Brooklyn Watchtower properties may have to be sold like BP, if facing a deluge of lawsuits.
Posts by book
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19Brooklyn Watchtower properties valued at over $1 billion
by Dogpatch infrom the brooklyn heights blog: http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/20524.
the real deal looks at the watchtowers brooklyn heights real estate holdings and speculates how much the organization could make once it decides to put its remaining properties here on the market:.
the real deal: over the next decades, the watchtower bible and tract society, as it is officially known, bought up some incredibly valuable real estate as its operation expanded.
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19
Change We Can - Ministerial Service
by book insuggestion:.
since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women?
women already lead as pioneers.. women already work in the society and branch offices.
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book
jwfacts: Sorry, I was on defensive mode. I'm a "green apple" to this forum. So I'm blind to some idioms.
To all, especially the change enablers:
Although I have a personal experience as MS, it was a tragedy. I never had any vice, never had speeding ticket, a lone provider and I was an idealist.
I was humble, responsible and admitted someone elses mistakes as mine. Now I met my real limits, I have many illness after years to stress and pressures from world, family and religion.
All religion has to say is you lack faith, you didn't study enough, it's really your fault.
I have to survive, I have to change, otherwise, my blood pressure, diabetes, nervous breakdown, insomnia, allergies, migraines will kill me one way or the other. What I am now is least desirable to your paradise.
There are some men like me, please make the change so that they do not end up like me. Otherwise, history will repeat itself.
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Change We Can - Ministerial Service
by book insuggestion:.
since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women?
women already lead as pioneers.. women already work in the society and branch offices.
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book
elderelite: "Think about all the head covering info... I just dont see it happening"
- If "head covering" is a principle seldom practiced, then why hold on to authority/headship instead of service. In this real world women now have more privilege and respect.
Women who can should share the burden accordingly. In experiencing the burdens, then most would TRULY appreciate what the leadership does. Don't you think the women (including elder's wives) are murmuring and gossip about their congregation's authority.
There's a saying "well come on in see (and feel) for yourselfs we have nothing to hide" - be a part of the solution not the problem.
Remember, I am just boldly suggesting.
I'm a think tank in my company, a major bank. When they listen, then there is progress. Initially, they "beat me up" (my performance, my salary). Now they pay and now they are changing too much. This is a worldly company. It is sad to say the Society is no different. -
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Change We Can - Ministerial Service
by book insuggestion:.
since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women?
women already lead as pioneers.. women already work in the society and branch offices.
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book
When I was MS, I never thought of authority just SERVICE as in ministerial SERVICE.
The tasks and duties were overwhelming. Especially when there is zeal, everyone seems to forget modesty.
We are in critical times and top management should be flexible and agile. If MS is too controversial, then why not create another title say CA = congregational assistant. -
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Change We Can - Ministerial Service
by book insuggestion:.
since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women?
women already lead as pioneers.. women already work in the society and branch offices.
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book
leavingwt: "If I may ask, what is your opinion of apostates?" - After being repeatedly wronged, "beaten down and left for dead" - Once I've been taught to dread and shun apostates. Now there's no hate. Apostates are humans and as "outcast" as I am now.
yknot: "Sisters sashaying down the aisle, leaning over to pass the mic......gosh I can here the counsel now" - Okay, I overlooked that. There's always the counter, and other non-menial tasks; which the brothers may be too exhausted to do. You choose yours tasks.
jwfacts: "That would go against the rules of headship, a very important part of the power structure. Remember it is about rules and not principles." - what rule? the judgement on Eve?
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Change We Can - Ministerial Service
by book insuggestion:.
since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women?
women already lead as pioneers.. women already work in the society and branch offices.
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book
Suggestion:
Since the society is looking for young men to be ministerial servants, why not include qualified single women? Women already lead as pioneers.
Women already work in the society and branch offices. In our modern society, women have proven to be good workers, professionals and managers.
It is a matter of relative interpretation that men ***and women*** may become ministerial servants, just as we train our sons ***and daugthers***.
I attended a kingdom hall that had a woman serving at the counter. Why not make it officially?
I know we should "not take down fences without knowing the reasons", but this is something that could be discontinued if real and compelling issues arise. Who knows, the "fences" were for no reason at all. And if recruiting women proves to be successful, then why not consider them to elder service also.
Say increase the MS pool, the more help/collaboration, the less overwhelming the tasks and issues. Make it easy, for ministerial servants to take a leave or even step down. Revalidate the MS periodically for everybody's good, health and welfare
I have been a ministerial servant, but after years of real pressure, then harmful gossiping, then harmful meddling - my family and marriage has been broken.
