Did this ever happen to you???

by TheCoolerKing 25 Replies latest jw experiences

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  troubled mind

  I hated it when the brothers would use the stage as their personal platform for belittleing those in the congregation they didn't agree with . So many petty things that should have been handled in private were laundered in public.

  One year I volunteered at a local food pantry, and then was bashed from the stage for performing a useless act when more service time was a better way to help the public!

  When I mentioned another sister and I were studying for meetings together, I was counciled from the stage that I should study only with my husband .

  When a family member was going through a difficult marriage problem the whole congregation put their two cents worth in during a Watchtower study about family life ,it nearly started a heated debate.

  A brother used his 4th student talk to tell everyone that had decided on permanent birthcontrol ( vasectomy or tubes tied ) had sinned .

  Any time some kid got in trouble going to a rock concert or smoking or watching porn we all knew about it because of the added comments in the talks that week .

  Humiliation is a key tool used to shame the youth in my old hall ......it has only caused some seriously calloused youths.
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  TheCoolerKing

  I hated it when the brothers would use the stage as their personal platform for belittleing those in the congregation they didn't agree with . So many petty things that should have been handled in private were laundered in public.

  I agree with that statement Troubled Mind. That P.O. at my congregation had a bad habit of belittling others within the congregation, even other elders there were targeted by him.

  I remembered that one of the other elders at the congregation had a wedding reception for his daughter on a Sat. evening. It was actually a nice wedding and everyone had a good time at the reception. Well that Sunday after the Watchtower Study, the P.O. said, "Did everyone enjoy that music at the wedding reception yesterday? Seems to me that alot of you did. I saw sisters clapping their hands to "the beat" and some brothers were doing "worldy" type dancing. Now friends, this is NOT the type of music that we as Christians should be listening too!"

  Guess the P.O. would have preferred that the congregation members dance to the "Kingdom Melodies" tunes? I think nvrgnbk made a good point earlier...that P.O. was a real a$$hole!!!
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  TheCoolerKing

  Like someone else here said, it worked out for the best because you started questioning things. I wish I would've woke up long before I did.

  Glad you finally found your way out Juni! As they say, better late than never, right?!
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  nvrgnbk

  Could it be that the elders at that congregation and especially the P.O. didn't understand the difference between auxiliary pioneer and regular pioneer!

  Yes. Quite possibly they were dumbasses. I've known quite a few in the organization.
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  Open mind

  Hey CoolerKing,
  
  For the sake of any potential dub-loyal lurkers, let's give the PO a little benefit of the doubt for a moment. Judging by his quality vs. quantity comment, maybe he had the impression that you were just a "go along for the ride" kind of publisher who would be a burden on the other publishers, especially if you were trying to get in 60 hrs a month. Any possibility that's what he had in mind?
  
  Let's say I've called this one exactly right. (BTW, I'm not trying to slam you here, I'm actually gunning for the PO) You were just someone who went along with the group and maybe shoved a magazine or tract in a householder's face when a "more mature" dub forced you into it. The elders should have talked to you about the specifics rather than keeping it to themselves in their "good old boys club". I've seen this happen to many brothers who wanted to "reach out". They were never (or rarely) told what to work on specifically. They were just left hanging. Sometimes for years on end.
  
  Can you feel the love?
  
  Open Mind
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  TheCoolerKing

  Ok Open Mind. While I can't get inside the guy's head to know what he was thinking, let's give the P.O. some credit and say that he knew the difference between an auxilery and a regular pioneer. This would mean that he knows that only 60 hrs. are required verses 90 hrs. a month. He also knows that there is no 6 month waiting period for an auxilary pioneer.

  Now at this point, here is how the situation could have developed:
  Brother P.O. decides that the next step would be to see if I (brother CoolerKing) would be capable of putting in the time. A quick check of my publisher card would have answered that question and brother P.O. would have known that I had worked over 60 plus hrs. on a few occasions.

  Next, brother P.O. could have said, "Since I havent worked with brother CoolerKing, let me check with another elder that has, and get his insight. We want to make sure that this newly baptized person is properly representing the organization out in Field Service. I will bring this up at the next elders meeting."
  At the elders meeting:
  "Ok fellow elders, brother CoolerKing has requested an auxilary pioneer slip from us. I have politely told him that we will get back to him with an answer, as the elders need to discuss it. Have any of you worked with him out in service? If so, how did it go? I see, so none of you have worked with him then. Ok, over the next few weeks, one of us should make it a point to work in the field with this brother and see how it goes. If we find that his presentation is weak, then we should recommend that he work on his delivery, before we present him with a pioneer slip. I will also notify brother CoolerKing of this decision. Ok, next topic..."

  Shouldn't this qualified man have taken this wiser approach or a similiar one?
  Instead of boldly announcing from the platform to the whole congregation, "BrotherCoolerKing, you suck as a publisher!"

  Yes, I feel the love...