Age of elders....

TheApostleAK

"Only on a rare occasion have I seen a Society form returned with a red-line though a recommendation, indicating they reject the appointment. This was in a case where the Brother was under 25 years old, or some other minor defect. Never was there any rationale mentioned by the Society at the their reasons based on spiritual qualifications lacking. Age, filed service average, and sometimes an old disfellowshipping record was noted. If we caught this before the CO visit, we could plead the Brother’s case, and the Disfellowshipping would be ignored by the Society resulting in an appointment."

Really? The P.O. in my first congregation was made an elder at 21 years and 11 months. I'm not joking either.

Thirdson

I thought the subject was the title to a new PC/video game "Age of Elders"...a sort of role playing, power seeking, "get them before they get you" sort of thing.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

slipnslidemaster

During my younger years growing up, it was "understood" that to be appointed as an elder, you were probably in your 40's. I was like age 6-13 or so.

13-19 it seems like there started to be one or two exceptions that got appointed at 30. These were the super witnesses, elder sons that shit Watchtowers.

When I left until now, it seems like they are appointing elders like they hand out medals at the Special Olympics. Which translated means there are elders that are 23-25 out there now. Lots of life experience for them to use while they sit and judge all the sinning R & F.

Slipnslideius Masterus: ... Strength and Honor ...

MacHislopp

Hello slipnslidemaster,

good reply to the post:

"When I left until now, it seems like they are appointing elders like they hand out medals at the Special Olympics. Which translated means there are elders that are 23-25 out there now."

Still true today in many European countries!!!

Agape, J.C. MacHislopp

slipnslidemaster

Giving out appointments to keep the young interested. I would guess that if they didn't, they wouldn't stay around long enough to make it to 40.

Slipnslideius Masterus: Strength and Honor ...

ozziepost

AK,

It's referred to as "working with what we've got" and "meeting the need arising".

Ozzie

Lindy

In the 70's we had a young man just 23 and appointed an elder. They gave the excuse that our congregation didn't have enough elders. His father was an elder that was already brought in from another congregation. Family connections and popularity in the curcuit made the difference. BTW, this young man was not married and didn't become so until he was up near 30. He was happy going around on his many trips around the world and having a good time. (Not bad in itself, but it set a bad example for the youth under him.) Didn't leave much time to do the elder things, so why make him an elder? Looked good on the paper, I guess.

Lindy

Amazing

Hi AK: In my original post, I noted that things happen diffrently from congregation to congregation. Yes, some younger men get appointed as Elders at age 21, but it is not common. My point made in the quote you cited, was that in all the years of appointments, I only knew of one that got the "redline" rejection, and the only reason stated was that the brother was too young at age 25. The happened back when the Society leaned toward a Brother being at least close to 30 years of age.

When I asked a CO about this once, he stated that when the Society reviewes recommendations, they have several committees that are assigned a number of appointments coming in from all over the world. There are too many for just one group, ike the GB to handel. He said that some committees are more strict about age than others.

Also, it depends on how well the Elders 'marketed' the brother, how the CO added to that recommendation in his comments on the form sent to the Society, and whether those at the Society know the CO very well.

Finally, is a young man was raised in the organizaton, served at Bethel for a couple of years, has relatives at Bethel, and is also a Reg. Pio., his chances are greater than say a 30 year old brother who was baptized 3 or 4 years earlier, who is only a Reg. Pub. and not well known.

Being a JW Elder has far more to do with the situation, good politics, and human nature, than anything to do with maturity or meeting spiritual qualifications. - Amazing

Age of elders....

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