Hey Guys,
FF had her JC today. I was all ready with quotes from the "Pay Attention" book and reasoning to show they should let me sit in on it, but they didn't even object. It went VERY well, couldn't have gone better unless it didn't happen at all.
They wanted to determine that Gina didn't participate in the Christmas celebration. Did you put up the decorations? Did you purchase or give any presents? Did you help put up a tree? Why do you say it made you "uncomfortable" that Dave did these things?
There were other allegations against her, but they only had firsthand knowledge of the Christmas decorations, so that's all they really concentrated on.
Some interesting quotes:
Elder 3: "You can really feel the holy spirit at the meetings." I strongly resisted rolling my eyes at this one.
Elder 3: "You have to carefully avoid spiritual shipwreck, as some people have experienced." This was clearly a stab at me.
Elder 1: "You may receive bad counsel, even from members of your own household." Who? You mean me? ;-)
Elder 1: "Remember, Jesus said, where two or more or gathered in my name, I am there. That means the Kingdom Hall." Really? Is that what Jesus called them?
Elder 3: "Is there anything else bothering your conscience? Anything you'd like to discuss now?" Um, no thanks. I think the stuff you know about should do fine for now.
Elder 3: "Once you start making progress, Satan will turn his sights squarely on you. The attack might even come from members of your own household." Again, I can't help but think they're talking about me. Paranoid, eh?
Elder 3: "Reading the yearbook is like reading a novel." Yeah, pure fiction. I've often thought the same thing.
And the absolute best quote of the entire meeting was from our mostly-silent Elder 2, when trying to prove that this system is getting worse and worse: "Nobody ever says, 'I feel great!' anymore. When I first came into the truth back in the 70's, I heard that a lot. But today nobody says that, not in Jehovah's Organization." I couldn't believe it, did he just admit that nobody in "Jehovah's Organization" feels great? Yep, that's what he said. And of course, he had no idea that he'd actually made a very good point.
As we got up to leave, Elder 3 asked, in regards to my own judicial committee meeting, "I hope we see you Wednesday for your meeting." To which I responded, "No, I won't be here." The look on their faces was absolutely priceless. "You can still meet if you want to, but don't bother on my account." I looked at them for another instant or so -- three deer in the headlights -- and left. The cherry on top was after I said it and turned away, my wife said in a scolding voice, "Honey!" as if I was slapping the very face of Jehovah himself. (You can judge for yourself how sincere my dear wife was in her scolding!)
What a perfect meeting. I can't imagine it going any better! Thanks for all your help and advice.
Dave