Misbehaving elders treated with understanding
We’ve had a few cases of elders being accused of serious stuff around here over the last few years. If you are a "mere" publisher, not currently occupying a position, don’t try fooling around like this. I assure you it won’t be tolerated. But then let us keep mind these men were spirit-appointed, incapable of wrongdoing.
The first case involved a fellow who always managed to have a certain pioneer sister in his car in service. They elders were approached. The "approachers" were laughed off and informed they had wild imaginations. When suspicions began being discussed routinely over coffee, the elder body’s retribution was swift. The talkers were quickly disciplined and silenced. A sister was taken off the pioneer list accused of gossiping and another brother was deleted as min. serv. Everyone was basically told bro. Sneak was innocent and to shut up. The day after an assembly at which bro. Sneak was in the pool baptizing new ones the news broke. Bro. Sneak had taken off with sis. Zealous during the night. He was finally df’d when he refused to leave sis. Zealous and return to his wife.
Case two involves bro. Horny. A young pion. sis. seemed to catch his fancy. When the accusation of flirting and sexual harassment surfaced, the elders assured all that bro. Horny would be severely dealt with, probably being removed as an elder. Then it became known that he might remain an elder but lose some privileges such as meeting parts. A few weeks later, a new presiding overseer was appointed in bro. Horny’s place. Bro. Horny’s name did not appear on the new Service Meeting schedule but the following week he was called up front during a part and gave an interesting experience. Then he was asked to close the meeting with prayer. I couldn’t bow my head and I wasn’t the only one looking around. When the C.O. visited he alluded to the situation, then told everyone to be assured he’d looked after it. Brother Horny is still an elder. The young pioneer sister married and moved elsewhere.
2 weight 2 measures - depends on who’s on the scales