Pete It would seem obvious to pasters in most other churches that their role is to offer comfort and support. In the JWs and some others they take on the role of detectives and prosecutors.
Exactly. There's very little sensitivity & loving guidance and too much punishment and cruelty - especially when dealing with teens and young adults.
Blues Also the Shepherd book/elder expectations have changed, mostly due to external pressure. In the very recent past elders where doing things such as forcing rape victims to listen to recordings of their assault - with absolutely no censure from the Borg.
Samcats When I told him we didn't need that kind of information it stopped. Other than that I never had observed any impropriety while on a committee in regard to details about sexual misconduct
But samcats Why do you think he went into such detail? I'd guess because that was his expectation, either from previous experience or being told that of others. Perhaps your presence prevented intrusive questions, but despite many decent elders like yourself the overwhelming experience of most people has been the opposite.