Posts by Mattieu

72

Does anyone remember a district overseer Joe Slaiman?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

joe slaiman and his wife jean were in the travelling work in australia throughout the 90's... ( i may have spelt the name incorrectly).

anyone remember them?

they were very well liked by many of the brothers and sisters.. i wonder what happened to him?

Mattieu

Haven't posted in 3 years, but this thread got me out of the woods :)

Joe was an amazing person/CO when I met him. The day I was baptised at the Melton ASSenbly hall, he put his arm around me and walked with me to the backstage and had the most normal chat. Whenever he & his wife used to come to my Mums house in Preston (every visit), it was like having a family member over, not some pompous CO who wanted to be treated like royalty. My fav memory is of Joe falling asleep one day after lunch in front of the TV before the afternoon group rocked up. Looking back it was probably because he was up to 1AM that same morning dealing with all the crap that was Preston cong (how it never got disbanded is still beyond belief).

Its funny, I heard all the same rumours posted here about him and his wife, strange how the rumours about him were being spread by an ex bethelite elder with strong connections in Ingleburn. The same person who gives talks at every CA/DA in Melbourne still, the same person who's brother in law is a current c/o..... Nice smear campaign William....

Joe was the first person I wanted to talk to as I began my fade, wanting to know his thought process and what helped him. Have always wondered these past 5 years or so..... Fortunately I had this site and JW facts to help me (thx Simon & Paul) and others like Randy and Blondie, Sadly a few others who I enjoyed reading in the time I lurked before joining (and since) have passed on...

I hope Joes story and his message to move on and enjoy life for what its worth gets through to as many lurkers/faders as possible.... For what its worth, I've spent the last 2 years working full time and gong to University to get a degree, a real education. Something that in 1969 (and today) the wbts/jw.org told my Mum was worthless..... Stay classy San Diego....

Cheers, Mattieu :)

8

Not just elders in Victoria who need wwc

by Mattieu in

in reference to the comments that it should not just be the elders getting the working with children check in victoria, i just caught up with my mate who is still an elder and his 2 buddies (who were also elders), one who turned out to be the p/o (sorry, still stuck with the old lingo).

3 elders and a so called apostate, and yes we were all drinking beers, ok, i wasnt, that nz sav blnc was too good to pass up.... the direction from bethel is that all elders/ m/s's and pioneers in victoria have to get the wwc, so its not just for elders.. the deadline for all elders, ms's and pioneers to get this check passed a few weeks ago.

in my mates congo, there was still a few m/'s and pioneers who had not yet submitted their application yet as well as 1 elder.

Mattieu

In reference to the comments that it should not just be the elders getting the working with children check in Victoria, I just caught up with my mate who is still an elder and his 2 buddies (who were also elders), one who turned out to be the p/o (sorry, still stuck with the old lingo). 3 elders and a so called apostate, and yes we were all drinking beers, ok, I wasn’t, that NZ sav blnc was too good to pass up…

The direction from bethel is that all elders/ m/s's and pioneers in Victoria have to get the wwc, so it’s not just for elders.

The deadline for all elders, ms's and pioneers to get this check passed a few weeks ago. In my mates congo, there was still a few m/'s and pioneers who had not yet submitted their application yet as well as 1 elder.

We spoke about the ramifications of it not being done and why it was necessary. They overwhelmingly agree with it being done, especially when so many jw’s shift around the country. I was pleased to hear one of the elders say he knew of child abuse being covered up in the past and he thinks this new policy is heading in the right direction.

There were so many hypothetical’s being mentioned and all agreed that despite a letter being read out in the congo, the average body of elders is being left in the dark, relying on hearsay and gossip to read between the lines.

Even if the court case doesn’t go the distance, with Steve raising the profile of the issue, it’s done a lot at a local congo level for the average pub (my ex wife excluded) to sit up and take notice… Thanks Barb for the updates too, looking forward when it progresses to the courts here in Melbourne…

PS - they all thought I was a good upstanding ms jw - my mate hadnt told them about my fade.....

