So this week is our CO visit, the first with the new arrangement where the second mid-week meeting has been deleted. So only 1 "service talk" by the CO.
This time, I decided to listen with a different focus. Listen like it was a sales meeting (I have been to many, and hated them all).
Ok, so we go thru the obligatory Theocratic Ministry School, blah blah blah, so wonderful. Then comes the Service Meeting where we get raked for not giving enough money (see my other post).
Then, finally, the long awaited SPECIAL TIME with the CO. Boring as hell. Ms Harper almost fell asleep. It was all about how wonderful the Organization is, from way back as far as the late 1800's, we are so blessed, the light keeps getting brighter, arent all these changes so amazing.... on and on and on. NOTHING that was pertinent or encouraging for our local congregation. ZERO personalization. ZERO upbuilding, or uplifting chatter. Then a 10 minute rant about how the congregation, in addition to meeting our "financial OBLIGATIONS" to mother, we need to increase the amount of HOURS in the ministry. Why, if everyone just spent an extra few minutes on Sunday after the meeting, we would be able to send in an extra 200+ hours every month! "Now brothers, does that seem so hard? I didnt think so. "
So thus far, another SALES MEETING, all about getting our quotas up, giving more cash to the company, and uber guilt-tripping. Absolutely ZERO refreshment or personal attention. After the meeting, the CO was so busy handshakin and bs'n with the "elders" at the front of the hall, he never even spent any time with the "rank and file". Sorry suckers, you arent worth it.
When we got home, Mrs Harper, for the first time ever, said this "this has got to be the most boring, ridiculous CO visit ever. Why in the world would they cut out the second meeting? Forget it, lets not waste our time going out in "service" just to show our faces. Why bother? Lets go do something fun."
So, for the first time in over 20 years, no midweek service for anyone in our household during the CO visit, and no plans for Saturday either, we are staying put and drinking coffee in our PJ's.
Puh Leez..... poor me another shot of Bourbon.