I spoke to Joe Anderson...

by Littlebit 36 Replies latest jw friends

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  Littlebit

  Joe Anderson thought you'd like to know what caused him to be invited to attend a judicial hearing held in his honor. He said he received a phone call from Larry Seely, the presiding overseer of the Manchester, TN Congregation on July 19th. Another elder was listening to the conversation and identified himself. The reason for the judicial hearing, Larry said, was because Joe gave each elder a personal copy of his resignation letter. By sending the Watchtower Society the letter and then giving a copy to the elders was, in effect, "Undermining the confidence of the brothers in Jehovah's organization." Joe said he told Larry how foolish this whole charge was, that the elders always are read a letter of resignation, so what's the difference if they each received a copy? Larry couldn't answer this question and hardly tried, Joe said. Joe also told Larry that he abided by J. R. Brown's recent statement that the Society welcomed in-house discussion and what he did was definitely in-house. Joe asked Larry who put him up to convening a judicial hearing? He told me he knew that the local guys wouldn't do such a thing. Larry replied that it didn't matter. That was enough for Joe to know it was the Watchtower Society and he told Larry so. Joe also said that he told the two elders how sad this all was, this control of the Witnesses and the loss of freedom of speech.

  FYI, Joe sent a copy of his resignation letter to two Governing Body members, Dan Sydlik and Jack Barr, men who Joe and Barbara were quite friendly with. He thought that since so much time had passed since Barbara's appeal letter was given to the local elders and nothing was happening to Bill Bowen or Barbara, that maybe these GB members were holding things up because of receiving his letter and giving more thought to the whole issue. When both Barbara and Bill received notice of judicial hearings last week, plus Joe was invited to a judicial hearing himself, he decided that there was no hope that things had changed, so he asked Bill Bowen to post his resignation letter on this forum.

  Joe spent nearly 50 years in a position of authority in the WT organization, also 25 years in full-time service, which includes 13 1/2 at Brooklyn Bethel. He knows most of the top administrative men at headquarters, many since 1956 when they were all young men working together in the Adams Street Watchtower Factory. Joe was invited back to Bethel in 1982 because of his extraordinary reputation as an older man and for his skills. As a skilled plumber and builder, he was given oversight of plumbing installation in most of the new high rise buildings that the Society built in Brooklyn during the 80s and early 90s. Joe loved working side by side with young JW men and woman who he taught the plumbing trade, along with giving them fatherly advice. He and Barbara assisted nearly 80 people to become JWs before they went to Bethel. Their son was in Bethel for 16 years arriving there in 1981. They were a happy family who enjoyed a high reputation. But, it's all gone now, he said. All the years of hard work spent in behalf of the 'theocracy." All because of trying to help and protect "widows and orphans" [women and children] and begging for a change to policies that protect pedophiles and hurt children. By confronting these issues in a letter that disagreed with Watchtower policies sent to WT leaders, men who, by their actions, show they don't really give a fig for either women or children, Joe will probably be disfellowshipped.

  Joe said that he agrees with one British active JW, who recently wrote that "...sadly, it seems that the Watchtower Society is a only concerned with its image protection policies." Joe hopes that someday as their life force ebbs, each man at Watchtower will realize how empty his life came to be because he lived only to protect a corporation's image. There can be no self-respect for such a life, only loathing. Joe and Barbara believe that there is no love of God in a religion and in its members if they do not practice love of neighbor, in many of its definable aspects or facets, as Jesus commanded.

  Joe and Barbara send their regards to you all and thank you for your support and loving words.

  Littlebit

  Edited by - Littlebit on 23 July 2002 11:46:11
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  sunshineToo

  Thanks, Littlebit, for this info.

  I cannot believe that Joe was called for a judicial hearing. What kind of sin did he commit? I cannot believe the elders are going along with the WTS. ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want FBI to get involved in this case, and I wish the U.S. government shut down the WTS.
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  hawkaw

  Ahhh .... they just keep giving us more amo to give to the lamestreet press. They don't get it - do they.

  They say they are open but in reality they silence.

  Thanks Lb and welcome.

  hawk
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  metatron

  Sad as this injustice is, it is also wonderful.

  There are countless other elders and publishers who are kind
  people, still naive and unknowing, who need to be awakened
  - and forced out of this corrupt organization.

  A witch hunt would be a great gift to those of us who long
  for the destruction of the Watchtower - it further exposes
  the emptiness and spiritual bankruptcy of the leadership.

  They don't even bother to explain anymore - they just are
  obsessed with punishing people.

  metatron
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  TMS

  . By sending the Watchtower Society the letter and then giving a copy to the elders was, in effect, "Undermining the confidence of the brothers in Jehovah's organization."

