I see smart elders asking their wives to take attendance.
smart wives will delegate to their kids - wouldn't be surprised to see preprinted lists of group publishers and kids making ticks and crosses - great way to get them 'involved'
NEW BOE LETTER - It just got exponentially harder to "fade"
by sir82 91 Replies latest jw friends
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besty
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OUTLAW
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....................................................Todays JW`s are Lazy..
...............................Extra Sheperding Calls are Never Going to Happen..
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..........JW`s in the Field Service ..............................................JW Elder..
...Waiting for People to talk to them...................Waiting for JW`s to be Shepherded..
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...OUTLAW -
minimus
It sounds like less is required now. We used to have an elder who was responsible for making sure shepherding was beim
ng regularly done and elders had to give an accounting for what transpired,
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committeechairman
As a currently serving elder, when I read this letter I just heaved a sigh and slouched down in my chair. There is so much required of us as elders and I feel overwhelmed as it is - but to regiment this further just will push some elders to the point of resigning as many have already in my corner of the world (somewhere in North America). I agree with the comment earlier that most organizations do not require those in leadership positions to continue to do all the work required of everyone. There have been nights where I was clearly expected to go clean the bathroom because our group had the cleaning when I was also supposed to meet with someone to qualify them as an unbaptized publisher plus have another conversation with someone who is having difficulty and handle many other issues all on the same evening. The midweek meeting is the one that stresses me out the most. After that night, the rest of the week is much less stressing until the weekends when the stress peaks again.
I am just not sure that the GB really understands how stressful it is to serve as an elder and hold down a full time job and handle everything else, especially if an elder is a family man.
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sir82
I am just not sure that the GB really understands how stressful it is to serve as an elder and hold down a full time job and handle everything else, especially if an elder is a family man.
Oh they know.
Do they CARE?
Hell to the no.
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Pistoff
This letter is the perfect example of WT double-speak.
"Oh, Yes, Brothers, we affirm the need to shepherd, yes, yes, even WEEKLY, don't let a week go by without speaking to the dear sheep in your care, oh my yes, brothers.
Oh, keep track of when? No brother, that is not necessary, just complicates it, doesn't it; we want you to see them regularly, see? Even weekly! And so to help you we are saying you don't have to keep track of who, or when, or what, not complicated at all!"
Read between the lines; they repeat how necessary regularly and timely visits are, but you don't have to keep track.
They are as much as saying, we aren't keeping track, you don't need to keep track, the CO will not be looking for records of shepherding.
And of course, there is the matter of ...Sister Distraught brought up what accusation of child sexual abuse?? And you wrote it down brother, it was on such and such a day, and you wrote it down???
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AndDontCallMeShirley
The Watchtower's approach to shepherding calls:
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neverendingjourney
I was very fortunate in that the PO of my congregation took the view that elders were not authorized or encouraged to act like private detectives. The guy was the most powerful elder in the whole area (a large percentage of elders were people he mentored), so that attitude was pretty prevalent.
After I stopped going to meetings and moved out of town, he gave me one phone call and said he hoped I was doing well. When I started to give him my excuse, he interrupted me and said he wasn't calling to interrogate me. He was just calling to check in and make sure I was fine.
Because I knew him so well, I know that he mentally checked a box and for him the matter had been concluded. His view (and I know this because when I was a pioneer we discussed this issue specifically) was that the role for elders didn't begin anew until the inactive witness returned to the meetings, asked for help, or was otherwise in a position to affect the flock. Since I moved away, I've never even gotten one request for a shepherding call.
Since I fell off the grid, cut almost all ties with all JWs except my immediate family, I've never been bothered by them. I was doubly lucky because my immediate family has never confronted me or even asked about my going inactive.
Unfortunately, I think my case is quite rare. I know an elder from a hall not too far from where I grew up that would behave exactly like a private detective, going so far as to conduct "stake out" operations...follow suspsected evil-doers around to gather evidence against them.
As to the specific point in the letter, I concur with all the comments saying that it's unlikely to change behavior given how overburdened the vast majority of elders currently are.
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Gayle
I am just not sure that the GB really understands how stressful it is to serve as an elder and hold down a full time job and handle everything else, especially if an elder is a family man.
Please be assured the GB do not understand, and more, do not care to understand. Many elders are 'caving,' in exhaustion. Many of those that don't, then, many of their families are being effected too, with long-term negative side effects, on into another 'generation.'
If 'elders' cannot speak up, then, who can or will?
It is an organization tiring out.
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konceptual99
Move along, nothing to see here.
There will be a little flurry of activity perhaps but long term it'll be same old same old. I've not had one elder even offer to visit after I stepped down over 6 months ago. They all said how I would be missed and that I needed to keep myself strong but not one has bothered to come round and see me or my family. Not that I care, but they don't know that.
...OUTLAW