Posts by Doubting Bro

47

Former Longtime Elder- Met up with a Former CO,DO

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

at a convention recently, i met with don wallace, a former co and do.

he told me he came off the road 6 years ago and is living in scottsboro al.

him and his wife are in their late 70's.

Doubting Bro

I don't really have an issue with this. Seems like they should take care of their retired COs/DOs and long term Bethelites. I'm actually surprised they appointed him as a special pioneer and are giving him this "pension". Of course, as soon as he doesn't make his hours, BOOM. Hopefully for him he'll be smart enough to do what many JWs do and fudge his numbers!

I remember my Dad telling me when I was young to live like the system would end tomorrow (ie put the WT first), but plan like it won't happen in my lifetime. That's why I started saving in a retirement plan as soon as I got a full-time job and ended up getting a college degree while serving as an elder (at least I started it while an elder). I always justified it as I was living more simply by diverting a portion of my income to a retirement fund and that I wouldn't be upset if the world ended and I lost it, but I would be a burden if I had nothing and the system was still around.

I know many JWs with the same mindset. Of course, I also know a ton of crazies that spend every cent they have and don't care about saving. But, I also know non-JWs like that so I'm not sure if its a JW thing or not.

25

Considered for Recommendation as Elder but Declined

by ProfCNJ in

hi folks.

one of the elders was sent to our house to talk to me the possibility of being recommended as elder.

he did not know however that one of the elders who is a friend of mine had already divulged this future meeting.

Doubting Bro

You just saved yourself years of stress and conflict. Since you're posting on here, my guess is that you are just starting to investigate the WTS. My advice is not to accept any additional privileges until whatever reason that brought you here has been resolved.

106

Video of admitted child molester in Jehovahs Witnesses has gone viral!

by disfellowshipped1 in

notice these two attorneys opining on this case.. http://watchtowerleaks.com/tagged/child-molestation.

Doubting Bro

Another former elder chiming in here:

I do know that the congregation is the major factor in the appointment or removal of an elder.

The local congregtion does have input but I've personally witnessed situations where a brother was recommended by the local BOE and local CO only to be shot down by the branch for reasons that were arbitrary. I've also seen situations where someone who had connections with the local branch had been recommended to be deleted but the branch wouldn't do it.

Elders and MS are appointed by the branch and to say otherwise is to be dishonest. The recommendations are reviewed by a direct agent of the branch, the CO. As has been previously shown with quotes from the Shepherd book, that's not only the written procedure but that's everyone's practical experience from several countries.

Defend them all you like, it doesn't change the fact that they were morally obligated to do more and as some of these lawsuits are showing, are LEGALLY obligated to do more.

I'm just glad I never had to deal with a pedophile case as an elder.

31

I can't find any bibles...seems to be a shortage...

by Legacy in

howdy,.

i have been trying to get 4 bibles for some folks i know who use to be jw's...not sure if they are returning but i'll do my part...can anyone shed some light or let me know where i can call to get bibles....patterson says there is a shortage, i've asked around to different halls in different states.. could it be because of jw.org ?.

take care,.

Doubting Bro

RubaDub,

I think all pretty much everyone is invited. Our congregation allotment was more than the publisher count so I guess non-publisher kids are also included. LOL at your suggestion. Don't give them any ideas.

The speculation seems reasonable to me. Why else would they run out of God's Word of Truth?? Oh well, time will tell.

88

Former Long Time Elder: Why I am still in

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

a customer on my route with whom i have had some lively debates was his number 1 complaint is that "the witnesses have so many rules".

last month i agreed with on this issue.

he asked why the change, i told him that i have been doing some soul searching.

Doubting Bro

James,

I understand what you're dealing with somewhat. I'm not sure the reason why you stay in is to teach your child morals because you could easily do that not being a JW. However, your leaving would have a dramtic impact on your family, right? What would happen to your marriage if you left?

Maybe I'm transferring my issues on to you but that's the thing that keeps me in. You have one son that is already out right? So you could have a frank conversation with him about why you no longer believe, apologize, etc. Depending on how old and what your relationship is with your other child, you may be able to have that same conversation. Is he/she baptized? If not, then your really can discourage that step.

How would your wife react? If she also has doubts, that may be an opportunity to leave with the only thing that really matters, your family.

40

Former Long Time Elder - Judicial Committees

by James Jackson in

when i first was appointed as an elder, i could not wait to be on a judicial committee.

it semed like most hearings invovled middle age men and women cheating on their mates because either they had married early or felt that were being neglected by their mate.

most times i felt i need to take a long hot shower after a hearing.. the toughest part was seeing these sweet young children grow up in "the truth", and now you are about to judge their future based on their repentance.

Doubting Bro

JJ - I understand how you feel and can relate. Fortunately I usually avoided JCs like the plague and only got sucked into a few. Even if the person only got reproof, I often had trouble sleeping realizing the pain the person was going through. When I finally woke up, I realized that the whole process was terribly wrong and that knot in my stomach was my conscious telling me that what I was involved with just wasn't right.

The problem is that most elders as simply as brain washed (even more so) as the rest of the JWs. So, they believe that they are doing God's will. So while some may feel bad afterward, they rationalize it by saying they are only doing what God wants them to do.

sd-7 - I hear you man. I often beat myself up for getting duped into believing in the WTS. The past is the past. We can only impact what we chose to do with the rest of our lives. Sure, I feel awful for participating in the cult's activities to the degree I did. The meeting parts, studying with others (thankfully I never got a student to baptism), the shepherding visits, the elder's meetings where we judged and dissected members of the congregation like we were sales managers, all that stuff. But, what's done is done. I take responsiblity for what I was involved with and yes it is a cult and yes, I was raised that way so I thought I was doing the right thing. All I know is that now, even though I'm still stuck in for family, I will never again influence one other person to tow the WT line.

So don't get too down about whatever level you participated in the past. Just make sure that you don't support the cult going forward. That's all you can really do.

1

John Sentamu Archbishop of York, Says Tax Avoidance is Sinful

by cantleave in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22941017.

is this a case of pot calling kettle black?.

Doubting Bro

Exactly. The religions (ALL OF THEM) gladly take their tax free status yet have the nerve to say things like this?

88

Former Long Time Elder, New Member

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

i have served 20 years as an elder, 5 years as an ms. was on the district committee in 2010, held various positions on the district , circuit, and rbc level.

probably been on more than 100 judicial committees and even an appeals committee.

was the coordinator in our congregation and deleted because adult child was df ( i kicked him out at the time of his wrongdoing, but that wasn't enough for thr brothers).

Doubting Bro

Welcome JJ. Look forward to reading your comments.

78

They lied to you Jack......

by Tech49 in

my name is jack harper, tech49.

new here, been lurking for many months now.

a brief history:.

Doubting Bro

Jack, welcome and look foward to reading your comments. Great opening posts!!

53

Due to Ongoing Concern about Dwindling Meeting Attendances, IS THE BOOK STUDY ARRANGEMENT GOING TO BE RE-INSTATED NEXT YEAR?

by steve2 in

jw
friends

i have some family and friends still in the organization.

i don't actively seek updates - my lovely contacts provide me with them unsolicited.

so far the updates have been reliable and confirmed sooner or later by subsequent developments.

Doubting Bro

Some folks may miss it but in most congregations (at least in the US) it was by far the most poorly attended meeting. In the hall I was in when it was discontinued, the attendance was around 75% of publishers where as the MS/TS was closer to 90% with the Sunday meetings being a little over 100% (remember the kids too young to be publishers are also in attendance).