Did You Know A "Bad" Elder or Circuit Overseer???

by minimus 42 Replies latest jw friends

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  bem

  The cong. I was first in the CO was really a nice man young single and ones there around a long time loved him. His talks were up building.

  Then we were visited by a "temporary"CO.& his wife but for being temp. they were there 3 years later this was in southern Az. & they came from Florida. ( do not remember his name I have a mental block about names of people that hurt me)I seen him send really strong sincere pioneer sis. to the back room in tears so after that even tho I always felt bad I had the group pick me up at home for field service so I would have as little contact with him as possible I was trying to protect myself from anything that might hurt me spiritually.( actually part of me always felt in the wrong place and I was told it was me that I was spiritually weak)

  They only stayed with one family that were financially well off. also that family participated in all the circuit & dist. assemblies.when he started helping arrange them .There were mumblings about that in the cong. The partiality really put me off.

  And his talks were always degrading someone,or dishonoring to the congregation for some reason.

  The nastiest man I've ever known was in that congregation in or out of Jws.an elder the same one above CO. stayed with.Man seriously damaged me emotionally. (makes me angry now that I am out here looking in.) I allowed him to hurt me all this time. His name I remember.Suppose I should not post it.

  I really hate that they could be hurting other sincere ones.
• 

  onacruse

  I'm inclined to go with Kate on this: insofar as names and "positions" are a matter of some public record, then so be it.

  However, I'm not aware that the personal names of any elders, or COs, or DOs, are on such a record.

  Perhaps, in the interests of discretion, simply using initials might be best?

  And to answer the question: yes, I "knew" a bad DO, who'd recently been "demoted" to CO; read us, one by one, down the line, the riot act at an elder/MS meeting: The next morning, at 6:30 a.m., I delivered my letter of resignation to an elder (now deceased), who was, at that time, my closest friend.

  otoh, I've also known some very sincere and honest COs: the last one (initials B.M.), stood by me as the "investigative committee" was marshalling their forces.

  What gripes me more than anything is that such otherwise sincere and well-meaning folks can be so twisted by "organizational procedures."

  Craig
• 

  minimus

  um......who's EDIT(H)?
• 

  Pork Chop

  My, my getting a little sensitive aren't we? Don't think you can be charged with slander for this kind of thing.
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  wheres caleb?

  Some of the names mentioned in the posts brought back some memories. Minimus, the question brought many names to mind but when I analyzed my perspective on things, I could only think of those that I liked. The R&F have the 'imperfection' excuse drilled into their minds and this is something that the 'spiritually mature' are willing to exploit whenever it serves them most.

  These persons, of exceptional spiritual qualification, sacrifice themselves for the rest of the christian body. They humbly give up their own personal interests to serve the need of the flock. In their efforts, they will on occasion err, and it doesn't matter who it hurts - they are just imperfect men. The idea that they are less accountable is what I take exception to.

  They have their meetings and much is said about answering for any acts of cruelty to the flock. A shepherd knew his flock by name. He would guide with his staff, not beat. But that's sheep, I guess people need a good ass-whipping.

  The organization is inconsistant on many things, but one thing that stays the same is their constant validation of mediocrity. I know one elder that believes that if he were to receive any discipline, many in the congregation would leave the org. Now that's an ass! He has successfully duped so many into believing that he is so special, that any defamation would hurt the org. It's that mindset that always seems to flourish among the truly sincere. They don't have to answer for anything, their sincerity will bail them out with Jehovah.

  In answer to your question, the worst DO, then CO, was G. Brandt. His arrogance, money-loving, brown-nose loving ass is his legacy. The org writes more about his wife than they do about him. At least I can respect the org for that. He will die a flawed man and his self-sacrifice on behalf of the flock will lead to his future reward.

  It's nice to know that we don't have to answer for anything.
• 

  justhuman

  There was a circuit overseer that he was very rough with the brothers, even in front of the puplic he used to critisized the brothers
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  avishai

  How 'bout my grand-dad? He usesd his position to rip people off, eventually went to prison for real estate fraud, ripped off elderly people for their life savings. Beat the shit out of me a day or two before he died. His son, who had cancer. Nice guy.
• 

  ohiocowboy

  There was a P.O. in my Cong. who at home had a mouth that would put a sailor to shame, and had a really bad temper-throwing a kitten against a tree, throwing a bird cage across the room because the bird chirped too loud, Tried strangling his wife one time, and when the son tried to intervene, the son got the shiitake beat out of him by the mother for disrespecting the father. The son even caught the P.O. smoking in the garage one day, (cigarette), and the wife and son of this P.O. were told numerous times "I Hate You". This P.O. totally disowned his only child, saying his son may as well be a murderer or a rapist for abandoning the "Truth". This P.O. died, having not spoken to his son in many years. Yes, the P.O. also did some really nice things too, wasn't all bad, and even through all of that, the son still misses his father......

  THANKS DAD
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  avishai

  (((((ohiocowboy)))))))

  Geez, man. That sucks. Looks like in spite of that, you turned into a cool, caring individual.
• 

  Fleur

  its easier to say i knew a couple of good men who happened to be elders, once than to name all in the other column...

  fleur