Changing congregations, what did that solve?

JH

"A congregation is like a little family, where all are close brothers and sisters". Well thats what they let us imagine, when we began our experience in that religion. With time we saw that a couple of these brothers of sisters were not really the ones we would like to be friends with for all kinds of personal reasons. So many changed congregation, thinking that the grass was greener on the other side. The elders never told us that all our personal papers would also be sent over to the other congregation. And papers that we are not aloud to see. Why can't we, ourselves bring over these documents to the other congregation and give them ourselves to these elders. Isn't it our right to know what they think of us. The way they will treat us in the new congregation depends on what is written on these forms. Does this get you angry to know that you can't see these papers?

Edited by Jehovah God himself

Edited by - jh on 27 November 2002 14:27:48

blondie

What you have to do is change to a congregation where the new body of elders has a standing feud with the body of elders at the old congregation. The new elders will more likely disregard anything negative the first body says about you.

Blondie

JT

my dear friend

just a suggestion, you may want to ck out some info on High Control groups like wt, you see you and i worked for a corp and being that all paper work is the property of the wt and it's rep, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE FILES ON YOU - esp here in the usa in europe they have passed laws allowing you the right to get to such files

but here in the usa the freedom of information act does not cover such things-

wt is a business pure and simple and the same as you will never find a corp that will allow employees to thumb willy nilly thru the corp files, the same with wt,

all the issues you have brought up are the very reasons one needs to leave wt-

to continue to remain apart of a group that can write letters on you and your family, dog you and your family and you have no idea should be THE RED FLAG that is needed to see the need to get to stepping-

the issues that you raise clearly show that they have nothing to do with god, bible , religion, JUST BUSINESS-

even at bethel when i was there only certain bro with in the very dept such as the Service dept have access to records

some of you may remember a black bro, cool dude who was a computer wiz, Tony Grey- he accessed some files that he was not allowed to and the next thing we knew my man went from wearing a 3 pc suit in 25 columbia hts building to wearing work shoes and jeans at 360 furman smile

years ago they used to allow bro to carry thier records with them NOT ANY MORE they must be FORMALLY REQUESTED from your new congo-

wt has a real System in place to maintain and monitor the activities of all jw-

that is why LIKE YOU stated changing halls many times changes nothing,

if one is considered a flunky in their current hall when on moves the new body of elders willl be told that this person is a flunky SO KEEP YOUR EYE ON HIM

you will not believe the number of letters that had "Footnotes" on members thier wives are nosey thier kids are bad asses, etc

but that is THE WT SYSTEM

sad is it not

Shakita

Changing congregations solves nothing.

As a family we changed congregations early this past year. We were fleeing the "unloving brothers and sisters" in the former hall. I hadn't been in service for months, and my meeting attendence was scanty. My first meeting at this new cong. I was approached by an elder, who our family has known for 20+ years, and in small talk he chimes in "we will be keeping our eye on you." There are some things that you will always remember, because they are a turning point in your life. This was a turning point for me. Even if said in jest, I knew he was echoing what was being said in elderland. I did go to a few meetings after that, but I could never forget what he said to me that first day in a new cong. Later, on a "miss you" visit in our home, this same elder said that "if he said anything to me that upset me, he was sorry." Maybe he was sorry, but what he said was the truth. They were keeping an eye out for me, in case I was an infection that could likely spread.

God, I would love to see those secret records on our family. If what people here say is true, and they will not let us fade away quietly, I will insist on getting all my family records. If they refuse, my husband's brother is a lawyer, we will talk to him about what steps we can legally take to get our hands on them.

Mrs. Shakita

HoChiMin

JH;

The elders are instructed to positively send a letter of introduction for every congregation member that changes congregations. The information it contains can be positive or negative depending on your perspective. It certainly will set the mood of acceptance in the new congregation, first from the elders and their wives and children then by gossip and example on to the response from the rest of the members.

