Posts by TMS

5

You Too, Can Succeed As An Elder!

by metatron in

jw
friends

over the years i've observed elders i've worked with and noticed.

various "unwritten" rules that make their positions secure and.

successful.

TMS

Just a brief comment on point 5.

One of my pet peeves was that a written agenda for all elder's meetings would be furnished several days before the event. Each elder could study the proposed topics, do research, pray, etc.

Inevitably, in spite of my broken-record insistance on a pre-meeting agenda, the PO would say toward the close of a meeting: "Bro. So-and-So has something he would like to bring before the body." Then Bro. So-and-So would detail a well-orchestrated plan for something, usually the weightiest and most far-reaching topic of the entire meeting. His chronies would add their support and influence. All the t's were crossed and i's dotted for this proposal.

My response would always be: "Well, its obvious some thought has been given to this, but the rest of us are caught a little flat-footed here. Perhaps, we could all give this prayerful consideration and consider it at the next meeting."

If looks could kill, I would have been dead 1000 times.

TMS

31

WTBTS Monitoring Discussion Boards??????

by normie67 in

jw
friends

just curious many say that the org monitors dbs, but anybody have concrete proof of this??

oh by the way at the recent ca dbs were mentioned from the platform!!!

the thought was "some jws were visting jehovahs witness discusssion boards and trying to correspond with some"...might not be exactly what was said(not an actual quote)...they mentioned put a doubt in your mind and start questioning your beliefs!!!

TMS

Has not the Society's legal team forced certain websites to remove copywrited material from their site? Wouldn't this indicate monitoring?

TMS

106

new, nowhere to turn, ashamed & afraid

by azzazel in

jw
friends

hullo everybody i'm new here, even though i've been lurking now for several months.. i have to say how afraid i am to post, afraid and ashamed but i feel if i dont tell my story, i honestly dont know what may happen to me or my children if they lose me, right now i feel like i've got nowhere left to turn and have my doubts about this place as well.. i know my story will shock you but i cant keep it in any longer.

i am recently disfellowshipped for immorality, the subject of a kingdom hall witch -hunt and subsequent congregational humiliation, .

during the process of the judicial committee meetings and proceedings no consideration was given to my real human circumstances nor to the spirit of survival nor human nature nor that of a mother seeking to protect her children from lack of basic fundamentals such as food, shelter and clothing.

TMS

Hello Azzazel:

Your reluctance to bare your soul in this or any other forum is understandable. We're living in the "Hard World" Cat Stevens sang about years ago and personal agendas are rampant.

Your "judicial" experience parallels that of many, including my son several years ago. The "shepherds" almost become consumed with a "righteous indignation" at identifying a perceived ahhorrent sin, that they lose sight of the hurting lamb in front of them.

Without minimizing the profound sadness you must feel on the heels of these tragedies in your life, it must be some consolation knowing that your children are still very young and will greatly benefit from a loving, nurturing mother.

TMS

11

Elders/former Elders, help with this?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

actually, i don't care if you ever were an elder if you can find the appropriate reference in the wt for the following situation:.

with all the discussion lately about the need for "two witnesses" to make an accusation valid, i've been thinking about divorce (and ultimately, remarriage) on the grounds of adultery.

in most cases, an adulterous mate does not commit the deed in public.

TMS

Your memory is correct. An "innocent" mate, whose partner had confessed adultery privately, could indeed take divorce action. Even, if unable to substantiate the charges legally, necessitating filing the divorce on alternate grounds, she could file a letter with the elders specifying the "real" reason her marriage was ending. The thinking was that the mate taking such action, would ultimately "answer to Jehovah" if her actions were fraudulent.

I'm sure someone will come up with the references, if you really need them.

TMS

12

The Forbidden Top SeKret jWs Manual

by Tallyman in

jw
friends

you are not permitted to click this link:.

* http://www.intrex.net/tallyman/kultlaw.html.

...uhh, unless, of course you are "a elder".. .

TMS

This was a fairly lame, superficial post, Tallyman.

Anyone who wants access to the Elder's Manual has long since perused the innocuous sentence outline publication.

Thought the tragic recent events occurring in your family would nudge you to lay low for a while.

