TMS - That was an incredible story. Ya know what the problem is? If I try to share it with my wife, I'll be met with......"you actually believe that? It came from an apostate website! He is obviously making it up!" It is so sad that you cannot get them to see anything outside of their Truman Show type bubble
The story was not embellished in any way, simply accurate. When the appointment letter was initially read to the body of elders, one of my fellow elders could see the anguish on my face and tapped me on the shoulder, saying: " a little disillusioning, huh?"
Here's another incident that happened about 20 years later. I was in a large metropolitan congregation with 11 on our elder body. One of the elders confessed to an emotional affair with his secretary, a young JW girl. He confessed that she had become an emotional confidante and that they had kissed. Two elders were assigned to investigate, sometimes called an exploratory committee. Subsequent to their report, no judicial committee was formed, but the brother was removed as an elder.
About six months later, we were assigned a new circuit overseer. A couple of us noticed that the new circuit overseer and the former elder were a bit chummy, but thought no more about it. On the night the circuit overseer meets with the elders considering, among other things, new recommendations for ministerial servant and elder, this former elder's name was put into play by the circuit overseer himself. He was not on the list of brothers we elders submitted for consideration. During an excruciatingly long meeting, the circuit overseer described how remorseful this brother was, that they had had private meetings where both men had shed tears. He wanted the brother to be recommended again as an elder. This was a very experienced, older elder body, not easily moved. Many concerns were expressed about the effect on the congregation, the effect on this young JW girl and her immediate family, etc.
In the wee hours of the morning, a sort of compromise was reached. Two elders would approach this young woman and her parents, asking if they would be stumbled if this former elder was reappointed. The circuit overseer insisted that be handled before Sunday, the last day of his visit. The two brothers reported in our brief meeting with the circuit overseer after the Sunday meeting that the family indicated they would not be stumbled. The CO added the name of the former elder to our list of recommendations.
Two or three weeks later the appointments came back, The former elder was reappointed, but there was more. An accompanying letter named him as City Overseer. He was also named as Assembly Overseer for the circuit and named as head of the Hospital Liason.
For several years, leadership roles continued this brother's way. He became a substitute Circuit Overseer and a Kingdom Ministry School Instructor. He even gave the public talk at a District Assembly which is unusual for a congregation elder.
Then, more problems surfaced. He owned a small company that sold cell phones, beepers and the associated plans. Several brothers who worked for him noticed that their employer F.I.C.A taxes had not been paid. After an investigation, the brother was again removed as an elder.
Where was the holy spirit in all of this?
tms
Posts by TMS
-
34"I worked hard as a Ministerial Servant and all I got was this lousy drinking problem!"
by Mr. Falcon ini was driving home the other evening pondering the past couple of turbulant years for me and my family.
i reflected back on my appointment as a ministerial servant and my attitude, beliefs and thinking at the time.
i thought about the subsequent misery that being a servant brings once the the glow wears off and people stop "commending you on your fine spiritual progress.
-
-
TMS
-
34
"I worked hard as a Ministerial Servant and all I got was this lousy drinking problem!"
by Mr. Falcon ini was driving home the other evening pondering the past couple of turbulant years for me and my family.
i reflected back on my appointment as a ministerial servant and my attitude, beliefs and thinking at the time.
i thought about the subsequent misery that being a servant brings once the the glow wears off and people stop "commending you on your fine spiritual progress.
-
-
TMS
Mr. Falcon,
just a few thoughts. . . . . . You're on to something. For those of us who truly believed Jehovah had a hand in all of this, the "appointment by holy spirit" belief was a confirmation that, despite our personal foibles, secret sins and unclean thoughts, the God of the universe, who could read us, knew us better than anyone, was overlooking all of that and certifying as a a spiritual man.
As a congregation overseer at the age of 21, I found some of the other Biblical anecdotes unsettling. For example, the concept that each congregation mention in Revelation had a "star" which we were taught was the congregation overseer. As a young man shuttled across the country to become a troubled congregation's overseer, I did not feel like a star. It was easy to see that many in the community who were not even witnesses were more substantial than me.
In the mid 70's I saw positive proof that appointments were not made by H.S. I'll make this as succinct as possible. Two brothers were recommended as elders. The appointment letter from "the slave," appointed only one. The reason given for the non-appointment was simply put: "too young and not long enough in the truth." What the body of elders found curious is that the one appointed was the younger of the two with fewer years as a JW. It was obvious that the Society had made an error. The kicker was that many on the body did not want to question the odd contradiction, citing the holy spirit's role. The real truth was that the one not appointed was of a minority race. Those of the majority race were reluctant to risk their favorite being unappointed somehow and the minority gain the appointment. As the Congregation Secretary(a new position at that time), I circumvented the local turmoil, sending the Society a letter signed by the Service Committee with several specific questions. I was really curious as a true believer in holy spirit appointments how this would all work out.
Two weeks later the "answer" was received form "Mother." A check mark was placed next to the one originally not appointed. No explanation. No answer to our questions. The man the Society had designated as "too young" and "too new" was appointed as was the other man who was younger and newer.
This was proof to me that holy spirit had nothing to do with the appointments.
tms
-
47
How Will They Keep JW Youths In?
by minimus inis it possible for today's youths to remain in the religion?.
