Do different congregations compare notes on householders or their bible students?

by Faithful Witness 2 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Faithful Witness

  I have posted other threads about my studies with an elderette, that began a few weeks ago.

  We live in the territory of a KH in another zip code, but when we moved here we did not realize that. We went to the KH that shared our post office. We are in a rural area, but the JW's seem to be very active and present here.

  Our bible study was with the KH we attended, but we would get called on during campaigns and at other times, by the KH that we are supposedly assigned to. They never let on that they knew what the other was doing, although it was a running joke.

  Do they compare notes? Are there any times or certain things that would make them alert the other KH about you?

  I'm curious, because the local KH seems to still be calling on us, even though I ask more challenging questions when they come to the door. They never make return visits, but we still get invitations and the occasional Saturday morning visitor.

  Does one cong, send the other over, etc...

  AND does it ever go even FARTHER than that? Would there ever be a reason for them to contact the KH where my parents are members, which is over 60 miles away? Will they seek out my parents, for something I say or talk about?

  In my conversations with Miss K, I have expressed concerns over my mom being confused about their changes, yet having no one that she can ask questions to. Last time Miss K was here, she was asking where my parents lived... It didn't sound like fishing for their exact location or congregation, but I do not trust this woman.

  I don't want word to get out to my parents, or to their elders especially, that I am opposing the society. Would they then be instructed to avoid me? I know that non-believing relatives are considered bad association, but right now I think my parents believe I am still interested and just have questions. They secretly hope I will "come back." I'm not dishonest about it.

  I also don't want my dealings with Miss K to stop other JW's from coming to my door. What do you write on the territory card, when a householder asks questions that challenge the society or set off an alarm in your head? Are there specific things that people say, that cause a negative mark? Is it more likely that they will come, if they know I am going to answer the door and talk to them? Or do they avoid that house, because they don't want to face the questions from Satan?
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  The Searcher

  Firstly, I think you've already raised the warning flags to all the Witnesses you've conversed with - they recognise anti G.B./apostate language when they hear it.

  Secondly, the brotherhood is a very close community, so any information you supply is almost certainly going to be filtered back to you parents. 60 miles is nothing in JW world!

  Therefore, refuse to supply ANY info regarding your family, because fellow Witnesses love to rat on those who don't revere the Org's teachings!
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  cultBgone

  Hi, Faithful, it's not so much that they keep records officially on you, but they gossip and love to share any opportunity for a return visit or a "call" so they can run up their numbers and not have to go door-to-door cold calling. I know a case where an out-of-state jw wrote a letter about their non-jw family member they wished to be contacted, and that letter got passed around from sister to sister until it finally hit the correct congregation for the territory in which the family member lived. They started a study with that person.

  If you want any privacy for your situation, please do not give them specific info or tell them where your mom lives. Remember this: in jw-land, YOU are the outsider and THEY are all in. You have no rights of privacy or loyalty from them.

  And Searcher is right, they do recognize "apostate"-speak. But some may find you a challenge nonetheless, one that they think they can mold into a jw because of their superior knowledge and skills. Plus I've seen sisters continue studying for years and years (we're talking decades) with women who never came to the kh; they just studied for socialization and to be polite. Even though the sisters realized there was no baptism forthcoming, they refused to stop the studies. It was their routine and how they counted their time as leading piousneers in the cong.