For those not familiar with BRCI, it was founded to assist ex-JWs to readjust themselves as former JWs. It is not abouit bashing the Watchtower religion. BRCI itself is not a religion and does not try to get people to leave the JWs, nor does it lead people to any religious organization. That said, here are some highlights of the BRCI convention held June 27th and 28th:
NOTE: The real names of speakers are withheld unless they appear on the BRCI web page at: http://www.brci.org/
FRIDAY: PS: There were several breaks lasting from 15 to 45 minutes. These breaks often run overtime, unlike the regimented JW 'Organized' conventions. If anything, BRCI is truly God's Dis-Organization.
Chairman's Welcome: This is often opened with comments from the audience as to their background, why they are there, and their experience with JWs or other groups. If a person is not comfortable being identified, they can use a false name, or they can have the recording turned off so that their identity remains concealed. Sometimes ACTIVE JWs, MSs, Elders, a PO or CO might show up and do not want to be identified on tape at this time.
Helpline Report: Marilyn Zweiful operates this service. It is advertized in newspapers, on the Internet, and by word of mouth. The Helpline Number is: 1-800-Why-1914 ... it is there for those JWs and ex-JWs having concerns with the Watchtower organization, and need help and advice, or other information as to where they can meet up with other ex-JWs. BTW: Marilyn is trained in and holds professional credentials in counseling. She is an ex-JWs, so she knows the routine. She is in poor health, but keeps on working to help JWs or ex-JWs in dealing with their situations.
Panel and Audience Discussion: [Later]
Personal Testimony: I was very surprised as this very lovely lady spoke to the audience about her recent exit from the Watchtower, including her interactions with her active JW parents. She mentioned me as a key person who provided some help, and then I referred her over to a BRCI lady in our area ... until then I did not know exactly who she was ... as we only had talked on line under her screen name. Her experience was truly interesting as yet another of tens of thousands who leave the JWs each year. Her situation is still tenuous, so I cannot say more.
Toward More Apostolic Testimony: This was a most interesting talk by Tom Cabeen, President of BRCI. He dealt quite extensively with the writings of the early Church fathers, such as Iranaius, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, etc. He made a good point that Christianity had spread very far, very fast ... and before any general Apostasy had time to take root, these early Church men wrote much about their interactions and beliefs ... and that these writings provide some important clues and insoght into original Apostolic Christianity. I openly disagreed with some of Tom's conslusions ... but that is okay at BRCI, because there is no controlling creed ... and people are free to believe as they see best. The important thing is to be civil and tolerant. But if you do disagree, then it is good to have some facts, because these folks are very well educated in the topics they speak on.
Choice of Workshops:
1. Perspectives from Russia with (name withheld) introduced by Jon Mitchell of BRCI: I attended this session because I wanted to know just what is really going on in Russia with the JWs and ex-JWs. The young man that spoke currently lives with Ray and Cynthia Franz. He holds a degree in languages (Linguistics) and is extremely fluent in English. He is helping to translate In Search of Christian Freedom into Russian. He basically gave a more realistic view of JWs in Russia ... that the KGB was not chasing the JWs as the Watchtower likes to believe ... he gave the impression that it would be like the American CIA chasing the JWs around the USA ... they really don't care. Also, in many areas there are few to none JW men, so they really don't have structured congregations as they have in the big cities or in the west ... and when other Christian groups arrive, the JWs can often decide to switch religions. The reason many Russians get into the JWs is that the Russians are curious about western beliefs, and until they are visited by other groups, they will hang around the JWs.
NOTE: The JWs in Russia often do not have much WTS literature, so will, for example, place an Awake! or Watchtower then on a Return Visit will ask for it back so they can place it with someone else ... this caused problems for the Society in counting placements on their annual reports. Now Russian JWs can only count the first placement of literature.
All in all, the work of JWs is leveling off in Russia as they are getting the Internet and are exposed to other groups ... so the headway of the Watchtower is slowing down ... and many Russians are leaving the religion.
PS: I got ot play a game of Chess with this fantastic Russian. I love and respect Russians for their abilities in engineering, literature, and music ... Russians are renown for their Chess skills. AND since the Watchtower frowned on the game, I love to play it whenever I can. Yes, he played very well ... but, our game was a draw.
2. Is your primary relationship with your creator or with his book or with his people? I did not attend this workshop since it was held at the same time as the Russian report.