TMS

20

A New Nail in "FRIEND"'s COFFIN ;-)

by Focus in

jw
friends

i know that honest-hearted ones here are thoroughly sick of friend's ill-disguised, legalistic, nitpicking, ground-shifting, form-over-substancing, necrophilia-inducing attempt to deny that the setup and conduct of the watchtower society serves excellently to encourage pedophilia... (of course, like all apologetics claim, he is not defending the cult, only attacking the poor argument of the opposer - lol!

lol!

lol!).

TMS

Dear "Focus":

A careful, reasoned, polite, non-inflamatory post would indeed be more persuasive.

Perhaps, a little more poodle. less rottweiler.

Flooding the board with numerous mean-spirited threads, dumping reams of quotes in a single post strikes one as a "rule or ruin" mentality.

Would a kinder, gentler "Focus" be too much to ask?

TMS

8

Another massive Watchtower FLIP-FLOP!

by Focus in

jw
friends

the great pyramid of giza (isa.

1880 - symbolizing jesus (1880wtwr 09 01 02).

1881 - commands respect but is a poor and weak foundation for hopes (1881wtwr 05 01 04-5).

TMS

Try to post something current. The pyramid theology is "old light"!

TMS

26

Elders- "Trained or UnTrained- WHICH IS IT??

by JT in

jw
friends

the biggest error wt has continued to make for the last 120yrs is they leave a wonderful paper trail behind - where a serious student of study will have no problem following and seeing that so many of their lofty claims simply don't fly .

case in point - are the elders trained or untrained clergymen as it were?.

well for those of you who have never served as an elder allow me to share with you what elders are told about their training.

TMS

All fascetiousness aside, enlarging on spinmeister Moreno's words about the untrained clergy:

The skill level among JW elders is uneven, at best. Perhaps one or two elders per circuit are capable counselors. Their life experience, education, knowledge and personal interest enable them to be genuine encouragers. One elder I know starts with the premise that all dedicated JWs, whether inactive, reproved, stumbled, offended, etc. "love Jehovah". His positive approach almost always nets him shepherding calls that end positively. No spectacular results in the long run, but an "A" for effort. Another brother, now deceased, lost his son in an automobile accident in 1958. His wife never attended another meeting. He persevered, never lost hope for her, but continued to serve God as a JW. His contact with other witnesses exuded a genuine warmth and compassion, unmatched. He was used till his death in the mid-80's as a subtitute circuit overseer. His "service talks" highlighted family relationships, caring for aging parents, compassion for others, etc.

I have many examples on the other end of the spectrum, but I will table them for now as it is getting extemely late.

TMS

26

Elders- "Trained or UnTrained- WHICH IS IT??

by JT in

jw
friends

the biggest error wt has continued to make for the last 120yrs is they leave a wonderful paper trail behind - where a serious student of study will have no problem following and seeing that so many of their lofty claims simply don't fly .

case in point - are the elders trained or untrained clergymen as it were?.

well for those of you who have never served as an elder allow me to share with you what elders are told about their training.

TMS

Mr. Moreno meant to say:

Local congregation elders are unpaid volunteers with no specialized academic training under the auspices of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Said society is not civilly or criminally liable for misconduct by said volunteers.

TMS

64

Family dynamics and the Org.

by LDH in

jw
friends

i have made a couple of remarks regarding family dynamics on other threads, but i thought it's be nice to start a new thread.... i'm no psychologist, but suffice it to say i see some similarities here.

(please add to/comment on these thoughts).

the organization wishes to be seen as our mother.

TMS

The application of several scriptural "principles" affect family stability, cohesiveness and longevity:

"seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to you."

"making use of the world as those not using it to the full"

"he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me."

No question in my mind that the application given these and other quotes has greatly affected families among Jehovah's Witnesses. How many times have assembly parts featured individuals who have allegedly turned their back on lucrative opportunites in this system to "pursue kingdom interests"?

How many times have parents been expected to turn their backs on teen-age or young adult offspring at the precise point in their young lives when they most needed adult guidance and understanding?

How many basically good kids have grown up with enormous guilt trips because they never measured up to the narrow JW definition of a "faithful son"?

Indeed, family dynamics are affected by Watchtower traditions.

I've listened to "personal responsibility" arguments presented far more eloquently than Xandit's expressions, and feel that point of view is expressed by non-witnesses or those on the fringe.

Having been in the org. over half a century, I've seen the end result of Wt. policies on the family.

TMS