Eventually, I suspect the pressure will get so great that women are going to serve in some of these roles to make up for the male shortfall. Even as a JW, I used to wonder: Why can’t a woman do the accounts? Carry mikes? Work the sound? Run the literature counter? I’m sure other JWs will think along these same lines and necessity will be the mother of “new light”.
Former Longtime Elder - Reflections
by James Jackson 51 Replies latest jw friends
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James Jackson
Hey Londo111 Why can’t a woman do the accounts? Carry mikes? Work the sound?
In many of the Spanish they already do this because of the lack of legal Brothers.
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problemaddict
You know what they say, mo elders mo problems.
When I served abroad there were many sisters doing thinks for the halls. Accounts, keeping time (secretary work), basically that wasn't "teaching" or "disciplinary". Why? There was only 2 servants and no elders in the hall. And I was one of the servants.
I don't think they will have the women in the hall so any more than maybe some specially carved out task. Alot of times its not that these guys don't have anyone to appoint, its that they don't want to. Heck i was forcibly removed, before I neccesarily wanted to be. Even though mentlaly I was out, my tlaks were centered on things I could agree with, and helping others. People sensed the authenticity.
James however, has hit the nail on the head. Basking in glory is right. It is addictive to these guys. I mean they are "somebody" when they are on that stage. Entrusted with the sheep of God! Cheiftans in the new world, stars in the hand of Christ. No longer just the window cleaner, landscpaer, or desk jockey. (nothing wrong with any of those professions, but my point is you don't get to exert alot of your weight around)
We have some young servants, and everyone admires them. Some go to Bethel. They come back to visit and are treated like rock stars. Good kids, enjoying attention, thinking they are doing the right thing. I just wish i could show them themselves in 10 years. Like at 32 years old. Unable to support a family possibly, not really at your youngest, admiration gone, maybe trying to hold onto it by being one hell of an elder....
Its sad.
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Legacy
Hi All,
I just came to this site..I'm Legacy or DATRUFF..I posted on the Bethel Layoff...Just got baptized. I will spare you all the stuff I know about the witnesses...Just to cut to the chase..they/I are just Human..& imperfect..I didn't join looking for perfection. I wanted to learn the bible because I was tired of everyone telling me the Bible says. I found out for myself...The Truth lead me to the truth. One thing you can say...They take the sting out of death, whether it's true or not. We will never know, until it happens. Because nobody has come back except Jesus to tell us. Death is a mystery & scarey also...it's the unknown..& Humans can't stand not to know & what they don't know, they make up. I know what I'm in for. I came in with my eyes wide open. The Truth has a ring of truth as in all religions. So that's the bottom line, you can go from Hall to Hall or church to church, none of them have the truth, because the Bible depends on each man's interpretation. Anyway, to address...Young Men to reach out..Let's be real, how many young or old men, are lining up to be celibate. That's the real deal breaker right there. Some of the young ones get married early because of sex & burning with passion. Some marriages last & some don't. I have friends that are not in the truth & have been married over 40 yrs. So it's a gamble in or out of the truth. If you are a married man, it's a little easier to serve, but at the same time not so. Men are visual. They can't help but look. So they have wives who may be insecure so, as I have experienced, they look past, above or over you. When I first came to the hall, I would talk to a brother, & they would look every where except at me..I found that strange but then I caught on. Watch your eye gate. If anyone know men...they just have to see you once..that's all, the image is there. One of the sisters is very sexy, but no matter what she does to dress modestly, she is sexy. She has been told on several occasions about her dress but...there is nothing she can do. She could wear a pototoe sack & she'd still have it. The brothers are trying to change her but what it really is...they are tempted by her. So they want to cover her up. Bulletin Guys...she is who she is..maybe they should consider not changing her but their way of looking at her. One of the brothers said, maybe if you would change you could get a mate in the truth, but really what it is...the wife, finds her a threat...all wives do. She isn't a flirt & would love to find someone, but as we all know, most sisters have to bring a man, not too many meet in the hall, unless they are very young. So all that to say this. They can campaign all they want to bring in more males..but it's the celibacy thing..how many men, would line up for that..How many men want to listen to another man to tell them what to do...Not many. It takes a special man to do that. We have quite a few elders, & young ones, we can only hope the young ones reach out. Plus this generation is much more sophisticated than the generation before them, so they are a little ahead of the game, & since the young have nothing to believe in anymore. The veil has been lifted, our x-President having sex, the priest having sex. They are a part of this social media thing. Nothing is a secret...I mean nothing. We told our children how to act, yet we adults are in the back room, doing who knows what..they say, why listen to the adults..they aren't even acting right...Adults are no longer roll models. What I wonder is, Elders and older folks who have been preaching the end is just around the corner & they are 60, 70 or 80 yrs. old, what is really in their minds. Would love to hear from a long timer that has been in the truth for over 50 yrs...what would they say to the younger men about reaching out..