Memorial Celebration: This is where those who are Christian have a brief talk about Jesus sacrifice, and their relationship with him ... and then they receive the emblems of bread and wine. This session was by Ron Frye, former Circuit Overseer.
Open Group Discussion: This is a program for those not participating the the Memorial. I was not in attendance for this session.
SATURDAY:
Getting to know the rest of you: This was another session to allow for expanded comments in open discussion from those who have left the JW religion to tell who they are and their experiences. There were several there from the Hispanic Community ... as this is another area where the Watchtower is losing members ... the Hispanic Community is getting the clue, and word is spreading fast ... also Franz books and that of many others is now available in Spanish, so this helps ... and ... a NEW strategy is to modify the BRCI Helpline to add the message in Spanish ... and they are assigning Hispanic ex-JWs for referral so that those in Spanish JW congregations can get help. It is a big demand ... so the Society better watch out.
Responding to critics of Theism: This was presented by an anonymous speaker who I know and respect a great deal ... he has been on JWd and H20, but is currently not active on the ex-JW boards. He has been building a series on Faith and Theism vs Atheism for 3 years in a row ... and this year was very good ... his full presentation is available on tape through BRCI. He went into exposing some of the poor logic and arguments used by the Atheist camp ... and his research and citations are extensive and very credible ... he used a cool illustration were a Whale and a Bull able to talk. The whale has an advantage in that he can see both above ground and under the sea, whereas the bull can only experience things on land. So the whale understands many things that the bull can never hope to grasp or understand ... it was an interesting wy to compare how Christians can see things on the spiritual level that Atheists can not understand ... while a good way to ilustrate ... an Atheist could as easily use this in reverse ... but all in all, I recommend the tapes from BRCI.
Why Forgive?: This is part of a self-help series given each year by Buddy Carlton. I first met he and Jon Mitchell when I visited Ray Franz in June of 1992. Buddy is a very warm hearted person ... and he teaches and counsels in his church (Baptist) I believe. He was a JW for many years and served as an Elder. He showed a film on forgiveness by a well known psychologist ... and then we had some break-out groups to discuss issues on handouts ... we talked about things we still have trouble with in dealing with our JW past, in particular things like acknowledging hurt, blame, surrendering our right to get even, and the process of reversing our feelings. These are always good to examine, because I always find areas where I still have some work to do. This is a very useful part of the program.
Understanding the Individual Nature of Spirituality: This was given in both English and Spanish at the same time by the same speaker. I didn't know he spoke Spanish. But our Hispanic friends really appreciated this program. He dealt with our new life as ex-JWs in being spiritual as we wish outside group-think ... that our spiritual relationship is with God alone and not through a group ... he did this broth from a Biblical perspetice as well as citing and quoting some historical writings outside the Bible. It was interesting ... but a little hard to follow while he spoke Spanish.
Does God work through and Organization? This was given by Tom Cabeen. The material was a summary of his booklett by the same name. Essentially, he showed how in both Hebrew and Christian history, there is more evidence of God working through individuals, and little evidence of any serious structured organization ... example, the Bible was entirely transmitted through individuals, and never through any organization, whether the priests of Israel or the Elders of Christianity.
Audience comments and President's closing remarks: This was hosted by Tom Cabeen. We all got to speak about what we enjoyed in the program ... and our views, needs, and efforts in our ex-JW life. This was most heartfelt by everyone ... and then Tom discussed the overall program, our intentions to hold it again next year in the same location at the end of June 2004. I will be planning on giving a talk next year (Gawd willing, deep in this time of the end before Armageddon. ) He outlined some of the costs of running the web site, the Helpline, and the cost of literature packages ... but there was absolutely no comment or solicitation for contributions ... instead there is a welcome for those who want to, and feel that they can help with posting advertisements, and being a resource for ex-JWs just leaving the organization in their individual areas.
That is it folks ... I found the program very good. I missed Jim Penton, Peter Gregerson, Ros, and others. I don't know why Jim and Ros and others were not there ... but Peter got a chance for an ocean cruise ... so he and his wife went to have fun in the sun ... unlike the JWs, we put personal needs and special family opportunities ahead of being at BRCI.
PS: My talk next year will deal with God's permission of injustice ... or something like that ... and this will be challenging to give since I have been a terrible critic of God's way of doing things. - Jim W.