Update on meeting with the Elders 12/28/21

Status
Not open for further replies.
KevinB said:
Bravo! You made some excellent points. What they will do is use the scriptures you quoted to start a judicial case. My advise for the next visit:

Have ready the scriptural points you made, but also have ready the Watchtowers that explain their applications. When they confront you on your "personal" application of a scripture, grab the corresponding watchtower that supports your application of the scripture and ask them to explain what Watchtower is saying. Anticipate their answer and have appropriate publications ready and repeat
Click to expand...
Excellent advice. Thank you. We did meet with them once. But I suppose if they find out that I’m talking to anyone else or possibly if they find my postings on the forum, I may hear from them again.
 
Driven said:
Excellent advice. Thank you. We did meet with them once. But I suppose if they find out that I’m talking to anyone else or possibly if they find my postings on the forum, I may hear from them again.
Click to expand...
They will be coming back, make no mistake. It is good you said you do not want to disassociate yourself, but trust me they want you to take that rout because it the easy way out for them. I hope you let them do their wicked deed and let them disfellowship you, let the guilt for what they decide be on their heads and Jah can deal with them as he see fit. Do not be afraid.

If you do not retract what you said in that letter they will form to a judicial case to disfellowship you. If your interested in giving them a good witness, when they decide to disfellowship you, appeal their decision in writing within the allotted time they give you. (it used to be 7 days, but may have changed) In your appeal letter give them even more food for thought and make sure they understand you are doing this out loyalty for Jehovah and his son. This way your witness will travel far in the ranks of the elders. Also don't let them separate you and your husband when they invite you to the judicial case. They may suspect one mate is dominating the decision of the other and try to separate you for questioning. So if you're both truly in this together demand you sit and answer together as a couple.

I pray, Jah will strengthen you and provide his spirit during the trial so you remain calm and composed like Christ was when he was on trial. Rely on Jah and pray to him every step of the way asking for his help. You will see how strong Jah makes you and how spiritually weak they are. I went trough this when I confronted my local elders on the new teaching of the faithful salve and showed them out of our own pubs that it was sectarian and unscriptural. I felt honored to be mistreated for the sake of God and Christ and to give a witness. I followed it to the end without flinching thanks to Jehovah's help (Mt 5:11; Acts 5:41)

Look forward to hearing about how it goes. - 1 Corinthians 16:23-24
 
KevinB said:
They will be coming back, make no mistake. It is good you said you do not want to disassociate yourself, but trust me they want you to take that rout because it the easy way out for them. I hope you let them do their wicked deed and let them disfellowship you, let the guilt for what they decide be on their heads and Jah can deal with them as he see fit. Do not be afraid.

If you do not retract what you said in that letter they will form to a judicial case to disfellowship you. If your interested in giving them a good witness, when they decide to disfellowship you, appeal their decision in writing within the allotted time they give you. (it used to be 7 days, but may have changed) In your appeal letter give them even more food for thought and make sure they understand you are doing this out loyalty for Jehovah and his son. This way your witness will travel far in the ranks of the elders. Also don't let them separate you and your husband when they invite you to the judicial case. They may suspect one mate is dominating the decision of the other and try to separate you for questioning. So if you're both truly in this together demand you sit and answer together as a couple.

I pray, Jah will strengthen you and provide his spirit during the trial so you remain calm and composed like Christ was when he was on trial. Rely on Jah and pray to him every step of the way asking for his help. You will see how strong Jah makes you and how spiritually weak they are. I went trough this when I confronted my local elders on the new teaching of the faithful salve and showed them out of our own pubs that it was sectarian and unscriptural. I felt honored to be mistreated for the sake of God and Christ and to give a witness. I followed it to the end without flinching thanks to Jehovah's help (Mt 5:11; Acts 5:41)

Look forward to hearing about how it goes. - 1 Corinthians 16:23-24
Click to expand...
Thank you. Great advice. Yes we are ready to accept what they decide but we won’t willingly disassociate. I agree that decision will have to be on the Elder’s conscience. One thing we and they made clear is that we are in opposition to the Governing Body because of their apostasy.
 
Driven said:
Thank you. Great advice. Yes we are ready to accept what they decide but we won’t willingly disassociate. I agree that decision will have to be on the Elder’s conscience. One thing we and they made clear is that we are in opposition to the Governing Body because of their apostasy.
Click to expand...
There's a video by Eric that may be of use. Hopefully, no underhanded tactics are used if it comes to this.
 
