by neat blue dog 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I've never been in one where someone has put their hand up, to oppose it.
I routinely do just that. I did however have the chance to "snoop" in the accounts file and saw that every single resolution is simply marked "Those In Favor: ALL" while the "Those Opposed" is always marked "None."
And here all along I thought the Bible condemned lying.
That is discouraging about how the congregation marked the record of the votes, but it gives me an idea of how to do battle with the JWs in court. My understanding is that in the USA because the WT is a corporation (though filed as a non-profit one) the congregations of the WT have to have votes on certain matters, the ones you voted on. As a result I think such voting is legally required to recorded correctly, like other corporate elections. Perhaps you and others have a legal case against their congregations and maybe against the WT. Of course you can't change the outcome of the elections since your vote (in regards to whether a resolution was passed or not) you was very much on the loosing side, but the congregation and perhaps the WT might could be subjected to some penalty due to vote tabulation fraud.
Of course if you take the matter to the courts you will probably be removed as one of JWs and thus not likely qualified to have your vote recorded.
Just because the elders in the OP didn't dare to oppose, doesn't mean they didn't have a choice.
I've never been in one where someone has put their hand up, to oppose it.
Like you say it is rare but one couple in my old cong years ago did. They had been inactive and critical of the org, but then "reactivated" and got "privileges" but they still were the only negative votes. They said afterwards they thought whatever it was was an excessive use of money.
Perhaps you and others have a legal case against their congregations and maybe against the WT
The thing is though that most Halls have local corporations for one of the congs that goes there, so no connection to WT.
"he then informed the elders that their names and addresses would be included in a written request to the government for legal recognition... then explained to us that since our names and addresses would be in that document, if the authorities ever wanted to ban our work, we would be the first ones they would come after and the first ones to be thrown in jail." I wonder if the branch committee names were on it or appointed jws or did they have to be protected and let the rank and file jws take the fall.
