Dilemna: Which elders are not "apostates&...

avengers

This could be a dilemna: Say I have a problem. I decide to take the problem to the elders. I don't want my problem published on the internet, because it's very personal. How do I know which elders to turn to? Some elders publish everything, so it comes down to this that elders could be "apostates". How can I know which elders are "apostates" and which are not?

Abaddon

Hello avengers,

I live in Tilburg, although ik ben Brit...

Frankly, from my point-of-view, the apostate elders are the good guys...

And I have also not seen identifiable personal information posted by any aopstate elder; the material they publish is normally organisational material and letters to Bodies of Elders on general issues.

But why would you want to go to the body of elders? I think you'd get better advice here!

People living in glass paradigms shouldn't throw stones...

Frenchy

Avengers:
I'm not sure I understand what you mean about 'apostate elders' but you should know that there is always the risk of disclosure by the person in which you confide. Years ago this was a big problem in our congregation with someone that by no stretch of definition could be termed 'apostate'. The man was not malicious either, just weak with a very inquisitive wife. I'm happy to say that after a 'special meeting' with the C.O. and some imported heavyweights the problem was, if not solved, reduced considerably.

There is no sure way to keep your problems under wraps unless 1) You are the only person who knows about the matter, 2) There is absolutely no way anyone else could ever find out about it, 3) You keep your mouth shut about it. Aside from that, there is always the possibilty of it being revealed...and not always by the person you may think is responsible!!!

Room 215

Avengers,

Why seek out the elders at all? Isn't there a close friend or relative that you respect for his/her common sense? Or a professionally-trained counselor if your talking heavy-duty problems?
(Of course, JWs hate the professionals, psychiatrists especially, because usually the first piece of advice they dispense is to ``lose that guilt-inducing, negativity-laden religion of yours!)

In my experience, and it spans more than 40 years of association, is that with very rare exceptions, the only thing elders excel at is making a bad situation worse.

And even in the case of that rare exception, a decent guy with a heart and sense of fairness, you've got to worry about him leaking confidential details to the wife; this abuse is rampant among JWs.

avengers

What I mean is: Say one of the dubbs has a problem. How would they know which elder to turn to? Take the elder meeting which was made public. Which elder taped it? Maybe he is in the cong you're in. See the dilemna the dubbs now face? Which elder is a "real" elder?
And which one is not?

ashitaka

That's what makes life interesting. Also is fuel for the dubs to be 'vigilant'.

Isn't it funny how the seediest characters use the word 'vigilant' so readily?

ashi

Frenchy

Avengers:
That's a problem everywhere and is not unique to JW'dom. Their particular problem is that they are told that they are not to go anywhere else and that these guys are guided by Holy Spirit. Deep down inside they know these men are not qualified but they will feel as if they are betraying their God if they don't follow "Momma's" commandments.

They have always had that problem, from the day this arrangement came into being.

LB

Well my understanding is the elders are required to speak to the other elders about all matters. Not like catholic priests where it's held in confidence. They can decide at an elders meeting if they will allow the elder you confided in to handle the matter.

Never Squat With Yer Spurs On

ozziepost

How would they know which elder to turn to? Take the elder meeting which was made public. Which elder taped it? Maybe he is in the cong you're in. See the dilemna the dubbs now face?

A very good point.

Cheers,
Ozzie

"It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Anonymous

Dilemna: Which elders are not "apostates&...

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