-
-
TMS
My wife and I did a quick survey. We have 15 nephews and nieces raised as JWs between the ages of 25 and 50. All but one of the families were zealous in the religion with one family considered spirtually "weak". Only nephew one remains an active JW. He is mentally challenged married to a similarly challenged JW woman.
The others have spent recent years trying to overcome the poor start they got in life financially, emotionally and socially stemming from the JW belief system. We interact with most of them from time to time although we have almost no contact with their JW parents. At least a couple seem occupied with the normal family raising, making a living, etc. One is in prison, while another has been in and out of jails.
One was eager to show me a tattoo he got of the tetragrammaton. Another confided in me, while puffing on a cigarette: "My dad wants to be KOBE so bad he can taste it." At least 4 use drugs. 2 are in college. One took paramedic training. Several have been disfellowshipped, one twice.
No pioneers, elders, ministerial servants, Gileadites, Bethelites or even microphone handlers in the lot.
tms
-
44
Too many partakers in the org? Help is on the way!
by Billy the Ex-Bethelite inis someone in your congregation confused?
coming soon to the local congregations:.
anointification neutralizer100 suppositories.
-
-
TMS
I'm not opposed to a pharmaceutical remedy, but maybe just old-fashioned new light would do the trick. How about this? The number 144,000 becomes understood as symbolic of all of the anointed ones living on earth throughout history and up to the Great Tribulation. The professed anointed swells to a million or two worldwide. Some congregations actually now order memorial wine by the case.
This could add much intrigue to what has become a sort of an uninspired religious group. Many who serve as elders and elderettes now realize that the new light awakens in them certain doubts that they truly had an earthly calling. They finally feel at home with confirmation of what they have ownly known subconsciously, that they were predestined as a class to rule as kings with Christ. Humbly, they accept that confirmation.
This could also lead to the writing, printing and distribution of a whole new series of paperback Bible aids dealing with the the heavenly calling. Individual servants of Jehovah would have to prayerfully reconsider their true calling. What if entire bodies of elders were truly annointed? What a blessing that could be to a congregation! Age, sex, race or educational status would not be considered barriers to this wonderful, blessed, special relationship with Christ.
Of course, God's ways differ greatly from man's. The humility and loyalty of both the anointed and their Great Crowd companions could be tested at times. Perhaps, a mature, seasoned elder with the earthly hope is working in field service with a homeschooled, chubby 17 year old who has the heavenly calling. The youth will defer to the elder's experience, knowledge and seasoning, whereas the elder will respectfully recognize God's selection and spirit anointing of the young person.
-
39
My really long introduction...
by Madge inokay, so i am new to the site, but i have been following ur threads for awhile now, and i am finding great comfort in them!
no, i am not a witness and i have never been, and never will be!
i did however, date a witness for about three years.. it was our typical 357th biweekly 'man hating' girls night out, and meeting mr. right was the last thing on my mind!
-
-
TMS
From reading this site and your own personal trauma, you understand the arrested emotional development of a JW, the guilt, the conflict. His mother would likely have proven to be a necessary ally. You have your priorities straight~your daughter.
tms
-
22
Welfare Elders
by hoser ini had wanted to start this topic before but never had a chance.
i'm sure it's been dealt with before so i apologize in advance for bringing up again.. .
do you know of or ever know of elders who do the very minimum to work so that they can get the maximum child allowance, food stamps, medicaid etc?.
-
-
TMS
This may sound a bit far-fetched to some:
An elder, living in Arkansas in the 70's, fit this description. While he occasionally did some janitorial work, his main souce of income was the small stipend for living expenses for those going to school on the G.I. Bill. He also qualified for USDA Food Stamps for himself, his wife and daughter. He convinced the superintendent of a small, rural elementary school to allow him to complete the 5th and 6th grades, although he was 45 when he started. He was kept apart from the regular student population, received his daily assignments and did his work in a small study near the front office. After completing two years of study, he approached the superintendent again with his desire to "brush up on the basics", a thinly veiled plan to continue his government assistance. That was denied.
He was later accepted at a nearby vocational school which continued his veteran's educational benefits, eventually taking nearly every course offered including air conditioning and heating, landscaping and a nursing course. He was very open with the congregation and the traveling brothers about his means of support, was used at the circuit level for assembly parts and as a department head.
One could argue that his pre-JW military service qualified him for the educational benefits, but he blatantly abused the system.
-
22
Welfare Elders
by hoser ini had wanted to start this topic before but never had a chance.
i'm sure it's been dealt with before so i apologize in advance for bringing up again.. .
do you know of or ever know of elders who do the very minimum to work so that they can get the maximum child allowance, food stamps, medicaid etc?.
-
-
-
22
Welfare Elders
by hoser ini had wanted to start this topic before but never had a chance.
i'm sure it's been dealt with before so i apologize in advance for bringing up again.. .
do you know of or ever know of elders who do the very minimum to work so that they can get the maximum child allowance, food stamps, medicaid etc?.
-
-
-
22
Welfare Elders
by hoser ini had wanted to start this topic before but never had a chance.
i'm sure it's been dealt with before so i apologize in advance for bringing up again.. .
do you know of or ever know of elders who do the very minimum to work so that they can get the maximum child allowance, food stamps, medicaid etc?.
-
-
-
-
-
TMS
not bad