Simon Templar

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Posts by Simon Templar

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  22

  Overlapping generation pushed me to the brink

  by Anator in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello, i haven't posted for a number of years.

  i've been struggling for years of wrestling in my mind regarding the organization.

  i guess the big thing for me to push me over the edge is the generation overlapping thingy.

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  Simon Templar

  Its a problem for many. I have been in the truth since the 1950's. I lived through 1975, and numerous changes in doctrine/understandings through the years. Its a struggle for me and most of the people sitting at the meeting filling a chair. Don't feel alone. If you speak to a Brother about your concerns, they will tell you this is new light and the problem is with you. Hang in there.
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  14

  What I said to an Elder and the matter was dropped.

  by Simon Templar in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i decided to tell this small story.. about 25 years ago, we lived in a certain area in the usa and associated with the local congregation there.

  coincidently, one of the elders was the assistant congregation servant in a different kh and congregation which i grew up in.

  therefore, we knew one another well.

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  Simon Templar

  I decided to tell this small story.

  About 25 Years ago, we lived in a certain area in the USA and associated with the local congregation there. Coincidently, one of the Elders was the Assistant Congregation Servant in a different KH and Congregation which I grew up in. Therefore, we knew one another well. He was a maverick of sorts, an abrasive odd-ball and did what he wanted. He is still alive today but very, very old. We no longer live in that area so its safe to talk about in my opinion.

  Approximately 4-5 years after moving to this Congregation, the Elder that I knew took me aside, alone in the back of the KH, and asked me a question. The question was about my conduct which would have been a JC offense, and asked me point blank if I did this thing. I looked at him and said: "Who told you that?" He answered; "I cant tell you". I replied: "If you can't reply, neither can I. I don't entertain or respond to anonymous accusations". By the way, this accusation was absolutely false, and it made me angry.

  The Brother looked sheepish and walked away without saying another word. The matter was never brought-up again. It died a quick death that night. I was later appointed in that Congregation. The question I was asked and the total experience I had that evening led me to begin questioning things. If he never bothered me with that false accusation, I wouldn't have been awakened at that time.

  My point is that the religion is filled with real experiences of baseless accusations and the persecution of innocent people. I know of several other actual experiences like this and worse, but wont bother anyone with them now. Everyone must have them also.
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  9

  Has appointment of MS and Elder been changed?

  by Simon Templar in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are there any changes to the new procedure?

  it seems to me that the co doesn't ask the candidate questions any longer.

  they just decide who they will appoint and announce it at the next weekly meeting.

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  Simon Templar

  Tazemanian-devil and Sir 82.

  Thanks for the information. I trust your input.

  I have been watching this and are fairly close with some recent appointees. It appears to me that recently (past year) the CO says nothing, the Elders say nothing and the announcement is merely read the following week, or the CO assigns two brothers to ask the question after he is gone. I think they are jumping at the chance to reappoint former Elders (we have several). They push them all the time. The COs target them and try and get close. Something is going on I think.
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  9

  Has appointment of MS and Elder been changed?

  by Simon Templar in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are there any changes to the new procedure?

  it seems to me that the co doesn't ask the candidate questions any longer.

  they just decide who they will appoint and announce it at the next weekly meeting.

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  Simon Templar

  Are there any changes to the new procedure? It seems to me that the CO doesn't ask the candidate questions any longer. They just decide who they will appoint and announce it at the next weekly meeting. Are they still trying to reappoint brothers who stopped serving, or has that idea gone away?
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  64

  Shutting down the Judicial Committee "invite".

  by kairos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  judicial committee invitation comes, with be there or be square consequences.. ( come or we will df you ).

  what are the sure fire, tested and true tactics that will keep the elders off your back?

  ( for good ).

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  Simon Templar

  Here is what I would do. If I received a telephone call, I would ask to receive a written letter on the subject of meeting. Previously, I would have identified a local Lawyer who would work with me on matters such as this for a reasonable fee (they are around). I would give the letter to the Lawyer to answer. The answer that I would want is something like this: "Pursuant to your letter to Mr/Ms X dated XXXXX requesting a meeting, please be advised that I will be representing Mr/Ms X in this matter and he/she will not be in attendance. Unfortunately, I cannot meet with you on the day and time indicated in your letter. Please advise me of an alternate day and time that you would like to meet. I will appear at that time and we can pursue resolution of your questions. Please direct all future communications related to this subject to me via the contact information provided on this letter."

