It seems to me, looking back from this vantage point, many elders were sincere and meant well. Some were very qualified as religious teachers specializing in their chosen religious filed of expertise, Jehovah's Witnesses. They knew doctrine, they knew the rules, they obeyed and they expected obedience from those who promised obedience as a condition of membership.
Many, like my father, just lived like they were taught by their parents, in the religion they inherited from their parents. They were chosen as leaders in the religion because they were compliant and obedient, not because of their superior intelligence or their advanced education. Where they went wrong is where the Society went wrong. The Society established the criminal court system with the power to investigate complaints, put suspects under surveillance, make arrests, subpoena witnesses, try other members, impose sentencing, and expel unwanted members. This put elders under a competency requirement that many simply were not able to rise to.
Others, like the elders who were pressured by the Society to become counselors without certification, failed because they had neither the training in the complex areas they were inserting themselves under the Society's directions, or the common sense to know they were incompetent.
The Society puts these people in a double bind that many I have talked to do not appreciate nor enjoy. The way they do this is this. The Society instructs the group members by their written directions in group published literature, to consult the elders on every possible subject, be it medical treatment, or abuse counseling, or financial planing. Some of these elders refer the Witness people to proper places. Those properly handled events we seldom hear about here. Others blindly try to bluff their way through like the Witnesses who gave Delores medical advise or those who tried to adjust me in my behavior.
I don't care to defend Jehovah's Witness elders, but to be objective, I will go a short ways up that road.
I think it boils down to willingness and awareness. Some elders have the willingness to go beyond their own competency and some do not. Some elders are aware they are not competent and some are not. I can think of rational, reasonable Witnesses. Many of those do not want to be elders due to the infighting and the hassles, the time spent and the drain on the personal recourses. Many of those do not qualify for positions due to sexual discrimination practiced within the group, nor would they accept those positions if they were offered. Those who fit this profile and are kind and helpful to my relatives who will not accept kindness and help from me, I thank you. GaryB
PS: This mood has a very short shelf life. Like milk out of the refrigerator.
