Notes Taken at the Judical Committee Meeting

by zenpunk 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  zenpunk

  I used to spend quite a bit of time during my teenage years in what was affectionately called "the green room". The elders couldn't wait to take out a pen and paper and take pages upon pages of notes while I spoke and my poor parents sat and squirmed. I wasn't a bad kid, it was always about stupid things, like sister-so-and-so said I wore a short skirt to school, etc. But I was wondering - where are those notes now? Can I demand them back? I don't think my teenage angst should have been anyone's business, certainly not the business of three men in their 50s who got off on the power and convinced my parents that they had a problem child on their hands.

  Has anyone had the same experience and been able to recover any personal documents?
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  LDH

  Zen,

  I was speaking with someone the other day, can't remember who, AHHH yes, "Amazing" Jim Whitney who told me that record over 5 years old are SUPPOSED to be destroyed.

  Can anyone give us input on that? I agree with you Zen, in no way do I want someone's subjective "notes" about my life in a file somewhere.

  Lisa
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  Bendrr

  Hi Zenpunk. It's doubtful you'll ever gain access to those notes or any other part of the file kept on you by the elders and the organization. Obviously, if you ask for your file they'll say no or maybe something like "what file?" The only legal way to get it would be to take them to court and any fool could tell you that it would be destroyed as soon as the court papers are served.

  I'd love to get my hands on my file as well, even posted a question about it like you have.

  Honestly, it's better to let it go. Let them keep the file and have their little illusion of power.

  Mike.
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  joeshmoe

  While each hall individually has some leeway, they all are in regular correspondence with the HQ in Brooklyn. Depending on the result of those 'meetings', a note/report is written and becomes part of your permanent file at bethel.
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  joeshmoe

  Even if you get the file at the congregation level, there's still a skeleton of notes at bethel.
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  hillary_step

  Hello,Letters containing details of 'wrongdoing' by a person reproved are kept for 3 years and then destroyed.

  Letters containing details of wrongdoing that led to a disfellowshipping and the person has been reinstated are kept for 5 years then destroyed.

  Letters containing details of wrongdoing that led to a disfellowshipping and the person has not been reinstated are kept perpetually.

  The reality is that most letters are kept. Most Secretaries do not even know the above details unless they ask, and few do. The letters are owned by the congregation, and at least in the US they legally belong to the congregation, so you cannot sue to retrieve them, though I suspect copies could in the final event be given to a person requesting them, but do not hold out much hope.

  The Branch's keep a precised version, containing such details as :

  Hillary Step met with Bro. Black, Gray and Puce regarding a confession of fornication committed on four occasions. The JC determined that he was repentant and gave him private reproof. The following scriptures were used, blah, blah. He was placed on full restrictions. He agreed with the decision of the JC and did not appeal the decision.

  HS

  PS - Letters and information kept about child abusers are also kept perpetually.

  Edited by - hillary_step on 16 June 2002 16:31:33

  Edited by - hillary_step on 16 June 2002 16:35:35

  Edited by - hillary_step on 16 June 2002 16:36:41
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  roybatty

  LDH,

  Amazing is correct. That is the procedure from the guys in Crooklyn, that the local elders destroy hearing notes once their 5 years old. Of course, it's up to the local PO to follow through with these instructions.

  On thing that I found interesting in CoC was that Franz told the "brothers" that they could keep copies of the hearing notes if he could also. The alternative was that neither party would keep notes. The Society wrote him saying that there notes were destroyed. Just a point of interest.
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  joeshmoe

  And lets be clear: the 5 year rule is a joke. I've never been associated with a congregation that adhered in any way, shape, or form with that rule. And neither does bethel. Examples such as Franz and Bowen are truly exceptions to the status quo.
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  lovsinner

  Elders sell stories to Penthouse Forum. Some juicy ones ya know!!
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  Imbue

  Zen it was you in that short skirt...LOL