Almost unbelievably after 4 years of staying away from the Hall and the JWs last week they called and said there were allegations of apostasy against us. We have been very quiet about our feelings and so were very surprised and angered. We were told that they were going to discuss the allegation and determine if we would be formally accused of apostasy. We were invited to meet with them but they refused to tell us anything about the allegations. About a year ago my wife's parents insisted upon knowing why she had left, she send an email with a link to the UN site and news articles. After a year we found out he forwarded it to the Elders in his hall and charged us with apostasy. It has crushed my wife to be betrayed by her father who has always been a gentle man. Not wanting to be grilled about believing in the FDS we each chose to write a contrite and truthful letter that explained we were having serious doubts and questions but desired to be left alone to our thoughts as we had requested a number of times through the years. Tonight we got a call and told us they just had a hearing and disfellowshipped us. WE WERE NEVER TOLD THE RESULT OF THE PRELIMINARY MEETING. Nor were we told what the charges were or that they were proceding and needed to be present to defend ourselves. Neither of us give a flying fig about the matter other than that this will crush my parents, we are their primary caregivers. They will abide by the heehaw court regardless of their feelings. I told the elder on the phone he should be ashamed and that I was appealing the decision because they lacked grounds and mishandled the case.
Does anyone have good advice about the angle to take to reverse the ruling? What takes place at an appeals hearing? I realize the good ol boy mentality that prevails among elders in the circuit and have no reason to believe they will even try to reconsider the evidence. I have never in my short experience as an elder had to deal with an appeal. Is the new comitee expected to reconsider the evidence or is it like an inquiry to determine only if the previous commitee had followed the rules? I intend to repeat the words "doubt" and "unsure" alot and act they way they want to see me, as a broken spirit. I hate playing the game, it goes against everything I believe in but I can't let them destroy my family without a fight.
Serious advice only please.......................