Posts by Saltheart Foamfollower

50

Coordinator of Elders Problems in One Southern England Circuit!

by The Searcher in

information just passed to me.

let's hope this becomes even more widespread.

i wonder if the britain branch suspects a conspiracy?

Saltheart Foamfollower

One circuit in the north had about 8 or 9 COBEs replaced by younger men on the last round of visits by their C/O. His name is Ray Shah. Anyone know where he is now and if he is continuing his policy?

SF

211

Where are you from?

by BeautifulMind in

jw
friends

i know we are all anonymous for our own personal reasons, so i understand if you would rather not say.

but if you don't mind sharing that would be cool.

i currently live in georgia, usa.

If you are a current active JW, What rules do you deliberately break?

by Truthexplorer in

do the lottery.

celebrate my child's birthday.

sign workmates birthday cards.

Saltheart Foamfollower

Eat black pudding (blood sausage), think for myself.

362

No 'Tight Pants' policy is now official - classed as 'disturbing'

by wizzstick in

in short:- tight pants is no longer just a am3 hang up (or is that a hang up on the well hung?

)- brothers who have effeminate body language are flagged up- as are sisters with 'masculine' hair styles or dress- such dress is 'disturbing to the congregation'- the above must heed the (repeated) counsel from the elders...or they get stripped of the right to share on the ministry- however...this will not be revealed (announced) to the congregation.

wow.

Saltheart Foamfollower

The following is a quote from the shepherding book chapter 7:

19. In all cases of judicial reproof, the wrongdoer
is disqualified from special privileges. These include
pioneering, offering congregation prayer, and sharing
in any parts on the Service Meeting until he has
made further spiritual progress. This also includes
other congregational assignments that might be given
to those who are exemplary. In addition, some judicial
restrictions will be imposed in all cases of judicial
reproof. Judicial restrictions may include not
commenting at congregation meetings and not giving
student talks in the Theocratic Ministry School.
However, the judicial committee determines what judicial
restrictions to impose. When the elders inform
a repentant wrongdoer of restrictions, it would be
helpful to tell him the date of the next meeting,
at which his progress will be reviewed. It may be
discouraging to the repentant wrongdoer if restrictions
are imposed for a prolonged period of time. It
would be an exceptional case when many months
have passed and restrictions have not been gradually
lifted.

Restricting field service isn't mentioned but it has definitely been said (probably in c/o meetings with elders) that it is never imposed as a restriction. This would include (in their words not mine) a repentant pedophile (felt sick just typing that). So stopping someone going in field service for even repeated "extreme" feminine behaviour is unprecedented.

362

No 'Tight Pants' policy is now official - classed as 'disturbing'

by wizzstick in

in short:- tight pants is no longer just a am3 hang up (or is that a hang up on the well hung?

)- brothers who have effeminate body language are flagged up- as are sisters with 'masculine' hair styles or dress- such dress is 'disturbing to the congregation'- the above must heed the (repeated) counsel from the elders...or they get stripped of the right to share on the ministry- however...this will not be revealed (announced) to the congregation.

wow.

Saltheart Foamfollower

As far as I can tell so far I'm the only one here, who has sat through this at a c/o visit.

I have a couple of points to make on this : All of this is not from an Awake! article, it is from an outline only delivered to elders and hence at the same level of authority as the shepherding textbook. Even ministerial servants have no idea that they are being examined now for an offence they aren't aware of. Also, the emphasis, which I assume was directed by the branch, was definitely on the behaviour and traits of individuals and not their clothing - as has been mentioned that has already been written about extensively by the borg and is not really too unusual. The ultimate sanction - withdrawing the right to go in field service - is unprecedented as far as I (and other elders who I've asked) can tell.

Just to add to the confusion, based on past experience there wont be a follow up official letter, it will just be left to memory (and so in practice mostly ignored)

BTW, great that the only place this is being properly debated is here - wish it would happen in congregations.

SF

46

The real reason Chelmsford hasn't been stopped

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

i haven't seen this mentioned yet.

last year in the uk, shortly after the money grab that everyone had, we had a video and letter (both probably still available from atlantis) appealing for money for the new bethel and slips were handed out etc.

this means that most uk congregations are sending a regular donation specifically for the chelmsford build.

