Posts by Nicholaus Kopernicus

17

CLAM (Feb 8-14) - Are You "Reaching Out"? (15mins)

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

the brief outline for this item makes reference to the most recent wt on the subject of "reaching out" (sept 15 2014 - pages 3-6) if you are a jehovah's witness and thinking about becoming a ministerial servant or elder, then please consider the following information prior to attending the kh for this weeks clam.

first - if you hope to become an elder, in the uk you will also become a charitable trustee.

you will not be given any training for this part of your role.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Video about reaching out was shown at my KH's midweek meeting. Consisted of the characters Ryan and Andrew with the former giving the narrative. Ryan focussed on his physical prowess, and recreation. Andrew good in ministry and helpful to others in the congregation. Andrew recently appointed as a MS. Ryan felt he should have been a MS by this time too. "It's all about being a spiritual man" the video conveyed. Infers that if you're not reaching out then you're not a spiritual person. Video was a simple duality between two individuals with one's lifestyle conducive to gaining an appointment and the other's being non-conducive. Rather boring and soporific I'm afraid.

Item was chaired by the CoBE. He echoed the thought that reaching out is evidentiary of being a spiritual man! He stated that "It's not a good idea to go around dropping hints" about getting an appointment! Rather, "It takes humility to serve your brothers" he added. He stated that it may take "many years" but then again Abraham had to wait many years before seeing God's promise re a son being fulfilled, andd thus had to learn patience. He cited 1 Cor 4:4 with the application that "others may have reason to hold a less favourable view of you" and advised humilty and working on the counsel given. He repeated the emphasis on ministry and return visits. This CoBE stated that "with the great increase, there is a need for more and more brothers to reach out"! He concluded by saying again that "reaching out means being a spiritual man"!

This was said by a CoBE who has at least six former appointed men in his congregation, and has learned nothing about his mal treatment of others being a significant contribution to egress. He is also a CoBE who sees those who get appointments as potentially threatening to his position. This psyche governs how he interacts with them over a period of time and contributes to their relinquishing their positions. He is a hard liner on higher education and two brothers were deleted for sponsoring their children's higher education. Many in his congregation have got better things to do than endure his very lengthy timeline.

In terms of being a spiritual man or not - that's between the person and God and none of their business as I alluded to in the scripture quoted at the outset in this thread.

32

Re: Quarterly Organizational Accomplishments Video Series

by pixel in

dear brothers:.

we are pleased to inform you that a new series of short videos will be produced to emphasize the acceleration of the worldwide work of jehovah’s witnesses.

(isa.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

I hope congs starve them of cash so that the clichè is true in their case wherein it is said: "They who expect nothing shall not be disappointed"!

CLAM Meetings - May 2016

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

during may, there are three seperate slots allocated to jw library app.... may 2-8 "are you using jw library?

" jw's encourged to download app.

may16 & 23 "ways to use jw library" - parts i & ii.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

During May, there are three seperate slots allocated to JW Library App...

May 2-8 "Are You Using JW Library?" JW's encourged to download app
May16 & 23 "Ways to Use JW Library" - Parts I & II

Further evidence on the pressure to switch from printed literature to digital media and thus save costs for WTBTS.

Last CLAM of the month (WC May 30th) includes a 15 minute local needs item, with a suggestion as to what such might consist of! The GB have a unique understanding of what constitutes "local"!

108

Leaked Elder's Video: How to deal with a suicidal sister

by cappytan in

this video will be played at one of the clam meetings in march 2016.. the content is kind of old news because it is a recut version of a previous video produced for the elder's school.

however, it's still significant because it shows that the organization still has dissenting brothers in positions of leadership.. my thanks to the leaker.

feel free to claim credit here.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

That this video is being shown at KH's exemplifies the lack of learning and incompetence of the GB and it's teaching committee. That there is no recommendation to the sister that she obtain professional help is truly reprehensible. The approach taken parallels to a degree, that taken in cases of child abuse - kept in house and away from professional services such as police and child protection departments of local authorities.

