Two types of elder????? (page 2)

clementine

I would say that in my congregation there are one type 1, and three type 2 (well only two now, one lost his functions last month because he had a relation with the widow of an other elder who died in may because he didn't accept a blood transfusion). So there is also the type of the sister who absolutly wants to be married to an elder!!

blondie

I always tell my husband there are 2 types of elders too:

1) The mean and abusive ones

2) The ones who let them do it (Until they can't take it any more and quit)

In one congregation, there were 8 ex-elders and 4 elders....5 having stepped down (aside) in the last 5 years. They were sick of trying to deal with the mean and abusive ones. BTW, the elders are mean and abusive with each other too but you are supposed to take it for the same of unity on the body.

Blondie

Goldminer

In our congregation,we had more type 1's,but we had one type 2 who made it to PO and that was it,he ruled the show his way,a complete power-hungry freak who ran the hall like a corporation and had every other elder in fear of him.

Then one day he decide he's gonna write every male(baptized and unbaptized) in the hall a letter,how they were doing spiritually,their monthly service average and basically that your privileges were revoked immediately if you were'nt averaging 10 hours.It caused quite a stir,a lot of stumbling,the only elder who stood up for us was quickly removed and none of the others did anything.I still that infamous letter,which I hope to post on the internet eventually.

Anyways,most of these type 2 elders fit the profile of sociopaths.They seek prestige in the congregation because they are generally shallow individuals with low self-esteem.They've reached their pinnacle of power at home,can't reach it at work so they strive for it in the christian community where there is generally less resistance.

El Kabong

The type two's generally go farther in the corporation.

Dismembered

TYPE 2....Very legalistic, cares more about organizational laws rather than people and lacks compassion and empathy. This type is more of a spiritual policeman. He wanted desperately to be an elder and now that he is, he loves the sense of power and prestige.

Anyone who seeks being an "elder" in that cult should be flayed as did the Romans & the Assyrians

They were ALL power mongers for sure

Dismembered

lilybird

well we had one elder who ran his own business, drove a cadillac. He missed a lot of meetings and he was supposed to oversee the Tues night bookstudy meeting but he always stayed late at work, He covered himself by having a young ministerial servant take the study. His kids were involved in "worldly" baseball leagues and hocky leagues, No one said anything, because he had lots of money and contributed a lot. He also employed witnesses and they always defended him because he looked after them financially. Finally, he got too carried away with making money and lost his money and his business in the early 80's. Not sure if he lost his elder privileges though, I was not in his congregation at that time.

95stormfront

Anyways,most of these type 2 elders fit the profile of sociopaths.They seek prestige in the congregation because they are generally shallow individuals with low self-esteem.They've reached their pinnacle of power at home,can't reach it at work so they strive for it in the christian community where there is generally less resistance.

Wow....I think you've just described the mindset of my used-to-be elder father in law to a T.

Euphemism

I agree with eyeslice and frenchbabyface... many, if not most, of the elders I knew were men who had simply fallen into the position. They had been raised JWs, and becoming an elder was what they were expected to do. They would generally follow the lead of any strong personality on the body, for good or for bad.

I also knew a lot of 'organization men' who were quite sincere, and in fact fun to be around when they weren't in 'elder mode'. A lot of these were younger elders (25-35) who became more caring and less judgmental as they got older.

Ultimately, I have a hard time when people rant about the 'horrible elders', because my father and so many of my friends were elders. I don't mean to downplay the pain we've all experienced at the hands of the borganization. But the hypocrisy, the judgmentalism, and the brainwashing are present at all levels of the cult. The elder who runs a judicial committee is no more or less reprehensible than the mother who shuns her own son. They're all simultaneously victims and abusers, as most of us were also.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now.

stillajwexelder

2 types agreed and tyoe 2 the org man al\ways gets on better as is case on GB

outoftheorg

Hi Euphemism.

I understand the congregation elders in Meridian have stumbled many and the congregation is having problems.

Or is it the elders that are having problems?

Outoftheorg

Two types of elder?????

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