To what extent do the elders keep information on us?

by JH 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  JH

  I remember a few years ago, I changed congregation, so the elders told me that they had to send my folder to the other congregation. When I was baptized, I don't remeber them telling me they kept information on me, and that they would pass it around to other congregations if ever I moved.

  I wonder what kind of information is kept in these folders. Probably everyone in the congregation has his hours listed and the privileges they had written in it, but maybe there is alot more written that we don't even know about.

  Does anybody know what else could be written in these folders?
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  blondie

  I can't speak to the aberrant tactics of individual elders but:

  When you switch congregations they send:

  Your publisher's cards (I think officially they keep 8 years) which contains your name, address, phone number, whether you are a regular pioneer, MS, elder, other sheep (OS) or anointed, male or female, plus the numbers you turned in to them month by month, year by year.

  They will send a cover letter as to your spiritual "health" in the congregation.

  If you are currently on restrictions, they should mention that.

  The WTS has said too that someone who was dealt with judicially as a pedophile is supposed to be identified as such (not accused only if they were actually DF'd (reinstated) or reproved (publicly or privately). I know that a few elder bodies have done this...have all?

  A lot of unofficial information passes between elders over the phone that may never be in that letter but will nonetheless impact on your future in that new congregation.

  Any judicial action paperwork in the old congregation remains in the old congregation. They are not supposed to pass it on. If you were DF'd and started attending a new congregation, your request to be reinstated has to go through the old congregation who will advise the new elder body based on any new information they provide.

  Elders have a hard enough time doing the paperwork they are assigned to do, let alone making up folders on each JW in the congregation. Most rely on word of mouth. No paper trail and if the facts get muddled, no problem.

  Blondie
• 

  JustTickledPink

  and the elders ask their wives all the time for any other kinds of information. Found that out pretty damn quick. Our old PO had the "busiest" wife I think possible... in everyone's business.
• 

  VM44

  When you switch congregations they send: Your publisher's cards (I think officially they keep 8 years) which contains your name, address, phone number, whether you are a regular pioneer, MS, elder, other sheep (OS) or anointed, male or female, plus the numbers you turned in to them month by month, year by year.

  When asked directly the Jehovah's Witnesses will answer "No, we do not maintain membership roles"

  In view of the existence of Publisher cards, how can they answer in the negative and still believe they are not telling a lie?

  --VM44
• 

  eyeslice

  As usual Blondie is spot on. A publisher's record card is approx. 6.5 by 5.5 inches and is simply a month by month table of hours, return visits, magazines, etc. Comments about the publishers would not be written on the record card except occassionally a reason why there is no field service for a month, e.g. "ill in hospital".

  Even if you have committed a 'disfellowshipping' offense, there is likely to be little if anything in writing about it at your local congregation. In recent years the Society has in instructed the congregations to keep virtually nothing on file other than a copy of the disfellowshipping form (S77 ?) that is sent to them.

  Finally, if you have been appointed a ministerial servant or elder at some point there will be a copy of the CO's recommendation to the Society on file. But this is usually quite trite, alongs the line of "brother X has served faithfully in this congregation for an number of years and I agree with the body of elders recommendation to appoint him".

  Eyeslice
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  Axelspeed

  Agree with Blondie and Eyeslice. Unless you are pretty far up the food chain, this can be overblown. Most elders have enough on there plate and dread having to keep up with more paperwork or even track down inactives on there own initiative. Now when the COs visit is close, there may be some token effort, but that is usually short-lived.

  Most Jws are just a cog in a much bigger wheel.

  Axelspeed
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  willyloman

  What Blondie said is precisely accurate. There are no "folders." Believe me, the average elder in the typical congo doesn't even the names of many of the congregants and would be unable say how many children you have or where you live in most instances. Most elders have never used their key to the congo files and wouldn't have any idea what's in there (forms and correspondence, along with sealed envelopes from judicial committees that will almost never be opened).

  Conspiracy is not the identifying mark of the JW organization. It's ignorance.
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  stillajwexelder

  Depending on the secratary and how detailed he is at keeping notes, Body ofElders meeting minutes also conatin information - I know because I used to write meeting minutes
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  DocBob

  I was an elder from 1985 to 1995. Whenever someone changed congregations, their old body of elders would send a letter introducing the person or family to the new body of elders. The letter would generally describe their "spiritual condition" along with any recent problems, judicial actions or any restrictions that might be in place due to judicial actions. Along with that would be the Publisher Record Card for a maximum of 7 years. They are supposed to destroy any cards older than 7 years. Any records of judicial action would stay with the old congregation.
• 

  MungoBaobab

  Oh, I would kill to see what my intrroductory letter said when I last changed congragations.

  "Brother Baobab has demonstrated an independent spirit opposed to Jehovah God by refusing to shave his sideburns another quarter inch to mid-ear length as we insisted. Suely he will be destroyed at Armageddon for such insolence, and should be treated as a walking corpse."

  This would explain my warm reception and subsequent dismissal. Musta been marked.