If a suicidal individual approaches a General Practitioner for help in the UK, that GP will in all likelihood seek to involve secondary services with haste. If a suicidal individual approaches a hospital's accident and emergency department, the A & E will involve the psychiatric liaison service. Regardless of the route chosen by the suffering individual therefore, the involvement of appropriate professional skills is usually recommended and actioned. Of course, this is evidence of the GP and the A & E department acting in the victims best interests. The same can hardly be said of the responses portrayed in the GB / teaching department's video. A key factor in assessing the sufferer, is whether or not s(he) has suicidal plans. This is an indication of the suicidal thinking progressing to INTENT. Help being given is urgent. Professionals will look at many factors in asssessing the individual including clinical factors such as....

depression
suicidal thoughts (ideation)
suicidal plans (intent)
hopelessness
marked restlessness
etreme lability of mood
hostility / aggression
perceptual disturbance - particularly auditory hallucinations instructing the person to harm self

Indications of high suicide risk following act(s) of self harm include...

evidence of pre-planning
has considered decision to choose a violent method
fuly expects or expected to die
signs of avoidance of discovery and/or intervention
consciously isolated at time of act
suicide note
regret at survival

None of the above pre/post self harm assessment steps even begins to be addressed in the case vignette portrayed in the video as teaching points. The video conveys the idea of elders dealing with the matter to be quite normative and with the situation being speedily assuaged - quite dangerous and unrealistic. Should elders adopt this portrayal as the way to approach such an individual, then they could be placing themselves at risk as their not recommending professional help is clearly deleterious to the individual and in my opinion, quite unchristian.

17

CLAM (Feb 8-14) - Are You "Reaching Out"? (15mins)

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

the brief outline for this item makes reference to the most recent wt on the subject of "reaching out" (sept 15 2014 - pages 3-6) if you are a jehovah's witness and thinking about becoming a ministerial servant or elder, then please consider the following information prior to attending the kh for this weeks clam.

first - if you hope to become an elder, in the uk you will also become a charitable trustee.

you will not be given any training for this part of your role.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Diogenisister: I'm not aware of the case which you refer to. However, I note the pattern of the GBoJW continually evading responsibility, showing an established pattern of denial, and a lack of humility in dealing with matters for which they are clearly incompetent. Such weak and insecure individuals are not a peace with themselves. They tend to externalise events and thus point the finger at others. Thus, my assessment is that elders are significantly at risk of being the "fall guy" as they say in the USA.

Burnedout: your's is a prime example to those thinking of reaching out, not to do so. Yourl experience is evidentiary of their being a gulf between the shepherd depicted in scripture, and the WTBTS's design of the role (to serve their interests only). I too found the role tortuous and resigned years ago. I note that you said that you were planning suicide. I do sincerely hope that such is not the case now and that your levels of stress have diminished. If this is not the case, I hope you will cast aside the WT's disdain of mental health services and consider obtaining professional help. I would echo Steve2's thought about writing about your experience. There are many who could learn from your experience.

I note from another thread, that the video I referred to is to be screened in KH's in March. I will comment on the video in more detail in that thread later. For the present, I can say that the video is exemplary of the GB and the teaching department's incompetence. There is no thought of recommending to the sufferer that she consider obtaiing professional help. For example, if an individual in the UK approaches a General Practitioner in a suicidal state, the GP will in all likelihood seek to obtain secondary services with haste. That GP will see the sufferer as needing that level of help as a matter of course. Yet the GB / teaching committee lack such humility and condour, seek to deal with the matter "in house" and merely display their incompetence. The approach places elders are risk in that they are being encouraged to deal with a difficult issue which is beyond their competence. The approach parallels that seen in cases of alleged child abuse where the service desk at Bethel is the first and only response rather than encouraging involvement of specialist police and child protection services. Both the responses to child abuse, and the recommended response to a suicidal individual are quite reprehensible.

17

CLAM (Feb 8-14) - Are You "Reaching Out"? (15mins)

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

the brief outline for this item makes reference to the most recent wt on the subject of "reaching out" (sept 15 2014 - pages 3-6) if you are a jehovah's witness and thinking about becoming a ministerial servant or elder, then please consider the following information prior to attending the kh for this weeks clam.

first - if you hope to become an elder, in the uk you will also become a charitable trustee.

you will not be given any training for this part of your role.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

The brief outline for this item makes reference to the most recent WT on the subject of "reaching out" (Sept 15 2014 - pages 3-6) If you are a Jehovah's Witness and thinking about becoming a Ministerial Servant or Elder, then please consider the following information prior to attending the KH for this weeks CLAM.

First - if you hope to become an elder, in the UK you will also become a charitable trustee. You will not be given any training for this part of your role. Your details will be sent to the Charity Commission. As an elder and charitable trustee, you might at some time be unable to agree with the BoE on a matter. Nevertheless, the WTBTS expects you to acquiesce with the majority. Yet you will be legally held responsible for your individual decision as a trustee.

Second - if you hope to become an elder, you will likely be given copious assignments and become very busy. You are expected to be yielding and accept these assignments - even if it means that you have to sacrifice time with your family (time which you cannot recover). You will also be expected to attend elders' schools. One such recent school included a video of elders visiting a sister who was suicidal. Whilst elders are acknowledged to be health professionals, yet what I saw on that video was not realistic, not competent, and likely to be psychologically damaging to an individual in genuine distress. It was significant, that those who compiled this video with the intention of instructing elders, did not at any time consult any health professionals as to helpful approaches.

