Almost three years after quitting meetings, and receiving only the most minimal, perfunctory interest from one elder (one visit six months later and NO questions or expressions of interest from the congo members we thought were our "friends") I received a phone call last night from that elder, demanding an explanation for a recent action of mine. I told him I had no interest in discussing my actions with him and that it was strange that after three years of silence only now has he contacted me for a "chat", because he has taken offence at something. (So much for looking for the lost sheep ... remember the Nov 15, 2008 WT study articles, ""Help Those Who Stray From the Flock? Why in God's name do they "study" those articles when they have no intention of applying the information?)
What gets me is that no matter how long you've been gone, they still consider you're in their control, that they have the right to demand explanations about the decisions I take in my life. I think this guy was quite taken aback that I rebuffed him. I told him the phone call was inappropriate, that I had never wanted to discuss my reasons for leaving and still didn't.
Weirdly, he said twice that he "knew" I'd had "issues with the brothers". I still have no idea who or what he's referring to, but I don't doubt for a moment my wife and I have been the subject of much gossip over the past three years. When someone leaves without explanation, they have to come up with some "reason" and I'm guessing they decided we'd been "stumbled" or that we were too headstrong or independent or disobedient or some crap. Poor Witnesses have so little to do in their lives outside meetings and witnessing, the drama of someone's departure and speculation over their reasons provides a little excitement until the next case of adultery or disfellowshipping or reproof.
So what happens now? Is me ticking him off counted as "brazen conduct"? Will he be so affronted that he summons other elders, blows it up and decides it's time he dealt with me to keep the congregation clean? If he does try to establish a JC, I'll play Page 73 of the Shepherding the Flock book to the letter: (a) I don't describe myself as a Witness, (b) I doubt half the congregation would even know who I am, (c) I have no interest in attending any committee meetings or meeting any elder because it's all in the past and I've moved on .... but I'll tell him if they go ahead, to please themselves because it won't affect me one way or the other.