did any of you know a jw youth who didn't seem to really even try to be sincere about the "truth"?
not someone who led a double life while pretending to be a goody-goody jw.
i mean the kind of kid who went to the meetings and did field service while making minimal effort at maintaining a pretense of being a true believer?.
Man, I was the MOST sincere JW kid I ever knew, until I studied so much that I couldn't believe it anymore! Not knowing what happened to everyone, I do know a few of the ones that seemed to be filling seats are still JWs, even Elders now. I don't know what happened to everyone I hope that the nice ones got out! I see some of them on facebooks connected to my moms though, so I doubt it. Makes me sad.
Anyone here from the Redondo/Des Moines congregation?
jehovah's witness elder denies cover-up at church over 'massaging half-naked schoolgirls'jun 20, 2014 12:53by ciaran jonesdevoted churchgoer mark sewell rejected suggestions his seniority in the barry congregation meant allegations of child abuse would be "swept under the carpet".
mark sewella former jehovah's witness elder today denied massaging half-naked schoolgirls because he knew his church would "cover up" the allegations due to his position.. devoted churchgoer mark sewell rejected suggestions his seniority in the barry congregation meant allegations of child abuse would be "swept under the carpet".. the businessman, 53, denies 10 historic sex charges against girls and women in a period spanning more than eight years.. during cross-examination by prosecutor sarah waters it was put to the defendant that he "took the risk" of massaging topless schoolgirls because he believed his standing in the church would spare him from allegations of wrongdoing.. ms waters said: "what i'm suggesting, mr sewell, is that it was a cover-up and no-one was allowed to talk about it.".
greying sewell, wearing a navy suit over white shirt and patterned blue and yellow tie, told merthyr crown court: "not at all, no.".
I believe that earlier allegations (0r evidence) was that after some tried to get him DFd at his hall (where he was elder), they DID try to sweep it under the feet and the other parties brought it up to the BRANCH which investigated and then DFd him. The earlier testimony given was that the entire elder body was spiritually corrupt and morally bankrupt. At least two elders were told (Sewells father was an elder, too-)including the presiding and they were told that nothing more would come of it. So they told a travelling overseer who told the branch (so I guess they are good for something!).
I would say that Sewell did think his position would keep him out of trouble and he would have gotten away with it had his victims accepted what the congregation had ruled.
we visited the rio rancho, nm u.s.a kingdom hall build this past saturday adn met jim & janet mura.
it is disgusting what they have done to this poor family.. .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d5xtgdt7mm.
I think they are a cute couple, but their videos could be a lot less about their cuteness and more about the actual topic at hand. I think they are smart and passionate about exposing the WT-and they could be a lot smarter about how they are exposing them. They need to learn how to self-edit or better yet,they need a caring friend who can help them to focus their work. I would love to see that passion focused a little more-viewership would increase and the expose would be broader.
we visited the rio rancho, nm u.s.a kingdom hall build this past saturday adn met jim & janet mura.
it is disgusting what they have done to this poor family.. .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d5xtgdt7mm.
I think their hearts are in the right place, but I also see that their hurt is coming through still which lessens credibility. They are at a seriously snarky phase of recovery. For example, had he discussed what happened and how (more clearly) with regard to the conversations about building the hall (and their house), and the congregations stand on it now WITHOUT the commentary on subliminal messages, then it would have looked a lot less like crazy ex JWs talking. As it was, they served themselves more than the poor man whose view was absconded by the KH. Their video could have been half as long as given us twice as much information had they been inclined. Their videos feel like the entertainnment sites that have 10 of the best (whatever) and you have to click through each one and evade several ads on the journey to find the number one (restaurant, place to live when you are retired, place to get philly cheese steaks) whatever. By the time you finish, you wonder why you wasted your time.
They don't have to be that way. Tighten up a bit, I want the information, but there is a LOT to see online. I have a limited time to see it all.
the mormon leaders in virginia are deciding whether to excommunicate kate kelly for pushing for equal rights for mormon women in the church.
she wants to remain a mormon whatever the outcome of the hearing.. 800-1000 mormons held a vigil in support of kate.. the group ordain women, mormons who want change in their church structure, are active in 17 countries pushing the male dominated leaders to make this important change.. kate kelly is herself an international human rights lawyer.. church leaders site jesus only choosing men in leadership positions as their foundational support.. those interviewed at the vigil said they want an atmosphere where they can at least have conversations openly about changes they would like to see made in the church..
