Loss of Elders

by metatron 42 Replies latest jw friends

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  dozy

  Just my perspective as an active elder...

  When I attended the elders school in November , the average age must have been 55 , including numerous very old brothers. There were some younger elders who did the bulk of the teaching parts. Notably , there were very few "young" (30 something) elders - and a couple of them had "goatee" beards , so I guess the appointment criteria has been relaxed!

  One of my fellow elders gave a talk at the MS KM school on the Sunday and he was saddened that most of the servants were the kindly , elderly type with very few who would be likely to be potential elder material. To make matters worse , in the UK , the WTS is expanding in Bethel and is cherry picking many of the young , enthusiastic brothers without any thought of the effect on their home congregations.

  The CO is desperate to appoint any brothers , regardless of qualifications. A couple of years ago , the body was split 50-50 on appointing a certain brother as a MS (I was strongly against an appointment) and the CO forced it through - we are now left with a brother as a MS who hardly attends meetings , has no responsibilities whatsoever and is a MS in name only.

  Without giving too many details that would identify my congregation , the elders carry out virtually all the functions that normally MS would have carried out , due to a combination of lack of manpower and lack of competence from our servants (none of whom would be given a recommendation if they moved away from here.)

  Just my 2p.
• 

  XBEHERE

  The composition of elder bodies seems to vary from place to place but one thing is common in all areas I think: There are very few up and comings. In my hall we have so much "dead weight" its uncanny. Nobody is reaching out and nobody wants to either besides young, I wanna prove something pioneers or MTS grads and there arent many of them to begin with. Its going to be very interesting when my 30-40somethings generation gets older and there are not many young elders to fill in for us.
• 

  BluesBrother

  
  Metatron has had the same experiences as me, no doubt. The comment about an accounts servant is right out of my memory. As for nobody wanting to take on jobs, well when they foisted the Secretaryship on me I always resented the fact that I had been out manoeuvered in the body meeting. Btw I thought this was interesting about elderly elders and the like :-

  w90

  9/1 p. 22 pars. 17-18 Are You Reaching Out? ***

  Because of health problems or for other reasons, some who once cared for important congregation duties do not presently have such privileges. These should not be discouraged. We know that many faithful men no longer able to serve as fully as they once did are still standing firm as integrity keepers. (Psalm 25:21) Indeed, humble longtime elders can continue to make their experience available by remaining on the body of elders. Though handicapped by age or disabilities, they need not step down. Meanwhile, let each Witness of Jehovah cherish the finest privilege of all, that of ‘talking about the glory of God’s kingship’ as upholders of his holy name.—Psalm 145:10-13.

  If you at one time were an elder or a ministerial servant but do not now serve in that capacity, be sure that God still cares for you, and perhaps he will grant you some unexpected privileges in the future. (1 Peter 5:6, 7) If you need to make some adjustments, be willing to admit a fault and work on it with God’s help. Some who have been deleted as elders have adopted an unchristian attitude, and a few have become inactive or have fallen away from the truth. But how wise it is to be like those who have manifested a fine spirit! For instance, when an elder who had served for years in Central America was deleted, he said: "It hurts me very much to have lost the privilege that I have treasured for so long. But I am going to work hard in whatever way the brothers want to use me and work to recover my privileges of service." In time, this brother was privileged to serve as an elder again.
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  under_believer

  Am I the only one who has always been creeped out by the term "deleted?"
• 

  MinisterAmos

  Fairchild:

  Don't get all anxious about the Bros changing congos.

  It's very common that the Org will "lovingly move" Bros from one location to another even if it id at gret hardship to the Bro.

  Of course since "God" is asking them to do it; they do it!
• 

  Neo

  When I attended the elders school in November , the average age must have been 55 , including numerous very old brothers. There were some younger elders who did the bulk of the teaching parts. Notably , there were very few "young" (30 something) elders - and a couple of them had "goatee" beards , so I guess the appointment criteria has been relaxed!

  What?? Are you being serious?
• 

  sir82

  Neo,

  Beards are not looked upon with such disdain in Europe. Basically, the farther north you go, the more accepted they are.
• 

  fairchild

  Don't get all anxious about the Bros changing congos.

  It's very common that the Org will "lovingly move" Bros from one location to another even if it id at gret hardship to the Bro.

  Yes, but TWO elders at once? And neithger one of them is conducting a book study at the new cong. And when I asked I just got a short answer, which made me real suspicious. LOL I'm going to get to the bottom of this.
• 

  Neo

  Beards are not looked upon with such disdain in Europe. Basically, the farther north you go, the more accepted they are.

  Ooops, I hadn't seen that dozy was from UK.

  A related thread:Metatron: Loss of Elders Confirmed

  Neo
• 

  blondie

  Never seen beards on elders/MS in the US unless it was a "medical" condition and even then they could not send them out to give talks or have a part on an assembly/convention.

  Blondie