Elders--"untrained volunteers" or CLE...

LDH

Let's see how long the WBTS can continue to waffle on this issue...

Telling their members that the Elders are "appointed by God" and yet when they make a mistake, claiming that they are merely "untrained volunteers."

I have never known exactly how "elders" are chosen and what the process is when a recommendation goes to Brooklyn. All I've ever heard is "The GB prays over the issue." [8>]

Well, I would suggest that they increade the frequency of their prayers because they are going to need all the help they can get.

Lisa

Imbue

They never mention all the a** kissing one must do to even become an elder...lol

Yes, they are not perfect but they expect publishers to be...I've seen elders and their wives slander people right in the KH and no one was counseled they are just imperfect. If a reg publisher did that they would be reproved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The only good elite are dead elite!!"-Naeblis
(Ok! He borrowed it)

Xander

Oh, silly, it's very simple to the faithful.

They are 'clergy' when it comes time to dodge the draft.

Elders are 'untrained volunteers' when they make mistakes.

But, elders are 'clergy' when it comes time to visit someone in a hosptial.

However, elders are 'untrained volunteers' again when the religious leaders are required to report molestation.

And, they are back to 'clergy' when it comes to privilege in testifying at a trial.

'Untrained volunteers' at tax time, though...

Once again 'clergy' when someone in the hall needs a professional to help their spiritual growth

And back to 'untrained volunteers' when....

blahblahblah

Xander F
(Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America - Ohio order)
A fanatic is one who, upon losing sight of his goals, redoubles his efforts.
--George Santayana

Elsewhere

I'm getting dizzy.

"As every one knows, there are mistakes in the Bible" - The Watchtower, April 15, 1928, p. 126
Believe in yourself, not mythology.
<x ><

LittleToe

I don't believe that appointments go to the GB, it just gets as far as the local Branch.
Wasn't there a similar thread recently? I think Amazing contributed to it.

Xander:
Nice exposure of a living flip-flop.
Like Elsewhere, I'm getting dizzy!
LOL

rekless

I was an elder so here it is :

1. it is not all ass kissing alot of it is making yourself available to the cong, becoming all things to all people.

I never really associated with the elders because I was considered a hick from the sticks.I moved from Mississippi to California.

I had a southern drawl that no body could understand, but a sence of humor everybody loved. I could tell stories and and weave stuff in my talks thats marveled everyone.

The single sisters loved to visit our home and we studied with them blah blah blah. My being appointed was more of a popularity contest then anything else.

Field service hours were normal, I studied researched made inproved answers and was an outstanding book study conductor; therefore, it happened because the cong. gave the CO shinning reports about my family and me. The body of elders had no bad things to say except I talked funny.

I believe it is more a popularity contest to a great degree more so than ass kissing.
I have also seen a lot of ass kissing and they still never were appointed.So take it for what it is worth>

That is my experience there may be a hundred different stories by a hundred different elders & ex-elders.

There were good guys and there was bad guys. My background and being raised by just a mom I was more aware of being an advocte to the sisters and they appreciated me for it because I went to bat for them when everybody else was finding fault with them...

I am not bragging just stating a fact.
I never voted for a DF or for public reproof.
I have been known to tell some that continually stayed in trouble ."If your not going to do anything in the truth, why not make yourself useful to society and join the milatary."

I hope some did as I look back. hahahahaha.

The appointment does come from Brooklyn

Advance heart & vascular Specialists
Ram K. Singh, MD., F.A.C.C.
4432 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV. 89119
" This man saved my life, after my heart attack."

Hell is truth seen too late. H.G.Adams

orangefatcat

Xander; I totally agree with your comments. The society uses the clergy thing when they feel that they need to or when in a court of law. Yet at other times they are just untrainted volunteers. And I am a firm believer that if you have wealth in the congregation you are generally an elder. Does money talk or what? I have seen some elders throw their weight around. When my father was presiding overseer and he was in the hospital dying he was in intensive care and several elders came to see him and claimed to be his brother and so the nurses would let them come to see my dad. The nurses thought if strange that my dad had so many brothers and they spoke to my mother and my mother went ballistic and said that they were not his brothers and not to let any in to see him as he slipped into a coma.
My mothers was so furious and she didn't pull any punches with the elders. My father remained in a coma until his death. And other elder and his wife wouldn't leave when the doctor wanted to talk to us privately. I was so pissed off. They are so rude and intrusive. And when my mom and I went to make funeral arrangements at the funeral home another elder just sat himself down while my mom and I did the arrangements and we didn't ask him to even come into the palour, he just pushed his way in. Yes they the elders are whatever they want to be whenever it is suitable for them.

Pork Chop

Recommendations for plain old garden variety elders just go to the Service Department. It's only Circuit Overseers and above that go to the GB.

William Penwell

What can one expect with a bunch of "window washers" and "janitors" that are doing a job that should be left to professionally trained people.

Will

"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."
Mark Twain

QUEENIE

reckless--my opinion regarding being appointed an elder and or elderette IS a combination of both ass kissing and popularity contest -- BOTH of which I am not good at--not one friggin bit((((hugs))))

Elders--"untrained volunteers" or CLE...

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