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isaacaustinweek long elders training class for 08 confirmed


announced at my parents service meeting last night
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sir82Re: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

Very few details given.

First class begins February 4, 2008.

Runs for 5 days, from Monday morning through Friday afternoon.

To be held at Patterson.

School begins at 8:00 each day, attendees have the "privileges" of "sharing in morning worship" and attending the Monday evening "family Watchtower study".

Ever notice that the less enjoyable an activity is, the more likely it will be called a "privilege"?

"Brother Jones, due to your 70 years of faithful unquestioning service, we've selected you to have the privilege of driving to the assembly hall at 5:00 AM to lead the cleaning crew."

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blondieRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
Are all the elders invited?
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oompaRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
God knows they need it......oompa
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zackRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
If you think they're pricks now, wait 'til they come back from that school!
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sir82Re: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

It didn't specifically say who would be invited first. The implication was that all elders would eventually get to go.

My best guess is that it will work by seniority, as it did with the recent pioneer service schools that long-time pioneers could attend again. First those with 25+ years of pioneer service went, the following year those with 22+ years went, the following year 20+ years, etc.

Don't know if the "seniority" used for the elders' school would run by "time elapsed while serivng as an elder" or "time elapsed since baptism".

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purplesofaRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
I wonder if the congregations will be asked to help pay for expenses?
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drew saganRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
Ha!

It is very clear what they are doing here, almost to clear.

There is not a single doubt in my mind that by sending Elders through this school they aim to puff up their egos. They want their men to be more organizational, and this school aims to do just that. There is also no doubt that when the Elders come back from this school there will be a sense of awe around them. Like they have been learning at the feet of Jesus.

It's a tool to teach these men respect and discipline. From what I gathered when I was in the WTS wasn't to happy with it's Elder bodies and felt they where not doing nearly enough. They where also very quick to point out how many more men they needed to fill positions and that there just wasn't enough out there who where qualified.

They are going to be training hardliners. They want these men to taste organizational power by 'bringing them in' to the less accessed places of the organization.
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OnTheWayOutRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

This is really encouraging to families that get to spend little time with Daddy elder.
Now he gives up a week of vacation one year to go get puffed up with pride.

I see this move as very smart on WTS's part. 
These "clergy class" guys will be convinced that:
1.  they are the princes.
2.  they need to stay busy in Jehovah's The Printing Company's service.
3.  they have been granted such a lofty privilege.
4.  they need to keep promoting the doctrine in order to be princes.
5.  they just need to focus on the Kingdom Printing Company instead of their own lives for just a few more years.
6.  those pesky lawsuits can be minimized if they just follow procedure exactly-
          perhaps engaging in illegal or unethical practices, afterall- it's Satan's world.
7.  there is no room for doubt or disloyalty on their parts. 

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oompaRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
Drew: There is not a single doubt in my mind that by sending Elders through this school they aim to puff up their egos. They want their men to be more organizational, and this school aims to do just that.
Could be Drew, but I am thinking that this may be very needed instruction to prepare for 1914 going TOTALLY out the window.  1995 Generation change (very weak and not mentioned since), 2007 with 144k still being called to serve (so I can partake now).  When is the big guns gonna fire that Jesus did not inviso.....Bab the G was destroyed, and WT was not picked as FDS....That last one will not happen....sorry.....oompa
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JulieMRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
It was Service Meeting night at my hall last night, I expect this would have been announced there. I'll bet that some of the elders would have been smiling, but their wives would have been smiling more at the prospect of a week away from them.
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changelingRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

I wonder how many witness families will have to forgo their vacation because Elder Daddy has to use his time going to Patterson for the all improtant Elder School?

"Put first the Kingdom..."

Ahhh, childhood memories...

changeling

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OnTheWayOutRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

Wow, I just had a thought.

One of my chief arguments when I turned in my elder resignation was that I did not know
the Governing Body, I knew nothing of how they work, I really didn't even know their names.
I could no longer promote their doctrines without a better understanding of that. 

The elders would think about me now.  "If only Bro. OTWO waited until this grand privilege
came about.  He could learn the things he was having trouble with.  Well, at least we will
know those things now.  OTWO may have been right.  Jehovah saw this need on the part
of elders and is addressing it.  I am certain that we will get a better understanding of the
Governing Body and it's operations.  Isn't this organization marvelous?"

Of course they won't learn squat about the GB.  CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE did teach me
almost everything I was lacking.  Freeminds.org taught me the names of these cult leaders. 
The elders will be more deluded than ever.  They will think more of themselves and how the
holy spirit operates through them.  Promise them love and support and a greater reward in
Fantasy Land Paradise.  That's all they need to hear to keep cracking the whip for the master
upon the other slaves.

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drew saganRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
The elders would think about me now. "If only Bro. OTWO waited until this grand privilege came about. He could learn the things he was having trouble with. Well, at least we will know those things now. OTWO may have been right. Jehovah saw this need on the part of elders and is addressing it. I am certain that we will get a better understanding of the Governing Body and it's operations. Isn't this organization marvelous?"
This is the point I was making above. By giving Elders a special look into the organization it would help them remain firm against the idea that many criticize them form, mainly that they don't really know anything about the inner workings of their organization.

Just like the Proclaimers books gives a JW the false idea that he knows his religions history, this special school could be a way to make Elders think they really 'know' the inside of the org.
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Bonnie_ClydeRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

How about the 4-week elder schools back in the 60's?  A friend of ours had a business that he had to let someone else run, he had a wife and 5 children at home, and they had to fend for themselves.  He still talks about what a fool he was.

But it does sound like they are cracking down as though they haven't enough already.

Bonnie

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Doubting BroRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed

Once again, JWD scoops the local congregation elder bodies. Cheers to all those with inside connections that immediately share it with the rest of us!

Man, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that BS any longer.

I agee that it is a ploy to "encourage" the remaining elders since they have lost so many in the last decade.

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minimusRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
What's a week for Jehovah???
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oompaRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
OTWO: One of my chief arguments when I turned in my elder resignation was that I did not know
the Governing Body, I knew nothing of how they work, I really didn't even know their names.
I could no longer promote their doctrines without a better understanding of that. 
By the way OTWO, I just read you experience of waking and fading, then some of your old posts because of our similarites.  My fade really speeded up as well.  Anyway, I posted recently somewhere about your comment above.  Dubs seem to thing GB and FDSC are the same.  We really hear way more about what the Faithful Slave are doing/saying/thinking, like they all have input.  No way has this ever taken place, not by phone, telegraph, mail.  It is just a very few men that claim to act for all the rest of FDS.  And as many know, that phrase had given me the heebie jeebies for years.  Just two cents....oompa
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grassyknoll07Re: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
Yes, this is confirmed. POs will be invited first. A follow up letter will be sent requesting individual PO availability. It sounds like attendance will be based on individual availability, not seniority. The school is only available in English. This will exclude most of the spanish POs. CO said they should be able to train all the english speaking POs in 2008. No mention about expenses.
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MaryRe: week long elders training class for 08 confirmed
    • First class begins February 4, 2008.
    • Runs for 5 days, from Monday morning through Friday afternoon.
    • To be held at Patterson.
    • School begins at 8:00 each day, attendees have the "privileges" of "sharing in morning worship" and attending the Monday evening "family Watchtower study".
    It should come with a warning not to drive or operate heavy machinery after attending.  
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