Why is it so many Men agree to take on the Position of an Elder? (page 3)

jaguarbass

Along with the previously mentioned reasons. For many it the religion is their hobby, their avocation.

geevee

Recognition, Approval/Wanting to be well thought of by others....then comes influence...then comes POWER......if you call it that. Very small cogs in very small wheels.

restrangled

Outlaw,...if you ever took this position, I hope you kept your sense of humor.....

You would have been a riot in an Elder's meeting........

r.

outoftheorg

I was threatened into being an elder. I actually did not believe I was qualified for that position.

I had experience in management and a sheriffs deputy but I turned them down.

Then I was told that there is the sin of omitting and the sin of comitting and if I did not accept I would be sinning by omitting Gods request.

It was after I attended a few of the "elders only" meetings and teaching from the co and the arrogant disrespectful attitude of the older elders who had been in that position for a long time. That made any feeling of respect for them die away.

Then I moved out of state and even though I had a letter of recommendation I refused to be an elder at this new K dumb hall congregation.

After that it seemed that the local elders didn't like me there and this not liking me seemed to follow me when I moved back to Idaho. I wonder why?? NO I know why. I wasn't kissing ass. They don't like that.

Outoftheorg

OUTLAW

I was at Elders meetings.Yes,I made them laugh on numerous occassions..I was`nt an Elder..LOL!!..Most of the time they could`nt believe what I had done,or what I was gonna say next..LOL!!...OUTLAW

sspo

All negative comments

How about someone with a sincere desire to help others in the congregation and by being an elder you might do so.

What if someone truly had a gift in teaching and could give much encouragement to many.

Remember it is encouraged in the bible to reach out for the office of overseer and feed the sheep.

I don't agree with the teachings of the watchtower but many of you guys out there need to learn that not everyone is a crook, selfish idiots, wicked, window washer,

pedophile and whores.

If that's your view, don't forget, you might be talking about your mother and father and sister and brother.

Remember we were them not long ago.

Wasanelder Once

For me, I was a diehard JW and viewed the congregation as my family. Each person was important to me, from the oldest to the youngest. Remember, they are the survivors to be, they are the only ones to survive the end. That was the view, right? So, I wanted to safegaurd my family. I wanted to help them be strong in knowing the source of their salvation. I wanted to be there when they needed support, in whatever way possible. I wanted to SERVE. I saw that few of the elders really did that and that was my whole motivation. I wanted my sisters to avoid fornication and children out of wedlock by encouraging them to avoid casual relationships, and my young brothers to avoid getting into drugs and other entanglements by making the congregation a place they wanted to be a part of. I wanted them to know that the congregation was their refuge and I was there to help them make good decisions by listening to them when they thought no one else would. Foremost I directed them to personal prayer to the God they were supposed to worship because I always believed that only that would help them avoid problems, not the WT magazine as if it has powers.

Sure its great for the ego to have people come up to you for advice, but honestly, what's wrong with that if you are doing it for the good of others? You could have lumped me in with your generalities, it wouldn't have hurt my feelings. Now that I'm not an elder, say what you will.

When time passed and I saw all the things you mentioned for motives manifesting themselves around me, and that I was fighting a losing battle, that's when I said, screw this. My motives were always questioned by others. Did I want prominence because I became popular? Let's face it, no one wanted to talk to those other autocrats. This isn't from God. I felt my actions were, but I was doing those things BEFORE I was appointed. I was helping people, with their troubles, widows, orphans and others who just needed a friend.. a brother. No I wasn't perfect, gimme a break. My motives were pure, yet human. I helped people get psychiatric help that needed it, (an elder do that? No way, right? wrong.) I loaned money. I drove people to the doctor, I mowed lawns and I prayed with people often. If I hadn't been an elder I might not have faded so quickly. I saw that waiting on Jehovah to change things was a waste of life and years.

As I was given more and more and more to do, circuit, district etc it became obvious that there was something wrong in paradise. So many of these men are corporate wonks. The people are not their family, they are the source of the golden handshake or a cadre of adoring groupies. I hated it. In time you realize that you are a member of the spirtual Nazi party and you must resign. So I did.

Like all systems that create a power structure, corruption will become the norm. Yes, I defend myself here and not the elder arrangement. To this day there is only one elder in the local congregation that I would view as a friend and he's known me for over 40 years. Others are sincere, but trapped in the vortex of this power structure.

I still think its unfair to lump all people in the position together as losers. Bitterness is a poison. Everyone hates to varying degrees. I acknowledge that.

I have those that I don't like or respect, but I have the victory because I wont let my hatred digest me nor will I any longer give them power over me.

So, my answer? Why is it so many agree to take on the Position of an Elder? Because many believe its the right thing to do under the circumstance. As those of us who once were, circumstances change and some learn better.

I have no apologies for how I treated others while an elder. Why? Because the whole time I was an elder I was constantly aware of the scripture that said that I would render an account for how I treated people and prayed regularly for the strength to keep from being a jackass like the others. I guess He gave it to me because I resigned..

W.Once

Finally-Free

Is it possible too, that women push their husbands to take these positions?

Absolutely. I remember a pioneer™ sister™ who said to me she would not consider dating a brother™ unless he was "at least a ministerial servant". She eventually lowered her expectations though. A man who isn't a MS or elder is viewed as "weak". The longer he is in the congregation without getting a title, the greater the congregation's contempt for him. His social standing is only slightly above that of a DF'd person. Eventually the wife views her untitled husband with contempt, and blames him for her virtual social isolation. Other sisters™ may associate with her occasionally because they pity her for being married to a deadbeat, but they still won't get too close to her. They don't want to jeapordize their own standing in the congregation by being seen with her too often. This, naturally, feeds the contempt she feels for her untitled, deadbeat husband.

It can turn a marriage into a living hell for both.

W

Tyrone van leyen

Good question, restrangled. My father, became an elder a couple of years ago, after wacthing everything they did to his family and him. He is university educated and was director of the federal records centre of Canada. Considered as a foreign expert on records management. Has traveled the world including washington and China. He even had dinner with the mayor of Beijing. I have been trying to figure him out for years. I suspect their is a deficit in his personality and a need that far outweighs even family. But that's to complex to post here.

restrangled

SSPO...you said,

How about someone with a sincere desire to help others in the congregation and by being an elder you might do so.
What if someone truly had a gift in teaching and could give much encouragement to many.
Remember it is encouraged in the bible to reach out for the office of overseer and feed the sheep

This to me, is the definition of an elder and a true older man, but sadly, I think these men were few and far between. Probably lost in the shuffle of exhaustion, pandering to the society and those around them who did not have the same ideals.

It sounds as if you were one of these men. Its a terrible shame they lost you.

r.

Why is it so many Men agree to take on the Position of an Elder?

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