YMCA membership what is the current belief?

Whynot

I know that having a Y membership was a huge no, no for JWs. There hasn't been any information on this subject in decades. I met an elder's wife a few years ago that goes to the Y and also has a membership. So I'm thinking there was an unwritten change somehow. It just hasn't been published for some reason. At the same time, if it's not acceptable for JWs to have a membership, wouldn't that also mean that they can't eat at Chic-fil-a or Cracker Barrell or any business who supports "christendom"? It may even affect JWs going to Starbucks, right? I also don't understand why it would be ok for JWs to have an NGO membership with the UN but not at the Y.

carla

No Starbucks?! you mean they would be stuck with crappy gas station coffee on Sat mornings? I think they would say you are taking things too far.

As for the Y it still stands for Young Mens Christian Association as far as I know, maybe the jw elderette gets a pass because she is the elders wife?

silentbuddha

About 6 years ago an 77 year old ministerial servant was told he needed to engage in physical activity not long after he had some form of aortic surgery.

He and his wife were on SS and could not pay for a gym membership so he started going to the local Y.

When a pioneer found out she reported it to the elders and we sought direction from the c.o...... lol.... direction.

He said we were to instruct him to find alternate means to get exercise or he would be removed from his MS post.

He conceded and stopped going and did not have an alternative. 7 months later he died....

Coincidence? Maybe or maybe not

DesirousOfChange

Within the past 5 years a disabled JW (which entitled him to free membership at the Y) was told he would have to resign his membership of face being disfellowshipped for being a member of a false religious organization (Young Men's CHRISTIAN Association).

My Name is of No Consequence

It's bad. It's all bad.

Iown Mylife

Stop! you're enjoying yourself and that takes away from Jehovah. ANYTHING you enjoy takes away from Jehovah. What are you, a THIEF?! Stealing from JEHOVAH? How DARE you enjoy yourself, you have to be serious, the times are urgent, you're gonna DIE if you don't stop enjoying yourself. Just because a nice facility is affordable is no excuse for you to take your kids swimming near your house at a YMCA.

What do you mean, bringing up the trips I take with my family? That is none of anybody's business! I'm an elder, I work hard serving Jehovah and his organization, if we enjoy week off and stay in a condo on the beach and get drunk as boiled owls, eat out at fabulous restaurants and ride our ski-doos all day, it's just what we deserve!

OH, you don't get to question ME, an elder, taking a flight to another city to attend a baseball game because a team is playing that I ENJOY.

steve2

I suspect you are learning an important lesson in JW-land: No current literature on a forbidden issue does not mean it is now okay.

When there is no current literature on a current issue (e.g., gym membership at the YMCA) local bodies of elders do not conclude it is okay. No, they base their decisions on the last mention of the issue in the literature. Perhaps one in 10,000 bodies of elders will write a thoughtful inquiry to the organization headquarters or consult with a CO, but as a rule, thumbing through old indexes is enough to refresh condemnation and an ultimatum (e.g., get out of the YMCA or else!).

Dagney

There is someone on this forum that was DF'd for the lame excuse of being a member of the YMCA, though I don'[t remember who it is.

I thought it was an exaggeration until I read their story.

That religion is nuts.

YMCA membership what is the current belief?

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