Posts by Joe Grundy

I used to get these ads and they depressed me, to be honest. I am a single man of a certain age but the thought that I might be attracted to some of these horrors (I'm sure that they are nice people in real life) made me shudder.

If I thought that the only 'opportunities' open to me were similar to some of the 'opportunities' represented here I'd give up now!

61

The Decline of Elders and Ministerial Servants

by Londo111 in

i seem to remember somebody saying that since the 90's the number of elders has declined from 90000 to 60000. does anybody have any hard figures regarding this?.

the organization is desperate for "qualified" men.

but their standards are much too high, especially the monthly field service hour requirements tagged on to endless meetings and congregational busywork.

Joe Grundy

I haven't read the whole thread (and I never was a JW) so apologies if this has been mentioned.

Apart from the obvious (power, ego, 'big fish in a little pond') I can't see any reason why anyone would consent to serve in a position of responsibility.

They may have liability in child abuse cases, of course, as has so well been demonstrated recently. And the 'Menlo Park' fiasco. But I'm fairly sure that as access to information continues to increase exponentially there will be other liabilities. One that springs to mind is 'Data Protection' legislation and its equivalents in various countries. KHs keep vast amounts of personal information, and the keeping and use of this is regulated. Plenty of opportunities for civil and criminal liability.

I think I've read on various posts that WTBTS in its various guises is distancing itself from local congregations - in that local congregations are to be seen as separate legal entities from WTBTS itself. That could lead to personal liability for elders/trustees. (This is a complicated legal issue and varies by jurisdiction, but the concept of 'personal liability' seems to be increasing in most jurisdictions).

Even if I WAS a JW, and 'qualified' I would be very, very, wary.

43

Any born-ins have this attitude about converts?

by Nambo in

so there was this great gang of us, from south london, manchester and wolverhampton, went to socialise with a group in fishguard in wales.. amongst the conversations one of the single sisters stated, "i could never marry anybody who used to be in the world".. i guess a lifetime of knocking on doors had given her the impression there couldnt possibly be a convert in her midst, never mind later alone with her in her mgb.. so whats with this, did you think we had rat scabies or were possesed by demons or something?.

.

Joe Grundy

Nambo: I live only 15 miles from there. We could have had a beer!

56

Those Wonderful Kingdom Songs

by Quendi in

jw
friends

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Joe Grundy

This is where dubs miss out.

I am an atheist, but I love this hymn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=b5mqR-ehY9s

(ETA: and this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5NOVcefEYU)

20

Can You See GB Saying This: 'Maybe We Were Wrong'

by Joe Grundy in

i just saw this news story.. i never was a jw (or a catholic) but i liked this story:.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19451439.

can you imagine a gb member ever saying in effect - 'we were wrong'?.

Joe Grundy

Earnest: Thanks for that. I think that maybe posters here who read that story may ask the same question as I did in the title of this thread.

20

Can You See GB Saying This: 'Maybe We Were Wrong'

by Joe Grundy in

i just saw this news story.. i never was a jw (or a catholic) but i liked this story:.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19451439.

can you imagine a gb member ever saying in effect - 'we were wrong'?.

Joe Grundy

Sorry, I didn't make this clear. This news story is about a senior RC cardinal (considered maybe a candidate for pope) who seems to have made various statements admitting that the RC church was wrong about various issues.

(I can't make it 'clickable' - can anyone help?)

20

Can You See GB Saying This: 'Maybe We Were Wrong'

by Joe Grundy in

i just saw this news story.. i never was a jw (or a catholic) but i liked this story:.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19451439.

can you imagine a gb member ever saying in effect - 'we were wrong'?.

Joe Grundy

I just saw this news story.

I never was a JW (or a catholic) but I liked this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19451439

Can you imagine a GB member ever saying in effect - 'we were wrong'?

(Sorry, don't know how to make it clickable).

66

"No Other Magazine Comes Close" - Watchtower's new slogan...

by cedars in

jw
friends

...and they're clearly in the mood for pushing it on youtube.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lerx3gkthxk.

what is it with all these random youtube channels, each showing polished and highly-produced videos.

Joe Grundy

"No other magazine comes close"

WTBTS is, for once, exactly right - but probably not in the way they mean.

19

Personal Qualifications Report - Interesting notes on this one...

by MC RubberMallet in

.

Joe Grundy

I never was a JW, but this (and many other similar examples) remind me of a long time ago when, as a small child, I loved playing 'libraries' or 'offices'. In other words, writing nonsense on small bits of paper, and a rubber date-stamp could keep me happy for hours.

Do some people in the appropriate departments at Bethels have a collection of jealously-guarded rubber stamps which only they are allowed to use (under the direction of their god, of course)? Does promotion include the issue of another, more exclusive, rubber-stamp or (perhaps the ultimate) being allowed to write comments on forms in a different colour ink?

Enquiring minds need to know!

(ETA:) It should always be remembered that in any organisation the primary purpose of a memo or report is to protect the sender rather than inform the recipient. I bet right now in the 'new light' of Candace the legal eagles are working overtime reviewing all this stuff.