Even before I started roaming on JWD, I let elders know that I was not volunteering to be a MS again because during the time I had been one I had had to exercise too much self censorship, not being really convinced of what I had to say from the platform and I had felt quite uncomfortable about it. Interestingly, most of the elders I told this were understanding and sympathetic towards such qualms, as if they were feeling the same.
Ex-Elders & MS's Outweigh Current Ones
by minimus 22 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
Purza
Some are elders and servants because they NEED the recognition.
That describes my father. I think he distanced himself from me when I was DF'd as a teenager, because he would be nothing without his elder status.
I suppose it possible that the elders who served because they truly believed became totally burned out and just stepped down
Purza
-
blondie
In the last congregation, there were 8 ex-elders, 2 had been removed, and 6 had "stepped down." Those 6 had not been elders from 5 to 10 years and had been approached several times to "serve" again and refused. The reason was not that they do not believe, but that they could no longer be part of the unkindness that was the policy of the BOE.
I know of 10 other elders that were removed because of not supporting the WTS policies, no matter how minor, 100%, having done this for years yet still being used as elders, substitute COs, city overseers, HLS members. But they are still believers and are enjoying not being elders. The congregations though are suffering because the elders that remain lack compassion and are more concerned about pleasing the WTS and its representatives than God.
Blondie
-
minimus
Mother knows best.
-
Seeker4
I'm not sure of the status of my old congregation. The most effective elder I worked with stepped down years ago to get his Masters Degree in Psychology and today gives seminars around the world on neurofeedback therapy, and has published a book on the subject. His wife practices reflexology.
He and I had many, many discussions, and I know that he disagrees with many of the WTS's teachings. He knew that the Society's stand on hypno-therapy was completely full of shit, and he came up to me in disgust at one circuit assembly because a brother had spoken in his talk with the usual JW certainty about how "6 billion people will soon be destroyed."
Yet he and his wife remain active JWs.
I know of several former MS and a few elders in the congregation, some who remain members. My most recent elder friend to step down actually now posts here on JWD. He's still an active Witness, mainly due to his wife. I'm sure he knows it's only a matter of time, as he no longer believes. It's just a matter of sorting things out and letting some time take its course.
S4
-
minimus
Who is it, Seeker?
-
Doubting Bro
In the local congregation here, outside of myself, there are no ex-elders. There are a couple of ex-MS. In some other places I've been, the ex-elders actually outnumbered the current ones. It's really hard to tell how many are still believers. Obviously, there are current elders who don't believe as evidenced by the leaks and their posting here. I continue to attend for my wife and I seriously doubt that most in the congregation even suspect that I think the WTS is completely full of crap. The fear of revealing one's true feelings prevents most from disclosing that they aren't true believers if they're still attending. However, if they were true believers, in my opinion they would still be in positions of authority since they would believe they were selected by holy spirit. I've even had friend who are elders suggest that I was committing a sin by stepping down as an elder because I was not "yielding to the spirit". Of course, deleted ones probably still believe - they just owned up to missteps.
-
no more kool aid
In the congregation that is in our territory, that we used to attend, there is about 10 ex-elder/ex-ms there. My husband was an ex. It does seem like they were good, approachable brothers and stepped down because of family,personal or health issues. They are the ones that are probably better equipped for the job because of problems they have experienced.
-
stillajwexelder
in our hall there are 3 ex elders and 4 elders - me being one of the ex's so not always quite true but you are correct, there is getting to be critical mass of ex elders and MS
-
WTWizard
In the Kingdumb Hell I used to go to, most of the departing hounders left the territory. And it seems too few of them actually stepped down or got removed. I was hoping to see it dissolved but alas, the congregation was still listed in the phone book.
That congregation seems to be all too stable. They lose a few members, only to gain them back or gain new members. The numbers seem to have been fluctuating around 86 ever since I have been in. And there have always been plenty of hounders to go around.