Came to my door this morning. Seems they want to clean up the books or somesuch. They said that they had some serious "accusations" against me, and would be having an elders meeting (...."uh..uh...it's a judicial meeting" ) this wednesday evening. I gave them a slight but understanding grin. They hinted at me giving them a statement of dissasociation a couple of times in the conversation. They made the requisit posturing towards spirituality; that they could "help" me (what are their qualifications again?) if my faith has been shattered, hinted that things have changed for the better in the congregation (well, the one who knows me did, the "new" guy, whose only been in the congregation 2 years, while I've been gone for over 4, was pretty much "let's just get this done" in his tone).The timing of this sucks; my sister is getting married the first weekend in Sept. The wedding is at my other sister's house, immediate family only, so this will likely not be a huge problem, but who knows? It could turn into one. One of the nicest things about my fade is that my sister (and nieces) who have a nice circle of friends, has been able to walk the edge and have family/social events that include me, and still have her witness friends come too. Guess who will likely lose in this scenario in the future, if I am df'd or even da'd?I'm suspicious of their claim to have serious accusations against me, as I tend to think they are just trying to clear the *Six* problem up; but who knows? I've run across witnesses alone and in groups about 3 times recently, and while the meetings were all very friendly reunions, I think also that it might have gotten people talking about me, and thereby spurred the feral elders into action?Well, any strategy ideas? I'm curious about the what and who of the charges, but not curious enough to go into the meeting and debate any charges against me. Nor do I feel like "reasoning from the scriptures" with these clowns, as that is not my forte, and they don't reason anyway, especially not in groups.It looks to me like one of two things will happen:
a) They will disfellowship me (most likely)
b) They will dissasociate me (less likely unless I do it for them)I'm thinking the best course to minimize the impact on my family, is to go ahead and dissasociate. It may screw my chances of helping any of my old acquaintances, but I think the family will for the most part just *yawn* and say "we knew that". Anyway, I'd send out a note to all of them letting them know it was under duress, and that I would have preferred to just fade away.I just had a thought, what if I were to give them a letter stating that I voted in the democratic primary, and intend to excercise my right to vote in all upcoming elections. I wonder how they would feel they needed to handle that legally? Voting is a bit of a tricky area for them legally. Or maybe Kim Norris would like to get some adversarial practice in Wed. evening? Kim? Kim? heellpppp meeeee ....I'm drowningggg... lol.
a) They will disfellowship me (most likely)
b) They will dissasociate me (less likely unless I do it for them)I'm thinking the best course to minimize the impact on my family, is to go ahead and dissasociate. It may screw my chances of helping any of my old acquaintances, but I think the family will for the most part just *yawn* and say "we knew that". Anyway, I'd send out a note to all of them letting them know it was under duress, and that I would have preferred to just fade away.I just had a thought, what if I were to give them a letter stating that I voted in the democratic primary, and intend to excercise my right to vote in all upcoming elections. I wonder how they would feel they needed to handle that legally? Voting is a bit of a tricky area for them legally. Or maybe Kim Norris would like to get some adversarial practice in Wed. evening? Kim? Kim? heellpppp meeeee ....I'm drowningggg... lol.
) particularly if this is a fishing trip or on the word of one person or people spreading malicious slanderous rumours and gossip. If you really want to get them going, you can deny the accusations as being "complete and utter lies and fabrications" and say that you are accusing your accuser of slander and that you expect them to follow up on it, and that such people have no place in Jehovah's Organization? and that's a huge part of the reason why you are inactive.
I know it's not much comfort, but they will do what they want to do in the end. Just don't submit a letter of disassociation. When they make an announcement to that effect at the KH, everyone will assume that you've written a letter, and you can counter that with a true statement that you did NOT submit a letter of disassociation, and that the elders lied about it from the platform. There won't be any letter for them to produce to prove that you willingly DAd either.
It makes JWs very uncomfortable when you get all upset and go on about "Why would the elders lie about me like that to the congregation?? I am so STUMBLED!! The Devil is supposed to operate in a deceitful way, but these people say they are God's Organization!! How on earth could this happen?? How can I show my face to my friends anymore??" You get the idea. It worked well when I used it. 
Love, ScullyPS: Oh yeah, if you do go on Wednesday night, make sure you get everything on tape. heh heh 
Sixxer, you ask for any strategems, so here's one scenario--
If your primary intent is to delay any official announcement until after the wedding, then use stalling tactics (as others have suggested):
1) Try to beg off for a week on the jc meeting...you do feel a flu coming on, right?
2) If possible, complicate the matter by saying you have witnesses of your own, whose schedules are very difficult to coordinate.
3) You have 1 week to appeal their decision...wait until the 6th day, then hand-deliver a copy of your appeal letter, preferably with someone sitting in the car that can verify that the letter was delivered.
4) It will take them some time to put together an appeal committee, since such an action has to be coordinated by the c.o.
5) If that doesn't buy enough time, then when the appeals committee renders their decision, appeal it to the WTS. (I'm not really sure about this last step; it may be that the appeal decision becomes binding and announceable, pending an overturn by Brooklyn).
At any rate, I think using such a tactic would probably buy you enough time to be able to attend the wedding.
Other than that, my suggestion would be to make them make the decision, and don't you make it for them. Trust me on this (I speak from personal experience), you never know how the conscience of certain elders will haunt them in a way that you would probably never expect (as happened with the chairman of my last jc).
I'm sorry this is happening to you, my friend.
Craig