Ogdensburg, NY - Info on scandal in 1980s?

by Seeker4 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  Seeker4

  I wrote earlier about a time in the 1980s when I served on an appeal committee dealing with several disfellowshippings in the Ogdensburg, NY congregation. (See Hard Question for Elders post by Xena for details on that experience.)

  I was wondering if anyone here remembers that time, or has any news on the people involved. Ogdensburg is in northern NY state on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Massena, NY was a nearby congregation, and I think elders from there were involved as well.

  Just wondering what happened to the poor folks screwed over by the elders and special committee up there. What a mess that was.

  Thanks.
  S4
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  betweenworlds

  Oh wow!

  I knew some really nice folks from the Ogdensburg congregation! I wasn't aware that there had been any happenings there though. The folks I knew were the Weidners. They were a really sweet german elderly couple whose daughter Monica went to our kingdom hall in Rome.
  I think unfortunately they have both now passed away :( (the mom and dad)

  betweenworlds

  Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity. Lord Acton 1834-1902
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  Seeker4

  The events involved the removal of the body of elders (and at least some pioneers) and a mass disfellowshipping of 8 of the friends, all at once. Special committee was brought in to do the dirty work. An appeal committee on top of a special committee is rather unusual. And the situation was so bad that our appeal committee was actually brought in from outside that district.

  I can't remember the dates, but 1980's would be the decade, probably toward the middle.

  I was just so sad for all the friends involved in the mess. One of the brothers was so discouraged by it, I couldn't even talk him into meeting with the appeal committee. He said it wouldn't do any good. You know what - it ended up he was right.

  Knew a few friends over in the Rome congregation area in the past.

  S4
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  metatron

  I vaguely remember this one - I heard they fired a bunch of elders
  and that some of them 'weren't doing anything'(insufficently
  zealous).

  metatron
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  Seeker4

  With all the new ones here (and with all the attention to this board right now - thanks Barbara) I wanted to bring this post back to the top. Hoping some might remember when all this went down in Ogdensburg, NY.

  That mess still haunts me. I chaired the appeal committe of the special committee's decision to disfellowship 8 people and remove all the elders. The WTS upheld all the disfellowshippings, though for 7 of them there were no scriptural grounds. The whole thing stank.

  S4
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  blondie

  OGDENSBURG: elder body & some pioneers removed plus 8 disfellowshipped about 1985 & elders in nearby Mssen may also have been involved

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/24406/1.ashx

  poster: anewperson
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  Seeker4

  BTTT in case there are some new folks here that might remember.
  S4