If there is anything the elders know of a personal nature you wish not to be passed on, ex: judicial matters with sexual overtones, apostate leanings they will assuredly be in that letter of introduction. The perceived attitude of all family members in reference to the supposed spirituality you may have and loyalty to the WT will also be mentioned. There will also be elements of control such as how they would like you to be conditioned and treated, although this is not always followed by the new body of elders.

From experience, a good way to avoid a letter following you is to not join another congregation, move and do not tell any one where you are going. This is not possible for many so a letter will go with you.

When all control from the WT is removed from your mind any letter or information they have on you becomes silly to have worried about. This is true freedom from a high control group.

HCM

NeonMadman

The Watchtower likes its followers to think that the organization as a whole is simply wonderful, and that if any problems exist, they are confined to the local congregations. That's why JW's tend to think that matters will improve for them if they go to a different congregation. As others here have pointed out, the letter that follows you to the new congregation will likely ruin any chance you have for a fresh start.

But even if you could somehow prevent the letter from being sent, the bottom line is that things really aren't any better in the new congregation anyway. Why do you want to change? Is your congregation cold and unloving? I have a scoop for you - they're ALL cold and unloving! Is there corruption among the elders? The organization is corrupt to the core! Too many nosey, judgmental people? The organization breeds people like that, they're a control mechanism. Because there are so many people like that, you tend to do what you're supposed to, so you won't get reported to the elders.

So, if you're miserable in one congregation, odds are you'll be miserable in the next one, too. That's why there is so much use of Prozac and Zoloft among the "happiest people on earth".

ThiChi

I remember in the early eighties that you were given your cards to take with you when you moved to another Hall. Boy, that sure changed by 1985 or so......

As an Elder, I did see the misuse of the introduction letter to a new Hall. Sometimes, if you were working on something and then you moved, some Elders would take your move personally as a front to their Sheparding. So to show you that you would be better off under their care, they would paint your situation in a worse light than really necessary.

Edited by - thichi on 27 November 2002 10:59:5

jack2

One advantage of changing congregations - it can be good for doing some 'fading' since, even though the elders do get a letter, the fact is, neither they are the congregation will really know fully what to expect of you.

The letter-sending thing is not a bad idea entirely. It can help the elders in getting to know the person arriving. And if that person has a serious issue or problem, the elders may be able to help.

But I have always felt that, upon request, the person moving should be able to read the letter.

JT

From experience, a good way to avoid a letter following you is to not join another congregation, move and do not tell any one where you are going. This is not possible for many so a letter will go with you.
When all control from the WT is removed from your mind any letter or information they have on you becomes silly to have worried about. This is true freedom from a high control group.

excellent point when Lady "C" and I left over 4 yrs ago our cards and any letter is sitting right at the hall no one - we just moved and never looked back and no one knows were we are we gave out no forwarding addresses

we just moved on with out lives

the way we figure the had gotten their last ounce of blood out of us in 1998 no more

jack2

I made my last post on this thread just before leaving for lunch....a good club sandwich at Togos by the way.....

Anyway, I am not all in favor of the whole letter of intro thing. If the body of elders from the previous congregation wants to, they can in effect almost blackball a person or family by means of what they choose to write in that letter. A lot rests with the maturity and judgement of that elder body. Will they make sure the letter is fair? That to me is a main consideration.

Also, the body of elders who receive the letter should, hopefully, be able to discern whether or not a letter is telling the real truth about a person, in due time anyway. Hopefully, they will be able to see through any unfairness that may be apparent. Again, that leaves much up to the maturity and judgement of that group of men.

Many persons leave congregations in order to 'start fresh' as it were. They should have that opportunity if they wish, without being 'dogged' by some previous reputation that they may have gotten in their previous congregation.

So again, while such letters can be helpful, the potential for abuse is there too, and the letter should be made available to the publisher upon request, IMO.

Changing congregations, what did that solve?

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