13

Letter read to Victorian congregations re WCC

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

had an interesting chat with my ex re the current debate over working with children checks - of which she has one due to her volunteering at our childrens primary school.

i remember when she had to apply that i made the comment elders & mss should be having background checks due to the history of abuse in the borg and covering up (these discussions normally dont go down well as she is well and truly blinded, well meaning, but blinded).. anywho, she told me about the recent letter that was read to all the victorian congregations, she couldnt tell me verbatim what it said, though the gist was that is no real need for elders to get this check, but rather they are complying with what has been asked legally.. now i dont know if what she said next was based on the letter read or the after discussions at the k/hall, but she made the comment the elders do not need the wcc as they are not strangers, they are our brothers... i tried reasoning that another elder who moves in from interstate is certainly a stranger, until you get to know him on a personal level.

didnt matter how i reasoned or what incidents i bought up, the view amongst her and the other mums that she hangs around in the cong is that the elders getting a wcc check is totally unnecessary and that the jws are being picked on.. next week, i am meeting up with a mate who is an elder here in victoria and trying to step down, so will pick his brains and see if he can get a copy.... .

Mattieu

And I stress that this line:

the elders do not need the wcc as they are not strangers

is not made up, actual words. I just want to clarify if they were in the letter that was read out or not. They way my ex kept reciting them, they werent her words, it was like they had been drummed into her for 2 hours at the kingdumb hall....

13

Letter read to Victorian congregations re WCC

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

had an interesting chat with my ex re the current debate over working with children checks - of which she has one due to her volunteering at our childrens primary school.

i remember when she had to apply that i made the comment elders & mss should be having background checks due to the history of abuse in the borg and covering up (these discussions normally dont go down well as she is well and truly blinded, well meaning, but blinded).. anywho, she told me about the recent letter that was read to all the victorian congregations, she couldnt tell me verbatim what it said, though the gist was that is no real need for elders to get this check, but rather they are complying with what has been asked legally.. now i dont know if what she said next was based on the letter read or the after discussions at the k/hall, but she made the comment the elders do not need the wcc as they are not strangers, they are our brothers... i tried reasoning that another elder who moves in from interstate is certainly a stranger, until you get to know him on a personal level.

didnt matter how i reasoned or what incidents i bought up, the view amongst her and the other mums that she hangs around in the cong is that the elders getting a wcc check is totally unnecessary and that the jws are being picked on.. next week, i am meeting up with a mate who is an elder here in victoria and trying to step down, so will pick his brains and see if he can get a copy.... .

Mattieu

Paul, hi mate, dont worry, I tried every bit of reasoning and logic to show what a stupid commment it was, even using the primary school teachers as an example, to no avail. I stress though - EX wife.....

Logic and reasoning, no matter how clear and obvious it is, will never be accepted when given by someone that like me that is classified as a "threat to your spirituality" by the borg. And yes she is my ex because I faded and wanted nothing to do with the borg, something she sadly couldnt come to grips with, still good friends though...

21

Newbie to the Boards !

by TheOutSpoken1 in

jw
friends

id like to introduce my self as im new......a lil nervous but ready to have some conversation that doesnt require me to rely on old men in ny to think for me.

im tired of the puppetteering, the sly green handshakes to move up, the lies turned into new light- "what happened to yes means yes?

", just has the makings of a bad ponzi scheme in my opinion...i officially begun my fade this year.....and im enjoying it.

Mattieu

Welcome aboard!

