by Shepherd Book 50 Replies latest jw experiences
Here's another idea SB: Do you have the addresses of those who are in your congregation?? I'd be doing up a letter telling as many as possible what's happened. While it probably won't make any leave, it could give those that are already doubting, another push out the door.
Jim Penton gave me a small book about what happened to him in 1980 (he got axed even before Ray Franz). When he got The Boot from the Lethbridge congregation, over 80 other Witnesses in that area also left as a result.
I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to proceed. The elders (evidently at the behest of the Society) have gone against the letter I sent them in multiple ways, and have evidently created a whole new category of expelling members just to as to find a loophole. I spoke with a lawyer, and she said I may have a legal case, as they broke their own rules (i.e., not informing me, creating a new kind of label, slandering me to others, divulging ecclesiastically privileged information), but the initial consultation with this lawyer would have cost $380 for the first hour. (Now that’s a crime – how many of us even make a tenth of that in an hour?) I also consulted with Michael Newdow and the FFRF, and though they were sympathetic, they pointed out their area of expertise concerns separation of church and state.
I am reading carefully.
My husbands family took private letters that were sent to them, directly to the Elders involved in his JC and discussed that information with another 'congregation'. Those same elders also apparently, after he was already disfellowshipped, opened up his computer 2 years later, while it was stored at the home, and did a forensic investigation, trying to find 'something' on him - this was also shared with another group of 'Elders'. Those same elders then examined his divorce papers and shared that information. They went to his ex who hates him, and got a major list of grievances which they then again, took liberty to share - and those grievances were gossip and rumor. Things that went on in the JC were also shared - the list goes on, including the part where he would not be reinstated because he had married a 'worldly' person amongst other things.
A private JC involving specific Elders is supposed to remain private. There should be no discussion with the family afterward nor any other person, not even another group of Elders. Isn't that what the committee was for? It used to be client/clergy privilege didn't it and is it now considered more of a legal aspect of the society ie 'judicial' committee?
This is a major breach of confidentiality and was the reason that I questioned so much the reinstatement process and the possible legal boundaries that need to be set. Shunning is an unnecessary punishment invoked by the society at will and applied only some members and not all. sammieswife.
You wrote: "I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to proceed."
My suggestion would be to have a PARTY! Now the only decisions left are, where to have the party, and what to cook up. I'd suggest the convention center with the indoor pool and as for food, whole roast goose seems fitting to the occasion.
...Great idea, Gary. The nice thing about the convention center is that out-of-towners can ask for the Watchtower discount.
Mary - another great idea. I'll have to flip through my address book & see who's in there.
Ah, you are well rid of 'em all. It only confirmed what all your family and you and your congregation knew.
That the JWs have no clergy/penitent privilege is now well known and acknowledged as such in a court of law-they lost the case in CA, so now they have no interest in respecting private letters. Anything you do say/write, can and will be used against you in a Judicial Committee.
I wish you well!
Shelly
As always I recommend making careful notes logging everything and making copies of any correspondence between you and the witnesses.
I wrote a letter asking for removal from their membership list many years ago..1975..but in the heat of it all forgot to make a copy of my letter. I know there was incriminating things in that letter towards some in that congregation.
A few years ago my JW MIL took it upon herself to ask her Overseer if she could associate with me ..seeing she thought I had been disfellowshipped...
He somehow got a copy of my letter to the WTBTS..I had sent it to the WTBTS not the local congregation.
The answer they gave her was that I had not been either disfellowshipped or disassociated! Surprise to me..
Matter of fact they were concerned for me and told her it was fine to associate with me but not to talk about religion with me.
After that several of the other sisters and brothers from her congregation would some by her place for lunch with us and even say a prayer with me there.
I decided I would like to be refreshed on what I DID write in the letter as I had been pretty upset with some things that were going on at the K.H. when I left.I wrote them a letter and received the reply back that the letter was THEIR property and confidential..it belonged to them and I would NOT be receiving a copy..well that makes me want a copy even more...
Snoozy...
you do know recording a phone call without both parties knowledge can lead to legal issues, right?
I wouldn't even bother working toward reinstatement. They are going to keep playing games, pushing back your reinstatement as they see fit, and they will use family still in to ruin your life. For sure, they are going to do all they can to bust up family that is still in.
Now is the time to study the Bible, or if you prefer some atheist sources, to dispel the myths that the witlesses have been teaching (or both, in case you want to both prove the Bible's weaknesses and that the witlesses do not follow the Bible as they claim). Or you can waste their time on hearing after hearing--they are probably going to want more than one hearing to "prove" repentance (they always reject the first appeal to reinstatement to "test" for repentance). None of which is in the Bible.
"If you don't want to be df'd, don't put anything in writing, and don't say anything to more than one jw. They can twist what you have to say to suit their own purposes. It's their game, their rules."
And this is one of those very, very rare instances when I in fact totally agree with you!
"you do know recording a phone call without both parties knowledge can lead to legal issues, right?"
...WizardCA:
I've looked into this before, and my understanding of the law is that it is legal to record a phone conversation as long as at least one party knows and agrees to it. In this case, my friend is the one who knew and agreed to it.
