UK Bethel seminar with Secular Authorities re. child abuse.

by caspian 9 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

• 

  caspian

  Can any one report if any other branch offices have held seminars with the secualr authorities like london has.

  If you were not aware, London bethel held a second seminar last month (2 in 9 months although I can't seem to find the link to my post on the first seminar) with the NSPCC, Police chiefs, Crown Court Judges and social workers all as a result of the Panorama Programme, basically asking the question

  What can the society do to protect children within the organization.

  The society are putting into place all of the suggestions and advice they were given.

  The new set of guidelines well be on the new Circuit Overseers Outlines to bodies of elders for the Sept 2003 to Feb 2004 outlines.

  My question is. Is there any other branches that are meeting with secular authorities and making changes to their policies.?

  It may still be 2 little 2 late.

  Cas
• 

  mizpah

  Thanks for the information about the London Bethel's seminars with secular authorities to address this problem of sexual abuse within the organization. I am surprised, though, that the Watchtower organization would seek outside help for an internal problem. The Society has always held "worldly authority" in suspicion unless it really serves its own purpose. It almost makes one wonder the motivation of the leadership. Is it an effort to build "evidence" of its own good faith to present to the courts for favorable decisions?

  In the past, the Watchtower Society has always boasted that it is directed by Jehovah's holy spirit. Why now would it turn to "secular authorities" to solve these problems? There has to be a reason that isn't immediately apparent at face value.
• 

  metatron

  This sounds like a good move forward by the London Branch.

  I have heard backchannel communications that things are handled a bit

  differently in England. The Theocrats in the US pursue a more ruthless and

  amoral path.

  metatron
• 

  core

  The society are putting into place all of the suggestions and advice they were given

  I seriouslly doubt that.D

  Does that mean that the 2 witness rule is scrapped in the British Branch?

  Are elders to act to inititate criminal proceedings?

  Are they going to have a policy of warning parents of 'known' offenders or will they still punish the victims?

  Sounds as if they are worried which must be good news
• 

  mizpah

  There have been times when the branches have taken measures that were later censored by the headquarters in Brooklyn. Could it be possible that this is the case with the London Branch? Or are the leaders using the London Branch as a "feeler" for what may become policy in the U.S. and other countries? It is really difficult to determine. The secrecy of the organization only lends itself to speculation.

  When discussing the Watchtower organization, one becomes very cynical because of its past history. This whole scandal of the sexual abuse of children is hitting the organization and its members very hard. Only one thing is apparent. The leaders have done their utmost to hide the problem and to protect the assets of the Watchtower Society. It has not offered any real assistance to the victims of this abuse. In fact, quite to the contrary, it has encouraged the disfellowshipping of the victims and their familes who have exposed this problem and, in some cases, has supported the perpetrators. Until this changes, one can doubt the sincerity of the entire organization.
• 

  caspian

  All I know is that the new CO outlines will have the info.

  All though the cynical side to me says that, the letter will be similar to the rules on divorce contact the

  Service desk , it will be interesting to see what new advice the society will now offer.

  but the rumblings from London is that they will comply fully with the quorum reached at this seminar.

  Cas
• 

  mizpah

  Caspian: Please keep us posted on any further development. I'm surprised that you were able to get this sort of information as it is usually kept quite "confidential" until it is released. Of course, one of the problems that an organization faces with growth is keeping its inner workings secret. Look at the "leaks" that spring from government sources today.

  It was James Penton (Apocalypse Delayed) that indicated that the Watchtower Society would face a decision in the future. He said that it would have to "change and moderate to survive." By doing so, he said Jehovah's Witnesses "will settle down to becoming just another denomination among denominations."

  It is an interesting observation. Are we seeing the first signs of this?
• 

  cruzanheart

  The Theocrats in the US pursue a more ruthless and amoral path.

  Because they can. To be fair, though, the elders in England whom I have known (and never in a judicial capacity so my knowledge is limited) seem to be a bit more easygoing and openminded than their counterparts in Texas.

  Nina
• 

  little witch

  So much for ''UNITY""

  One set of rules for each county, another set for those further away.....Hmmmmm

  Guess one size doesn't fit all.
• 

  mizpah

  To LW:

  The Watchtower Society has always confused "unity" with conformity. Christians are unified in their faith in Jesus Christ but can hold different views about doctrine. But Jehovah's Witnesses are forced to conform to the teachings of the Watchtower Society by threat of excommunication. The organization wants robots, not people who can think for themselves.

  In the past, some who had studied the Bible closely that held certain views that were later adopted by the Watchtower Society. But they were censored at the time for "running ahead of the organization." It didn't matter that the subject was "scriptural." All that mattered was that one had to wait until the teaching become official doctrine.

  Worldly people are encouraged by Jehovah's Witnesses to question their religious beliefs. But for a Jehovah's Witness to do the same means one could be disfellowshipped. Such a double standard!