Posts by Nicholaus Kopernicus

126

FEB 2016 broadcast

by Grey Goose in

jw
friends

it might be the craziest one yet..

I didn't realise this chap was a teaching committee helper. Based on their output, his help is quite insufficient. Maybe he was involved in drafting that ghastly Watchtower study on Sunday 31st Jan about 100 years of kingdom rule. So bad I just had to give it a miss and visited cinema (Star Wars) instead. So Bro Flodin, your output is of a nature which deters me from attending meetings. Not quite what you intended I'm sure, but that's life old boy!

I learned on this forum that Bro Flodin is coming to the Britain Branch at end of April. 3hr programme available from 1300 hrs on Sat 30th April! Will give that a miss too. Enduring such appalling output is TOO MUCH TO ASK!

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Hi Listener:

When the videos were used here in Britain last week, the voices were of an American accent. With less personel in Bethels, I don't expect to hear British accents or any other foirm of cultural sensitivities. Economy is probably now key as alluded to by Ivanatahan.

The choice of vocabulary didn't sit well in my congregation. For example, the question "Do you text?" got a response of laughter from the audience. Just not used to this direct USA Bethel ingress to UK congregation!

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

The Awake of June 2010 in an article about "Keeping Stress Under Control" had this sage advice....

"God expects us humbly to acknowledge that we have physical, mental, and emotional limits and that we cannot do everything we would like to do. As difficult as this can be, we may need to learn when and how to say no to demands that exceed what we realistically can handle."

A scripture which I shared with the worried father of an elder who was being over worked by the WTBTS / IBSA and had a nasty coronary is...

Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good. And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, And to walk in modesty with your God!"

So the WTBTS's demands on your dad and many Bro's may be seen as quite unreasonbable when compared with that Awake and scripture!.

22

Daily Mirror article about JWs destroying evidence

by Tornintwo in

i can't see another thread but maybe i missed it:.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jehovahs-witnesses-paedophile-sex-abuse-7278824#comments-section.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

The information in this article is good reason for elders (especially Secretary and CoBE) to relinquish their positions. That they are directed to destroy documents and thus frustrate due legal process puts them in jeopardy. That they were recipients of "direction" to destroy documents is not a defence. In addition to being in positions of trust as elders, they are also charity trustees (unless they have opted out) and the charity in which they are trustees is a different legal entity to the WTBTS / IBSA. So they will be held directly responsible for the destruction of the documents. If it is too difficult for any with such an appointment to relinquish their positions as elders, then they should seriously start searching for third party liability insurance.

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Oh yes - he really said it from the platform. Quite spontaneous too. Got some giggles from the audience in response. His statement reminded me of the cliché - "Half in fun, whole in earnest!". It's also a little indication of the deep down incredulity with which some people receive condescending video's put together by individuals who are essentially institutionalised and divorced from any consideration of a real life. It would have been much better if it were left to local Bro's to deal with the matter in a way which is culturally appropriate and sensitive rather than this highly centralised and "one size fits all" approach. Then again, their emanencies of the GB and their Holy Helpers know best! (Oops! Sarcasm creeping in!)

123

An Open letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses (Elders/ Ex-Elders)

by stuckinamovement in

jw
friends

if you are an elder or an ex-elder please add a comment.

i hope that the governing body will see this.

it is too bad it has to be on an anonymous forum.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

A most eloguent letter and riposte in one. Describes much of what is wrong and therefore troubling to Bro's and Sis' with a conscience.

However, being an elder is very risky. One example is being required to destroy some categories of documents / letters annd which is likely to be illegal in a significant number of countries. Another example is one's mind being closely influenced by a pharisaical paradigm - very unhealthy. Then, there is the endemic competition for an elder's time to the detriment of family - this despite the pseudo pious platitudes of balance and reasonableness.

This Bro is to be congratulated for taking a stand and withdrawing from a position which is inimical to good mental / physical health and is far removed from the "mind of Christ".

18

What was your local needs this week?

by dbq407 in

ours was on making use of phone witnessing and letter writing.

both ineffective and wastes of time.

another local cong.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Yes it was the Britain box left blank. I have no recollection of this previously being left blank in the Britain stats. Blank columns too, for several other countries this time.

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

I attended my first CLAM this week - principally because I was curious about the local needs item as info about it was leaked on another thread.

On the whole, there is no accommodation for any individuality / creativity. I found it all rather banal. If the GB is hoping to positively address the often reported trough in midweek meetings, then they may well be disapppointed.

I noted that the item about ministry involved three short videos. The brother taking the item in my congregation was a young MS. He seemed uncomfortable with the item. After the 2nd video he placated the audience with the assurance - - "Don't worry, there's only one more".

None of the Bro's giving items seemed there usual enthused selves. I may not have noticed but for being sparse in my attendance.

18

What was your local needs this week?

by dbq407 in

ours was on making use of phone witnessing and letter writing.

both ineffective and wastes of time.

another local cong.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Under the former system of things which has now passed away, local needs were scheduled in the OKM every 2/12 @ 10 minute allocations.

Under the new system of things, it appears that local needs are scheduled 1/12....

Jan MWB. - 8 mins

Feb MWB. - 10 mins

Mar MWB. - 5 mins

Apr MWB. - 7 mins

Time will tell what the significance of this change is.

18

What was your local needs this week?

by dbq407 in

ours was on making use of phone witnessing and letter writing.

both ineffective and wastes of time.

another local cong.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Further information re Britain Local Needs

Item titled: "Unless Jehovah Builds It..." based on Psalm 127:1. The video featured Paul Gillies several times - tall Scot whom I believe was the branch representative who tried and failed to give a riposte to the Guardian re the UN NGO scandal. I have a feint memory of him being on a video for elders and coming across as a real toughie on "apostates".

The video claimed that the UK work is "speeding up" and hence more KH's are needed. They showed a few minutes of a build in Corby and stated that 157 KH's were needed in Britain as a whole and 213 needed to be renovated.

When I heard this, I then realised that perhaps this is why they left the % increase box blank in the annual report. How can they claim the work is speeding up with all those KH builds and renovations needed if the % increase box was either nil or negative!

The other thing I noted is that hitherto, "Local Needs" meant needs specific to the congregation and determined by the local BoE. Now "local" is subject to semantic shift and can mean national (branch) needs! Perhaps this direct influence over / ingress to congregations explains the motivation for directing BoE to spend money on screens and projectors!

They didn't ask for money as such, but Paul Gillies did thank bros for their "continued support". They get NOTHING FROM ME!