DB

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Posts by DB

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  16

  An Important Note To All Serving Elders

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently the wts sent a letter to all bodies of elders in north america reminding them of how to proceed with the handling of cases involving child abuse.

  it stated the following:.

  "reminders regarding the handling of cases involving child abuse": (1) as directed in the june 1, 1992, letter to all bodies of elders, you should immediately call the legal department for direction if you learn of a case of child abuse.

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  DB

  Good points Hillary!

  When I served as an elder, it once came up in a discussion that we could be personally named in lawsuits. I thought to myself at that time, 'wow, no one ever told me this'. Scared the dickens out of me.
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  45

  What's Your Pet Peeve?

  by DB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  of course, the wts is pretty much a pet peeve of almost everyone here.

  but besides that, what's your pet peeve?

  i'm in a playful mood today, so here's mine, with some tongue-in-cheekiness, of course: .

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  DB

  Of course, the WTS is pretty much a pet peeve of almost everyone here. But besides that, what's your pet peeve? I'm in a playful mood today, so here's mine, with some tongue-in-cheekiness, of course:

  My top peeve right now is outgoing (or, greeting) messages left on the voice mail system at my place of work by some employees. Some go like this, almost verbatim:

  "You have reached _______. I am either away from my desk, or on another line. After the tone, please leave a detailed message, along with the best time for me to call you back. If you need to speak with someone immediately, please call ________ (operator, or another extension). Thank you, and have a good day.

  My problem with such a message is that, when I am even the least bit busy, I really do not need to hear all this. Plus, such outgoing messages are spoken very deliberately, so they seem to take forever.

  I really don't need to hear if someone is at their desk or on another line. If I've gotten their voice mail instead of them, isn't that rather obvious?

  As for the time to call back (we got that valuable tip in training seminars some time ago), if I give them a time, then that now implies that I must be there at that time, waiting for their call. Fat chance, given the nature of my job.

  As for speaking with someone immediately, well, I was kind of hoping to, that's why I called them in the first place. With my luck, I'd call the other extension and have to listen to the same thing all over again.

  Here's the message people hear when they call my office:

  "You have reached _______ (office name). At the sound of the tone, please leave a message".

  Nice, simple, quick.

  Again, I'm just in a silly mood, blowing off a bit of steam, playing around. But, I'd like to hear what your pet peeve might be.

  Have a great day!

  "Without compassion, there can be no end to hate" - Billy Joel
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  13

  Blood Transfusions - "One Shot Deal"

  by Dutchie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just been reading the watchtower's blood policy and i think i've got it.

  the wtbtss give you a "one shot" deal.

  if you accept a blood transfusion once and express sorrow and regret, you're forgiven and can remain in good standing.

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  DB

  Biggsy, I appreciated the Rahman photo, since I have read about the fight but saw no pics. The descriptions were no exagerration, that's for sure. Maybe Evander Holyfield has a little life left in him after all.

  "Without compassion, there can be no end to hate" - Billy Joel "2000 Years"
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  25

  Dateline Fitzwater Letter-"Two Witnesses

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following is a letter written from the service department regarding the molestation of the step daughter of daniel fitzwater.

  in the dateline program daniel fitzwater was shown by correspondence from a circuit overseer to have molested 17 jw children who unfortunately did not have two eye-witnesses for each incident.

  thus brother fitzwater went to prision and remains in prision as a jw in "good standing".

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  DB

  Bod and the rest, I agree. Why not at least *encourage* them to go to police? At least do that much. Show some pro-active concern for these people, for goodness sakes.

  nancee, excellent point about Jesus and the Sabbath law! There were indeed times when the greater interest would take precedence over the stated law, as you mentioned.
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  25

  Hi, I'm new

  by Sadie5 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been lurking here for some time and decided to take the plunge and jump in.

  i was a witness for 16 years, baptized in 1981 when i was in my early 20's.

  brought husband, mother and kids in.

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  DB

  Welcome Sadie5,

  just jump in and post any time; glad to have ya aboard.

  naeblis, you crack me up!
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  3

  dateline & meeting

  by Realist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  question: was the dateline show discussed or mentioned in the wt meetings today?

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  DB

  Realist, no, the dateline show was not mentioned. What was said, basically, was that recent media reports have included jehovah's witnesses when discussing child abuse issues, something to that effect. No mention of dateline, directly.
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  21

  Raw Pain

  by Cassiline in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently a poster left here, shortly after i found the reason why.

  while listening to this person i could not only hear the feelings of raw pain i could feel them as well.

  this hurt.. for this person exposed them self on the forum as a silentlamb not only for support, camaraderie, friendship but also to share their own thoughts and views.

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  DB

  Good post cassiline!

