Posts by Juan Viejo2

47

Menlo Park (CA - USA) Kingdom Hall

by Juan Viejo2 in

i received an anonymous email over at ex-jw.com that had an attached legal filing.

the first couple of pages seemed to be standard legal filings, but the rest of the pages looked like standard typed documentation (not in numbered double-spaced legal format.

) i'm not quite sure what to make of it, so wonder if anyone here has heard of it.

Juan Viejo2

3rdgen and Balaasass,

I'm glad you are both still interested in this not-so-unusual case. What makes this one different is that two of the former elders were willing to stand up and fight. There are actually two court cases going on in the area. One is the case against the new elders (from Redwood City) and the CO, DO, RBC, and Service Department filed by two of the elders. The other case is in San Mateo County Superior Court filed by the former COBOE against a portion of the federal defendants. He's charging them with both civil and criminal fraud involving identity theft (his), the unauthorized takeover of the Kingdom Hall non-profit corporation, and the theft, misuse and laundering of Kingdom Hall bank accounts and funds using bank accounts with his name on them (some that he had never opened himself).

I am going to work on the new article this week. I am in the process of researching new court documents - which will take several hours of reading and highlighting.

-------------------------------------------

Off topic:

I just want everyone to know that I will be using Watchtower authorized and approved "yellow Hi-Liter(R) marking pens," not those unchristian pink or generic highliters you sometimes find at the drug store. Nope. I will only use highlighters blessed by Jah's holy spirit through his Governing Body.

You may think I'm kidding - but I actually recently got an email from a JW sister in the midwest USA that mentioned, among other things, that her uber-conservative elders seem to think that they could detect potential apostacy in the color of marking pens that some in the Kingdom Hall were using. They recommended yellow marking pens over pink, especially by the brothers - simply because of the possibility that using pink might send a signal to others that they were open to "homosexual trysts."

Then she followed that with: "That's not even the worst thing they came up with. During the winter, some of the sisters wear stylish leather boots, some with heels, that come up to the knees. Since we are not supposed to wear pants or slacks (another over the top issue for the elders), I think boots are both attractive and appropriate for cold weather - and we really catch the cold here in [state] with some temperatures dropping below zero F. What they did (the elders) was approach the husbands of some of the sisters and made the suggestion that sisters stick with high-heels or flats - not boots ("they make sisters look like whores") or tennis shoes ("they make sisters look like lesbians"). That's what they spend their time doing around here - criticizing the shoes we wear during the winter and the color of our marking pens!"

------------------------------------------------

Comments are, of course, welcome. I'll let everyone know when the new Menlo Park article goes up on Ex-JW.com.

JV

47

Menlo Park (CA - USA) Kingdom Hall

by Juan Viejo2 in

i received an anonymous email over at ex-jw.com that had an attached legal filing.

the first couple of pages seemed to be standard legal filings, but the rest of the pages looked like standard typed documentation (not in numbered double-spaced legal format.

) i'm not quite sure what to make of it, so wonder if anyone here has heard of it.

Juan Viejo2

Balaamsass - Got your PM...

Yes, there is some news that will be announced later this week or early next. The case continues.

The most recent article on this subject is at Ex-JW.com: http://ex-jw.com/menlo-park-the-truth-vs-the-truth

One reason there have not been any updates is due to the fact that some recent documents that were filed with the court apparently were misplaced. Apparently there were quite a few pieces of paper involved. My understanding is that they should be available as public court documents within the next day or so. When they are, I will notify everyone here on the board and publish PDFs of any documents released by the court.

One of my contacts in the area let me know that some of the bank documents that the plaintiffs had subpoenaed have been released to the court and those involved in the case. Many aspects of the case (forgery, identity theft, misappropriation of funds, misrepresentation, etc.) can be settled by the review of these documents by the court and local law enforcement agencies.

How is it going there? I can assure everyone that the elders involved in both the federal and the local superior court cases remain upbeat and positive about the potential outcome of their cases.

