freddo

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Posts by freddo

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  48

  Massive Plunge in Number of New JW Congregations from 1990 to 2014

  by steve2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in a separate thread on the very latest figures for the current world wide annual report of jws, discussion turned to how "we'll know decline has really set in.

  one of the posters said: .

  the figure that interests me most is the number of congregations.

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  freddo

  And don't forget meeting attendance is down.

  One congregation I know well in the UK was formed from two in 1989. The totals were about 140 publishers and they split into two congregations - one of 65 and the other of 75. At the split Meeting attendance was about the 135/140 mark for the Public Talk, 130 for the WT and mid week. (forgetting the book study of course)

  The elders were not sure they were ready to split but with a fairly small hall and 16 elders the CO said they should for "the future expansion" and he got the London branch to go for it.

  Anyway 25 years on where were they.
  

  The Cong that was 65 is now 50; the congregation that was 75 is still about 75 now. Meeting attendance for the first congregation (taken at the WT now of course) is about 40/45. The other is about 55/60.

  The waters are drying up.
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  40

  WTS checklist for Elders to destroy evidence?

  by DarioKehl in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/3t1yp7/marc_and_cora_posted_on_utube/.

  hot off the presses from exjw reddit earlier today.

  massive leak in uk.. if true, this is big (and very, very disturbing)..

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  freddo

  Listen up people. Ex UK elder here. Ex service committee before and after year 2000.

  Facts.

  UK has a data protection law. JW's complied with it. Over the top in fact.

  Around 2000/2001 all congregation judicial records (envelopes) EXCEPT child molestation stuff was to be destroyed by the service committee and replaced with a specialised shepherding file which lists:

  Name of 3 elders on case/date/name of individual/ and reproved or DFD/DA'd in file. No details kept.

  Child molestation stuff was sent to the branch in its entirety and a separate child protection file was kept by the secretary with basic details of the case. In theory accessible to ALL elders.

  I last SAW these files as an elder when I resigned a few years ago.
  

  Every year the elders got a reminder to do an audit like the checklist shown. The service committee was responsible to do it. Ongoing child molestation stuff was not destroyed but sent to the branch and basic details kept on the congregation child protection file. Each elder had to destroy anything he "inadvertently" kept e.g. his personal notes from any judicial he dealt with.

  NOTHING NEW to see here.
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  12

  Caleb prepares for the New System.

  by LogCon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dad: my son, you look like you are writing down something very important.

  are you studying the watchtower?.

  caleb: no, im just writing down some numbers and names in this notebook.. dad: what numbers and names, my son?.

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  freddo

  Out of the mouths of babes ...
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  28

  I'm a cynical, sarcastic and curmudgeonly old bastard most of the time.

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  but as i move into my early 50's i find i'm more and more comfortable in my thick, leathery hide.. please get it into your thick skull's that i don't insult or make snarky comments with the intent of hurting anyone's feelings.

  that being said, if your precious feelings are hurt it's probably your fault for being a prissy, over sensitive drama queen who can't defend his argument.. i do actually love you all, it's just that most of the time you spineless pussies really get on my nerves!.

  good god i feel better for that!

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  freddo

  None taken.
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  13

  One Reason Why I Could Never Again be an Elder

  by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  there appears to be several crises inflicting themselves upon the wtbts all at once.

  the crises are likely related....financial difficulties - hence the increasing publicity given to contributing money.

  reduced production - probably related to above (literature and building principally).

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  freddo

  Your post is spot on NK. Thank you. I too could never serve again as an elder largely for the same reasons as you put forward.
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  14

  Billingham Congregation

  by Researchedandenlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  http://theukdatabase.com/2015/11/12/ian-ross-billinghamsouthend/.

  leading churchman caught with perverted images of girls as young as three.

  a leading churchman has been ordered to go on a sex offenders programme after he was caught with child abuse images of the most serious level on his home computer.. highly respected jehovah witness ian ross, 65, had perverted images of girls as young as three engaged in sexual acts with adults.. he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children between may 2013 and may last year..

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  freddo

  Is this Billingham in Stockton onTees?
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  43

  What would happen ??

  by Clambake in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  there is a certain elder in my wives hall that has seemed to developed a real interest her.

  first he seemed to feel a need to make sure all her blood cards were signed before she gave birth to our child.. he sends her text messages if she misses a meeting saying how much " we missed you last night ".

  he finally sent her a text wondering where her oct hours were , knowing she had some pretty serious tears from child birth and could hardly even walk, much less do field service ".

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  freddo

  Don't over react. I guess he is either her group overseer or the secretary or both. It is quite normal for a "reports please" text to go to all group members that haven't reported promptly. The sec/gp overseer also would make sure that blood cards were up to date if a baby was due.

  The only slightly out of ordinary one is the "miss you at the meeting" but a keen group overseer might do that if he thinks your wife is struggling spiritually.

  I think he is just being what he thinks is a good elder.

  I would talk to your wife if you feel unhappy, not the elder. I mean this isn't the stone age where men go "Me Tarzan! You - leave Jane alone!"
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  6

  Polish BOE Re: Legal matters and revised charter for Poland

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  boe letter about legal matters and revised charter for jehovah's witnesses in poland.

  submitted by ohmyjw.

  jehovah's witnesses in polandbranch office05-830 nadarzyn, ul.

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  freddo

  Sounds like they want the right to keep certain things confidential from legal authorities by claiming to be in a religious order. Now what do they like to keep quiet? Let me think ... um ... ah ... got it! Child Abuse cases! Of course - silly me!
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  50

  Pranks to play in the hall...

  by purrpurr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what pranks could you/would you/ have you played in the kingdom hall?.

  i have never but here's two i've thought of, 1) replace the liquid soap with glue 2) smear nutella everywhere in the bathroom!.

  what's yours?.

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  freddo

  When I used to donate I put £10.00 in penny pieces into the contribution box. Counting 1000 pennies for my mate the asst. accounts servant was irritating.
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  37

  A question about fading....

  by Tornintwo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i understand that many on this forum are undertaking a slow fade, over months, years even.. can i ask what is the benefit of that instead of a fast fade?.

  as i understand it, the elders only have to deal judicially with people who are still active witnesses, known in the community as witnesses, having contact and influence with witnesses etc.

  so surely the sooner you stop attending meetings the better.

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  freddo

  The old "write this in the margin but it's not official" game (elders book) that we got from the CO from time to time at elders meetings said 2/3 years of inactivity was about right for not chasing up "serious wrongdoing" unless it disturbed the congregation. (italics mine)

  But if there is a spouse in who wants to remarry "scripturally" beating the drum and getting the elders to dance that can extend for many years - even for life!