Got my Privileges Removed today, any advice? (page 3)

leavingwt

Please read these two books:

Crisis of Conscience

Combatting Cult Mind Control

Spend some time on this site: http://www.jwfacts.com/

Truth has nothing o fear from lies. May you never fear the pursuit of truth.

cedars

O.o Damn... didt even see it that way... that... Thats kinda true... If i have this many questions, how can i be in a position of Authority????

Wow.... Well now i have something to think about...

Guess.... guess ill have to step down... and like you said, take that time to examine that the true answers to those questions are...

Now that's a mature attitude.

And I would start by reading Crisis of Conscience. You can read it online for free on Scribd.com - just type in "Crisis of Conscience".

Cedars

I can see that your mind is at war with itself. Only a few short months ago WWIII broke out in my mind and it nearly drove me insane. It probably didn't help that I'm bipolar but I think this CULT mindset can drive anyone bonkers. Convince yourself that it is all a bunch of smoke and mirrors first and start making your exit strategy. Mine involves getting my wife out and will probably take years but you don't have a wife in the cult so count yourself lucky!

jgnat

Hey, mrbunyrabit. I'm not a Witness, though am deeply in love with one. I've been to lots of meetings. I have to tell you, from a regular Christian's point of view, the "priveleges" handed out to the brothers are truly pathetic. Microphone handling? Really? When do you get to graduate to Microphone-stand-adjusting?

In the churches I have attended, there are all sorts of activities and duties to choose from, because there is a lot going on. There's children's ministry, men's prayer group, basketball and floor hockey outreach, hospital visitation, sound booth, and so on. As volunteers, as long as we show interest, we've got the job. In my many years as a Sunday School teacher, I submitted to a criminal record check and attended seminars on occassion. That's it for my qualifications. The most important quality was my desire to serve. Never turned down, ever.

The careful doling out of "priveleges" IMO, are a result of the highly restricted allowable roles for a Witness. What roles are available for the motherly, the manly, the hospitable, the handyman, the charitable (Ephesians 4:11)? Nope, they are all led down the same plain path; field service. If the saddle gives saddle sores (Matthew 11:30) , they are to call it "endurance".

I think it is time for you to celebrate the removal of your so-called "priveleges" and privately call them out for what they are. Pathetic.

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

mbr, I understand your pain. I was furious when I was removed as an elder for a very petty reason, that most wouldn't have considered wrongdoing on my part. But all it took was a hot-headed elder and MS to get the ball rolling and I found myself in the backroom with the BoE that were actually lying to me about who said what about what I'd done. How quickly they could forget all the work I'd done for the bOrganization and respect I'd earned from both JWs and non-JWs in our little town by that time.

So I took revenge. I started talking to publishers in the congregation about what had happened, asking around if anyone had been "stumbled" by what I'd done. Nobody saw that I'd done anything wrong. But man were they pi$sed when they heard that I'd been removed. The one elder they actually liked to see walk onto the platform to speak was getting removed. Nobody was surprised when the announcement was finally made from the platform. No shocked gasps. Everybody knew that it was a stupid decision by the BoE. I'd sown enough seeds of discontent that nobody was surprised that I've walked away from it all. They tried using the "Billy needs to be more humble" line on me, but I was already prepared with the rebuttal that "I'm prepared to be humbled even further. I'm going to stop commenting as evidence of my humility." And I stopped commenting.

What would I do if I were mrbunyrabit? I certainly wouldn't appeal the decision. I'd work on my stategy for getting the rest of the way out. I'd go ahead and start telling by closest friends and family that I'm getting removed for low hours during the last 3 months. The announcement of the deletion will take a few weeks to get announced, so you have plenty of time to make sure that there are no gasps of surprise when it happens. It won't be "confidential" then, so there's no need to treat it as "confidential" now. I'd make it clear to everybody that I'm NOT getting removed for viewing Internet porn or for any 'private reproof' reasons like drinking or wanking, only because of low hours. If the elders had said anything to me about dating and marriage, I'd include this with a dig that elders might be listening to gossip about my personal life. And when I talked to others about getting removed, I wouldn't sound angry, I'd try to sound disappointed and confused.

Is this helpful?

outsmartthesystem

Take this time (since you are no longer an MS....you won't be giving talks and leading out in FS) to do some serious research on all your questions. Do your research OUTSIDE of society based publications. Use this time wisely!

diamondiiz

First of all congratulations.

Now, began asking questions here and look for answers, and surely soon enough you'll realize that wts is pure and total bullshit. With no longer having MS title, it should be easier to began your fade. If they began to ask, just tell them you're going through depression as you fade away.

Make sure you answer yourself the questions tht bug you so that you are sure the path you take for the future and never regret it. All the best.

NewChapter

You aren't going to get through this without a few stings to the pride---but so what??? They will soon be soothed by your unfolding freedom! CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME!

Sapphy

"Because having 3months bad fieldservice isnt a reason to take some one down.."

Sweetheart, I'm phrasing this as gently as possible, yes it is. It's their game, played by their rules.

If you're not infirm, and you're only getting 1 or 2 hours a month in the ministry they will delete you asap.The only "appointed men" who can get away with doing next to no service is the governing body.

Think about it. Angry yet?

daringhart13

I have some advice.

RUN

Privileges? Privileges?

Do you see what they've done to your mind??

Got my Privileges Removed today, any advice?