Sorry, but my other anonymous contacts have gone quiet on me. I'm not sure what the mood of the members of the congregation is like right now, but the last time I spoke to someone still going to that Kingdom Hall, I was told that many of the brothers and sisters seem to have been stumbled by the events going on around them. There is no clear division within the congregation, other than the fact that the members of the former Redwood City congregation are still considered as outsiders and the two groups are having a problem melding.

One interesting aspect of the current situation is that the original members of the Menlo Park KH are still assigned territories in the rougher minority areas, while most of the Redwood City newcomers still work only in the predominately white areas of Menlo Park and Redwood City. I can't verify that as a fact, but based on some tips I've received from others in the KH there still seems to be some disunity between the groups based on ethnicity and income.

The Menlo Park Kingdom Hall seems to have some characteristics in common with Nebuchadnezzar's statue, having legs of iron and clay that may never mix together completely.

I'll let the forum know when a new article is up with new court docs attached.

JV

7

New Mini-Survey: Successful Witnessing

by Juan Viejo2 in

jw
friends

just wanted to let you know that there is a new mini-survey now online at jwsurvey.org that covers the subject of "successful witnessing.".

as a witness, did you actually ever convince someone to become a jw?

did you ever actually convert someone you met going door-to-door?.

Juan Viejo2

jwfacts:

Your suggestion is noted and appreciated.

We originally considered having a multiple choice answer, but decided against it. Multiple choice questions end up skewing the percentages for the results on the survey program we are using. Rather than bearing the huge expense of a more flexible survey program, we've had to make some compromises.

Yes, we can manage multiple choice for some applications (you see it in operation on the Global Survey), but then we have to use other means to calculate the number of actual participants. That's why there is a log in form for the Global Survey (we get our count of participants that way) versus the way we handle the more open Mini-Surveys which do not require a login before participation.

The real question on the survey is whether the responder had ever converted anyone they met while doing field service. We could have made that a simple YES/NO survey. Instead, what we opted for was to ask that question, and then, if the answer was by default a NO, then let the responder consider what his/her highest level of success to be and answer accordingly.

But as always, we look for suggestions and comments. We may do another mini-survey at a later date that revisits this subject and reword or set it up differently.

Perhaps we could have worded the question better or in a more specific way, but hindsight is always more perfect than when we are predicting potential shortcomings. I am blessed with both excellent hindsight and innumerable shortcomings...

I am assuming that if you've actually responded then you would be one of the very few who has actually converted someone you witnessed to a the door (about 8% of the responses as of tonight). That is the real question we were hoping to have answered.

Paul. my guess is that that you are (or were) part of a relatively small minority that is growing smaller each year.

JV

30

Merrimack New Hampshire KH Project denied credit by WT seeks $ from others

by bnybyt in

jw
friends

the merrimack congregation in nh is seeking to buy land and build a new kh, the nh rbc has plans to build a $750,000 (that's right a three quarter million kh).

"the branch" has wanted to build a kh between the cities of concord and manchester nh for quite a few years now.

unfortunately the wt has looked into their resources, local bank account is over $100,000, and they can contribute $2,000 monthly towards a mortgage.

Juan Viejo2

Isn't this the same Kingdom Hall that just fought a case in federal court in order to overturn the city council and zoning commission's denial of their building permit?

This was a pretty big case just a few months ago. They bought (or had an option) on a piece of property (farm land) located on a two lane road just outside of town. While the road is has very sparse traffic during the middle of the day, mornings and evenings there is a lot of traffic as commuters go between towns on their way to and from work.

I last heard that the court had ruled against the city (or the city just dropped the case), and now the KH and assembly hall were going to be built on the property. After all that and now the Watchower and the local RBC won't come up with the money needed to actually build?

I smell a rat...

JV

7

New Mini-Survey: Successful Witnessing

by Juan Viejo2 in

jw
friends

just wanted to let you know that there is a new mini-survey now online at jwsurvey.org that covers the subject of "successful witnessing.".

as a witness, did you actually ever convince someone to become a jw?

did you ever actually convert someone you met going door-to-door?.

