Coming out of the lurking mode to give you all a report on the 2 day CA that I attended this past weekend. I always enjoy other reports that have been posted so I thought I would share my observations. I attend with my JW hubby to keep him company so he doesn't have to go alone, that's the only reason that I go.
I didn't take any notes, so I'm doing this by memory. I was never a note taker while I was a JW, so if all of a sudden I start to take notes, it might look a little suspicious.
I thought the accounts report was very interesting (it's amazing what xjw's find interesting). From the last "Special Day" Assembly held last spring there was a $2,000 surplus, that was ALL sent to the Society (I couldn't believe it). The Elders voted on the Saturday (of this Assembly) to send another $500 to the Society (didn't say what that was for) and another $200 to help pay for the CO's apartment. When the accounts report was read yesterday (Sunday), it was stated that for two days the cost of this Assembly was $10,000, as of yesterday they were $5,000 in the hole. When I heard that I almost said out loud "you've got to be kidding", I looked around no one seemed to notice that anything was out of the ordinary with this amount of money. That Assembly Hall must have been payed for long ago, it was built around 1976. I would love to have a break-down as to exactly why it costs $10,000 to have a 2 day Assembly.
Eight were baptized, it looked liked two were adults.
Well the program was mostly the same old stuff. In a nut shell, the end is near, JW's are great, JW's have the market cornered on manners and proper behavior, everyone else that is not a JW is "Pond Scum", do more, and what ever your doing is not enough, they are really beating the poor sheep. Basically if you don't pioneer, your dead meat (I feel sorry for the average "Joe" publisher just trying to do his or her best). Apparently our Circuit has a ratio of 1 in every 4 are pioneers (that has to include Aux pioneers too, I would guess) There was the usual parade of people on the stage with "titles" , how they are able to pioneer despite all odds (they used that example from the mags of the sister in the iron lung). One sister in particular make me go ummm. She was elderly, had all kinds of health problems, pioneered for 20 plus years, had an unbelieving mate that treated her like dirt. She did not drive, so she would walk everywhere, including walking into town to the Kingdom Hall (I guess no one could come pick her up). She related how if her husband saw her walking he would just drive by her (I thought that was so sad). She kept it from her unbelieving husband that she pioneered, everyone thought that was funny how she kept this information from him. I thought why would she even stay with such a scum bag, she had to hide something that was very important to her, anyway I thought it was sad.
The DO gave the public address "In Whose Name Should the Nations Hope?" He went on and on about how different governments, groups and religions put their hope into "wordly" sources to solve the problems that man kind is now facing, blah blah blah. My ears perked up when he mentioned the United Nations, he stated in a disgusting tone of voice that "even the Religions of the world are placing their hope in the UN to solve their problems". He went on to state that some religions had been a part of the UN summit for peace a few years ago, he was very condescending when he described the different faiths that were represented from around the world and how they were dressed (some in their native dress). He brought out how disgusting it was for any Religion to have anything to do with the UN and promoting peace. At this point I just about lost it, it was all I could do to stay in my seat and not scream "HYPOCRITE", I felt like I was actually going to lose my lunch. Maybe if someone else hears this talk, they can give a more detailed account, I really lost it after that. He went on and on about the UN, I was actually surprised especially after the cover up by the Watchtower in being part of the UN as a NGO. By this time I was fuming, wanted to leave but didn't want to make a scene. I couldn't listen anymore, sorry.
The special needs talk. Apparently some of the young ones spending too much time on recreation. Some were getting together and playing competitive football between Kingdom Halls (that brother some sure gets into trouble). Well, the CO was proud to say he put a stop to that, he went on to say that another Circuit had the same problem but it was basketball. I guess the young ones aren't aloud to have any fun. Basically he said any competitive sport is bad. Then he went on to say that there was a problem in our circuit with inappropriate movies, books, video games, and Internet and that for all of us to remember that the media is controlled by SATAN (OH NO) Yeah we have all heard this before, nothing new. I just hope my hubby doesn't get all spiritual and won't go to the latest Matrix movie with me.
I'm just glad that I'm not a part of this anymore. After an Assembly like this, I would leave feeling pretty low. They are really beating the poor Brother's and Sister's, I really feel sorry for them.
Hapgood