How hard are the elders going to try?

by freedom96 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Scully

  JH writes:

  If they DF you, without you knowing it, do they send you a letter saying you are DF'd ?

  From what I understand, the WTS has given specific instructions to elders (Spirit Directed TM by the Legal Department of course) that nothing of this nature is to be put in writing. That way, there's no proof that they DFd you, except for the people who heard the announcement, and if they simply repeat what they have heard, it's "gossip" and hearsay. Won't stand up in court.

  Nice to know the Holy Spirit TM is giving the Legal Department such wise direction.

  Love, Scully
• 

  Room 215

  Of course, reactions by te elders will vary, but my impression is that along with the hardasses, there are a significant number who would prefer simply to avoid chasing down people who have moved on and who no longer cause them any problems. These latter will subvert the campaign by foot-dragging and `benign neglect.'' After all, when they do catch up with any of these, they face certain recrimination, i.e.: ``Where were you all these years when I really needed you? Even now, would you be at my door if you had not been ordered to do so?''

  I know one such local elder/anointed who has a brother who fits into the ``long-gone-never-to-return' category that until now has managed to stay off the local elders' radar screen, minaly by the complicity of his brother, who clerarly has no stomach for getting him into hot water, and who secretly wishes that the current Brooklyn-ordred witchhunt will just go away.

  After all, apathy and neglect of, and contempt for, anyone who drifts away, is universal among ``Jehovah's loving prince-like shepherds."
• 

  benext

  I see an Elder just about every week as I'm going to work, he's headed into FS. He just says hello. Sunday an Elder and his wife were on the other side of the street and he waved. No phone calls, no requests to visit. Maybe their trying to get their nerve up.
• 

  jws

  Well, you never know how each elder will take the direction. Some may feel it a burden. Some JWs feel the WBTS has special insight and that if they are calling for this to happen, then it is brilliant and they Society may even have some special knowledge that this will pay off in people returning, so they are excited to get started. Some may enjoy the break from routine matters and relish the chance to play detective in the tracking people down part.

  Based on posts here, I knew this was coming several months ago and like clockwork, it starts as the new year starts. How ridiculous. Nobody even jumping the gun, saying, hey that's a good idea that we visit the lost sheep. Why wait until January?

  Anyway, knowing it was coming I asked my dad to let me know if anybody started asking for my whereabouts. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I live 1000+ miles from my last congregation and it's been almost 14 years. If they track me down, then I can assure you they are determined.

  But then again, I might be a good target. First off, I do have a penis. My father joined nearly 50 years ago and at various times was City Overseer, I believe Presiding Overseer, Elder, and Ministerial Servant (still is today). He has pioneered in the past few years. He is very well known and used to give talks and make friends all over the place. He also used to travel to a lot of hall buildings and make friends and work on halls. Our home used to host the bookstudy. Both my sisters are in as well. I'm assuming that these things sort of elevate my profile. Based on conversations with my dad, people still remember me and ask about me. A lot more so than somebody who starts attending for a while, doesn't know anybody, doesn't bond, then dissappears.

  Also, a letter that was posted about the whole visiting people process said something about transferrring publisher records. I wonder if a local congregation now has my records. I wonder if somebody heard about my move 9 years ago and inquired about my change of address way back then. And, since that was only a temporary apartment and I moved across town 6 months afterwards, my records could still be stuck at some congregation. A congregation who never saw me and didn't get around to contacting me in time before I moved again. Now they're sitting on records, not knowing what to do with them. Could I have gotten lost in the system?