Posts by TJ - iAmCleared2Land

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

Hey i'veSeenTheLight! Welcome. I love your avatar!! Do you actually have a button that says that? Would be SO COOL to wear it to a convention!!

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

fedorE said: But low and behold the brother in charge of seating late arrivals puts you in the back center row right in the speakers direct line sight and between 2 other freshly scrubbed brothers.No empty chair beside you . So now everytime u look up its YOU and the speaker it seems.Now is a good time to make sure you have extra gum easliy accessible from hand to mouth without causing too much comotion.

This would be a perfect time to have a bag full of different hats, hair, glasses, noses, etc. Ever visit a costume store, like the ones stage actors go to? It's a blast... imagine, everytime the speaker looks down to read a scripture or his dry manuscript, and looks up, you look different... and goofy. Would really mess with his tempo and coherence!

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

Ask Brother Meeting Tally Guy if he wants the "4 - 1 - 1". When he asks what the "information" is...tell him to look up at "1 Thessalonians 4:11". Maybe he will get the point.

BRILLIANT!!! Great scripture, perfect way to introduce it. You were paying attention in the TMS!

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

I have an aunt, that has been known to keep track of everyone's attendence and then contact them on the phone to 'encourage' them and find out why they have been missing.
In a congregation exceeding 100 publishers, I can imagine that it would take considerable time for my aunt to figure out who is missing.

Highlander,

Your aunt's name wasn't Mildred, was it? :-) I heard this earlier this week, I can't remember where from; if it was here, I apologize for re-posting!

Mildred , the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members did not approve of her extracurricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused a new member, George, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup parked in front of the town's only bar. George, a man of few words, said nothing. He didn't explain, defend or deny. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred 's house and walked home....leaving the pickup there all night.

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

First there was the brother who happily pointed out that I'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track. Brotherly love in action.

Next time someone mentions you've missed meetings, just say: "Actually, that's why I'm here today, to find out how come you and nobody else called me for the past x weeks I've been out... I guess I'm not one of the lost little sheep that matter enough to be missed, such that the the shepherd leaves the others behind and goes looking for; No, I've got to drag MYSELF back to the fold for the shepherd to finally notice/mention I've been gone. Good to see you too. NOT!! Enjoy the meeting!"

41

What affected you more, growing up in the cult, or a dysfunctional family?

by Bumble Bee in

i think for me, it was the dysfunctional family.

things from my childhood are finally getting to me.

i've tried for so long to just push them to the back of my mind.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

BB, I've not yet read the replies, I just read your post... I'll go back and read them in a few minutes.

I think there are those here that have grown up in an otherwise normal family (other than the religion/cult involvement), and then there are those of us that were not only in the cult but ALSO in a twisted "family" arrangement. I was one of those. I'm out of BOTH now.

I don't yet know which affected me more.. I think each affected me in different ways, neither of which were good. In the long run, I think the family issues will be the long-term and more in-depth issues, because deep down inside I WANT a normal, loving, nurturing, supportive extended family... and I will never have that. I'm just, along with my wife, trying to make sure my kids and my grandkids (once we have them) have what I didn't.

Oh, and the reason I wanted to reply right away: definitely do the therapy, especially if YOU are "thinking" you might want to. I've been seeing a therapist for over two years now, and it's been very helpful to me. Will write more later, after I get to read everyone's fine comments to your post.

TJ

28

A call to HQ about the settlement

by parlay in

i called hq under this guise: i am an interested person who has two jw'svisiting me periodically.

i think they are very nice people and we have good conversations,but recently something disturbed me.

i was suprised that they had no knowledge of the recent lawsuit settlements and actually denied it was true.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

And here I thought we'd be hearing all sorts of interesting "calls to Legal" stories today! :-)

39

For Those That Married JW, Did You Have Sex Before Your Wedding?

by Good Girl or Bad Girl? in

i'm sure this has been covered before.

i'm wondering, though, how many who got married as a jehovah's witness actually waited for their wedding day?

it's for a "good cause," namely my peace of mind.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

Yes, but not with the JW I married.

28

A call to HQ about the settlement

by parlay in

i called hq under this guise: i am an interested person who has two jw'svisiting me periodically.

i think they are very nice people and we have good conversations,but recently something disturbed me.

i was suprised that they had no knowledge of the recent lawsuit settlements and actually denied it was true.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

What's the number?

Seeker, and others that asked:

Patterson's number is (845) 306-1100. Brooklyn can be reached at either 718-560-5000 or 7500 (both work).

Here's a trick for you if you want to talk directly to Legal and "make up" complex sexual situations that need WT advice. Elders are advised to tell the switchboard when they answer "I am an elder in <state> calling to speak with Legal." No questions asked, you'll be transferred.

The elder in legal who answers will ask for two things: your name and congregation number. (Note: You can get an elder's name from the bookstudy list and the congregation number off any correspondence or literature packing slips posted on the information board at any KH.)

Then, they'll then ask for a description of the situation you're calling in for advice regarding: "We had a young sister approach us recently with accusations of a ministerial servant in the congregation fondling her... we formed a committee and met with the brother, but he denies any wrongdoing. blah blah blah blah blah" (What kind of strange stories can you come up with?? They've heard it all...) They won't ask for names of any individuals involved (don't ask, don't tell?) but will listen to the story and then give some suggestions as to how the body should proceed. Sometimes they follow up with a letter to the body with specific points they should address... your made-up situation should prove interesting for the local body to address! :-)

Note that I'm not actually SUGGESTING you do so.... But, should you choose to do so, have fun!

13

The Governing Body and the Board of Directors

by hooberus in

the governing body and the board of directors

modern society claims

"from the incorporation of the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania in 1884 until 1972, the president of the society exercised great authority in jehovah's organization, while the governing body was closely associated with the society's board of directors.

TJ - iAmCleared2Land

From the 1954 Walsh Trial PDF, page 187/188, during examination of WTS corporate attorney Hayden Covington:

Q: Are all or any of the Directors of the Pennsylvania Society members of the anointed class?

A: The Pennsylvania Board of Directors are all of the anointed class, and I might say that there is, as mentioned by Mr. Franz to your Lordship yesterday, a Bylaw which is called here a resolution of the Society that prohibits anyone who is not of the anointed from being on the Board of Directors of the Society. May I add that the Society has between 250 and 500 members and the majority of these members are of the anointed. There are some that are not members, but there are no members that are qualified to be on the Board unless they are of the anointed.

Has this position changed? Has the Charters of the Pennsylvania and New York corporations been ammended to allow someone OTHER than anointed members to be on the BOD? I know there was a shakeup of corporation status a number of years ago, where some of the 'Great Crowd' would take and hold positions of responsibility--did that include BOD membership?

If not, the WTBTS would find itself in a world of hurt in a few more years...