Juan Viejo2

The new "mini-survey" about "Successful Witnessing" had 25 participants within the first 8 hours it was online - and that was before I had breakfast! Thank you!

http://jwsurvey.org/mini-surveys/successful-witnessing

Sorry, Blondie, that you had a problem getting in the first time you tried. Thanks for the suggestion about conversions of co-workers and their spouses. Frankly, that never popped in my head. I guess we considered co-workers in the same category as "friends and family."

Actually, successful door-to-door witnessing (converting someone you met during field service) sits at 12%. Of course the sample is still very small, but that is much higher than originally expected. It will be interesting to see what those results look like after the base becomes larger.

The other "min-survey" that asks "Who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave" has had over 250 participants. Charles Taze Russell still has not received a single vote in spite of the fact that Watchtower taught that he was the "faithful slave" for nearly 50 years. I remember that when I was a young JW in the 1950-70 period most of the older Witnesses (many who claimed to be of the "anointed class") still firmly believed that Russell had been the "faithful slave."

So far, most paricipants write off the FDS question as it simply being a "parable" with no particular significance to any person or group. I'm sure that doesn't sit well with the WT GB - although they do come in second place.

If you haven't taken the survey(s) yet, please head over to JWSurvey.org and let us know what you think. Cedars and I are very excited about the acceptance of the new survey site and hope that support continues to grow.

JV

7

New Mini-Survey: Successful Witnessing

by Juan Viejo2 in

jw
friends

just wanted to let you know that there is a new mini-survey now online at jwsurvey.org that covers the subject of "successful witnessing.".

as a witness, did you actually ever convince someone to become a jw?

did you ever actually convert someone you met going door-to-door?.

Juan Viejo2

Just wanted to let you know that there is a new mini-survey now online at JWSurvey.org that covers the subject of "Successful Witnessing."

As a Witness, did you actually ever convince someone to become a JW? If so, how did you do it? Did you ever actually convert someone you met going door-to-door?

Our friend Cedars came up with the idea for this mini-survey. It was ready to go online on November 1, but due to last minute technical problems it actually went up shortly after midnight EST.

As with all mini-surveys, the results will be immediately displayed after you vote. You are encouraged to leave a comment or suggestion about the survey after you have voted.

Here is the direct link to the survey. http://jwsurvey.org/mini-surveys/successful-witnessing . Please share it with your current and former JW friends.

If you haven't voted yet on the Global Survey 2011, be sure to do so during your visit. You'll find several links to the GS2011 on the home page and elsewhere on the site. And please take the other mini-survey, "Who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?" if you've missed it.

http://jwsurvey.org/2011-jw-survey and http://jwsurvey.org/mini-surveys/mini-survey-who-is-the-faithful-and-discreet-slave

Cedars and I want to thank everyone who has supported our survey site and participated. We are surprised and gratified at the large number of visitors who have actually registered on the site. Whether you have participated openly and registered or have hidden your identity, you can be assured that your information will not be shared under any circumstances. Our site stats indicate worldwide participation, something Cedars was hoping for when he started the Global Survey.

Thank you all!

JV

19

TOMORROW on Cult Free Radio! - JWFACTS.COM's Paul Grundy

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

yeah man!

how does cfr follow up barbara anderson?

with paul grundy, the creator of jwfacts.com.

Juan Viejo2

I can assure anyone who has not heard the show, that you missed a good one. Paul Grundy is easy to listen to and very open in telling his personal story. His site is among the very best for factual non-sectarian reporting of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower. Sweeney did a great job interviewing him.

The recording of the show went up this evening around dinner time (PDT)...

For those who missed it or want to download a copy of the MP3 version, you can find show #10 and all other Cult Free Radio shows here:

http://ex-jw.com/web-directory/cult-free-radio-archives-1-6

JV

28

Governing Body... meet WORLD... world... meet Governing Body! The JW Survey website has been launched!!

by cedars in

jw
friends

well, things have moved very quickly with the survey, and it now has it's very own website at www.jwsurvey.org!!.

if you are new to this forum and would like to have your say on what the governing body is teaching and practicing, then please visit this new site and register your views.. for those of you that have followed the development of the survey over the past month or so, feel free to visit and take a look around.. the website gives those who participate in the annual survey the opportunity to review the results of the survey at the same time as they register their responses.

that way they can get a feel for how the rest of the world is voting once they have submitted their own answers.. you can also check out the progress of the survey by logging on from time to time (anonymously, of course) and checking out the latest results.. there will also be a number of "mini surveys" run regularly, which i feel represent a completely unique experience for those who enjoy visiting jw-related forums.

