Curious about elderettes

by dgp 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  dgp

  People, there I go again. I'm curious about elderettes. If I understand correctly, an elderette is an elder's wife who plays an important role in the congregation, even though the formal organization chart would not include her. That is to say, she has no official power, but in real life she is powerful indeed. I also understand this power is exercised "unofficially", that is to say, through conversations with her elder husband or comments made about Sister X or Sister Y. Can you please tell me more about it?

  Now, suppose an elderette divorces. Does she lose her power? What happens to her in that case?

  Oh, and, what about elder's children? Do you have junior elders and little sister elderettes?

  Thanks for your posts.
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  blondie

  I was married to an elder for several years. I never interfered in congregation matters. I will say that other elder's wives did manipulate and whine to their husbands who listened or else be as my husband calls it "pussy-whipped." If these women had any "power" it was because the mem allowed it. The most damage was done by elders who had no balls whether it was in regard to their wives or to other elders.
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  Think About It

  If I understand correctly, an elderette is an elder's wife who plays an important role in the congregation, even though the formal organization chart would not include her.

  Edited(should read) If I understand correctly, an elderette is an elder's wife who plays a self-important role in the congregation, even though the formal organization chart would not include her.

  If the family had any money the elderette was worse. Elderettes lose power in a divorce, until they can find another elder to marry.

  Think About It
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  dgp

  Thanks for the posts.
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  palmtree67

  One elder I knew was married for many years and then widowed.

  He quickly re-married to someone who really never "earned" the elder's wife priveleges.

  Another elder commented to me that he didn't follow the society's direction to marry "only in the lord", (the new wife was viewed as spiritually weak) as the new wife married into her position, rather than earned it.

  He lost his position for a year because of her being such an idiot (See my thread "Evidence of love amongst themselves????") but it was quickly given back to him.

  So, if someone marries an elder.......the cong knows they may not deserve the priveleges, but there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it.
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  Quillsky

  I've never heard the term "elderette" used in the congregation context in real life. I've only heard it used in online ex-JW forums like this one and others to refer to female posters who act in a bossy or annoying way.
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  palmtree67

  "elderette" is a fairly common term where I am from.

  Though, obviously not a term endorsed by the Socety.
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  nancy drew

  Sometimes people have opinions about women who happen to be married to elders when we were witnesses my husband was an elder and it was a drag sometimes you would be tired on thursday nite and at the end of the meeting you would find out about a surprise elder meeting and no one lived near me so I felt bad asking for a ride so sometimes i sat alone in the hall waiting. also book studies had assignment cleaning the hall, feeding the speaker & family and I felt bad telling the others about these assignments because i could tell they didn't want to participate but I had no chose it had to be done w/without others I was jealous of those w/unbelieving mates Oh I can't clean the hall or feed the speaker my husband needs attention they had a perfect excuse and i don't blame them. it's so nice not now not having to deal with all that crap elderette smelderette i'm done.