BOE letter dealing with old sins

Masterji

Is there a letter to the BOE that stated that if an elder confessed to having committed a serious sin a number of years ago, (three years or so) and nobody knew about it, he need not be removed? M

I don't know about recently, but about a dozen years ago or so, one of the "anointed" (who was also an elder) was disfellowshipped for an "old sin" that he hadn't confessed. I don't know how old the sin was or what it's nature, he would only say, "an old sin that I covered up". He was a Gilead grad., former missionary and had just given a talk at our D.C., so it was rather a shock to everyone when he was df'd. But, all this is old news in JW land, they could've changed the procedure a dozen times between now and then.

Cellist

hillary_step

Hello Masterji,

As far as I can recall this was actually in a KM in the 70's, and it did not stipulate three years, but a long period. I cannot recall a BOE letter to this effect, but I may be wrong.

When I questioned the local Branch about this KM, they stressed that the sins that the WTS had in mind were 'minor' sins like smoking, etc and not one of the Seven Deadlies. I recall some years after this KM, a member of the Branch Comittee in a European country being removed for an indiscretion committed over twenty years previously.

Best regards - HS

OnTheWayOut

Yes, one came out this year as a follow-up to information learned in 2005 at the Elders Kingdom Service Schools. The specifics this year dealt with elders viewing soft-core pornography. It questioned how often, is it unknown to others, was it not a repeated offense for a number of years, did the brother use it for masterbation, etc. While it did not specify 3 years, that is an unwritten rule applied by many BOE in the past to elders based on the time to reappoint a brother who had been reproved. In the past, there was another letter about allowing elders to remain after counseling for problems, but I don't remember when and what circumstances. BUT, YES, there was a recent letter before Summer 2006.

OnTheWayOut

And I told them it encouraged elders to just shut up for a few years, but if their conscience bothers them, they can open up 3 years down the road. If elders are involved in more serious pornographic viewing, they can reason that the WTS said some of these guys don't need to be removed, so "Why should I say anything about it?"

Amazing

No BOE letter that I am aware. But there is a October 1972 KM which made the point in the Question Box. It was reapplied at the KM School for Elders in Nov. 1992 to say that Elders do not have to resign for a serious sin if the sin was committed two or three years earlier, and it was not known ... and thus the Elder still retained the respect of the congregation. It was further clarified that this provision did not apply to Pioneers or the rank and file members.

Jim Whitney

VM44

"It was further clarified that this provision did not apply to Pioneers or the rank and file members."

Why not? Since there is no "clergy class", the provision should apply to everyone!

--VM44

Confession

I have tried very hard to find this written policy myself. I definitely remember it stating "three years."

This came up during the process of my "awakening" about the WTS. While chairing a judicial committee, I conducted research into the subject of confession, and was troubled by the lack of Biblical backing the Society had for their requirement that JWs confess sins to congregation elders. I didn't speak to too many about this, but a few years later I brought it up to an elder friend of mine. He seemed to agree with my concern over this and reminded me about the "3 year" policy. The wording indicated that if, after 3 or more years, a person later confessed, no judicial committee even need be formed--as long as the individual had put the matter behind him/her and 'gave evidence of having been blessed/forgiven by Jehovah.'

This really hit me hard... Here the Society clearly recognized that a person could sin (even seriously) and be forgiven by Jehovah even though he/she had never confessed to an elder.

It was this point that started the unraveling process for me--long though it was. And I'm very thankful for it.

hillary_step

Jim,

It was reapplied at the KM School for Elders in Nov. 1992 to say that Elders do not have to resign for a serious sin if the sin was committed two or three years earlier, and it was not known ... and thus the Elder still retained the respect of the congregation.

I believe that we have covered this ground before?...I am getting a deja-vu here, or maybe I am just having yet another senior moment.

I was in Europe in 1992, so perhaps the venue was slightly different, but no such information was given to the elders then or at any schools in the UK until the late 90's at least. I have not seen any of the BOE letters recently, so I cannot comment as to what has happened the past four or five years.

Cheers - HS

reneeisorym

They were going to DF me (I DAed first) for a sin that I admitted to 7 years prior but they found out that it was worse than i explained. I wish that rule would have applied to me ... or maybe I don't .. Heck. I like being out.

BOE letter dealing with old sins

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