It wasn't exactly a rule, but I felt the same thing - not social but spiritual.
Our elders did the shepherding talk first, after that was finished, they accepted a cup of coffee...
WAS THIS A NO-NO FOR YOUR CONG. SHEPHERDING VISITS?
by juni 28 Replies latest watchtower bible
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tijkmo
When I was serving as an Elder I would visit each member 2 or 3x's a year. I would make an invitation saying that it would be nice for us to meet and have only words of encouragement over a cup of coffee and cookies.
I would never bring up negative aspects. My goal was to only talk about positive aspects of the individuals.
They would even ask to visit them more often.
me too...
i would look out for some wt article for us to discuss..tell everyone at the group we would discuss it together..so then we would all help each other to apply some aspect of it...take an ms with me for some calls..take my wife for others...have single sis round to our house if that suited them better..everyone enjoyed them,looked forward to them and the group was more united as a result..they were fun.
other elders hated doing them so didnt...others did them just when they had to..cong members hated them cos they knew they were done grudgingly or they were gonna get told off for something.
of course when i needed sheperding no-one was interested
bygones
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juni
Dang! When I was serving as an Elder I would visit each member 2 or 3x's a year. I would make an invitation saying that it would be nice for us to meet and have only words of encouragement over a cup of coffee and cookies.
I would never bring up negative aspects. My goal was to only talk about positive aspects of the individuals.
They would even ask to visit them more often.
What a concidence.
In what area do you live? That sounds like the way the arrangement should be. Our cong.'s po was terribly conservative and a real old fart. He was the one to call the shots and the others clicked their heels and fell in line. So therefore - no treats. Also, they would let you know where you could improve and if you had any questions. Of course, we didn't cause we didn't want it to drag out any longer or have them raise their brows and start giving us "the look" and the possibility of being called to the "war room".
Thanks to all of you for your comments.
Juni
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What-A-Coincidence
In what area do you live
It was while I was serving in NY Bethel (in one of the local halls).
Check this out... one pioneer sister was living in a home which we knew she should not be (would bring reproach on Jah's name). Then she told me the real reason why she was pionnering (which was all wrong). But damm she was happy pionnering and could not do anything else. She eventually moved out and did not bring reproach on Jah's name in that way ... anyway from what she said about why she was pioneering we could have deleted her from the list but it would DEVASTATE her + she was a like a mom to me. So we let her be, she would be happy that way and also the org would like the hours :-)
off topic here but ...
I could not hold myself together when I announced my departure from the platform (sobbing like crazy) and the congregation as well. The friends would ask to keep in touch with their kids. When I would give the local needs I would talk about POSTIVE things that the congregation was doing and elevated the publishers moral by mentioning them from stage what postive things they have done in advancement of "truth".
damm. i knew i was not doing everything right so how can i expect the friends to be perfect??? i told them my mistakes from stage and they enjoyed that i was frank and honest.
:-)
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95stormfront
........but then the ax dropped. The one brother said that they thought it best if I were to get married again because my son needed a father. My stomach knotted up and my head was swimming in bright lights. I managed to control myself and to continue being polite, but my faith slowly dwindled after this visit
Yeah...and I'll just bet they had an old geezer in mind already picked out for you....... the sexually repressed 'tards that they are.
I'm quite impressed at the restraint you shown them. Had it been me, they both would've had Nike show prints in their asses from being kicked out the door.
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ozziepost
From what I've read and heard, shepherding calls are a misnomer - as usual with the WTS they mean someonthing quite different to what the casual reader may understand it to mean.
The average dub understands a shepherding call to be a "chasing you up" visit - something to be avoided. Shepherding to the elders means just that. It can also include preliminary investigation before a judicial committee 'case'.
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stillajwexelder
Absolutely not - refreshment was always offered
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hamsterbait
I am horrified to see how the whole ethos of the Borg has become so mean spirited and merciless over the years.
When we were inveigled into the WTBTS the shepherding calls were regular, and the elders would always have some lovely scriptural insight.
Like why the Catholic church brought in compulsory confession.
They only shepherd now cause they needs to find out. Not love anymore.
HB
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Hawkeye
I wouldn't personally know. I was only a JW for 10 years. What's a shepherding visit?!!!!!!