I wasnt going to post this here, but after Cordelia's thread on disfellowshipping I thought it might be good.
Well I really didn't want to go, but I forced myself to go to the elder's meeting after the circuit assembly today. I ended up being glad I went because the things talked about were very encouraging and I though you?d like to know.
The meeting was based on an outline from the branch and it talked about judicial hearings. There were several noteworthy points that were made.
Quote:
District overseer
It is felt that most elders have adopted an 'Eli-like' permissive attitude.
The society believes that most judicial committees are far too lenient.
I believe the above two are actual quotes from the outline
It was also stated that leniency and not being quick to disfellowship, have given apostates ammunition in making charges of sexual abuse. (an example was given of an elder who had sex with a minor for three years, he was disfellowshipped but was reinstated within 6 months) We were told that it may take a year or years for a disfellowshipped one to have a plea of reinstatement heard. We were told not to hear pleas for reinstatement if such pleas are less than 3 months apart.
Circuit overseer
"You've heard the saying: "if you must err, err on the side of mercy"" To err on the side of mercy in a JC is foolishness." He then goes on to tell us to call the branch if we have any questions during a JC.
CO Needs for the circuit
76 publishers became inactive in our circuit over the past 6 months, a whole congregation. Of course the falling numbers isn't due to any problems with the FDS even though they've been put in charge of Christ belongings. No, the problem is with the permissive elders and their lack of shepherding.
After his part on shepherding the DO got up for some final comments and this is what floored me. I quote.
Quote:
One thing is for sure brothers, we are hemorrhaging,,,,,,, we are losing more than are coming in. It is up to us to stop this. End quote
He then goes on to name off some things that the elders must do to stop the hemorrhaging. One of them is a deep, meditative study of the bible. Then I thought to myself "hell, that's what caused me to become an apostate in the first place"