The fine art of refusing a Shepherding Call

Open mind

I'm pretty sure the forseeable future will include numerous attempts to "shepherd" my family. My elder status is either already gone or soon to be gone.

Does anyone know of specific rules when it comes to refusing a shepherding call? I've made many such calls myself over the years, and I've been stood up on a number of occasions. But I've never had a publisher flat-out refuse one. The closest to that I ever personally heard was something along these lines:

"You know Brother OM, I really appreciate your concern, but I really think it would be best for my wife and I if you didn't come by just yet."

Eventually though, we got our nosy noses in the door.

So, bottom line is: Has anyone ever flat out refused a shepherding call? (I know many have.) And, if so, what was the fallout?

Also, any carefully crafted refusals and/or delay tactics would be appreciated.

We don't want to DA but rather do a very slow fade for extended family.

om

wobble

A young guy I know said the right things:

"Thank you so much for your concern, I couldn't face the stress of that right now, I will call you when I feel better "

Of course he never called the Elder,but he fell off the radar, at present he lives in a house with about four young ladies who are students at his university, lucky sod.

Love

Wobble

John Doe

Tell them your dog ate your bible.

sacolton

"Yeah, you can come over, but I'm down with the H1N1 virus. *cough* What time?"

bennyk

"Concerned" Elders once stopped by to berate my wife regarding the clinical depression with which she was suffering. I escorted them to the door.

Several months later, the PO interrupted a conversation I was having with one of the congregation members and asked when my wife and I would appreciate another shepherding call. I told him: "We won't be having one." He shuffled his feet and stated that he and another Elder wished to have a shepherding call with us. I told him: "Yes, I understood you. We'll not be having a 'shepherding call.'" To this he reponded that "the Society says we have to do this to encourage you..." After a considerable pause, I replied: "Exactly. 'To encourage us.' And that's why we won't be having one." He wandered away...

No "fallout." I denounced the PO and his sidekick when the CO made his next appearance. They never asked again.

flipper

OPEN MIND- When I first stopped attending in December of 2003 , in Jan. of 2004 they tried to call me to meet with me again. They had unjustly tried getting me to take back a non-witness wife who was a druggie and would be dangerous to my JW teenage daughters. And because I stopped attending they were out to get me. When they called, I just told them, " We've talked about everything we are going to talk about. I'm offended you endangered my daughters by wanting me to take back a druggie wife. We have nothing to talk about. " Then i went " click " and I hung up the phone on them. This happened 2 times - then they didn't bother me again

MinisterAmos

When they came to see me (Goof Ball Elder and the CO) I told them I wasn't home.

To their faces. I would not recommend this tactic for everyone.

SirNose586

When they came to see me (Goof Ball Elder and the CO) I told them I wasn't home.

To their faces. I would not recommend this tactic for everyone.

That's actually pretty cool, I'll have to do that if they try to bug me.

Open mind

wobble:

"Thank you so much for your concern, I couldn't face the stress of that right now, I will call you when I feel better "

That one's a keeper. Thanks.

The smart ass one's were hilarious. Thank you as well.

Thanks to bennyk and flipper for giving a detailed account of your experiences. It seems like having some sort of emotionally high-powered grudge to use against them is helpful. Right now we don't have any, but that will probably change with time.

bennyk said: "I denounced the PO and his sidekick when the CO made his next appearance."

Care to elaborate?

Any and all Shepherding Ducking stories welcome!

om

creativhoney

tell them you have satan over, they will have to call again.

The fine art of refusing a Shepherding Call

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