This elder was in the next town. Same CO. Kind of a freebird. I believe the CO is making a definitive statement. Regarding "deletion", it's a term meaning you've been fired.
New Tactic Used By Society
by minimus 26 Replies latest jw friends
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orangefatcat
here is an interesting article that was in the 1950 Watchtower about attending wedding and funerals.
I don't think this elder should have been deleted. It.s not like he was a participant in the wedding. here read on.
ATTENDING FUNERALS AND MARRIAGES?WHERE?November 17, 1949
Dear Brother:
Your card of the 10th instant refers to our letter in the November 15 issue of The Watchtower on "Weddings and Funerals" and asks whether you are to understand thereby that we "advocate the friends? attending weddings and funerals when officiated by religious clergy or in their buildings".
Why, certainly we do not "advocate" it, and the letter in the above Watchtower that answered the inquirer was not commenting on attending weddings and funerals at religious buildings where the clergy hold forth. Our letter mentioned sending out our own representatives to serve at such functions.
However, whether a brother or sister is free to attend such a function under clergy management and in their establishment is another question. Certainly a marriage performed by a religious clergyman is just as valid with the law of the land as one performed by any of our brothers who applies for and gets a license. And when any of our brethren do not have any of our own brothers to perform but go to a municipal building and have the ceremony performed by a justice of the peace or some other duly constituted public official, they do not ask first whether that official is a Catholic, Protestant, Jew, or other kind of religionist. The main thing is, Does he represent the law of the land and is he empowered to give legal authority and recognition to the marriage? All other matters are incidental and unimportant and without bearing.
A father or mother, who for reasons beyond their control feel obliged to go to a religious building to see their child married or buried, goes there to see the marriage or the funeral and for no religious reason, if they are in the truth. It is the same as in the apostle?s day in the case of a man who went into an idol?s temple for something to eat. He goes in there to get a meal, but not to worship. (1 Corinthians 8:7-10, American Standard Version) Some other brother?s conscience would not be strong enough to permit him to do this, and his weak conscience would take offense if he saw his Christian brother in such a place for just a meal. So while we do not "advocate" it, we are not within our province to criticize or condemn, but will let God judge our brother who according to his conscience may feel obligated to attend functions under clergy officiation.
Faithfully yours in Theocratic service,
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
Orangefatcat
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stopthepain
wow,where did the WTBTS go wrong after this.These can't be the same maniacs I grew up with in the 80's ,early 90's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jeanniebeanz
I think the bottom line here is that they will make up a new rule anytime it allows them to silence a critic and tighten the reigns.
What did we expect them to do? Play nice? When H*ll freezes over, maybe...
J
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minimus
New lite.
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rebel8
This isn't a new tactic at all. They've been doing that for years.
I was never DF/DA'd myself, but years after leaving, the Elders refused to let me be a bridesmaid in my JW sister's wedding because they said I smoked. I said I did not (true). They said, unless I come before a JC, admit smoking and repent, they wouldn't let me be in the bridal party. I said, how pathetic for you to behave that way. My sister's last attendance in the KH was her wedding!
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minimus
Some congregations were stricter than others, I guess.
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willyloman
and what is this ''deleted''? Is it the same as being asked to ''step down''?
This phrase has been used for many years; it comes from being deleted from the list of elders -- that list being part of the official congo record which goes to the society and is updated at each CO visit.
Apparently the Society felt "deleted" was a more neutral term than "removed" and more accurate, since elders sometimes ask to be taken off the list for health and other reasons. How typical that they never gave any thought to how the rank and file would react to a word that appears to have a negative connotation. Or... perhaps they did think about it....
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steve2
This phrase has been used for many years; it comes from being deleted from the list of elders -- that list being part of the official congo record which goes to the society and is updated at each CO visit.
I appreciate this information, having not heard the word "deleted" used by the JWs. Is it used in any of their publications at all, such as the elders manual?
Also, despite the "pains" the GB goes to in specifying the exact disfellowshipping process, it seems as if congregations do differ in the degree of strictness with which they follow the process.
I'd say that some bodies of elders are more merciful than others, which is why sometimes when I hear the circumstances under which some have been d'fed, I've been truly astonished by the summary severity of it all.
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IP_SEC
I appreciate this information, having not heard the word "deleted" used by the JWs. Is it used in any of their publications at all, such as the elders manual?
YEP
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w90 9/1 p. 22 Are You Reaching Out? ***18
If you at one time were an elder or a ministerial servant but do not now serve in that capacity, be sure that God still cares for you, and perhaps he will grant you some unexpected privileges in the future. (1 Peter 5:6, 7) If you need to make some adjustments, be willing to admit a fault and work on it with God?s help. Some who have been deleted as elders have adopted an unchristian attitude, and a few have become inactive or have fallen away from the truth. But how wise it is to be like those who have manifested a fine spirit! For instance, when an elder who had served for years in Central America was deleted, he said: "It hurts me very much to have lost the privilege that I have treasured for so long. But I am going to work hard in whatever way the brothers want to use me and work to recover my privileges of service." In time, this brother was privileged to serve as an elder again.
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If you were deleted as an elder or as a ministerial servant, then, maintain a humble spirit. Avoid a bitter attitude that would disqualify you for future privileges. A godly spirit wins respect. Instead of becoming discouraged, reflect on how Jehovah is blessing your ministry or your household. Build your family up spiritually, visit the sick, and encourage the weak. Above all, cherish your privilege of praising God and proclaiming the good news as one of Jehovah?s Witnesses.?Psalm 145:1, 2; Isaiah 43:10-12.