Incognito

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Posts by Incognito

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  32

  I Was Asked To Perform A Marriage Ceremony But Don't Know I'm Qualified

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my girlfriend's daughter and her fiancee asked me to marry them last night.

  they live in connecticut and will be married in new york.

  i felt honored that i was asked but i don't think i can do it because i am not a clergyman or minister and my u derstanding is that only clergy or judges and lawyers and justice of the peace can perform a wedding ceremony and marry a couple.. does anyone have any information on this subject?

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  Incognito

  A Google search on the subject provided this link: http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/officiants_requirements/

  Although not relavent to your original question, here is what it says with regard to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

  Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform marriages. --- Before performing marriages, ministers are required to apply for a certificate from the state. For applications write to: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of the Secretary, Supervisor, Commissions Division, State House, Boston, Massachusetts 02133. You must file a copy of your ordination certificate and a statement from the church saying that you are in good standing. Please let us know well in advance if you need a statement from us. --- Ministers must keep records of all marriages they perform. Also, ministers must return a certificate of the marriage to the town clerk or registrar who issued the marriage license and to the town clerk of the town where the marriage was performed. --- For questions see the town clerk or registrar or write to the Secretary of State.

  Further down on that site, the specified requirements for New York City differ from the State of NY.
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  32

  I Was Asked To Perform A Marriage Ceremony But Don't Know I'm Qualified

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my girlfriend's daughter and her fiancee asked me to marry them last night.

  they live in connecticut and will be married in new york.

  i felt honored that i was asked but i don't think i can do it because i am not a clergyman or minister and my u derstanding is that only clergy or judges and lawyers and justice of the peace can perform a wedding ceremony and marry a couple.. does anyone have any information on this subject?

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  Incognito

  It is my understanding that anyone officiating a wedding ceremony must be licensed by the state/province in which the ceremony is to be performed. Even if the officiate is a Minister or Clergyman, he/she must be licensed by the state. Perhaps the requirements differ in each state as to who may be automatically qualified.

  minimus, when you said:

  It's been a long time since I married a couple as an elder, over a decade ago. It was always in massachusetts.

  where you actually recognised (licensed) by the State of Massachusetts or did you proceed only due to being a JW Elder?

  I have known very few JW Elders who were licensed to perform weddings.

  When you think of weddings, they are actually civil matters with regards to legality and recognition by the government although the ceremony is often performed as a semi religious ceremony. Some people prefer a non-religious ceremony so they utilize a Justice of the Peace or other layperson to marry them.

  If weddings were truly religious in nature, much like prior baptism by another denomination, I'm certain that the WT would require all newly converted JW couples to be remarried in a WT dictated ceremony.
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  32

  HELP! Elder bombarded me with scripture...& I don't know what to do.

  by Smoky in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been lurking on this site for many years.

  i rarely post anything, because my english isnt the best and not sure if anyone understands.

  i just recently had a run in with an elder, have not seen him in a few years.

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  Incognito

  "I know, I know, I know you are right, thanks for your concern"....that makes me feel like a punk...I think to myself: "fight back p*ssy!"

  I would caution against saying "I know you are right" as that takes away from any personal ideas or beliefs of your own. It also supports their usual opinion you are too weak or lazy to do what you agree is the proper thing to do (ie: as you are told at the meetings).

  Although you may initially consider it weak to not argue an opposing point of view, upon consideration you may realize there is little if anything to be gained by doing so. Why waste your time attempting to reason with someone who comes equipped with a pre-conceived agenda and who really is not interested in hearing your opinions, ideas or excuses.

  As an adult, ultimately you are responsible to yourself for what you believe or do not believe so you do not need to provide an explanation or excuse to this JW elder or any JW.
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  22

  Frieking Bethel Heavies/COs and their second rings!

  by lambsbottom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dude, every picture i see of any bethel heavies or gb members (a lot of cos also) have them wearing a second huge gold ring!

  this is a clear sign of "hey i'm a bigshot!

  " you just dont see that in interviews of celebrities or politicials.

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  Incognito

  Talesin,

  I didn't say he HAS a Masonic ring, but one similar in concept. it could be a Watchtower Governing Body Signet.
• 
  22

  Frieking Bethel Heavies/COs and their second rings!

  by lambsbottom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dude, every picture i see of any bethel heavies or gb members (a lot of cos also) have them wearing a second huge gold ring!

  this is a clear sign of "hey i'm a bigshot!

  " you just dont see that in interviews of celebrities or politicials.

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  Incognito

  Maybe each of the GB receive their own I'D ring. This could be similar to the Masonic rings Master Mason's wear to signify their degree and indicate their solidarity to the brotherhood.
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  25

  Has anyone else heard this about the GB??

  by FeelingFree in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok so me and my husband were talking to his mum again about why we are no longer going to meetings and got into another pointless discussion where she feels he needs to talk to an elder about his issue's blah, blah, blah... round and round it went...... the thing i wanted to ask was if anybody had heard that there wont be any gb after these one's die??

  this is something she mentioned today and we have never heard of this ever.

  so it means no more will be appointed and they will just die off!

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  Incognito

  Apognophos said:

  It seems that they're now teaching that, because the end has to come before the overlapping generation dies, then the last anointed ones will be whisked up to heaven by flaming chariots or what-not.

  Until they start teaching that a 'generation' includes overlappers to the overlappers .....
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  22

  I FIND THIS TROUBLING . . . DISTURBING . . . PUZZLING . . .

  by Terry in

  1. social
  2. current

  i stumbled on to this on youtube.. i began watching it.

  at first i thought it was funny.. then, something changed.

  i began to realize two things.. first of all, there are 2 sides to this, and both sides have a point.. if law enforcement does not have a legal right to stop and question you .

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  Incognito

  Hi Terry,

  What is the video? You didn't post the link.
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  28

  Famous Witnesses

  by startingover13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been doing some research about famous witnesses.

  some were raised and eventually left, while others came in as adults.

  they range from sports players, musicians, and entertainers.

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  Incognito

  Red Shea (deceased) (Lead Guitar) and Rick Haynes (aka Rick Dutkiewicz. aka Rick Dutt) (Bassest), bandmembers with Gordon Lightfoot band.
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  13

  Crazy Sounding Story

  by piztjw in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last sunday after sitting through the ca an eldurr whom i know related this story about the warwick compound construction, as related to him by someone who had just returned from their tour of duty.. "the property is over-run with rattlesnakes.

  so there are assigned brothers who catch and release them off property.

  they won't kill them.

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  Incognito

  This newspaper article from July 2013 ( http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130719/BIZ/307190342 ) states that rattlesnake dens are located less than 1 mile away from the WT property.
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  13

  Crazy Sounding Story

  by piztjw in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last sunday after sitting through the ca an eldurr whom i know related this story about the warwick compound construction, as related to him by someone who had just returned from their tour of duty.. "the property is over-run with rattlesnakes.

  so there are assigned brothers who catch and release them off property.

  they won't kill them.

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  Incognito

  This WT document http://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/united-states/jehovahs-witnesses-warwick-ny-construction stated in 2013 that an errosion control barrier is to be installed which would ALSO provide a perimeter of protection for wildlife including Timber Rattlesnakes.

  As errosion control is the primary purpose for the barrier, protection of wildlife is an added benefit.