Tell them that you are dealing with some health issue and you need a break to sort things out.
What wannaexit said ... that's the one!!!
ESTEE
How to resign as an elder?
by IT Support 42 Replies latest jw friends
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ESTEE
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fearnotruth22
It sems to me that if you truly are an elder, you would be clever enought to know that you dont need to be df or da to stop serving or to step aside.
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shamus
Welcome to the board!
Resign and see your life go up! It's so worth it!
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IT Support
It sems to me that if you truly are an elder, you would be clever enought to know that you dont need to be df or da to stop serving or to step aside.
The point is that the Society always require a specific reason why you are stepping aside. A Society letter to all bodies of elders states that "The Society's approval is required when deletions of elders and ministerial servants are made," when (a) a brother resigns for personal reasons or (b) the elders recommend the deletion of a brother because he no longer meets the Scriptural requirements.
The problem then arises that if you tell the truth and say you want to resign because you no longer believe the Society teaches what is in the Scriptures, you will either be disfellowshipped or disassociated.
That is why I was asking brothers who had already resigned as elders what had worked--or hadn't, as the case may be--for them.
Ken
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IT Support
Instead of turning in your Flock book... maybe you could "loose" it. Those books are VERY valuable when the WTS denies that it teaches something that is clearly outlined in the book.
Actually, elsewhere, I already have the whole book in Word format. It makes it far easier for searching!
Ken
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DJ
Nice to meet you. My opinion is to just tell the truth. You will feel better and life will work out better when you are true to yourself and others. You might have to deal with family members who will be upset and angry with you but the ones who really love you will eventually find a way to you. I wish you the best. love, dj
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thekellyhome2002
Can someone please provide a link as to where I could read the Flock book in word format?
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jgnat
welllllll, it is in html format, but perhaps this will do.....
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thekellyhome2002
Thank you!
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Amazing
Yes,
I did it, for a while at least. I just gave them a letter that stated:
"Due to personal family circumstances, including my wife's very poor health, I resign as Elder in the XYZ Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, effectively immediately. I have enjoyed working the Body of Elders and anticipate possibly serving with you again. Your Brother, John Doe."
Keep it short, simple, vague, positive, reassuring, and with some glimmer of hope that you might be back. Keep a copy for your records.
FIRST: This will work, though in today's environment, they will try to keep you as an "Elder on hold" and discourage formal resignation ... or they will want to talk with you in the back room to pump you for the details of why you wish to resign. Stick to your vague and simple statements in your letter. Under no circumstances should you talk about any concerns you have about the religion or what it teaches. Be friendly, humble, and agreable to the limit.
SECOND: The next part is tricky and where I eventually was forced by the Watchtower legal department into Disassociation. You will be watched like a hawk ... this is absolute and certain. So, for a while, keep attending meetings, going out in service, and giving talks. Then, after about 3 to 5 months very slowly miss a meeting here and there, avoid volunteering for assignments, slack and cut corners in service ... slow down any socialization, like dinner invitations, etc. ... then in time gradually pull back a little more ... never grow a beard, or do anything out of the norm for JWs.
THIRD: If your goal is to remain a JW, but not serve again as an Elder ... just keep doing the Second step. But, if your goal is to eventually leave the religion quietly ... then after about 12 to 18 months, look for work in another area, preferrably several hundred miles away and in another region or State of Province ... do not announce that you are leaving. Do not tell anyone when you go. Give up your local JW friends ... and head into the sunset. Never contact the new congregation. In this way, as months and years slide by, you will be forgotten, and you can live a new life without any backlash.
IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN? I would write a letter like this:
Dear Elders of the XYZ Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesess. I resign as an Elder effectively immediately. - John Doe.
I would mail the letter certified the very day I was moving to live in another area. I would not need a return receipt. This way there is no discussion, no chance of any screwed up explanations, and no way to ever contact me. The advantage is that I never have to play their game for a year or two ... and I but that time for myself.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO IT WRONG - Then ask and I will give you the link to my 18 chapter "Exit Series" where I took 6 years to leave ... had a lot of heart ache ... and now, I am about to add chapters 19 through 22 over eleven years after I left the religion. You can do it that way, and I guaratee you will regret it.
Jim Whitney