hear ya brother. Being an elder must be rougher than rough. Why don't you step down? Just say you are battling with depression or something and don't feel qualified anymore. (or something like that).
-Sab
Forgive me I don't mean to sound defensive, but I don't really like talking about that elder stuff on here too much anymore. If you notice I don't bring it up too much. I'm not any more stressed than any other active JW on here. Just another poster. My comment though about the ministry causing people to resort to drinking or other vices, really applies to anybody in this orgnization. There's enough alcoholics to go around amongst JWs. Enough sexually repressed people to go around JWs, and a host of other past times that JWs might not be able to get enough of while looking for some kind of stress release from this hamster wheel way of life. Trying to make sense of why we go out in field service is like trying to make sense of an anonymous person committing suicide without leaving a note. Can't tell you how many times I've sat through Service Meetings that were broken records trying to provide scriptural support and encouragement for supporting field service. Can't tell you how many times I wanted to tell the Service Overseer his visit is worthless, and his suggestions at getting more participation in the field are a waste of breath. I've always loved when people say after field service, "I feel so good after doing that!! I feel fulfilled!" I want to tell them so bad, "you feel good because its over!! You can go home, or do whatever else you've been wanting to do for the past three hours we've wasted in field service!!"