13

Letter read to Victorian congregations re WCC

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

had an interesting chat with my ex re the current debate over working with children checks - of which she has one due to her volunteering at our childrens primary school.

i remember when she had to apply that i made the comment elders & mss should be having background checks due to the history of abuse in the borg and covering up (these discussions normally dont go down well as she is well and truly blinded, well meaning, but blinded).. anywho, she told me about the recent letter that was read to all the victorian congregations, she couldnt tell me verbatim what it said, though the gist was that is no real need for elders to get this check, but rather they are complying with what has been asked legally.. now i dont know if what she said next was based on the letter read or the after discussions at the k/hall, but she made the comment the elders do not need the wcc as they are not strangers, they are our brothers... i tried reasoning that another elder who moves in from interstate is certainly a stranger, until you get to know him on a personal level.

didnt matter how i reasoned or what incidents i bought up, the view amongst her and the other mums that she hangs around in the cong is that the elders getting a wcc check is totally unnecessary and that the jws are being picked on.. next week, i am meeting up with a mate who is an elder here in victoria and trying to step down, so will pick his brains and see if he can get a copy.... .

Mattieu

Had an interesting chat with my ex re the current debate over working with children checks - of which she has one due to her volunteering at our children’s primary school. I remember when she had to apply that I made the comment elders & ms’s should be having background checks due to the history of abuse in the borg and covering up (these discussions normally don’t go down well as she is well and truly blinded, well meaning, but blinded).

Anywho, she told me about the recent letter that was read to all the Victorian congregations, she couldn’t tell me verbatim what it said, though the gist was that is no real need for elders to get this check, but rather they are complying with what has been asked legally.

Now I don’t know if what she said next was based on the letter read or the after discussions at the k/hall, but she made the comment “the elders do not need the wcc as they are not strangers, they are our brothers…” I tried reasoning that another elder who moves in from interstate is certainly a stranger, until you get to know him on a personal level. Didn’t matter how I reasoned or what incidents I bought up, the view amongst her and the other Mums that she hangs around in the cong is that the elders getting a wcc check is totally unnecessary and that the jw’s are being picked on.

Next week, I am meeting up with a mate who is an elder here in Victoria and trying to step down, so will pick his brains and see if he can get a copy…

14

Ok Name your JOKE!

by Voices in

jw
friends

what was the best joke you ever heard as you were growing up?.

in a psychiatrist's waiting room two patients are having a conversation.

the second answers, "i'm napoleon, so the doctor told me to come here.".

Mattieu

Ten Priests are killed in an accident & arrive at the Pearly Gates.

St Peter says "If any of you are paedophiles, go to Hell!"

Nine of them start walking away.

St Peter shouts "Take the deaf one with you!"

27

Ireland Bethel up for sale

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

http://www.wicklowpeople.ie/news/jehovahs-witnesses-hq-goes-on-market-2910987.html.

whenever a new branch or k/hall is built, its always proof that supposedly j is blessing his people and speeding up the work.

does that mean when they have to close a bethel branch it means he is pissed off with "his people"????.

Mattieu

with pic:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/commercialproperty/2011/1012/1224305632482.html

27

Ireland Bethel up for sale

by Mattieu in

jw
friends

http://www.wicklowpeople.ie/news/jehovahs-witnesses-hq-goes-on-market-2910987.html.

whenever a new branch or k/hall is built, its always proof that supposedly j is blessing his people and speeding up the work.

does that mean when they have to close a bethel branch it means he is pissed off with "his people"????.

Mattieu

http://www.wicklowpeople.ie/news/jehovahs-witnesses-hq-goes-on-market-2910987.html

Whenever a new branch or k/hall is built, its always proof that supposedly J is blessing his people and speeding up the work. Does that mean when they have to close a bethel branch it means he is pissed off with "his people"????

And oh, with the money they make on the sale, will they give it all back to those who gave the donations or those who volunteered "free labour" on this project??

89

Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!

by AndersonsInfo in

this is a preliminary summary only.

i hope to obtain more details later.. .

all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.

Mattieu

Thx Barb, was hoping to drive down to Traralgon for the hearing myself but couldnt make it. Will def drop in on the November hearing, could be a bit more eye opening by the look of it.. Cheers, Matt.