Juan Viejo2

If you type in "JW survey" (quotes not required) on Google search, the site currently comes up in the #3 position on the first page. Considering that is #3 out of 63.4 million qualifying listings, that's not bad considering the site has only been up officially just one day.

As more pages, mini-surveys, and blog posts are added to the site, you should see the site come up for a broader range of key words and phrases.

Google search results 10/20/2011

BTW - for those of you taking the survey for the first time, an optional comment form has been located at the bottom of the page just before you exit. You can use this form to make any comment about a question, your answers, or to provide additional information. When you submit the form it will go directly to Cedars. Adding your "user name" would be helpful, but is not required on this particular form - so you can simply submit a comment by itself if you prefer. He can then collect your notes and use them to improve the survey or make changes for the 2012 version. As in the past, he may choose to share some of the better comments here on JWN.

JV

21

"Will The New System Be A Paradise" - The Thread That Got Me Banned From JwTalk.net

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

i joined jwtalk.net posing as an unbaptized publisher.

there was a lot of talk on the forum about how there will be death in the new system so i decided to ask some questions concerning that logic.

here is what i wrote:.

Juan Viejo2

I love this little section in the JWtalk.net rules for membership:

"Is There a Code of Conduct? Are Certain Things Not Permitted to be Posted to the Forum?

"Of course there is a code of conduct. The same behavior expected of you in the congregation is expected here in the forum. This discussion board is operated by and for true Christians. Hence, we will not tolerate anything against Biblical standards, including apostasy and unclean or obscene speech. (Eph 5:3,4; 2 Tim 2:16-18) Links to apostate sites (anti-witness sites) will get you immediately banned, as will hateful speech and obscene language. This is a site for discussion, and not debate. Therefore, your goal in contributing to a topic should be to build up your brothers and sisters, or share something of interest that may consist of news or wholesome entertainment.

"We seek to maintain an upbuilding, entertaining, safe, open, and intellectually stimulating environment, where mature Christians can exercise their God-given “freeness of speech.” (2 Corinthians 3:12) A few principles can help us to do that..."

In other words - there is no such thing as free speech or open questions. "This is a site for discussion...not debate." Then how in the hell can they maintain an "entertaining...open...and intellectually stimulating environment, where Christians can exercise their God-given 'freeness of speech.'"

These folks have no concept of what discussion and free speech are all about. There are a couple of other JW forums that are run the same way. From what I've seen of them, they are boring, inane, and repititious. Most of the participants just copy and paste off of the Watchtower CD and exchange WT and Awake! quotes with each other.

JV

28

Governing Body... meet WORLD... world... meet Governing Body! The JW Survey website has been launched!!

by cedars in

jw
friends

well, things have moved very quickly with the survey, and it now has it's very own website at www.jwsurvey.org!!.

if you are new to this forum and would like to have your say on what the governing body is teaching and practicing, then please visit this new site and register your views.. for those of you that have followed the development of the survey over the past month or so, feel free to visit and take a look around.. the website gives those who participate in the annual survey the opportunity to review the results of the survey at the same time as they register their responses.

that way they can get a feel for how the rest of the world is voting once they have submitted their own answers.. you can also check out the progress of the survey by logging on from time to time (anonymously, of course) and checking out the latest results.. there will also be a number of "mini surveys" run regularly, which i feel represent a completely unique experience for those who enjoy visiting jw-related forums.

Juan Viejo2

Anyone wanting to comment on the Mini-Survey and were unable to do so, please feel free to try again. A couple of settings were too restrictive - but have been relaxed a bit.

Please keep us informed if you have any other trouble.