Getting serious for Julia!! (page 2)

JakeM2012

Sorry about what you are going through.

I had to deal with a "Snake" and his wifie some years back when they were disturbing the peace in the congregation lashing out at many. He was eventually removed as PO then as an elder, he moved to another congregation immediately and we wrote a letter not recommending him and he got appointed within a year. We (elders on the body) later said that if we had known how much trouble this was we would just have moved ourselves because frankly, it wasn't worth what it took.

Bottom line is that WTBTS doesn't want kind, gentle, Christlike elders. They want company men that will keep the rank and file in line. It seems the meaner you are and the more fear you spread in the congregation the more parts on the DC program you get.

Pistoff

"If one elder is causing that much turmoil, do no the other elders have the collective authority to step on him?"

The CO sent him to the hall; he is the CO's man, sounds like.

I was in a congregation where the CO sent in 2 elders from another state, it was a disaster for the congregation.

One was a born liar; the other was an ex-Marine who felt the hard line was the best way to address everything.

The liar wore out all his friends on the elder body, and moved on.

The ex-Marine is no longer an elder, and is on anti-depressants.

I should feel bad; I don't.

They RUINED the hall I was in, with the help of the CO.

HANG in there, Julia; don't admit anything, don't show fear, keep everything light, happy and neutral.

konceptual99

Hi Julia,

I can really empatise with your situation, I have been going through very similar things. Based on my experience, I would echo the general tone of the comments above. On an individual level I have no problem with pretty much any elder I know but when push comes to shove it is the out and out exception for any elder to really stick his neck out and support someone who is in the crosshairs. This is doubly the case if the CO expresses any kind of opinion. The body will follow.

If you really want to fade then you have to play things very carefully if you have attracted attention. 100% your husband should be at any meeting with the elders, not least since the elders should respect the "headship" arrangement (there has been instruction to elders on this btw). Of course, the real benefit is that (a) the elders will be more wary of how aggressive they are and (b) your husband will see first hand any unfair behaviour. Be very wary of thinking the CO might be looking to bash Elder Snake - they all know how to play the game and will not hesitate to let you give you self plenty of rope. Unless you are happy to risk things escalating can I suggest playing things down a little - play the "look, I am just tired, the system is getting me down blah blah". If you want to get Snake off your back then perhaps just a little dig via the CO will be enough - "I appreciate Snake's time but I felt like I was being accused of things rather than encouraged". The elders have had lots of reminders about treating the sheep with love and care, dignifying them. This week's WT backed that up. I've found that simply playing the "system is getting me down" card is very good at keeping the heat off. Ultimately the less you say the better - elders are trained to let people talk and talk - ultimately to their own detriment.

all the best with things!

k99

wannabefree

Snake sounds like a corporate thinking elder, we have one of those in the hall I attend(ed), quite a few stopped going because of him, his reputation was the same at his former congregation. This elder helped me to realize that his strict way IS the Watchtower way as everything he did or said was justified with a Watchtower publication. The CO might try to get him to work a little better with the elders, but in the long run, I think that's the kind of elder the organization really wants.

Suraj Khan

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. One would think you could welcome the JC and expose Snake for what he is to the other elders. Unfortunately, they already know, and Snake has the backing and endorsement of the CO. I'm not sure he's being removed from congregations because of outcry...he may only be transferred to other congregations when his dirty work for the CO is done. I wonder if the light bulb will come on over Sparky's head?

Comatose

Lie if you have to, but don't acknowledge doubts. It will make snake look even worse. You do not owe people who would hurt you honesty.

Satanus

'Oh, they're friends, known each other for years! The CO actually sent Snake to our congregation from his old one.'

So, you WILL accede to their wishes and meet w 2 elders, sparky and the co, without your husband there? Oooog.

S

DATA-DOG

Hey Julia,

I am sorry you are going through this. If you are like me you entertain some fantasies about getting Elders to see the errors of the WTBTS. It ain't happening. I was accused of apostasy by at least one Elder, and the CO was eventually involved. Why? I mentioned some made up rules that were being enforced that were hurting people. They didn't have enough to hang me with so I just lost all my " privileges."

Now fast-forward to Sundays WT lesson about how great the Elders are. One paragraph brought up a discussion about rules. Our KH discussed this paragraph for quite a while. The Elders all chimed in about how we don't have rules, just principles. Are we not happified to not be burdened with man-made rules! The WTBTS does not make rules, the Elders have such confidence in the friends, rules are not needed!

I just sat there, stunned... These were the very men who enforce a man-made rule of service time for brothers reaching out. They also specifically said that if the " sheep ", that is the friends they have so much confidence in, are not continually nudged along, they will slack off in their field service. They used an example given them by the CO to support this. The sheep will only do what the sheep in front of them do. So if one slacks off, they all will. That is from the CO. He is the CO because he is a corporate man. Make no mistake about that.

Elder Snake is a friend of the CO huh? Elder Sparky may be great as an individual, but he cannot help you. Fear of man will kick in. He will either go with the flow or step away, and let the others who back Elder Snake deal with you. It sounds harsh, but you cannot trust any of them because they worship the GB and the WTBTS. If you can accept that, and realize that you cannot be friends with those you cannot have an honest discussion with, you will be better off in the long run. Again, I am sorry this is happening to you, to me, and to others.

peace,

DD

Satanus

Cos are the society's hitmen, they will take out anyone that is a danger to the society w no compunction. Sparky won't be able to save you. Seems to me that your standing can only go downhill from here. Avoidance w whatever excuse works would be the best way to move forward.

S

punkofnice

Make sure you're alone at the back of the Kingdumb Hell with snake then scream and run into the main hall crying. Then scream and complain that snake groped your bum and tried to fondle your boobs.

They won't be able to do anything without 2 witnesses but it'll cause a stir they won't forget.

Getting serious for Julia!!

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