The letter said that she couldn't hold office, pay tithes or offerings or teach or go to the temple. It says nothing about being shunned from fellowship. I read the letter, and for all that one would disagree with him, he was kind about what he was doing and he wasn't ashamed to say his reasoning. This differs from the WT subterfuge in DF'ing,which I have less respect for. He left the door open and there was really no mystery about what she has to do to "qualify" for consideration to be baptised again (should she actually WANT to).
While I think they are misguided for trying to shut her down, they aren't playing games with her. And there are a LOT of LDS folks who will still be inviting her family to picnics this summer, she will likely still go to the ward/stake events for pioneer day and will probably be providing a covered dish for any appropriate events that are in her ward. She won't be teaching sunday school, give a testimony, do baptisms or anything at the temple or run the relief society.
She will have a lot more time to practice international civil rights law.
the mormon leaders in virginia are deciding whether to excommunicate kate kelly for pushing for equal rights for mormon women in the church.
she wants to remain a mormon whatever the outcome of the hearing.. 800-1000 mormons held a vigil in support of kate.. the group ordain women, mormons who want change in their church structure, are active in 17 countries pushing the male dominated leaders to make this important change.. kate kelly is herself an international human rights lawyer.. church leaders site jesus only choosing men in leadership positions as their foundational support.. those interviewed at the vigil said they want an atmosphere where they can at least have conversations openly about changes they would like to see made in the church..
I've never known LDS to shun the way JWs do. I have not seen teachings telling them to.. . you may find that some just do out of loyalty, but I have NEVER heard of a LDS being excommunicated for talking to an excommunicated person-that's for sure. ( I do have a lot of personal history with the church, so while ancient history to me, it was a different kind of experience altogether.)
so i went to the international convention.
nice.
the org.
Crazyguy, that is always a question. Seriously, other churches build the buildings, support actual ministries, evangelists, they have summer camps and Awanas for kids, busses (a lot of times) to transport folks, people regularly bring in friends to church and there are (in spite of no magazine selling) regular baptisms, weddings and funerals.
I've only ever been to one church that really did feel like they were passing the plate a lot.
the april 1st watchtower has an interesting section on : 'meeting the requirements for christian baptism.'.
paragraph 9:.
in the case of youths, come develop a measure of spirituality at a relatively tender age, while others take longer.
I have seen the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena given a bad time alternatively about not being "good" witnesses and not being baptised yet (at their advanced ages).
I don't see that the association has clipped their wings any. I wonder why they make the claim at all? Beautiful girls, very skilled, very imperfect....I am thinking baptism will happen when they retire and are out of the limelite.
If my dad was gonna push me, Id sure rather he was pushing the part that would make me a world class tennis player rather than to be a drone JW. I think the Williams are JWs like many Jews are "Jewish.' That's what they were born into and they don't eat bacon on the Sabbath.
i hope they don't put a hit on him.
this pope tells it like it is!.
I've gained a respect for this pope that surpasses the benign comfort of the late Pope John Paul. He was kinda cuddly, but this new one seems serious about following Jesus and expecting decency. I respect that.
our kh passed a resolution to purchase a new projector and screen.
so that we can be ready for the agm this year!!
if the rc wan any indication of things to come, the meetings will turn into full-on brainwashing sessions like never before!!
I do think that the push for the screens and media updates are leading to a more controlled dissemination of information via "talks". I think that the ministry school will get a whole different focus as only professional level speakers who have been vetted and likely pre-taped, will be presenting the talks and schools.
Encouraging everyone to get wired. . .well, soon they will be attaching electrodes. . . :) Ok, they will get their own web service somehow that will be controlled by the WTS. I don't say that with 100% conviction, but I think it is likely as that is the only way that they can begin to control the JWs. There will be a monthly service fee since this stuff doesn't come free. . . can you imagine all JWs having their email and browsers available to be monitored? That would definitely come under the category of a crazy thing that doesn't seem practical, don't you think?
