between two congregations that i know of four elders have stepped down in the last two months!
there is something really going on in this mandmade organization!
it's busting at the seams!.
I've observed the same thing - elders want to step down because they are sick of all the politics (they don't phrase it like that obviously) and are then "persuaded" to keep going because they are needed. This is probably true because getting younger ones to "reach out" seems to be getting harder.
On a related thought - anyone ever heard of an elder removed for incompetence?
The (not so) pure one
i'm kind of interested to see if there's any changes to scriptures that the borg uses to support the blood doctrine?.
Acts 15:29 hasn't changed apart from removing two "and"s - commas added instead.
the (not so) pure one
i've just noticed that the text for the day after the annual meeting is "be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheeps covering.matt.
7:15" - i'm sure someone can think of something witty to say.. i think that since the 90's generation change caused such an exodus, the gb have been preparing the way quite carefully before revealing new truths - eg acts book calling first century governing body, modern day governing body prepares for elevation of current gb as per recent watchtower.
now that pre 1919 has effectively been jetisoned, i think that they will eventually ditch 1914 and move last days up to knorr's day.
I've just noticed that the text for the day after the Annual Meeting is "Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep’s covering.—Matt. 7:15" - I'm sure someone can think of something witty to say.
I think that since the 90's generation change caused such an exodus, the GB have been preparing the way quite carefully before revealing new truths - eg Acts book calling first century governing body, modern day Governing Body prepares for elevation of current GB as per recent watchtower. Now that pre 1919 has effectively been jetisoned, I think that they will eventually ditch 1914 and move last days up to Knorr's day. Not yet though. Maybe there will be something changed about Revelation trumpet blasts or Kings of North/South. All they need to use is their current magic word - "evidently" which they seem to think allows them to state whatever they want without any evidence - pretty much the opposite of what it really means.
the (not so) pure one
has anyone had a circuit visit this week and seen the dvd for elders/mss?
i'm guessing it's got an introduction from one of the gb and then demonstrations of how to behave in different situations.
i'd like to be prepared before seeing it to ask suitable questions.. the (not so) pure one.
If I've heard correctly it is exactly the same as the videos shown at the last elders school except the co pauses it and it is discussed. The length of the meeting probably depends on him. I'm planning on keeping my mouth closed so that the meeting doesn't go on too long!
the (not so) pure one
has anyone had a circuit visit this week and seen the dvd for elders/mss?
i'm guessing it's got an introduction from one of the gb and then demonstrations of how to behave in different situations.
i'd like to be prepared before seeing it to ask suitable questions.. the (not so) pure one.
Has anyone had a circuit visit this week and seen the dvd for elders/Mss? I'm guessing it's got an introduction from one of the GB and then demonstrations of how to behave in different situations. I'd like to be prepared before seeing it to ask suitable questions.
The (not so) pure one
does printing and administrative work carry on as normal throughout the year without regard to christmas, new year, public and bank holidays in the various bethel premises throughout the world?.
it is a bank holiday tomorrow in most of the uk so will london bethel be working as normal?
.
The London Bethel printing press used to be shut down for maintenance on bank holidays so that the noise wouldn't upset the neighbours. The rest have to work as normal - not much fun.
The (not so) pure one
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2400938/jehovahs-witness-wife-died-refusing-blood-transfusion-jailed-13-years-child-sex-abuse-covered-religions-elders.html .
a jehovah's witness who sexually abused a child and then had his wrongdoing covered up by the church has been jailed for 13 years.. gordon leighton, 53, admitted sexually abusing a child when he was confronted with the allegations by church elders at washington, tyne and wear.. the elders knew about the 53-year-old's admissions for three years but refused to co-operate with the criminal investigation, and said what they had heard was confidential.. leighton hit the headlines in the 1990s when his wife yvonne, 28, died after refusing a blood transfusion after childbirth on religious grounds.judge penny moreland said that he had subjected his victim to 'untold damage' as she sentenced him at newcastle crown court today.. the judge said: 'you manipulated her with a combination of affection and attention and violence and threats.
'the defendant was found guilty of two charges of indecency with a child and six of indecent assault after a trial.
A letter was sent to all congregations in nearby circuits instructing (not asking) elders to refuse to comment if approached by press etc. Nothing was said about how to handle householders who might have read the papers.
The (not so) pure one
for those who consider the wt study:.
there is an interesting distortion in this wt lesson.
paragraphs 4 - 8 form a sub-topic entitled "jehovah is generous.".
So if all faithful ones were blessed, why were some so poor they could only afford some flour?
The (not so) pure one
firstly, love and greetings to all - i've been lurking here and elsewhere for a long time and have benefitted more than i can say.
i'm still in - i have a genuine fear that coming out would kill my mother - but i've recently taken the first step away.
i told a non-jw friend that i knew it was all a load of nonsense and i didn't believe any of it.
I've been lurking long enough so that I shouldn't have been surprised at the warm welcomes, but I'd like to thank all of you (especially the Thomas Covenant fans) for the kind words & advice. Like many of you, I have to be quite careful to keep my identity secret, but I will say that I am an elder and use whatever means I can to get others to at least think - it's not easy! My mother is in poor health and is probably in the early stages of alzheimers, so learning about me could very easily finish her off. i see my non-JW friend quite regularly and it definitely has helped me to finally talk openly - I've been keeping it secret for about 14 years now - used to lurk on newsgroups going way back. The single simple thing which clinched it for me was when I read that John 6:68 is always misquoted and then a sister did just that at the next meeting I was at! The thing which started me down the road to doubts was learning a bit about archaeology and realising that the WT interpretation of the bible couldn't be right.
firstly, love and greetings to all - i've been lurking here and elsewhere for a long time and have benefitted more than i can say.
i'm still in - i have a genuine fear that coming out would kill my mother - but i've recently taken the first step away.
i told a non-jw friend that i knew it was all a load of nonsense and i didn't believe any of it.
Firstly, love and greetings to all - I've been lurking here and elsewhere for a long time and have benefitted more than I can say. I'm still in - I have a genuine fear that coming out would kill my mother - but I've recently taken the first step away. I told a non-JW friend that I knew it was all a load of nonsense and I didn't believe any of it. Since then I've celebrated her birthday and entered the lottery!
I've been trying to get others to think over the years without giving myself away. I have three rules I try to follow :- 1) Only use scriptures and examples from the NT as far as possible 2) Emphasize Jesus and being a christian as much as possible 3) Never use the term "faithful and discreet slave" unless I am reading it - always call them the governing body because that is what they are - the managers of a business! I've also managed to slip a few thoughts in over the years - I once discussed how the 14th century fit the last days in a public talk.