  I am sure that the BOE will be instructed by the legal Dep't to drop the matter and not pursue. The BOE will also be afraid to say anything other than hello to you. At this point you are free not to return to the KH, or attend as you wish and not be bothered by the matter any longer as long as you keep your mouth shut and don't force their hand.

  Nobody likes dealing with Lawyers/Law suits and the time and expense that goes along with it even if the Law suits are not real but just a possibility. The WTB&TS doesn't want to spend $$$ dealing with the legal cost of investigating and prosecuting personal indiscretions which do not threaten the congregation as a whole.
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  24

  CO Special Meeting with MS & Elders

  by Syme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when the co visits a cognregation this semester, a special meeting with elders and mss is sceduled tuesday night, right after the normal meeting.

  does anyone know what this meeting is about?

  this special meeting is held at the beginning of the co-week, and is different from the standard meeting with personnel which is held friday evening.

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  Simon Templar

  Its held early in the week because things need to be done during the week. I suspect that it relates to supporting the FS arrangements in the morning and afternoon and that the CO needs to either work in service, eat a meal in the home of, or see on the platform anyone that the BOE is proposing for an appointment.
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  69

  Your Experience with Resigning as an Elder

  by committeechairman in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm considering resigning as an elder.

  i'm not planning to fade or stop as one of jehovah's witnesses, just stop serving as an elder.. i have responsibility in the congregation and in circuit, district, rbc, etc.

  and i'm completely exhausted.

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  Simon Templar

  I served for decades. I am still in. My experiences are as follows:

  1. I was doing the TMS, on Judicial Committees, Circuit Assignments, etc. I gave hundreds of talks/parts, etc over the years. I became legitimately sick due to the stress of the work and aging. I told the BOE. They asked me to stay. I said, Okay but I cant do anything for a period of time. I have to catch my breath. They agreed. At the next Meeting I was asked to do a part on short notice. So much for BOE sympathy.

  2. I decided to move my residence to a new town, house, etc. I moved with a good letter of recommendation. I told the Presiding Overseer I would not be serving in the new Congregation for health reasons (legitimate). My wife was good with it. He still doesn't talk to me (I really dont care). I am still there, and the freedom is liberating and recuperative to say the least. The rest of the BOE and the Cong are good to us. All is fine.

  3. I can keep going to Meetings/CA/SAD/DC and in service under this arrangement. I just sit there and watch, comment once in a while that's it. I am not in the TMS (what's the point?). No jobs to do, responsibility, COs to deal with, problems to handle. Very comfortable.

  4. The various COs try and talk to me to reinlist me, but I slip out the back door quickly enough.

  My suggestion is do what is best for you and your family. Just make sure your wife is in agreement with it and can handle it. If you decide to withdraw she may get emotional when the announcement is made. Measure twice and cut once. Once you cut this role out of your life, and if decide you want to do it again, it may take a long while for it to happen.
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  26

  My Judicial Meeting was 6 WEEKS ago! Help me with a question.

  by Comatose in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my judicial meeting was 6 weeks or more ago, and still no action.

  i used a lawyer and a letter to them after i had already met with them and admitted everything.

  the crazy part was they didn't tell me that night if i was df or not.

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  Simon Templar

  If they didnt make an announcement at a recent Service Meeting, you have not been disfellowshipped. If they did not contact you to tell you what their decision was, prior to the announcement, to allow you to appeal it, then you are not disfellowshipped. You have not provided enough information on facts that transpired during the meeting, and what your Lawyer told them in the letter to comment further.
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  14

  Do religous people have a higher / lesser I.Q.than non religous people ? Or vice-versa. Or is it irrelevant..

  by smiddy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  maybe a bit of background information here to see where i am going with this thread.i only had a basic education , leaving school as a 14 year old.

  though being grouded in the three r`s reading, righting, and rithmatic.my first job lasted over 12years , had a few interesting jobs in the intervening years , and my last job lasted 28 years.

  retiring at the age of 68 years.i consider myself fortunate to have had a good work ethic.now getting back to my topic , i was converted as a 20 year old , and as i said with only a basic education .

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  Simon Templar

  I find that religion in general has little or nothing to do with intelligence. Religion is emotionally centered, not intellectually centered. People join and stay in a religion based on how they feel, not on how others may perceive it.
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  4

  Port Washington/Floral Park/New Hyde Park, NY Congregations

  by Simon Templar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have any experience with any of these congregations?.

  i am moving to a location where i could go to any of these three congregations..

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  Simon Templar

  Blonde, I don't know who is there. But it is quite possible that there are Bethelites attending each one.