Well, here?s the WT response to my letter from 1991. For some reason, they chose to respond in Spanish, possibly because I had attended a Spanish-speaking congregation in the past. I had also attended a French-speaking congregation and the last congregation I attended, where I was disfellowshiped from, was English-speaking. So, I don?t understand their choice. In particular, they state that they sent a copy of the response to the elders in that last congregation, all of whom did not speak Spanish. So, there begins the subterfuge. I will translate the rest to best of my ability.
Here's the translation
Dear Mr. [name reserved]
We write in response to your October 24, 1991 letter via which you inform us that you have been disassociated from the organization for some years. In fact, our records indicate that you were expelled on April 19 of 1982 from the [name reserved], California congregation.
You do not say specifically that you desire to be re-established in the organization. However, you wish a clarification about the Jehovah?s Witnesses? position in Mexico with respect to neutrality. You express that this affects your spiritual life and eventually your physical life.
Having that in mind, we consider that it would be beneficial for you to intently read the article titled ?Did you associate with Jehovah?s Organization??, which appeared in the January 15 Watchtower, pages 21-23 [Spanish version I guess?]*. Also, we would like to assure you that in Mexico, our brothers and sisters are determined to make every effort to conform their lives to bible principles, just as faithful servants of Jehovah are doing in different parts [of the world]. It could be [it is possible] that many find themselves surrounded by a variety of ?Cesar?s? laws and the way these are administered, but biblical norms are the same in every other part [of the world], and Jehovah continues giving perspicacity [keenness] to his people on how they should live in this system of things and at the same time not be part of it. It is obvious [evident] due to received reports that Jehovah?s rich blessing is upon the efforts of his people in Mexico, since more than 300 thousand participated zealously in making known the good news of the Kingdom of Jehovah at the hands of his designated king.
If you wish to inquire on your possible re-establishment, you can approach the elders in the congregation with which you associate. You can be sure that a determination to be guided by biblical principles will result in the end in true happiness for you.
Sincerely,
Watchtower B.T. Society
of New York, Inc.
* As I recall, the Spanish-language version of the Watchtower was about 6 months behind the English version.
So basically, they said a lot of things none of which addressed my questions. This is typical and I should have expected it. I just thought that I had put forth a very plain letter and that they wouldn't be so flagrant in their evasion of the subject. They sent me a copy of the Watchtower article in Spanish. In a subheading titled "Were you in disagreement with a teaching?" they equate abandoning the organization with abandoning Jehovah.
On top of all that, it would appear that some sort of arrangement was made with the elders (perhaps they took it upon themselves after they had someone translate the letter) to pay me a visit. I tried to explain to the elders the situation and that I wanted some sort of answer to the letter and that my return hinged on the answer. One in particular, he appeared to have an odious and disdainful attitude, plainly stated that the issue was something I would have to take up with the Society. I told him that I had -- that was the purpose of the letter. He stated that there was nothing he could do about that. He didn't even want to know what my issues were. I don't know if they ever got a copy of my original letter. Basically, they were saying that I needed to "return" before that could be addressed. Well, I can imagine what bitter drink that would have been. I would have to kowtow to their requirements and swallow my objections. I imagine that if I ever brought it up again, I would be branded as an apostate and be disfellowshiped again. I remember how they left. Basically, they wrote me off. One of the elders seemed a little frustrated with the other because he seemed to understand my dilemma. But I could tell that he was afraid to step out of line.
It would have been easy to just say that I quit smoking and return just to see if they would address my issues, but I didn't think it was worth it. I marvel at the ability of the Watchtower staff to use the infinitive in their writings. This was a particular predilection of Fred Franz. Everywhere you see phrases like "It's is well known...", or "It would seem fitting...", or "...due to received reports...", etc. They think it let's them off the hook. The trick is to ask "Known by whom?", "It seems to whom?", "Received by whom and from whom?" I just found a copy of a second letter I wrote to the GB after the elders from the local congregation came and went. I had forgotten all about it. As I recall now, I probably got two visits from the elders. On the first, three showed up. On the second, two showed up and gave me an their ultimatum. I will post the second letter in another message. I think its content will better explain what transpired in that last visit.
Etude.