Driven said:
Thank you. Great advice. Yes we are ready to accept what they decide but we won’t willingly disassociate. I agree that decision will have to be on the Elder’s conscience. One thing we and they made clear is that we are in opposition to the Governing Body because of their apostasy.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this, pretty sure you know where I'm going with it

““And you, son of man, tell the sons of your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he revolts; nor will the wickedness of the wicked man make him stumble when he turns away from his wickedness; nor will anyone righteous be able to keep living because of his righteousness in the day that he sins. When I say to the righteous one: “You will surely keep living,” and he trusts in his own righteousness and does what is wrong, none of his righteous acts will be remembered, but he will die for the wrong that he has done.” (Eze 33:12, 13)
 
PJ54 said:
There's a video by Eric that may be of use. Hopefully, no underhanded tactics are used if it comes to this.
Click to expand...
I watched it, that wasn't my experience at all. The brothers on my appeal committee all had a copy of the appeal letter I wrote (see attached) and to be honest they were quite fair. I took the 7 days to appeal because i fired off an urgent letter to the GB hoping they might intervene.

However, they wouldn't let me talk about anything i had corresponded in my appeal letter. If it was something that they had not already considered then I could bring it up. I was allowed to take notes it and I had compiled an extensive chronological order of events that lead up to my judicial case and made a print out to refer to. I would attach it but there are names in it beside my own. Maybe i will scrub it of the names and attach later. The thing is when your surrounded by 7 elders you can try to have command of your audience but things go where they go, so i didn't even get to use my notes. My regret is this, I wish I would have put their feet to the fire and asked them to explain what the Watchtower or Insight book meant and I should have done that on the original committee not during the appeal hearing . The appeal committee is not there to hear the case again, they are there to see if there was an error in judgement.

Also this guy Eric, I'm not on board with his ideas and i think he made quite a stink for himself bringing lawyers into his judicial case.
 
Driven said:
Thank you. Great advice. Yes we are ready to accept what they decide but we won’t willingly disassociate. I agree that decision will have to be on the Elder’s conscience. One thing we and they made clear is that we are in opposition to the Governing Body because of their apostasy.
Click to expand...
 
KevinB said:
I watched it, that wasn't my experience at all. The brothers on my appeal committee all had a copy of the appeal letter I wrote (see attached) and to be honest they were quite fair. I took the 7 days to appeal because i fired off an urgent letter to the GB hoping they might intervene.

However, they wouldn't let me talk about anything i had corresponded in my appeal letter. If it was something that they had not already considered then I could bring it up. I was allowed to take notes it and I had compiled an extensive chronological order of events that lead up to my judicial case and made a print out to refer to. I would attach it but there are names in it beside my own. Maybe i will scrub it of the names and attach later. The thing is when your surrounded by 7 elders you can try to have command of your audience but things go where they go, so i didn't even get to use my notes. My regret is this, I wish I would have put their feet to the fire and asked them to explain what the Watchtower or Insight book meant and I should have done that on the original committee not during the appeal hearing . The appeal committee is not there to hear the case again, they are there to see if there was an error in judgement.

Also this guy Eric, I'm not on board with his ideas and i think he made quite a stink for himself bringing lawyers into his judicial case.
Click to expand...
I know he secretly recorded his first judicial committee hearing. I haven't seen it yet so perhaps there are detail I missed out on. I'm just worried that @Driven may experience foul play since every elder is different & each has a different ambition/goal in life.
 
Driven said:
Hi All,
I said that I would keep you updated and I want to do that. But first I think I need to post a copy of the letter that my husband and I sent to the Elders in our congregation. It’s a bit long but it’s attached for you to read it.

After the initial pleasantries, there were only 2 scriptures they used to persuade us. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 “For just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although many, are one body, so too is the Christ. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit”

We agree with the above scripture but it is by following the teachings of Christ, as stated in the bible, that we are part of his body. Jesus is the one who identifies his body and it doesn’t change our belief that the Governing Body has become apostate and is now teaching unscriptural ideas, such as the teaching that they are Jehovah’s channel of direction.

And, John 6:48-69, which is too long to include but our response was that really all false religion could use these same scriptures to keep people in the fold. I feel they are a misapplication and I feel that it adds more evidence that the Governing Body has elevated themselves to the same authority and position as Jesus, which is idolatry.

So, they were taking our temperature and they will meet with the other Elders and let us know what they decide to do.

Thanks to you all for the comfort that I find in “talking” to you all on this forum and the previous forum.
Click to expand...
Hi your down files are formatted for ? As I did download but it was not readable
 
KevinB said:
I was thinking about this, pretty sure you know where I'm going with it

““And you, son of man, tell the sons of your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he revolts; nor will the wickedness of the wicked man make him stumble when he turns away from his wickedness; nor will anyone righteous be able to keep living because of his righteousness in the day that he sins. When I say to the righteous one: “You will surely keep living,” and he trusts in his own righteousness and does what is wrong, none of his righteous acts will be remembered, but he will die for the wrong that he has done.” (Eze 33:12, 13)
Click to expand...
Excellent scripture. Thank you.
 