Third - you will be given a copy of the elders' secret book (Shepherd the Flock of God) and will be expected to keep this secret from your wife and family members. You might find the contents of this book to be surprisingly generous with rules and scarce in spirituality.

Fourth - the WT article on which this weeks Living as Christians segment is based, makes reference to the word "privilege" at least 7 times. This word is used a lot in "the truth" but for an alternative etymological consideration of the word and its use (some would say overuse) then consider visiting this site which explores the question - "Are We Privileged"?.... http://perimeno.ca/Are_We_Privileged.htm

This same WT article states: "satisfying the Scriptural requirements falls primarily on the individual who is reaching out." This rather suggests that once you have reasonably met the scriptural requirements, you will be appointed. However, the article does not give any mention of existing elders' subjectivity in looking at non-scriptural qualifications such as your ministry hours. Elders may have other qualifications which they expect you to meet without any scriptural justification / reference.

Fifth - you don't really have to reach out to me a ministerial servant or an elder to lead a full Christian life pleasing to almighty God. For example, the aforementioned WT states - "If you serve Jehovah faithfully wherever you are and whatever you do, you are a success.” That's a nice encouraging thought. In the previous study WT which dealt with the subject of reaching out, a similar positive thought was expressed - "Of course, a brother does not have to be a ministerial servant or an elder in order to help others and have a full share in the ministry." (WT 2011 - "Train Others to Reach Out".

For many elders already in post they are quite busy chaps as has been already mentioned. Indeed many become stressed such is the combined workload of their secular occupation, family commitments, and WT expectations. It is not uncommon for males who become elders to experience a significant amount of stress in consequence. This can affect relationships. It can lead to elders projecting their stresses onto others unconsciously. Some even project their stresses from the lectern during speaking assignments. Yet this is not necessary and is entirely preventable. The Awake of June 2010 featured three articles about stress. In one such article the following sage advice was given....

"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." (AW - June 2010. "Keeping Stress Under Control" page 9).

Sixth - you may be shocked at the divergence between BoE's as portrayed in WT literature and the reality. BoE seldom use scripture at their elder's meetings as depicted. Their tends to be a lot of politicing with eventual deference being shown to the elder with the strongest personality. This was my experience anyway, and many ex-elders have written blogs indicative of a similar reality in their experience. However, if you still want to be appointed as an elder, consider getting third party liability insurance to protect yourself, your family, and your estate.

Finally - a scripture.
"... you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength." Mark 12:3 (NWT) This is entirely dependent on you. Nobody can give this to you. Certainly, no governing body member, circuit overseer, elder or anyone else, can take it away from you. These are words spoken by God's son in response to being asked which commandment is "first of all?" This commandment can be first of all in anybody's life without being a ministerial servant of elder.

4

The shackles of personal choice.

by Darkknight757 in

one of the things that woke me up was a post on this board about a person who spliced a portion of the song "no god's, no masters" by arch enemy into a kingdom song at their hall.

this small bit opened up a world long forgotten from my youth.. before becoming a witness i was huge into death metal and some heavy metal ( loved metalica until they sold out with their black album) and as we know the wts forbids us to have freedom of choice when it comes to music, movies and many other things.

so now i full on love me some good old metal again!!

Nicholaus Kopernicus

I started researching about freedom and liberty. Early writers such as John S. Mills on individualism were of great interest to me. I downloaded some MP3 documentaries from the BBC and listened to them several times while making notes. I looked at the Open University online. On both the BBC and OU I discovered the works of Sir Isaiah Berlin - a philosopher and historian who emigrated from Latvia and settled here in England. His essays about freedom fascinated me. He categorised the subject into positive and negative freedom. He discussed autonomy vs heteronomy - fascinating for a JW who is mentally departing from the Watchtower Banality and Trash Society. Based on the comment of a blogger on this site (another thread) I bought Sir Isaiah's book - "The Proper Study of Mankind". This book is full of deep riches. As a JW, such "independence" of mind is deprecated. Reading the works of a modern philospher is outragious. See if I care!

I also purchased a book called "Against The Flow - The Inspiration of Daniel In An Age of Relativism" by Professor John Lennox. This is a very interesting book and has many parts which would shame the WTBTS authors. Whether one agrees with Prof Lennox or not is irrelevant - it a genuinely interesting read.

I've also got Steven Hassan's text - "Combating Cult Mind Control" and the two texts authored by Ray Franz. Hitherto, I would not have dared to consider reading such texts as the above.