I think including single women who can be dedicated in their service may help solve the perceived ministerial servant shortage.
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Any Escalation Channel?
by book inany thoughts, ideas, suggestions: is there a way to escalate issues after congregation elders?.
of course, we are taught that god "hears" all prayers - complaints and grievances.
however, i may not get a human reply always, a divine response, or i may not get any clear closure at all.
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book
Thank you for your kind comments elderelite and all.
I asked the local elders "assigned" to my case to escalate it - to the CO. One declined my request, another was reluctant and never answered until I forgot & we parted ways. My case was in fact transitioned to more than 8 elders in 2 congregations.
The CO was difficult to reach and 2 distant counties away. I had an opportunity to "steal" his time on his visit. However, I am the anxious insomniac type and I was previously warned by an elder "do not make a scene". I was already suffering nervous breakdown and over-stress, therefore I decided not to try at all.
The society should have a modern case handling system.
I could not truly serve God under my case. For now, I'm just hoping for positive answers from prayers.
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Any Escalation Channel?
by book inany thoughts, ideas, suggestions: is there a way to escalate issues after congregation elders?.
of course, we are taught that god "hears" all prayers - complaints and grievances.
however, i may not get a human reply always, a divine response, or i may not get any clear closure at all.
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book
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions: Is there a way to escalate issues after congregation elders?
Of course, we are taught that God "hears" all prayers - complaints and grievances. However, I may not get a human reply always, a divine response, or I may not get any clear closure at all. I would not know if and when there is an answer.
It seems that once dominant elders neutralize sympathetic elders, the case lingers. In my case it lead to prolonged bitterness and grudge. Unfortunately my case is not serious enough to be a judicial case that would obligate the elders. Otherwise, they don't really care if you get sick just don't disturb their paradise. Some elders accused me of manipulating the situation and short of saying that it's my fault. Therefore I must suffer the consequences. -
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The Elder Situation
by metatron ini was speaking with an older sister who is quite zealous and she is typical of many who are concerned that men are not reaching out.
she notes that young men in particular have no interest in doing anything, congregation-wise.. the change in this area is quite dramatic, if you can remember that once, being an elder was an aspiration of nearly every brother - and we had plenty of young men to run the mics and hand out magazines.
i once pointed out to a c.o.
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book
There are zealous "puretan" who believe they are doing good by actively asserting their idealistic principles. They claim their practical principles are from the Bible, and everyone else should follow their lead.
Those not like them are suspected of having moral issues, or lacking. Unfortunately, some leaders - the pioneers have done harm to the congregations I know. They have plenty of time spent in preaching. But I'm sure some of this time has been used for harmful meddling and harmful gossip - while traveling, in breaks and in non-study discussions. My family and marriage was broken because of this. Mine is just history repeating.What holds these leaders accountable???
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On your way "out" of the WT, did you experience physical syptoms?
by whyizit ini'm not a jw, nor have i ever been.
all of the sudden she wants to spend all this time with me.
of course, lots of what she was telling me about the "bible", didn't make sense.
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book
My daughter and I are currently "spiritually dying" JWs.
My daughter has been witnessing the ineptness, bigotry and hypocrisy of elders in my former congregation.
I have marital problems which was worsened by zeal for preaching, ignoring my real and physical problems. My wife treats me lowly like a Pharisee, while she behaves decently with others. I get continually accused of opposing God, then my wife gets encouragement from elders and pioneers to spend more time away and separate from me. In bringing this up with the elders, some are helpless, some presume I'm the bad guy, and some alienate me.
My daughter is becoming agnostic if not already. She is in fact suffering the "self-fulfilling prophesy" promoted among JWs that when you go to college and/or you are "leaving the truth" (drawing away for this case) Satan will eat you up or turn wild. My daughter is self-destructing - suffering both.
I'm doing my best to prevent my daughter's self-destruction, while I'm suffering alternating depression & anxiety due to the prolonged religious civil war. I advised her that decency, honor and morality does not belong to JWs only. "There's honor even among thieves" so a saying goes.
I was a ministerial servant, but I stepped-down due worsening marital problem. I thought of taking care of the real, physical and health issue spending more time and attention there, including the marital issues. What an irony! Now my faith is dragging me to my untimely death with stress and prolonged heartbreak.
To JWs this is my shame, who in the society can help, when complains are frowned at. To the sensible world which might perish at Armageddon, what do you think?