wow....
every person has to make the decision that is right for them and their set of circumstances.
I remember when I was trying to figure out what to do once I realized that the truth was not the truth. I decided, that I would fade. Admittedly, I could have done much better The months that I was in, not beleiving, I did it for one reason....I didn't want to lose my family. I knew that they would shun me. Losing my family, losing my friends has been one of the most difficult things in the world to deal with.
I also remember that when an elder stepped down and an anouncement was made, there was an eery silence in the congregation like "Woe, what happened?"
Stepping down, indicates there is a problem, either in the home or with an individual. It raises eyebrows.
If any one of our friends on jwd who live a life as an elder were to step down, he would more then likely have to have a really good reason why to avoid suspicion from family and close friends and the rest of the elders.
They have to do what is going to be best for them and for their loved ones and neither myself nor any of us can say what that is.
to the active jw's on the board still figuring it out, be you elder, ms or pub