The behaviour of the WTBTS leadership and local elders is such that I cannot contribute money and have not done for some time. So paradoxically, my liberation also involves voluntary restrictions. I am no longer a regular attender of WTBTS meetings.

30

Quality of JW teaching from elders

by sir82 in

jw
friends

there was a recent thread on the "quality" of converts to jws in recent years.

it wasn't a pretty picture, based on the thread contents.. well, the lack of depth isn't restricted to new converts.. in our clam this week, one of the principal points for review was this:.

ne 1:1; 2:1—why can we conclude that “the 20thyear” mentioned at nehemiah 1:1 and 2:1 is countedfrom the same starting point?

Nicholaus Kopernicus

In my congregation, there was a Min Servant who was quite conscious of the fact that local elders were on the whole burned out, stressed, miserable, and projected such a paradigm in their talks. The MS knew that the audience was badly in need of encouragement. This is precisely what he gave the audience. No corporate productivity paradigm with him. Just nice warm, encouraging talks with the authority of scripture. Folks genuinely enjoyed it and let him know it too.

However, the fondness for his talks was not universal. You see, when someone does well, it can sometimes have the effect of showing up a gulf between that very one doing well and others who project their stress, insecurity, and misery onto the audience. This was what happened. The elders started to find fault with the MS. He was unable to meet their contrived expectations as far as their productivity paradigm was concerned (min hrs, leading in min etc) and so he stepped down in revulsion at their approach. The elders showed themselves to be quite practiced bullies. Their teaching continues to be quite awful.

One of the reasons for this sad state of affairs is the environment to which elders' minds is regularly subject to and integrated with. For example, the broadcasts from the GBoJW and their holy helpers is widely disdained on this forum and many in congregations are increasingly embarrassed. Elders are on the whole, stakeholders in a dysfunctional corporate entity which has considerable hegemony. Thus, how can anything genuinely stimulating and refreshing come out of such an entity? It can't. Even the local needs (Britain) video last week in which Paul Gillies featured significantly, was an exercise in sophistry and mendacity - truly ghastly!

If individuals such as elders are stressed, miserable, insecure, how can they be effective teachers? In that what is expected of them is now much more structured and centralised, where is the scope for individuality and creativity? The recipe is wrong - the food is distasteful!

This organisation has got to be one of the best in the world in exemplifying Peter Principle (individuals promoted to their level of incompetence). This is seen in their approach to safeguarding children (a huge response cost coming their way as a result), in their child video productions (guilt tripping children into being attentive at meetings and not falling asleep), in their monthly videos (would be better if they'd cease and desist!). Their written output is also quite apalling in that it is on the whole, quite specious.

For erudition, avoid the WTBTS, IBSA etc.

24

Exactly where is the expansion?

by NeverKnew in

jw
friends

there is a thread that i'm really enjoying discussing the consolidation of congregations into existing kingdom halls.

i'm realizing that the only threads that have spoken of building were related to branch offices.

we know the wts's consolidations and reopening a are a shell game of sorts but i'm wondering... is anyone seeing an increase in kingdom halls in their part of the world?

Nicholaus Kopernicus

Steve2:

There is that possibility but he (Paul Gillies) did not even allude to such a context. I am very suspicious in that there is this sudden announcement gone out nationally via video using "local needs" and where there is a significant ommission without explanation in the annual statistics printed in the yearbook.

Most of the KH's I know of are in good decorative and structural order. Certainly, financing the number of new KH's and refurbs mentioned will be very problematic in today's economic environment / JW income profile / family finance demands.

2

WTBTS Capriciousness & Damaging Advice

by Nicholaus Kopernicus in

november 15th 2015 wt study article: "do you 'love your neighbour as yourself'" said in paragraph 16.... "the remarkable growth that we see today is the result of our faith in god and full acceptance of the bible—jehovah’s miraculously inspired word.".

just a short time later this assertion was betrayed, for in the examining the scriptures daily of february 2nd 2016 we are advised to.... " meditate on the future of unrepentant sinners.".

the bible which they claim to fully accept advises..... "finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things.

Nicholaus Kopernicus

November 15th 2015 WT study article: "Do You 'Love Your Neighbour As Yourself'" said in paragraph 16...

"The remarkable growth that we see today is the result of our faith in God and full acceptance of the Bible—Jehovah’s miraculously inspired Word."

Just a short time later this assertion was betrayed, for in the Examining the Scriptures Daily of February 2nd 2016 we are advised to...

" Meditate on the future of unrepentant sinners."

The Bible which they claim to fully accept advises....

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things."