by ukpimo 30 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
While its true that the Governing Body has recently lowered the behavioral standards of the Brotherhood, as well as what qualifies a person to be an active publisher ... I wonder when they will take a look at the standards and procedures to qualify for baptism.
Will the exhaustive baptismal questions be dropped one day?
DesirousOfChange - “…While it used to mean removal of any/all privileges, they had to adjust that policy or there would be no elders/MS still serving and definitely no young guys available for Bethel service…”
While this aspect makes me chuckle, there’s a darker parallel.
After the Dateline expose 20-odd years ago, they made a semi-public statement that that no known sex offenders could hold any positions of responsibility in JW congregations.
What some might not know is that a few years later, they quietly (but very specifically) reversed that policy.
I couldn’t get my head around it… YTF would they set themselves up for the kind of blowback that would inevitably come from that?
Eventually, I figured it out…
…coupled with fewer and fewer qualified males “reaching out”, there had to be so many offenders that the Org was running out of guys to keep things functioning.
And that was a very disturbing conclusion.
Vidiot: I know of no reversal on that policy. But admittedly I gave up the elder title 20+ years ago so have not been privy to the "secret files" ie, CO verbal instructions to write notes in your Elders' Book.
I'd like to see what evidence you have for your statement, but I'm confident even WT would not be so stupid as to put anything like that into written instructions/policy.
In my experience before our total fade, WT was taking any kind of sexual abuse VERY seriously. Anything remotely questionable (like teens passing/texting explicit photos to one another) required consultation with WT Legal. And regardless what anyone thinks, dumbass horny teenagers will do dumb shit like this. It's hormones folks.
Shepherd the Flock of God, April 2024, Chapter 14 ("Child Abuse") Section 24
One who has engaged in child sexual abuse does not qualify to receive any privileges in the congregation for many years, if ever; this includes minor privileges. ... If the body of elders believes that one who has engaged in child sexual abuse decades ago may now qualify for minor privileges, such as working with audio/video support (which includes working with the stage and passing microphones), serving as an attendant, or assisting with accounts, literature, or territories, they should assign two elders to call the Service Department.The assigned elders should call the Service Department before any congregation privileges are extended.
The assigned elders should call the Service Department or legal department or whatever before any privileges???
How about just calling your local police department??
About child sexual abuse???
It’s also getting much easier to qualify to be an MS or elder. And very difficult to be removed.
so many appointed men never go on ministry and most meeting are on zoom. They also keep cancelling assignments or say they need a break from any assignment. If you say you have stress or anxiety then you can come off any assignments but it’s very hard to be removed from your position.
there is a real need for speakers. The public talk coordinator keeps asking for brothers to give talks but the pool of speakers is getting smaller.
sometimes we have the same visiting speakers over and over again.
the congregation is starting to notice and say why don’t we get any new brothers it’s the same few we get visiting
The worst thing that can happen,,, I wonder at times is if every JW no longer can be available to do anything. I mean offer any free time like FS,, meetings,,, attend conventions.
If no JW could do any of these things,,, the Borg collapses.
I wonder what would happen if an elder kept saying no to any assignment he was asked to do? Would he get taken off for not any assignments?
Or just become totally unreliable.
Not showing up at all. Becoming completely forgetful......argumentative,, disagreeable.
And see how long you last ad an elder.
Disfellowshipping ("removal") is now made to seem "softer" with the approach of reinstating a removed individual a few months after the announcement. Pathetic. What is the point of making an announcement and avoiding someone socially for 3 or 4 months? I can choose to avoid contacting my daughter for that long and her reaction would be like "what the hell was the point of that dad?"
Wait, what, they've changed their rules around disfellowshipping? I suppose my ex-wife might find that interesting since she hasn't been in the bOrg for years. I doubt she'd want to get reinstated, though, because she has already moved on and found her a new church home.
Still, though, I'm sure she'd like to commune with her parents again. It's been year now since they've spoken to her.
