Hey nobodyspecial, it has bugged me for years, the claim, they have no clergy class. I was an ms for years, and turned down the elder appointment twice, I hated the political crap, I had seen so much of, sometimes having to be careful witch elders you were friends with, or listen to. It was, and is a special privilege class!
At the RC a month or so age, the place it was held, is old and full of some pretty steep ramps, instead of steps. A dear old sister, really hurt her knee, and can't hardly walk, and one elder, has been by to check on her!
I remember by the end of the four day DC's, that even had evening program's, how sore your face would be from the non stop smile pasted to your face, and sore hands from hours of clapping over the dumbest things! And CA's that started on Friday, and ended Sunday night, and if Knorr or Franz, showed up, they would have the closing part, and talk way past the half hour or so listed. I remember Knott showing up one Sunday night, and he finally shut up a bit after 11 pm.
The almost two hour lunch breaks were about the only fun to be had!
Back in my early years, most congregation were almost family and friendships were real, we all thought 75 was coming, and the bunker mentality drew everyone together! After 75, with so many new ones having come in because of 75, the closeness really started coming apart, by the early 80's, it was mostly gone. And as the legalistic branch started taking over the Borg, the real closeness is all but gone. Everyone in a congregation used to know where everyone else lived, and seldom did you need or ask for an invite to pop in for a visit, if you were in the area!
I could go on and on!
Dwain