  If this was indeed the rationale of the WTBS, it betrayed a tremendous lack of respect for the judgement of the local elders. Stable, well-grounded men should be able to absorb even "wild talk" without losing their spiritual footing.

  FYI, Joe sent a copy of his resignation letter to two Governing Body members, Dan Sydlik and Jack Barr, men who Joe and Barbara were quite friendly with.

  Yes, I know how Joe Anderson may have felt. You feel that your years of service, reputation give you some sort of credibility, at least enough to buy a listening ear. Not so. You learn that you are what Dylan described so eloquently as "just a pawn in their game."

  TMS

  Edited by - TMS on 23 July 2002 13:5:22

  Edited by - TMS on 23 July 2002 13:19:57
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  Francois

  Littlebit, thanks for your post. It's all very sad indeed.

  You know, if you study the major religious philosophies of the world there is a great underlying theme in them all, once you have stripped away the cultural accretions that have built up over the centuries. And that underlying theme is a great river of Love that flows from the Creative Absolute, or God, out into the Universe of Universes and so out to each one of us. Love. Paul, wasn't it, said, "God is Love."

  Now, I know full well that no matter how hard we try, we come up short in efforts to let that Love that comes from God to each of us, pass through us to all who happen to be within our sphere. But we keep on trying nonetheless.

  However, when one dispassionately considers the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and it's behavior throughout its existence one seems forced to conclude that not only does it not have the truth in it, it also has no love in it. So, in a way, truth is love. It doesn't seem possible to have one without the other. And yet the Jehovah's Witnesses claim to BE the truth. Without Love how can there be truth?

  It's very sad that the WTBTS has been such a complete and utter failure. It has hurt all of us. Some of us will never recover from the damage it has done to us, not in this lifetime. I'll certainly never fully recover. Many of you won't either. And it's a normal human reaction to be angry and bitter and to seek revenge. We'd be superhuman if we didn't have these reactions. I guess the important issue is not whether we have fallen flat on our faces, but whether we will get up and try again...and again. I don't think God is in any hurry for us to become perfect.

  Still I wish with all my heart there was something we could do together that would dry up the river of tears, as opposed to a river of Love, that issues from the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.

  francois
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  aluminutty

  Actions truly speak louder then words, don't they. J. R. Brown can state, to the press even, that the WTBTS has an "agressive child protection policy", and somehow look in the other direction, when the society takes action against those who protect the children. It really makes me wonder how the watch tower higher ups can sleep at night. Maybe they can't, and crazyness brought about by sleep deprivation is to blame for their continued ineptness in dealing with this matter. More likely, though, its just lothesome greed for power.

  Its all so sad. Joe, Barbara, and Bill have given their lifes to this damn organization, and for what? Watch tower leadership, the local elders, just don't care. The only things which hold any value to watch tower leadership is power, authority, and the immage of the org. Damn the victims for they are beneith the radar, they have no power, and do not count. Damn the victoms' champions, for they dare to question higher authority, which could ultimately jeopardise someone's power.

  This whole child abuse cover-up situation often gets me to angry to speak, and quite frankly it really brings me down. I personally am not being persicuted by the thugs in Brooklyn, and I still, daily, want to kick some major A**. I don't know how Joe and Barb have remained so calm, so controled through out this whole affair. I do know, however, that their actions have done major good towards forwarding the cause. They appear the calm, collected, right thinking adults, in the public's view of the abuse scandle, while the WTBTS look worse then spoiled children.

  Barb and Joe, keep up the great effort, and God bless your actions. You are now working towards something with real purpose, the safety of JW children, not some poorly crafted psudohope for eternal life e.g. the watch tower. Despite the demonic eforts of the watch tower leadership to thwart you, you will prevail and the children will be safe.
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  Dutchie

  This is indeed sad news.

  After giving so many years of your life to an organization and now to find out that it was all unappreciated and that you can be dismissed simply for acting nobly on behalf of the most vulnerable in our midst is reprehensible.

  However, try as they might, the governing body will not be able to silent all those who will rise up against it. Bill, the Andersons, the Pandelos and others of their ilk will soon have their vindication. I believe it will come from a most unexpecfted source.
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  Nanoprobe

  My deepest regards for the Andersons, they have taken a stand for truth and for love of neighbor.

  What difference does it make if the Watchtower Organization claims to teach the truth ?

  1Cr 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels , but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
  1Cr 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

  If you can take good men, husbands, fathers, grandfathers who already know that child molesting is wrong and train them to over ride their conscience what value is a spiritual education?
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  plmkrzy

  Littlebit

  did you ever belong to the maplegrove congergation?