Did You Hope Certain Newly Appointed Elders Would Change Things In Your Hall?

by minimus 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  minimus

  I used to hear it all of the time! I was 24 when I was first appointed as an elder. Certain ones who were disillusioned with the "old guard" were really hoping I'd come on board and change the way the body of elders did things. In reality, one elder went elsewhere and I soon became Secretary and not long after that Presiding Overseer.

  The reality is you HAVE to abide by the Society's direction and NO ONE can change "Mother's" rules.

  Certainly, there have been kind hearted men in the position, aiming to be kinder and less harsh but as long as the Organization takes the stands they do, the "Truth" will always be a merciless dogmatic entity.
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  Michelle365

  I did for sure. But more often than not, they would run the new elder ragged and he'd soon lose his zeal and fire to make a change. I guess now it may be that the new elders began to see the *truth* behind the TRUTH. lol.
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  JWoods

  I was an elder during that "rotation" phase where they traded through the presiding elder year by year. I left the year after I had been PE; what ever happened to the "rotation of elders" idea? IIRC, they even hinted that the circuit overseer was "just another elder" back in the beginning of the elder thing.

  That made no difference either - most congs have a majority of elders who pretty much rule little local things, and the CO/society has ultimate decision power over anything very important.

  Back in the old pre-elder days, I saw a few hard-charging new POs come in (this was assigned from a Circuit/District level) and these usually were change for the worse. Much worse - let their ego and need for recognition get in the way.
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  minimus

  I think the new elders are often idealistic and when reality bites, it's not so easy fighting the machine.
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  Michelle365

  Yes Minimus. You explained my thoughts better than I.
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  minimus

  In the end, I was tired of pretending to accept the utter bullshit. I just couldn't stand taking the mind numbing boredom any longer. Plus I realized I was no better than anyone else!!!
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  JWoods

  Anyway, what is a new elder really going to change? Nothing fundamentally important - maybe stuff like what night a meeting is on, what color they will paint the kingdom hall this time, etc.

  They do have a way of influencing the tone of the hall - hard-line and demanding, friendly and well-meaning, even corrupt in some cases.

  But no one person really changes things in any meaningful way.
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  minimus

  They can change a bit of the politics. But the old guard almost always prevails!
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  BluesBrother

  Some people , I am told, actually thought that about me when we moved to Congregation Dullsville. Once I got the measure of the place I even thought that I could make a difference. In fact, unless one is a retired C/O sent specifically by The Society, you cannot achieve a darn thing. The old guard close ranks against you. One is then in the bad position of having to support (in the cause of unity) decisions that you disagree with.

  After a couple of years the keen younger elder either 1] becomes just like the rest, or 2 moves away to a bigger congregation or 3] falls "out of The Truth"
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  minimus

  #3.