freetosee

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Posts by freetosee

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  11

  Homosexuality and the Bible (long)

  by gaiagirl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following is the text of a talk delivered at the unitarian universalist church where i attend.

  the speaker was dr johanna steibert, who works in the religious studies department at university of tennessee.

  i apologize in advance if the formatting is difficult to read.

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  freetosee

  Hi Gaiagirl,

  thanks for the article. I am ever so happy not to be living in bible times. It was always confusing to read some of those disturbing accounts. Sadly some of that thinking still prevails today.

  freetosee
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  73

  Circuit Overseers

  by Outaservice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

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  our congregation had some of the best circuit overseers money could buy!.

  outaservice

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  freetosee

  When the English-speaking field got started in Germany in the late 60ties one of our first traveling servant was Ramon Templeton, he was both CO and DO. Before this time he was the Branch coordinator and continued in this function after his traveling work.

  The story was -told by a Bethelite elder- Templeton did not get on well with President Knorr. At a visit of Knorr to the German branch when conducting the morning worship, the president called on Templeton’s wife to comment, which she refused to do in front of the assembled Bethel Family. So the president then turned to her husband for a comment to which Templeton replied something like "I will support my wife!" and refused to comment as well. This resulted in the punishment of demoting Templeton to the district work. The elder said, "He was sent back to the field"! (Reminds me of downsizing)

  I think it is ok to mention his name since it appeared in every Germany printed WT as ‘responsible editor’. My later encounters with him were positive, I don’t know what it was like to work with him.

  fts
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  25

  Has Anyone, or, How Many Have Written to WTS...what was the response?

  by Pioneer Spit...oh, i mean Spirit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wrote for the first time 5 months ago.

  one of my sisters, a hoho, was married 27 years to an ms who has abused her mentally, emotionally, physically, and this was well-known to most everyone who knew them including family.

  when she filed for divorce, i heard that our parents, other family and ex-friends yelled at and criticized her, and then the elders called her into a meeting and condemned her, i was furious.

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  freetosee

  I would join in. Maybe it will make them think twice about downsizing the responsible departments. A 1000 letter will surly make someone sweat. fts
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  25

  Has Anyone, or, How Many Have Written to WTS...what was the response?

  by Pioneer Spit...oh, i mean Spirit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wrote for the first time 5 months ago.

  one of my sisters, a hoho, was married 27 years to an ms who has abused her mentally, emotionally, physically, and this was well-known to most everyone who knew them including family.

  when she filed for divorce, i heard that our parents, other family and ex-friends yelled at and criticized her, and then the elders called her into a meeting and condemned her, i was furious.

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  freetosee

  Dozy,

  I appreciate your honesty.

  Regarding wacko mail, I remember our CO was asked to take a parcel with him on his way to bethel. It was addressed to the German Branch overseer Willy Pohl. In large letters it was written "W.P. you are a liar" and other insults and filthy language. It was really strange and I thought all apostates are like that. fts
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  58

  Are witnesses Christians?

  by KW13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  i know that all religions have their flaws, so do you agree that witnesses should call themselves christians or are they 'too un-christian'?.

  the baptism, i think proves its different, they are baptized into an organization, that forms part of the questions...agreeing that the society is god's earthly representation.. personally i feel they are not christians.

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  freetosee

  When I was young I remember the brothers (and WT literature) referring to themselves as "Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses".

  I think the WT teaching is pseudo Christian, because it denies the honor and worship Jesus receives in the scriptures. The Grand Climax! book is a good example of WT distraction efforts.

  Christianity is not a matter of membership, it is a in-your-heart thing.

  Some Buddhists I know are the best Christians I have ever met

  That’s a good point!

  fts
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  5

  WERE THERE ANY AUXILLARY/SPECIAL PIONEERS IN YOUR COMGREGATION?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ant takers

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  freetosee

  Yes, my congregation had the "pioneer spirit", so we were told. Since it is an English-speaking cong in Germany we had special pioneers serving in our hall in preparation to their Gilead training. We had about 10-12 reg. pioneers and quite a few auxiliary pioneers. The instructor for the German Gilead branch is a long-time DO who was also assigned to our cong in order to improve his English. Brothers who have graduated from Gilead and were assigned to branch work also spent some time in our hall. Due to that we had lots of brothers passing through our hall. In the early days of our congregation we had mainly English and American congregation members, but this has changed over the years due to the change of service territory (US UK military moving back home after the wall came down). Today the vast majority of cong members is African. fts
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  18

  NOT accepting appointments/privileges

  by Alligator Wisdom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i declined appointment to become an elder in two different congregations.

  boy, was the elder body and co not happy about that!.

  have any of you done so for any appointments (elder, ms, special pioneer)?

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  freetosee

  Bonnzo: i told the elders that i did not qualify scripturally, based on the qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:1-10; esp verse one: "If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work." i told the elders that i dont desire to do this, so i wont. the only thing i desire, i would get df'd for.(LOL)

  Excellent reply!
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  25

  Has Anyone, or, How Many Have Written to WTS...what was the response?

  by Pioneer Spit...oh, i mean Spirit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wrote for the first time 5 months ago.

  one of my sisters, a hoho, was married 27 years to an ms who has abused her mentally, emotionally, physically, and this was well-known to most everyone who knew them including family.

  when she filed for divorce, i heard that our parents, other family and ex-friends yelled at and criticized her, and then the elders called her into a meeting and condemned her, i was furious.

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  freetosee

  My understanding is that on very rare cases does the society reply directly to the poster. The elders are in charge of the congregation and its members. The society only gives advice to the elders which they choose to follow. So any harm done you can’t sue the WTS. Even if an elder writes the society the reply is sent to the PO who brings it before the BOE.

  I always found it strange how secretive the elders are when it comes to these letters. Only the privileged ones are allowed to read the WT letters. fts
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  15

  "Mole" Elders

  by Alligator Wisdom in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  have any here had one in their congregation?.

  an elder is assigned to a congregation, usually by the co, in order to clean it out.

  especially in regards to the elder body who may be going off tangent by wts accordance .

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  freetosee

  Due to problems within the BOE we had three new elders come to your cong. One was directly sent by the society, a special pioneer. At first I thought it was answered prayers and was looking forward to a new spirit in the cong, but was soon disappointed as the new elders were worse then the old ones. They were business men, cold and power hungry. I think the main purpose is to keep control over the congregations. They didn’t bring much encouragement or warmth. Two of them later got sent to Gilead, so they must have done a good job. Although one was a missionary for only about half a year. His wife took off with a Argentinean man and was d’fed. So he went back home. fts
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  16

  Judicial committee experiences.

  by Zico in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently ive been doing a lot of research on judicial committees, as my friend is currently going through one, as mentioned here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/118972/1.ashx

  i just posted an update.

  one thing ive noticed in my research, is that there is no scriptural support to back up the judicial committee system.

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  freetosee

  I think Zico is reffering to this thread of his http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/118972/1.ashx and wants to show his jw friend the unscriptural manner the judicial committees are proceeded. fts