Be Well,
Legacy
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Giordano
"Elders getting so old that every item is a struggle for them, and few to pick up the slack."
There is no slack to pick up, just boring crap no one listens to. Most small churchs run with one or two people and a unpaid volunteer or two. The JW business model is and has been a total failure. In my day, pre Elders we had three servents and we were just as boring only less nosey about the private life of others. Your a doubter? See you around....keep it to yourself and no DFing.
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DesirousOfChange
We have some young servants, and everyone admires them. Some go to Bethel. They come back to visit and are treated like rock stars. Good kids, enjoying attention, thinking they are doing the right thing. I just wish i could show them themselves in 10 years. Like at 32 years old. Unable to support a family possibly, not really at your youngest, admiration gone, maybe trying to hold onto it by being one hell of an elder....
And appointed as new Elder in their mid-to-late 20s while stilling living at home with parents or wife's parents.
Doc
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Ding
Interesting how many elders have grown old in this system of things...
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wisdomfrombelow
And appointed as new Elder in their mid-to-late 20s while stilling living at home with parents or wife's parents
Imagine being in your mid-20s and being no the governing body. That was what Milton Henschel experienced. I reflect back on how things were when Knorr was in office and there were a lot of young circuit and district overseers newly appointed as well. As regards women, I guess in the late 50s they were allowed to join the Theocratic Ministry School. I guess they could easily be allowed to do more non-teaching work the same way if the Governing Body sees a need for change.
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Ucantnome
when i was a kid i always thought the meetings were boring and ran long who would want to reachout to do that?
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Tech49
I have noticed this trend for quite some time now. The elders in the various congregations are growing older, and the brothers that should be following in their footsteps to replace them at some point..... just arent there. There are always a few MS in each congregation, but they seem to be young and not real bright. Many are there based on nepotism, or because they are congregation favorites, or recent return-ees from Bethel, or because the CO needs a few recommendations for this visit. Most of them can't teach and have no social skills. The older elders just don't seem to be interested in training them anymore. They are so bogged down with congregation problems and keeping the "rank-and-file" in line with ever-changing "light", they don't have time to raise up proper replacements.
The VERY few new elders I see appointed are pompous, haughty, egotistical jerks. They don't care about their fellow believers, they care about the new "position", their instant "promotion" to importance. One in particular that I can think of, just appointed "by holy spirit", his daddy is the COBE, his wife is an immature twit, flat out refuses to be on the Ministry School, and refuses to let her daughter be on it as well. Yep, prime elder material there. Very few of the new hire elders have families/wives that you would look at as "exemplary", or look to for sage advice. It's sickening. The respect and dignity for the responsibility entailed is just not there. Lots of Holy Spirit at work, for sure.
Like I said, I have seen this trend for a while now, and it is having a very negative effect on the congregations. I suspect that in about 10 years, 20 at most, there will be a HUGE problem, none of the good old "grandfatherly" types that have a real compassion and care for people. The congregations will be run by dictatorial asshats, with their own personal agendas being at the forefront of decisions made.
Wait............ maybe we are already there.......
Jack Harper, Tech49