For the benefit of those who are new to the board and especially those currently serving as elders, I should like to repeat a post I made late last year on H20.
In the final talk of the Sydney District Convention given by Branch Committee member Doug King, he lamented the lack of love being displayed to the brothers by the elders. By way of example, he “encouraged” the Theocratic School overseers to be kind and upbuilding to the students. Although a high number of new ones were being baptized, many old timers in the “truth” were leaving. Brothers needed to feel that coming to the meetings was refreshing spiritually. Instead they were being treated harshly.
In his concluding prayer he asked that Jehovah forgive the elders and that the elders would treat the flock with kindness, not treating them harshly as has been the case!
In Watchtower language it’s “heartwarming” to hear of such a responsible brother recognising that the elder “class” have been the cause of so much hurt within the organisation and confessing it.
But what of the individual elder? Does he recognise that he is individually responsible before Jehovah for his actions in shepherding the flock? Or does he instead say that he was simply “following instructions”? Where have we heard that before? After the Second World War there were many who reportedly said that they simply didn’t know of the atrocities being carried out. It was all “their fault” (i.e. others) as it were. And of course, there is the earliest example of blaming others (the org?) when Adam answered his accuser with the words, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree and so I ate.”(Gen. 3:12)
When the rumoured new Flock book becomes available to the elders, will it make them more responsible individually? Will it rather ‘tighten the screws’ by adding to the rules and regulations for the judicial committees to follow?
The ‘ground’ is crying out to God in hurt and despair for the harshness of the rule carried out in His Name. This board has documented scores of terrible cases of abuse by elders. They individually cannot evade responsibility for they are all part of a system that has perpetrated such wicked things. A sobering thought if you are currently serving as an elder.
Elders need to follow the lead of Brother King and apologise to Jehovah before their congregations for their rule of the flock, instead of being loving shepherds. Jehovah himself is loving and will forgive, but repentance is needed.
Do you think they will?
Cheers,
Ozzie
"There are two ways of moving men, interest and fear" Napoleon