elders in my congregation.
So I call this elder back. I have been preparing myself to a JC meeting (because of the game my family is playing) so I feel I am ready for anything. Fortunately the elders I am working with are very understanding.
The elder started out asking me how I was doing and if I still felt the same way I did the last time we talked (the last meeting with them I told them I didn't need help from the congregation and that my path was personal, they respected that), I told them I was still "good" and very happy.
Then he said he had just one quick question for me: "Who is Sabastious?" He gave me an out, he asked me of this "sabastious" was just someone trying to mess with me, he gave me an opportunity to lie, it was pretty obvious what he was trying to do. He wanted to see if I would lie if I had an "out." Pretty savvy actually.
I said that "sabastious" was indeed me. I promised myself I would not lie in these situations, and I am holding myself to that.
He asked me why I said the things I did on this site. I told him that this is basically Group Therapy and it is so helpful because the people I talk to here don't know me personally and have no vested interest in the decisions I make, a trait I cannot find in my family or congregation. He seemed to understand what I was talking about.
I then told him that I felt very violated because he was holding onto a packet of my most personal thoughts, and they were being used to incriminate me. I asked him how what I say in group therapy could be used as evidence for anything. I told him that what I say here could be influenced by any number of factors. Taking what I say here, out of context, is useless as evidence for anything and that the only real way of getting my opinion is to TALK to ME (not spy on my group therapy). Every time him and me had talked he has understood my position. So the only REAL evidence he has (talking to me) has been a good and understanding experience.
I said it was intrusive to go out and find my threads which do not encroach anyone in my family or my congregation's lives (they don't even know the posts exist), they had to seek it out, and that's on them.
He said something like "Alex, it just sounds like you doing what we are all doing, trying to figure out where we stand in this world."
It was pretty encouraging to hear an elder say something like that. It gives me hope that maybe if the Elders in this organization stand up for what is right, maybe change will come, maybe we will be able to get our family's back.
-Sab