Hi cyberguy,
: To Allan F. and others, what means did you use to stop Judicial Committees from DF’ng you?
When a couple of elders called one day to inform me that, because they had heard I was getting remarried, they needed to talk to me about "keeping the congregation clean", at first I told them that I was never a member of their congregation (which was true; I merely lived in their territory), and that I wouldn't talk to them and they should bugger off. Then I realized that this might not be enough to make them leave me alone, so the next day I called one elder late, after the KMS/Service meeting and had a little discussion with him. I told him that I was no threat to his congregation since I most certainly didn't want contact with any of them. I also reminded him that I was never a member of his congregation, since I had moved into their territory when I had already been inactive for two years, and so they had no authority over me, by their own rules. Then I laid it on the line. I literally commanded him and his buddies to make no announcements to anyone, or even discuss anything about my status or lack thereof as a JW, publicly or privately. I said that if I found out they had violated my command, I would do everything legally necessary to protect my good name in the community. I asked him if he understood what that meant, and he said he did. Then I said, "If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone. Deal?" He agreed to abide by my wishes. That was the end of it.
: Since I was baptized as a teenager, can I use this to my advantage, since I was not of "legal" age to enter into a contract with the Watchtower Society (I was baptized in 1973)? Also, in my 30’s I was appointed an "elder." Does this make it a little more difficult to use the "baptized-as-a-teenager" defense?
So far as I know, yes. From what I understand, the courts will say that when you became an adult, you reaffirmed the decision to join that you had made as a minor. I believe that this is part of standard contract law.
: Thank you in advance. I’m sure there are others out there with the same problem I have! I want-out, but I'm fearful of the repercussions and the loss of my relationship with my fleshly brother (an JW elder). Once again, thank you for consideration.
There are plenty in similar circumstances, locked in by the nasty repercussions of leaving. What you do, and what might even be successful, depends greatly on the personalities of the particular elders you must deal with. Not all elders would have been cowed as the one I threatened was. Only you can decide what to do. You could have a one-on-one discussion with a single elder -- you don't want them to have "two witnesses" to gang up on you and tell lies -- and do something like I did. But of course, word would probably get out to your relatives one way or another. That would precipitate the very crisis you want to avoid.
But I must ask: why do you feel the need to do something right now? Are you already on the hot seat? If not, it might be better to just stay away from meetings and all JW-related activities and let it set until they forget about you.
AlanF
