Calling all elders and former elders (need advice) (page 2)

bernadette

A practical tip. To alleviate boredom at the meetingS learn a language while your there. I have found it very useful to take along a transalation in the language I want to learn and then work between the 2 whenever a scripture is mentioned. You will look very spiritual (throw them off the scent) and more importantly you'll stay AWAKE

drew sagan

I aint no Elder (or former Elder at that), but I do know what works and what dosen't. Never talk doctrine, the Bible, or anything else with these men. They don't care about the Bible, they don't care about doctrine, and they sure as hell don't care about truth. All they will care about is putting forward organizational interests.

I spent 2 hours one time with an Elder trying to get some kind of reasoning out of him. It was like talking to a brick wall. If you are worried about your family, do what is best for them. I would go along with what others are saying and start giving them the 'depressed' excuse. Say some stuff about how you love Jehovah and that you struggle. Don't talk about the details. JW Elders can be very lazy, once they realize that there may have to be some actualy WORK done to help you out they will run like hell. I'm not kidding, telling them you need help sometimes gets them off your back more than anything (but not allways). I think I posted this eairler but a good number of months ago 2 Elders left my house. While they where leaving one said 'don't give up on us brother'. That was the last i have heard from them. They ignored me at meetings and haven't made one attempt to come back. Don't underestimate their laziness.

Billzfan23

I just stepped down as an elder last night and I have dealt with these things very recently so this is a reliable source. I can tell you that in my hall - you would get reinstated in 6 months tops as long as you attend all the meetings and turn you letters in. You will be just fine... Then let the fading begin...

nonamegiven

Lemme ask you all this. I travel quite a bit for work, the elders know this. How do you think this will effect my situation? I fully expected to be DF'd for a year, do you really think I should start sending in letters now?

stillajwexelder

start by going on the ministry once per month max - just enough to put report in - but falsify it - claim a few extra hours for informal witnessing - addd about 3 RVs for good measure.

Then slowly start mising a few meetings - not all - just a few.

Then miss a few more - depression or some other good one - anxiety attack around loads of people is a real good one and difficulty to prove.

Make sure you attend when the Circuit Overseer visits. Dont make it obvious.

MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU ATTEND THE MEMORIAL

and hey presto you are fading - best of all worlds.

LittleToe

It much be pretty compelling reasons for you to be even thinking about it, but here goes:

There's usually not much point putting in a letter until you've been attending for two to three months. It's usually (but not always) at least six months of attending before they reinstate (usually with restrictions like not being able to answer or go on the TMSchool).

Depending on what you did to get DF'ed (I haven't read your history, so I'm firing blind) they might make you wait a year or two for "notoriety" factors, during which you'll be expected to submit a letter every six months.

Keep your trap shut about doubts and anything to do with anal activity. Depression is an incredibly effective "get out of jail free" card

If your family is as devout as you say then you might find that after all that effort you still have a strained relationship due to your inactivity. You might want to weigh that one up.

Good luck

Legolas

do I fake an alian abduction and tell them I have an anal probe that will explode if I go into a place of worship that doesn't have any windows?

OMG...LMAO.....I love it!

AlmostAtheist

>> [travel for work] How do you think this will effect my situation?

If I were you, I'd bring this up with your Judicial committee, see what they are expecting from you. Chances are good you'll get some very wishy-washy answers along the lines of, "There's no set requirement, we all do what we can do, you have to put Jehovah first, etc etc". Assure them that when you are on the road, you will make every effort to attend the meetings wherever you happen to be.

>> I fully expected to be DF'd for a year, do you really think I should start sending in letters now?

I struggled with this one. I didn't want to piss them off, but I didn't want to stay DF'd any longer than I had to. I err'd on sending too many letters too often, and in my case it paid off. I would send one very sappy, dripping-with-remorse, longing-to-feel-the-undeserved-love-of-the-brothers letter now. That will get you a hearing, or at least a contact from the JC. Then based on their reaction, follow it up with another letter in 1-2 months. At that rate, you'll hit them with 3 letters in 3-6 months. These guys are still human, it's going to weigh on their hearts that you're so sick with regret.

I don't think you'll have to wait a year. Six months is more likely. If that.

Dave

reneeisorym

I might want to add that I was privately reproved and it took me 3 years to get back to normal.

Renee

LittleToe

Dave:

I don't think you'll have to wait a year. Six months is more likely. If that.

There's a lot of local variance, amplified by how p*ssed off some of the Elders concerned are.

Calling all elders and former elders (need advice)

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