Saltheart Foamfollower

I haven't seen this mentioned yet. Last year in the UK, shortly after the money grab that everyone had, we had a video and letter (both probably still available from Atlantis) appealing for money for the new Bethel and slips were handed out etc. This means that most UK congregations are sending a regular donation specifically for the Chelmsford build. If they just stopped it, many would stop their contributions, so instead they seem to be slowing it almost to a stop but can still say it is going ahead so they can keep the cash coming in.

Or am I too cynical?

SF

362

No 'Tight Pants' policy is now official - classed as 'disturbing'

by wizzstick in

in short:- tight pants is no longer just a am3 hang up (or is that a hang up on the well hung?

)- brothers who have effeminate body language are flagged up- as are sisters with 'masculine' hair styles or dress- such dress is 'disturbing to the congregation'- the above must heed the (repeated) counsel from the elders...or they get stripped of the right to share on the ministry- however...this will not be revealed (announced) to the congregation.

wow.

Saltheart Foamfollower

Yes BluesBrother this is for Britain too - had it during visit last month as has another elder in a nearby congregation. There have been some puzzled discussions since about how to identify effeminate traits and whether stopping individuals from going in the ministry has been sanctioned before - this is the reaction from hard-line elders.

SF

11

New meeting answer sheet

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

hi all - thought you might be interested in the instructions for the answer sheet for the new meeting - full document to follow:-.

"our christian life and ministry meeting answer sheetfor use by meeting chairman for weeks of january 4-25, 2016source material: new world translation of the holy scriptures [nwt] and thewatchtower [w].instructions: these review questions correspond to material found in treasuresfrom gods word.

well in advance, the meeting chairman should ensure that theelder or ministerial servant assigned a part during treasures from gods word willconsider the question and answer for the week.

Saltheart Foamfollower

Hi all - thought you might be interested in the instructions for the answer sheet for the new meeting - full document to follow:-

"Our Christian Life and Ministry Meeting Answer Sheet
FOR USE BY MEETING CHAIRMAN FOR WEEKS OF JANUARY 4-25, 2016
SOURCE MATERIAL: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures [nwt] and The
Watchtower [w].
INSTRUCTIONS: These review questions correspond to material found in Treasures
From God’s Word. Well in advance, the meeting chairman should ensure that the
elder or ministerial servant assigned a part during Treasures From God’s Word will
consider the question and answer for the week. During the meeting the chairman
should pay careful attention in order to verify that the question is answered correctly
by the audience. If necessary, he may clarify the main point or highlight reasons for
the answer or briefly comment on how the material can be applied. Of course, any
answers given by the audience that are appropriate and in harmony with our present
understanding are acceptable, even if the point is not found on the answer sheet.
During the three-minute conclusion of the meeting, the chairman should briefly
review the question and answer from the current week, and he may mention the
question for the following week as part of the preview.
The date in brackets represents the week that the material will be covered."

The amount of control they are using is staggering!

SF

25

Hartlepool UK JW groomed girl for sex

by wifibandit in

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/crime/jehovah-s-witness-from-hartlepool-groomed-girl-for-sex-1-7504907.

Saltheart Foamfollower

Hartlepool seems to attract problems. Not too surprising because the elders have had the reputation for being cold and technical. As with most congregations, there are many decent ordinary people there but there have always been a few "oddballs".

In the past they have had a chiropracter convicted and imprisoned for groping his clients. The circuit overseer Jim Cleary came from there and returned there after leaving circuit work. Shortly afterwards his wife ran off with one of the other elders.

They currently have the new LDC supreme commander for the region - Mark Thoburn.

SF

16

Speculation on future donation arrangements

by respectful_observer in

in the aftermath of this year's annual meeting and the recent tremors of cash shortfalls within the organization, i began thinking "what could they do next to bring in more $$$.".

many here have speculated that we're seeing incremental moves toward "tithing" (of course they would never call it that).

a recent thread (can't find it right now) highlighted that they recently raised the "suggested per publisher donation" at the circuit assembly significantly (tripled it?)..

Saltheart Foamfollower

I think they have seriously underestimated the effect last years cash grab has had. Based on what I've heard from local congregations, most bodies of elders are still annoyed at having to send all of their savings then not being able to maintain their Halls. In the UK they were also forced to spend £1000 on projection equipment just after the money went. Ordinary members of the congregation are also murmering and probably wont increase donations. If they are depending on selling Kingdom Halls I think they may be discovering that most were bought to be used by local people and are less valuable than they expected - many are in regions of towns with little re-sale value.

SF