KevinB said:
I said I attached my appeal letter in reply to PJ54, but decided to attach my appeal letter to this reply. Thanks Driven Enjoy
PS Kevin isn't my real name ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing that letter. You recognized some important errors in 2016. Your letter was well crafted and thoughtful. Thank you for standing up for the principles that Jehovah and his Son gave to us at great cost to themselves and at great cost to other faithful ones. You have strengthened me today.
 
Also this guy Eric, I'm not on board with his ideas and i think he made quite a stink for himself bringing lawyers into his judicial case.
Click to expand...

I had a yak to a disfellowshipped brother who had been watching some of Picket's videos and when he saw his one on the Judicial Committee it completely put him off.

In his opinion he thought he presented like he was a bit of a Sook and he was deliberately hyping/grandstanding the whole thing up for his viewers.

Seeing it from the Elder's point of view, they knew that he'd probably be carrying recording devices so they had to be very scripted and careful with their responses as it would probably end up on the internet.

Having been on the end of Judicial corruption myself, I can understand that emotions run high. But I also see the need to remain faithful and discreet in my own conduct when handling the circumstance that I'm facing.
 
PJ54 said:
I know he secretly recorded his first judicial committee hearing. I haven't seen it yet so perhaps there are detail I missed out on. I'm just worried that @Driven may experience foul play since every elder is different & each has a different ambition/goal in life.
Click to expand...
Good day to you PJ54! I am Driven's hubby.

I am of the mind that "foul play" is already at work in the form of "keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer". Meaning, we probably should have been removed from the congregation for the overt and blatant declaration of our "stand against the governing body", but we were not. I wonder why not. It certainly is not because most of the 15 elders in our congregation are our personal friends, for even friends would have to draw the uncomfortable line in the sand regarding a stark and clear rebellion enacted against "the organization", which we did. They told us so long as we do not proselytize our thoughts about the GB, we could hang around and no announcement would be made. That still puts us solidly in their controlling hands, does it not? So as a result of this version of "foul play" on their part, they keep us at bay and watch us carefully from here on out. We have already received our first follow up "how you guys doing" call from one of the elders. A disfellowshipping would have had the entire congregation talking which I believe is exactly why they did not go in that direction.

So to your concern about potential for foul play, thank you kind brother but we were expecting worse than what we received, at least to date. In due course however they will have no choice but to disfellowship us because we will not remain silent when the opportunity for "a fine witness" comes along from another spiritually ailing member of our congregation. And if for some reason the elders end up being slow to react to such a situation or multiple situations (if they find out / we get caught, that is), there MAY come a time when we simply dis-associate ourselves because the "unclean thing" is still being touched presently and we are getting tired of constantly washing our hands LOL (Covid pun intended). Again, thank you for your concern though!!

This forum is AWESOME!! Thank you Brother King!!
 
Last edited:
Backtotrueworship said:
Hi your down files are formatted for ? As I did download but it was not readable
Click to expand...
I believe they are pdf's separated into individual pages due to the length of the letter (4 pages). I know Driven had a few issues loading them up so if that is still the case I will let her know and we will find another way to get our letter to the elders to you. Try it again if you don't mind and let us know.
 
Medi-tator said:
Good day to you PJ54! I am Driven's hubby.

I am of the mind that "foul play" is already at work in the form of "keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer". Meaning, we probably should have been removed from the congregation for the overt and blatant declaration of our "stand against the governing body", but we were not. I wonder why not. It certainly is not because most of the 15 elders in our congregation are our personal friends, for even friends would have to draw the uncomfortable line in the sand regarding a stark and clear rebellion enacted against "the organization", which we did. They told us so long as we do not proselytize our thoughts about the GB, we could hang around and no announcement would be made. That still puts us solidly in their controlling hands, does it not? So as a result of this version of "foul play" on their part, they keep us at bay and watch us carefully from here on out. We have already received our first follow up "how you guys doing" call from one of the elders. A disfellowshipping would have had the entire congregation talking which I believe is exactly why they did not go in that direction.

So to your concern about potential for foul play, thank you kind brother but we were expecting worse than what we received, at least to date. In due course however they will have no choice but to disfellowship us because we will not remain silent when the opportunity for "a fine witness" comes along from another spiritually ailing member of our congregation. And if for some reason the elders end up being slow to react to such a situation or multiple situations (if they find out / we get caught, that is), there MAY come a time when we simply dis-associate ourselves because the "unclean thing" is still being touched presently and we are getting tired of constantly washing our hands LOL (Covid pun intended). Again, thank you for your concern though!!

This forum is AWESOME!! Thank you Brother King!!
Click to expand...
Well tread carefully as needed! Things are getting weird.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top