Will Lack of Leadership Sink the JW Ship?

by Seeker4 55 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  choosing life

  Things are definately on the decline. They closed a local congregation because of not having enough elders to operate. I see them consolidating in the future.

  In the last congregation I attended, most of the older elders suffered from burnout and apathy. The only pioneer was an elder and he stepped aside from being the service overseer out of a lack of interest. Another elder is 80 and often rambles on incoherently. There is one family that seems to want to run the congregation, though. I think more for power and prestige than to help others. There are older and more qualified elders, but the PO is the yougest elder and from this family. He has no kids and not a lot of experience in life.

  The young ones don't want the responsibility, mostly. I think this is the jws biggest problem. There is not the same mindset in the young as there was in the past where brothers lived for the society.
• 

  thecarpenter

  I have to agree with Gregor, the watchtower is on a decline that will get greater particularly as we approach 2014. Since it will be 100 years since the society has been teaching christ presences, many people will just fade away out of a combination of frustration and disappointment.

  The wit messes have structured there system uniquely differently then other corporations and are not subject to the same things that effect different companies.

  Although the WT is unique, it also has unique vulnerabilities, one being it's history and current false expectations. In Rutherford's time, many left after his false predictions. Today because of the internet, more and more people are being informed about the societies missteps, they can no longer hide it. I really think the cult religion it will become more marginalized in the next 10 years. You will always have a small group of hardcore Jdubs but hey, even scientology has it's hardcores.
• 

  stapler99

  Thinking about some of the young "brothers" in the congregations I know about I can't imagine what the bodies of elders will look like in thirty years' time. I can't see a lot of zeal there, and many will probably leave sooner or later. There's just no way for the WTS not to collapse pathetically.
• 

  Gill

  Stapler99 - collapsing pathetically sounds good! As long as the JW nightmare ends, sooner or later, I'm glad!
• 

  Doubting Bro

  My last two congregations:

  #1 - Before- 8 elders (me then, 2 above average (by WT standards) 1 in his 40s 1 in his late 50s, 3 average (would do some things if forced) 1 40s and 2 in their 60s, 2 space fillers both in their 50s.

  No MS that could be promoted ever.

  - Now - 5 elders (1 resigned, 2 moved out) ( 2 above average, 2 average, 1 space filler)

  #2 - Before - 8 (me, 0 above average,4 average - 2 in their 40s, 2 in their 60s, 3 space fillers - 1 in his 40s, 1 in his 50s, 1 in his 70s)

  Now - 7 with me resigning.

  2 MS that could be promoted in the next 3-5 years.
• 

  Gregor

  They have restrucured there leadership at the top to protect there interests so that there's no one you can really choke.

  Tyrone, I see you and I are on the same wavelength as far as what we'd like to do! LOL
• 

  metatron

  What you're talking about is the "too stupid to live" theory. The problem is, what exactly is "too stupid" for an

  organization like the Watchtower! When do they hit bottom?

  Many Witnesses will drag themselves to meetings no matter what. The Governing Body could sodomize young boys

  on a parade float being hauled down Broadway in the middle of the afternoon and Joe Publisher would just say,

  "Well, it's still the truth".

  My hope is that they collectively get so stupid that they make major mistakes in legal or doctrinal matters.

  Look at the recent "preaching work is fufilled" nonsense - or the "bloodless surgery is way superior" comment.

  Other than that, I'm not sure that anything, no matter how stupid or inept, will ever affect them.

  metatron ( although the loss of elders is encouraging)
• 

  Lady Liberty

  Well the last time i was there the thing i noticed about the Elders was that most of them were old, in fact one of them had recently died. There wasn't too many ambitious young men coming through the ranks either to take their places.

  My active Grandmother told me a while ago when I was still barely in, (but she didn't know that at the time), is that the elders in her hall we REALLY concerned that there weren't any young ones stepping up to the plate to become ministerial servants. The fear was that all the elders were getting up there in years, and who would step up to the plate and replace them? They were quite concerned over this and seemed to be brought up quite a bit in the car groups to talk about. Hmmmm maybe they should take a clue!! These young ones are just going through the motions because it is all they have ever known. When they become adults, it is very likely they will want to leave such a overbearing and controlling religon. Sincerely, Lady Liberty
• 

  Seeker4

  I look at some of the elders I worked with, and wonder how they keep going. Most of them have most of their children out of the org, and they've been going through the motions for decades.
  
  I think when you've given so much to something. it's just impossible for some people to say it's time to cut their losses and get the hell out!
  
  S4
• 

  Amber Rose

  I posted this on a different thread but I think it belongs here.

  I think it is interesting that my congregation always had less than 100 pubs. but plent of elders. At one time, about 5 or so years ago they were up to 14 elders. Today they have 8 elders, 2 MSs, 0 pioneers and no one with any position is under 45. Not much of a future there. One of them didn't even know he wasn't allowed to join the YMCA.