Latest elders meeting during circuit visit

Saltheart Foamfollower

For those not aware:- During the circuit visit there is a meeting with elders &ministerial servants based on an outline. The MSs are dismissed then local matters (eg new elders, meeting attendance etc) are discussed. Recently there has also been a part of the outline just for elders - one year it was about stopping anyone dressing in a "gender blurring" way from going on the ministry.

The latest visit has a section of the outline for elders. There are two main points in it - KS10 (elders book) ch4 para 20 about separation being a personal issue ie don't interfere and also a point about handling cases of child abuse. Bearing in mind the ARC and all of the other issues what do you think they want to emphasize? The answer is "What to do if an abuser or suspected abuser moves congregation" The BOE 2016-08-01 letter paragraph 21 was read in full and that was it!!

The text reads -"21. Moving to Another Congregation: When an individual who has been accused of child sexual abuse (established or not) moves to another congregation, two elders from the congregation the individual moves from should immediately call the Legal Department. The elders should be prepared to provide the name of the new congregation, if known. This should be done even if the individual is disfellowshipped or is in prison and is transferred to another facility or is released. The Congregation Service Committee should not send any information to the new congregation until after receiving legal advice from the Legal Department and direction from the Service Department."

SF

sir82

Reading the letter again, without adding any additional commentary or instructions, tells me that their number one concern is that elders are not following orders.

A Christian organization, or heck, any organization with a scintilla of concern about morals, would put "safety of children" as the top priority, but, well, this is the WTS we are talking about. Obedience to GB / Service Dept. commandments trumps all other concerns.

freddo

Thanks Saltheart.

What was the MS outline about this time?

sparrowdown

Dear Brothers, before sending info on a predator contact legal. Before scratching your arse contact legal.

blondie

The text reads -"21. Moving to Another Congregation: When an individual who has been accused of child sexual abuse (established or not) moves to another congregation, two elders from the congregation the individual moves from should immediately call the Legal Department. The elders should be prepared to provide the name of the new congregation, if known. This should be done even if the individual is disfellowshipped or is in prison and is transferred to another facility or is released. The Congregation Service Committee should not send any information to the new congregation until after receiving legal advice from the Legal Department and direction from the Service Department."

--------------My father moved and HAD been privately reproved and the elders did nothing....I called the COBOE in his new congregation and he knew nothing about it and was upset, he had 4 young children. So Legal can still decide not to notify the new BOE. No matter what, only the elders can protect their own children, but no one else in that congregation will be notified officially.

waton

"-When an individual who has been accused-" " established or not "

It is the words "accused, not established," that might be the reason for the caution, and request for legal advice needed.

Child rapists are often very crafty and patient in grooming their prey, and taken a few hours in case of such a move, would be well worth investing to get things right.

Crying "wolf" among sheep too often or as a false alarm will have it's consequences too.

steve2

Saltheart Foamlover disclosed in part what the outline for elders states:

When an individual who has been accused of child sexual abuse (established or not) moves to another congregation, two elders from the congregation the individual moves from should immediately call the Legal Department. The elders should be prepared to provide the name of the new congregation, if known. This should be done even if the individual is disfellowshipped or is in prison and is transferred to another facility or is released.

My comment: This creates a false illusion of control. What if the accused child abuser just fades over several years and his address and actual whereabouts are unknown? How is his "current" body of elders going to know he has moved to another congregation? They won't know. And if he has been imprisoned, serves his time over the years, is released and is a inactive and/or disfellowshipped JW, how on earth will his usual congregation know he has moved and/or changed address? They won't know.

Talk about false security.

StephaneLaliberte

to me, that entire block is synonymous with: Do not tell the new congregation. When you'll call us, we'll tell you not to tell the new congregation and we'll probably do nothing about it.

waton

It puzzles me how a cult like the jws, with such a high control on sexuality****, (even habitual pornography viewing), (elders masturbating) are marked as reason for disciplinary action, and there is supposed to be that past disproportionate laxity in child rape prevention. ??

*** in some Catholic countries, you could not be elected to any office unless you could prove you had a record of extra marital liaisons, and have the clergy there to bless you.

yoko N

Hi SF

Is this a story of Austraria?

Latest elders meeting during circuit visit

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