The issue of the responsibility of elders in Jehovah's Witness congregations is under discussion on several threads currently.
What I really believe should be on trial here is the whole idea of a group of men being set up to make such extremely serious decisions regarding the lives of others.
By discouraging the use of professionals to assist in psychological matters, family matters, and most seriously matters of abuse, the Watchtower society brings much responsibility for its actions and their affects onto itself.
Tattoogirl addresses this on another thread. Can men judge men? Can janitors and laborers and accountants help an abused woman or child by reading them a few scriptures?
Can any 3 or 6 or 9 or 1000 men look at me or anyone and sum up all of our life experiences, all the things we have been through, our physical, genetic, chemical, mental and emotional make up and render a decision that has severe psychological affects?
This is by far the most serious offense of the Watchtower organization. By placing itself and the need for reconciliation with a human congregation above direct repentence before god and seeking his forgiveness and his forgiveness alone, it disavows the Biblical teaching of Christ's sacrifice.
It adds definitions and descriptions to sin and makes confession to men a condition of forgiveness and salvation. In doing so, it negates the entire construct of salvation through Christ. Salvation through approaching god and god alone. It is the most reprehensible thing anyone or any group could do. It supplants god and Christ.
It disgusts me utterly. The hurt it has caused is irreparable.
peace
Joel