The elders of the '80s are retiring

truthseeker

I was catching up on news with a friend of mine from my old hall - a few of the elders have stepped down and some have retired.

These are men who were in their 30's during the 1980's when I was very young - now they are retiring or facing retirement.

I sometimes wonder how they feel after working all those years only to wake up and realize that their working lives are over.

Do they ask themselves: What's happened? Where's Armaggedon? Why hasn't it come?

The day of reckoning has come - the elders who were 30 in 1980 are now 60 years old. Where has the time gone?

elderelite

I know those men, at least some of them. They are not worried at all. The end is now 30 years closer.. Salvation is at hand!!!

undercover

I recently attended a JW related function and saw a bunch of elders that I haven't seen in awhile. Several of them in my same age group.

It struck me how "bad" they looked. Not just older and heavier, but something about them didn't look good. They didn't look healthy. They looked tired, stressed and out of shape. It was a bit of a blow to see how much they had aged since I had last seen them.

Standing next to them, guys about my age, I looked 10 years...or more...younger than they did. Not just my opinion, my wife commented on it later.

I think the pressure of being an elder, in expectation of the "end" and it never coming and continually having to deal with those brain dead dubbies is taxing them. I'm sure that there are a minority that relish the position and power, but the majorify of them, especially the good ones, are stressing themselves into an early grave.

Violia

I agree UC, I knew more than one elder during that time frame that stepped down due to stress. They felt like the wts whipping boys and could not live up to what they felt were unrealistic expectations from the wts and the publishers. Those were the lucky ones. Some of the ones who stayed now have stress related illness.

herbiesmum

Lets not forget that our elders also have to work to support their families as well as leading their 'flock'. The hours they put in are phenominal. Also as we near the end of days there are added pressures from Satan and his followers. We should support them as much as we can.

I must say that the elders in our congregation are all looking fine and healthy, even in spite of advancing years.

aligot ripounsous

That is happening in my wife's congregation. They were already very few of them, some having been drained away by foreign speaking (chinese, Korean) groups (totally useless, BTW). Two remaining ones, now in their seventies, are moving away to places of retirement in their country houses, they were the two most open minded. Among the two who remained, who were the younger ones, one got a nervous breakdown and had to step down as an elder (was the one who kicked me out). The one who is left hardly understands what he reads. I suspect that he is the one who, after having gotten the CO visit his study group, was at the origin of the suppression of these groups, his group was a real joke, the CO's report to the branch must have been alarming and desperate. All that the congregation now has as elder is this bloke, I wish the members good luck for the years to come.

undercover

We should support them as much as we can.

Yes, because when Armageddon doesn't come by their retirement someone is going to have to pay for their upkeep...

cantleave

They are not worried - their loyal service will be rewarded in the new world.

sspo

It struck me how "bad" they looked. Not just older and heavier, but something about them didn't look good. They didn't look healthy. They looked tired, stressed and out of shape. It was a bit of a blow to see how much they had aged since I had last seen them.

They have no time to exercise, to join a gym and take care of themselves since everything outside the congregation is a waste of time.

Do not worry if you're 100lbs overweight........."new system will fix everything, you will wake up one morning and you will look young and beautiful"

DaCheech

I just had an "ex-friend elder" do a talk in my hall. he is in his low 30's.............. he looks 58.

had not seen him in 4 years and barely recognized this guy.

if you recognize yourself - remember XX xx, your father is a racist arsehole

The elders of the '80s are retiring

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