Hi Darkknight,
I'm in the UK and just starting my secular work as it is about 8.30 am over here. This evening (GMT) I will send you a pm. It may be helpful.
Freddo
4 months ago i was conducting the watchtower study along with a long list of responsibilities that come with being an elder in a very goofy congregation.
during this time my health was going down hill.
i've always had a low blood pressure,(102/65 or abouts) but for the past year it had creeped up to 135/90 range.. so 2 months ago after learning ttatt, i'm still considered an elder because the brothers won't let me step down, but i haven't done anything in that time except comment once at a meeting a few weeks ago.
Hi Darkknight,
I'm in the UK and just starting my secular work as it is about 8.30 am over here. This evening (GMT) I will send you a pm. It may be helpful.
Freddo
i know the arc is old news i know i am preaching to the converted but i had to express how i feel because most of my jw friends and family dont want to hear .
so this is how i feel.
i have faithfully served as a jehovahs witness for over 25 years..
is it just me or is this just really bad double talk?.
9.372 moreover, the suggested finding has no connection with preventing or responding to child sexual abuse and, furthermore, appears not to appreciate the difference between disassociation and inactivity.
as was explained, if someone decides to no longer associate with jehovahs witnesses that is a personal decision and no disciplinary action is taken against that person.
The Gruesome Twosome (Jackson and O'Brien) were squirming under pressure from a well prepared and competent lawyer and a "velvet hand in an iron fist" razor sharp Judge.
When they and their minion CO's are presiding over elders meetings it is a different story.
Yes, you can "go inactive" i.e. "fade" and after several years go off the radar. But if you live near your own congregation or anyone who knew you as a witness then don't hang up the Xmas lights or get your girlfriend pregnant or smoke in public because it can hang like the sword of Damocles. Nowadays a picture of you celebrating Xmas on Facebook may get you DF'd.
But fading is very often the best way to go because often the elders won't chase you down - especially if you weren't high profile or you don't have a spiritual policeman in your close family stirring up trouble - and if they do, by the time they DF you in absentia you don't care so much.
i'm not sure why i was thinking this but does anyone else find it an incredibly rare coincidence that geoffrey jackson just so happened to be in australia attending to his father when the arc happen to be at the exact stage for him to be deposed as a witness?
what are the chances of him being in the country at that precise moment?.
divine intervention?
I watched the ARC and read its transcripts.
I believe that GJ's father was very ill (not so ill that GJ couldn't attend the hearing for a day) I understand he died on September 30th about six/eight weeks later.
I didn't get the luxury of having all my expenses paid so I could stay at the bedside when my mother was diagnosed terminally ill; I still went to work, meetings, busy elder, ministry and cared for my (then) young family. I continued with responsibilities of life.
The ARC was initially very compassionate - they believed the Watchtower lie that GJ was not needed and they gave him a free pass.
But then they saw how Toole and O'Brien tried to cover up for the GB and stop GJ appearing.
This was tacitly confirmed by the obsequious Tockley the lawyer's fawning and hand-wringing in a last attempt to stop GJ appearing. "He can't Your Honour ... "
McClellan kindly, caringly but firmly said HE WILL.
Let's imagine it was true that GJ just had to hold his parents hands in their time of need. Why couldn't one of that oh so God-like band of brothers - the Guardians of Doctrine - say "You know what Geoff? I'll come over and take one for the team! Jehovah's Holy Spirit will look after me. It's not like I'm going to be tortured and crucified by the Romans is it?"
G.B. = COWARDS!
Branch Committees/lawyers = Scared of being out on their ears.
jehovah's witnesses do not provide a dignified resignation process for members who wish to resign/quit being a jehovah's witnesses.you are not given any good choices.
you can either: disassociate yourself,fade,become inactive or move to another city/state/country where you won't be bothered or found out.. if you quit your job/employment, stop attending a book club or bowling league,or quit a lawn service company, newspaper delivery service,you wouldn't see your employer or friends sending out a written notice to anyone to stop all association with you or have little contact.you would sue them for slander.you have a right to quit any association or contract (when it expires or doesn't meet the terms any longer) whenever you wish.. what would you like to see the watchtower society implement that would give you a dignified way to leave/stop being a jehovah's witness?.
I'd like the CO at the start of his visit get up to give the "service talk" on the Tuesday evening and say:
"Brothers and Sisters, after 140 years the Governing Body have asked me to tell you they have realised that not one prediction Jehovah's Witnesses and their forbears made has ever come true.
"What about 1914?" I hear you ask. Nope! Even that one was wrong. Charles Taze Russell thought they were all going to heaven and it didn't happen. And Rutherford predicted 1925 and Knorr and Franz promoted 1975 and the 1914 generation.
None of it has come true; so why do you think the overlapping generation doctrine has any hope of coming true either?
So here's is what we are going to do. We are going to shut up shop right now. That's right! Go home! Turn on the telly; make love to your husband or wife; have a wank. Sieze the day! Make your life great and enjoy it. Go and find your disfellowshipped relatives and tell them you are sorry you got involved with this silly little cult.
We are going to sell all our buildings. Your Kingdom hall will be sold and the proceeds divided among all the publishers that use the hall. All the Assembly halls and bethels will be sold and the proceeds will be handed over to abused children.
Goodbye and good luck. I'm off to the circuit flat to have a beer, watch telly and make love to my wife and tomorrow I'm going to look for a job.
Have a nice life.
this is what is happening in a spanish congregation in our area.
this happened 3 weeks ago.
this brother conducted the school and after the school was over, another elder gave the announcement: "( name of the person) is not longer a jehovah's witness".
Each case is supposed to be reviewed by the BoE as bluesbrother says.
Some hang on by the skin of their teeth, others jump ship and still others have to be booted off screaming and kicking.
If the elder has several kids and say two have done good and then one goes bad (in jw terms) he might get a free pass. But if he has several and all of them goof up then he is likely to be out on his ear.
hello people.. i'm tired and a bit sick at the moment but i can't let anyone think that this is going to go away.... i am able to tell you a few things in order to prevent any confusion in the minds of those who are thinking that nothing will come of this arc;that nothing will effect the wtbts in america and other places.. i have been there and given my testimony.
helen milroy and her assistants were there along with another group of people who are there to lend assistance if you crack up at any time during or after the hearing.
i did not crack up but can see how this happens.. security is tight and anonymity is sacred to them as they want to protect all who come forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ett8niwgnu0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xth7j86rdu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eai1rigvro.
My attitude prompts me to ask: "Dumbed down or what?" It's like dealing with the retarded. Oh and there is always the money. Don't forget the money.
the elder that was the coordinator of the boe has just left town to attend one of those infamous schools with this wife.
the view is that he will most likely return to be appointed co. not sure he is going to stick around here for a lot longer.. i am saying this because, despite them knowing he will return when the school is over, they removed him from the coordinator position and appointed someone else.
it was announced last night that the biggest jerk of the group of elders is now the coordinator of the boe.