  I too feel strongly that posters should be given the benefit of the doubt, and that personal attacks are uncalled for.
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  17

  my notes from letter read at service meeting

  by DB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  at tonight's service meeting, a letter was read concerning child molestation and the society's policy.. to preface, i jotted down notes in the form of a brief outline.

  also, the elder reading it said that the letter is primarily directed to jws for the purpose of answering questions that we may encounter.. here's my outline:.

  god's people are happy, in stark contrast to this world.. one reason is that we respect bible's view of sexual matters.. we abhor child abuse.. we will not protect abusers, or sheild them from the consequences of their wicked acts.. we expect elders to investigate every case (report) of child abuse.. but, we congregation follows bible stipulation that there must be two or three witnesses to establish a matter.. no congregation privilages extended to known child molesters.. elders are instructed to report abuse when required by state law.. people have the "absolute right" (my quotation marks for emphasis and to underscore that it is a quote from the letter) to report child abuse to the authorities.. since 1981 several articles published dealing with with matter in wt and awake.. when circumstances made the need clear, we have strengthened our policy over the years.. we feel that our bible-based policy is strong.. some additional notes: there were several scriptures cited and read, i did not jot them down.. well, i did note 1 tim 5:19 and 24. these verses were read after the comment abuout the need for two witnesses.

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  DB

  geez, another spelling blunder......it's absolute. :)
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  17

  my notes from letter read at service meeting

  by DB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  at tonight's service meeting, a letter was read concerning child molestation and the society's policy.. to preface, i jotted down notes in the form of a brief outline.

  also, the elder reading it said that the letter is primarily directed to jws for the purpose of answering questions that we may encounter.. here's my outline:.

  god's people are happy, in stark contrast to this world.. one reason is that we respect bible's view of sexual matters.. we abhor child abuse.. we will not protect abusers, or sheild them from the consequences of their wicked acts.. we expect elders to investigate every case (report) of child abuse.. but, we congregation follows bible stipulation that there must be two or three witnesses to establish a matter.. no congregation privilages extended to known child molesters.. elders are instructed to report abuse when required by state law.. people have the "absolute right" (my quotation marks for emphasis and to underscore that it is a quote from the letter) to report child abuse to the authorities.. since 1981 several articles published dealing with with matter in wt and awake.. when circumstances made the need clear, we have strengthened our policy over the years.. we feel that our bible-based policy is strong.. some additional notes: there were several scriptures cited and read, i did not jot them down.. well, i did note 1 tim 5:19 and 24. these verses were read after the comment abuout the need for two witnesses.

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  DB

  Hi cassiline!

  Yep, the abolute right thing is clearly a change. And change they'd better.

  Now, on to the links you posted.....take care!
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  17

  my notes from letter read at service meeting

  by DB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  at tonight's service meeting, a letter was read concerning child molestation and the society's policy.. to preface, i jotted down notes in the form of a brief outline.

  also, the elder reading it said that the letter is primarily directed to jws for the purpose of answering questions that we may encounter.. here's my outline:.

  god's people are happy, in stark contrast to this world.. one reason is that we respect bible's view of sexual matters.. we abhor child abuse.. we will not protect abusers, or sheild them from the consequences of their wicked acts.. we expect elders to investigate every case (report) of child abuse.. but, we congregation follows bible stipulation that there must be two or three witnesses to establish a matter.. no congregation privilages extended to known child molesters.. elders are instructed to report abuse when required by state law.. people have the "absolute right" (my quotation marks for emphasis and to underscore that it is a quote from the letter) to report child abuse to the authorities.. since 1981 several articles published dealing with with matter in wt and awake.. when circumstances made the need clear, we have strengthened our policy over the years.. we feel that our bible-based policy is strong.. some additional notes: there were several scriptures cited and read, i did not jot them down.. well, i did note 1 tim 5:19 and 24. these verses were read after the comment abuout the need for two witnesses.

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  DB

  At tonight's service meeting, a letter was read concerning child molestation and the Society's policy.

  To preface, I jotted down notes in the form of a brief outline. Also, the elder reading it said that the letter is primarily directed to jws for the purpose of answering questions that we may encounter.

  Here's my outline:

  God's people are happy, in stark contrast to this world.
  One reason is that we respect Bible's view of sexual matters.
  We abhor child abuse.
  We will not protect abusers, or sheild them from the consequences of their wicked acts.
  We expect elders to investigate every case (report) of child abuse.
  But, we congregation follows Bible stipulation that there must be two or three witnesses to establish a matter.
  No congregation privilages extended to known child molesters.
  Elders are instructed to report abuse when required by state law.
  People have the "absolute right" (my quotation marks for emphasis and to underscore that it is a quote from the letter) to report child abuse to the authorities.
  Since 1981 several articles published dealing with with matter in WT and Awake.
  When circumstances made the need clear, we have strengthened our policy over the years.
  We feel that our Bible-based policy is strong.

  Some additional notes: There were several scriptures cited and read, I did not jot them down.

  Well, I did note 1 Tim 5:19 and 24. These verses were read after the comment abuout the need for two witnesses. Verse 24 is noteworthy: "the sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgement, but as for other men, their sins also become manifest later". No comment was made on these verses, but it is obvious that they are used to show the Society's view that elders cannot act unless there are two or more witnesses, or a confession, or two reports of similar misconduct (of conduct of a similar nature).

  Members of the congregation were invited to ask the elders for further clarification if they felt the need, or had any questions.

  I will refrain at this time from adding any personal comments on this letter or my notes.

  Thanks! DB