When Someone You Love Is Removed As An Elder!

by Bubblegum Apotheosis 33 Replies latest jw friends

  • Bubblegum Apotheosis
    Bubblegum Apotheosis

    Last week we lost a wonderful elder (removed, stepped down is what I will believe) , this man was as real, as you can get. He loved the Sheep,

    his eternal optimism of humanity is a rare quality in the JW Religion. Our brother, though imperfect, loved the flock with his whole heart, with his

    removal of responsibilities, the flock has suffered a setback. As I write this, Gossip has reared it's ugly head "What did Brother John Doe do? Do

    think it was adultry? (He was not disfellowshiped, asswipe! "I thought)"Was it his kids, they are tryrants, out of control, disrespectful beasts!?"

    "His poor-poor-poor-poor wife, she is having to deal with, her

    husband being removed (Nobody has mentioned, what about brother John Doe?), she is not an elderette anymore. We need to call her and help

    her grief her loss. of her position" Not once I have heard:

    "Brother John Doe gave much of his life to serving the flock! Brother Doe, was one Hell of an elder, who avoided gossip, looked after the elderly

    (visited rest homes, sick family-less widows and had an open fist, ready to share, what he was in a position to share with the poor. He loved to cook

    for the sick, visit the "untouchables" and checked up on the disfellowshiped, with his optimistic manner, even the most angry ex-jws, loved a vist

    from John Doe. Nobody has talked about what a great man he was, nobody has grieved the loss of a true servant of Jehovah. Now, I am sick of

    hearing the speculation about what he might have

    done wrong, and how his wife will suffer (due to her loss of elderette position) and her status sinking. I am not in the same Hall as this fine

    brother, but I know and love his father, he still a good man, even if he is part of the rank and file now! I love you John Doe, You are the Blast!

    Your Life Long Friend

    W.S.

  • EmptyInside
    EmptyInside

    Maybe he stepped down on his own. They announce it as the same as deleted or whatever. Some elders are just worn out. He may be relieved.

  • designs
    designs

    I saw that happen to one good friend, his sin was to stand up to the BOE on some matters, they whined ratted him out to the CO.

  • MrDarkKnight
    MrDarkKnight

    They make you give everything...in the end you get nothing.

  • DesirousOfChange
    DesirousOfChange

    Last week we lost a wonderful elder (removed, stepped down is what I will believe) , this man was as real, as you can get.

    BBGA, I know the brother of whom you speak!

    Yes, he "stepped down" or "resigned", but basically he was badgered into doing so. For years he's stood up to the crap that the rest of the BOE tried to shovel on the R&F, and managed to prevent some of us from being buried in it. But since the CO got back from the School for Traveling Brothers, he has been unyielding. "My way or the Highway." Brother Doe took the "wrong" position once too many times. Where the hell he got the idea that something the CO demanded that could not be supported by Scripture might be debatable is beyond me. Cut off at the knees.

    Yeah, frankly it's probably worse for his wife. She always lived vicariously through him being an Elder. It gave her "status". Now she has nothing. He'll be OK. He'll find relief. He'll sit back and laugh his ass off at whoever has to do all the work he used to carry. . . . or it just won't get done.

    If fact, I know TWO of them who went through this so far THIS YEAR.

    I don't miss it. I hope Brother Doe does not either.

    Doc

  • geevee
    geevee

    I would say that these kind of elders are extremely rare... he infact made what the others didn't do stand out!

    I used to try to keep the bastards honest when I was an elder and won no browney points. The only elder to call in and try to find out why we stopped going was my father-in-law and he lived in another cong 70 miles away. No one else on the "body" could have given a continental!

    We had an elder who used to be like yours. He was gutted and drawn and quartered over a non issue.... typical.

    My advice would be to tell the guy that you "appreciate" [present tense] all he has done for you and yours.

  • UnConfused
    UnConfused

    B-Gum,

    It's nice that you can appreciate the person even though he's trapped in a cult.

  • steve2
    steve2

    B-Gum, sometimes it is the more conscientious elders who step down for their own conscience's sake. May be the man has done nothing wrong and has just decided he needs to step down.

    I have several uncles in my extended family who, at one time or another, served as elders. The one I respected and admired the most stepped down several years ago not because of any "loss" of faith or unbiblical behavior but because he wanted to devote more time to looking after his wife who was ailing and who has since died.

    Interestingly, years after her death, he has still not indicated any interest in becoming an elder again - even though the brothers in his congregation and the CO have often said they would readily re-appoint him. His was a very troubled congregation and I personally think he just got sick of the pettiness and back-biting among elders.

  • Billy the Ex-Bethelite
    Billy the Ex-Bethelite

    It's bizarre how they cry for brothers to "step up", while at the same time they crush and burn-out so many like him.

    When I was removed as an elder, I made sure that everyone knew exactly why. There was plenty of gossip, but it was directed at the elders who treated me like crap for something that nobody thought was in any way wrong. The elders were glad to see me move away. Now they treat my parents like crap.

  • wha happened?
    wha happened?

    yep, good friend, removed. He is genuine. He's young, not in the slightest cocky for any age. Knew the elders in his hall didn't want him to serve. Every year wouldn't get appointed. Finally one CO got wise and basically forced his appointment down their throats. I knew his time was limited. I asked that he change halls now before their crap begins. He declined.

    Eventually the brothers finally got something on him. An African Amercian sister stated that he made a racist comment in service. Another sister confimed it. He was hauled in. Many many meetings. CO got involved. The answer? Removed. Oh I forgot to mention the brother involved is white and married to an African Amercian woman, and they have a mixed race child.

    And he stayed in the same congregation afterwards.....

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