by silentlambs 61 Replies latest jw friends
Bill, my view is that you have to fight this thing.
You deny you have caused divisions in the hall.......so where is their evidence? You are not allowed to produce your own evidence in rebuttal.
I wouldn't worry too much about the initial decision. If it is that you are DF'd.......you have to appeal. You have the best grounds for appeal, I've heard.
Compare how the child abuser is dealt with judicially.......two witnesses....leave it with Jehovah........and yourself! Quite a difference IMO!
ISP
Catholic church history has lots of this kind of handling of dissidents. The wt is like the church was 500 yrs ago. The church has progressed from those methods.
SS
INTEGRITY
I was just thinking,
I think Bill just made history again!
I think he has got to be the only person ever to be LOCKED OUT of his own Judicial meeting.
Unbelievable!
Edited by - ChiChiMama on 25 July 2002 15:7:55
No one wants Bill or his family hurt and I personaly would not think less of him if he diassociated himself . However, given the valiant history of Silentlambs it would be inconsistent to sidestep the final unrightous act of the WTBTS. As far as damage control , this forum and others like it serve to keep the truth in the public domain. In addition, there will will be others who will ralley behind this issue untill the number of martyrs generates a loud public outcry against the WTBTS'S draconian methods.
Here is the link to todays Article in the Sun
http://www.paducahsun.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?200207/25/+0anu_religion.html+20020725+religion
Bill,
You know you and your wife are in my thoughts. These decontamination efforts on the part of the WTBTS are simply outrageous. To expel you, the Pandelos, and the Andersons are going to backfire for the WTS.
You and the others are simply trying to protect children. I never imagined the WTS being so arrogant as to break their own laws to assure the practice of pedophilia could continue within the organization without question. Tears of pure outrage at their pompous attitude and their criminal neglect are making it hard for me to see what I am writing.
Thank you Bill for all you have done to bring these atrocities to the forefront so that all may know to be careful with their children and protect them.
They ignore their own written word to assure witnesses still in the organization are oblivious to the FACT that pedophilia is alive and rampant within their religion. They hope that one will see you and the others as apostate therefore making them think that all is well. Apostates after all lie, they want to cause divisions and spout lie after lie, "dont listen to them for they have committed horrible sins".
You're horrible sin Bill? To help stop children from being sexually molested.!?!?!
It amazes me that they let a worldly reporter in the Kingdom Hall and ignored you while sitting in the parking lot in plain view. They tell the reporter they are convening you're hearing but fail to tell you. How low can you sink WTS? Guess what WTBTS your tactics are going to come back to bite you in the ass. Your own written words; "Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock " If the accused wishes to bring witnesses who can speak in his defense regarding the matter, he may do so. However, observers are not permitted. No tape-recording devices are allowed. If the accused repeatedly fails to come to the hearing, the committee will proceed with the hearing but will not make a decision until evidence and any testimony by witnesses are considered. The committee should not take action against a person
Edited by - cassiline on 25 July 2002 15:48:40
Bowen observes hearing from afar
The former Jehovah's Witness elder observed three elders enter Kingdom Hall. He said his request for another date was never answered.
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DRAFFENVILLE, Ky.--As a panel of three elders discussed his future within the Jehovahs Witnesses on Wednesday night, Bill Bowen sat in his pickup truck across the street from the Kingdom Hall.
Bowen, of Draffenville, faced disfellowship, or expulsion, from the church for publicly criticizing its handling of sexual abuse allegations. He had asked church officials to reschedule the hearing for a time that would be convenient for his witnesses. Bowen said he did not receive a response, and although he sat across the street from the church during the 30-minute hearing, he still refused to attend.
I saw three elders walk in, but there were no witnesses, Bowen said. For any allegation of wrongdoing to be established within the church, there have to be at least two witnesses. Who serves as their witnesses, the three judges? I am not going in there when they have no witnesses and my witnesses are not here. There is no justification. This is not fair, its not impartial, its just a kangaroo court.
Bowen has complained that child-sex allegations are generally not reported to secular authorities by the Jehovahs Witnesses because of the churchs closed nature and insistence on handling problems internally. He resigned as a church elder in December 2000.
Church leaders have denied wrongdoing.
The hearing began at 7:30, and Bowen, still in his pickup truck, said he saw the elders leave the church around 8, but they did not speak to him.
Before the hearing, George Bandarra, an elder in the Murray congregation and one of the elders reviewing Bowens case, said elders would not comment on the proceeding because it was a private church matter. He added that the elders would not make their verdict public but would telephone Bowen Wednesday night with the result. Bowen said the elders did not call.
A church hearing had been scheduled in May but did not take place, because the elders scheduled to hear the case did not show up. When the hearing was rescheduled for Wednesday, Bowen requested a postponement in writing because of short notice and said he had witnesses coming from California, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida and Louisiana.
Who schedules a meeting on a Wednesday night? I asked for a weekend meeting to give my witnesses time to come here. Its my right, according to church protocol, to be able to produce witnesses to speak on my behalf. (The elders) have not shown up twice, and when I have legitimate reasons for a postponement, they will not give me a reason.
I received no response from my letter. I received a letter from their attorney stating (the church) received my letter.
Bandarra did say the elders were picked from outside the Marshall County congregation to ensure an impartial verdict. He said after the elders review the case, they would pray and vote until a unanimous decision was reached. The other elders were Jeff Steen, also of Murray, and Ron Carey of Central City. Carey is an assembly overseer, who is in charge of the churchs circuit assembly, Bowen said.
Both Bandarra and Steen seemed concerned over the recent publicity that Bowens case has attracted, and again stated the case is a private matter. However, Steen mentioned that there are about 6 million Jehovahs Witnesses worldwide, and about 40,000 are disfellowshipped annually for various reasons.
Members of the church, even family members, are required to shun those who are disfellowshipped.
Totally relevant in a totally non-relevant way........Bill's kinda cute, ain't he?
Never said I was a serious person, btw.
waiting
I appreciate the support and kind remarks, it has been a long day, the Paducah Article was a nice suprise, I have not had a chance to get a paper yet. I wonder what the preaching work will be like locally? Who was it that brought reproach on Jehovah's name? Will the local public accept Jehovah's Witnesses as anything less than crackpots?
If what is happening angers you and you want to do something about it, come to the silentlambs march September 27th. Make a statement to WT that abuse survivors will no longer be silenced. The wickedness of WT Policy will no longer be hidden by judicial hearings.
As I suggested in my letter it was the wiser course to leave this matter alone. It seems WT as a way of pattern has chosen to continue to follow the stupid course. Of course when you allow children to be raped can you expect any less?
I will make a vague comment as I cannot say much further at the present moment. It is best described in a scripture, "sow to the wind and you will reap a whirlwind." Listen WT can you hear it? The "whirlwind" is coming...
Within four days.
silentlambs
Edited by - silentlambs on 25 July 2002 17:53:12
