Home and Dry:
Judging by your profile pic, I would say that you aren't an elder's daughter -- LOL!
Country Girl
The Reinstatement Process & How It Works
by minimus 52 Replies latest jw friends
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cbew
As has been mentioned on this thread the whole reinstatement process as well and the 3 man JC meeting is completely unscriptural and open to abuses of the most grievous kind. I remember one brother who had moved into our congregation and applied for reinstatement after being out for over 10 years and after meeting with him was told to do the usual things ( get to meetings, study etc. ) and patiently "wait on Jehovah". This brother did exactly as we had encouraged him to do and after 8 months approached the body again for an answer. He was again told to keep doing what he was doing and just keep on "waiting on Jehovah". After 6 more months past he again approached the body and ask why he was not reinstated. Again he was told the same thing. At this point I then questioned the PO about his particular situation and was informed by him that the "sin" he originally committed was having doubts about the organization and questioning certain organizational teachings. Therefore, it was felt that in order to protect the congregation from his "apostate" leanings we had to be absolutely sure of his loyatly. Apparently any that leave for these reasons have a much harder time returning and are made to undergo a more humiliating wait. After nearly two years of this humiliating treatment he was finally reinstated.
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Noumenon
There's no rule about waiting 1 year, in fact, my understanding is the attitude now is to reinstate sooner rather than later. I was reinstated after 8.5 months, after being deep fried for fornication. I had attended nearly every main week meeting and the sunday meeting from day one, but had only gone to the odd bookstudy. Was a bit surprised they didn't say anything about the b'study lack of attendance. I had a feeling they'd already made up their mind to reinstate me b4 before I even sat before them at the reinstatement committee. I know the PO had a real soft spot for me, and I sensed he wanted to give me another chance (I had been reproved twice before for the same thing however, so I knew what was coming this time - '3 strikes and yer out' it seems)...he was on my pioneer school years earlier.
One thing, is that I appealed when they told me I was getting dissed. At the appeal the original 3 elders were sitting there (altho in absolute silence), along with the 3 new elders. I was rather shocked to see that's how they did it. It felt very intimidating and almost against natural justice. That would be especially hard for a sister to put up with...having to spill your guts on personal and sexual activities in front of 6 blokes. I nearly walked out of the appeal sitting when I saw that. It was a waste of time as I sensed straight away they weren't gonna entertain the appeal. The main interrogator on the appeal was as cold and stoney as ice and hardly looked at me in the face.
Now I'm just totally inactive, save the odd sunday meeting attendance at various congo's (I'm a gypsy - go where friends are) just to keep my hat in for socialisation purposes, hehe.
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minimus
The appeal committee is just a rubber stamp. Believe me, even when that committee doesn't think that the original committee made the right decision, they will not overturn the decision. The Society doesn't want a whole bunch of appeals coming thru in the first place. The 1st group of elders has to make a major screw-up for them to overturn it. Noumenon, you were lucky somebody up there liked you. Being a repeat offender, your history wasn't considered very good.
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dannyboy
Noumenon: Welcome to the forum.
At the appeal the original 3 elders were sitting there (altho in absolute silence), along with the 3 new elders. I was rather shocked to see that's how they did it.
The reason they do it this way, of course is so the original group can complain if testimony changes, etc. Don't forget that the original committee is a bit on the 'hotseat' themselves during an appeal....the appeal committee may have good reason to er, talk with them about how they handled things, even if they wind up agreeing with the decision.But here again, few elders have been on the 'other side of the table' to know how it feels to be the subject of a judicial hearing, so are not sensitive to the 'room full of elders' 'intimidation factor.
In my experience, the appeal process only served to reverse the most outrageously unfair/biased verdicts, not as a true appeal process that really was just.
BTW, great topic Minimus...
---Dan
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ozziepost
..."still Tiffany, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't make it through Armageddon, you have left it too late to repent and prove your love for Jehovah".
This type of comment occurs quite frequently, in my recolllections, and is typical of the Pharisaical attitudes of not just the elders but also the R&F in the Borg. In short, it permeates the whole organisation.
BTW would that "sister" have said the same words to the evildoer next to Jesus on the cross/stake?
That reminds me of something amusing. One Bethel elder said to Mrs Ozzie and I that the evildoer could not possibly have gone to heaven because he wasn't baptised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers, Ozzie
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Pork Chop
Typically, if you reinstate someone in less than six months you get a nasty letter asking why you disfellowshipped them in the first place.
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justhuman
Nice tips for those who are thinking to reinstate...if I ever get disfellowshiped, I wan't give the WT the pleasure to sit with the elders and ask all those stupid questions.
I will send a letter pointing to the headquarters in Brooklyn directly to the GB and I will ask to be erased from the WT membership because they are FALSE PROPHETS AND LIARS AND JESUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR ORGANIZATION...
Can you imagine the reaction of the elders in my cong
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home_and_dry
Country Girl and Minimus, No, I have not grown facial hair due to the stress of my dub days
My profile pic is is David Brent, UK comedy character played by Ricky Gervais in the UK comedy 'The Office'. The man is a genius and is more than worthy of the privelledge of being my profile pic!!
To see the man himself in action, follow this link and watch the 'dancer' clip. I rest my case!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/renaissance/index.shtml
Besides, my real pic would scare the hell out of you.
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ozziepost
Typically, if you reinstate someone in less than six months you get a nasty letter asking why you disfellowshipped them in the first place
Now there's a curious thing. The WTS claims that it's "God's Bible based organisation", so what does the Bible have to say about reinstatement? Not a lot. The only mention is in 2 Corinthians where Paul directed the congregation to reinstate a man. It's felt by the WTS that this is the same person as discussed in First Corinthians where Paul told the congregation to DF him. There's no proof of that however, but if it were the same man, then Paul is telling a congregation to reinstate after 6 months, because that's about the time between the writing of the two letters!
So even by their own standards, the WTS is wrong!
Cheers, Ozzie