The others in the congregation are looking the other way, uncomfortably, until my black and blue marks fade... making the abuse I endured a little easier for them to swallow.
Tera, I am so sorry to hear this. In my case, it was the exact opposite. Elders were accusing me of abuse when none existed, just emotionally disturbed step kids trying to have things their way. Of course, they are all on mood controlling drugs, as is their Mom and all 3 good upstanding JWs. I am considered the outcast and have probably done more research away from the Watchtower that actually supports some of the Watchtower teachings. Yet, they can't speak to me about spiritual matters? It's all just a big stupid game that I refuse to play anymore.
As for the abuse, I know well what you mean and it isn't restricted to the dubs. I grew up in the 50s in a Pentecostal church. Many a time I went to school and church with welts all over my back. My Mom liked to yank a switch off of the cherry tree we had in the yard and arfter raking the leaves off of it, go up and down my backside, while I was wearing only shorts. My Dad would be standing in front with his belt and if I shed a tear, I got it across the face. I can well sympathise with you about your parents. All I was ever told was that I needed to mind better. Unfortunately, they never took note that my Mom, especially, enjoyed beating me and my sisters.
To be falsely accused of abuse today, without anyone actually looking into it and after enduring the childhood I did, is just too much. Even after being cleared numerous times by Childrens Protective Service, who monitored my home real well and actually talked to me, not at me, the elders continued their witch hunt. I wasn't even prmitted to ground a kid without an elder, or his little elderette wife, interfering and telling me that he needed meetings and association with other dubs afterwards.
Funny thing is, I raised two daughters on my own before becoming a dub myself and both of them are well adjusted and can't understand why the step family or the dubs are the way they are (neither are JW).
Any way, I am sorry to hear about your situation and if it continues, seek help from someone you can trust. CPS, school officials, etc, provided you are still in school. If you are old enough to leave, then at your earliest convenience, do just that, even if you have to join a group of others renting a small place. My escape was the US Army, but they sent me to Vietnam. Good place to work anger out of my system, though.
Whatever you do, you do not have to accept abuse!
If God's Spirit is filling a Kingdom Hall, how is it that Satan can manuever the ones within that Kingdom Hall at the same time?