While preaching this past Saturday 3-16-13 the following conversation took place in my car with an elder from my cong, my wife, a retired sister and myself.
Me: Addressing my wife I asked her: Do you know how is brother (moron) that crashed his car into a fire station while drunk?
wife: Don't know. Last thing I heard was that he was in a critical condition. At this point the elder chimes in. Elder: Poor guy! He was a witness? Me: Yes Elder: Now he is in trouble not only with the law but in bigger problems with the congregation. Me: Yes he is Wife: Elder know it all, will he get df'd? Elder: Let me ask all of you? I was not expecting this question. Elder: If a brother is accused of molesting a child and he shows repentance, he says to the elders he really is sorry. Should this person get df'd? There was a long silence in the car and you can imagine why. Personally, this blew me away, I was wondering who is the pervert in my KH. But what do you know... the 70+ jw lady in the car said (IN A LOUD VOICE) with a face ready to rip the elder apart. senior JW: A PERSON LIKE THAT NEEDS TO GET DF'D AND SENT TO JAIL!!!! Elder: Shhhhh! People might here us. You need to see it from Jehovah's perspective. What if this brother is truly repentant? For example, in a case of fornication we cannot conclude the person is guilty automatically. Me: NO. It is not a fornication case, in a fornication case you have two consenting people, generally adults. In a pedophile case, you have an adult harming a child and causing pain for the rest of that persons life. Wife: That is correct!! NO MAN COMMITTING SUCH A CRIME SHOULD BE TREATED LIGHTLY. Elder: That is where it can get complicated, we as elders need see things how Jehovah sees it. Let's say if a child accuses a brother of rape, should this brother get df'd? The authorities would simply take him away. But we cannot treat people this way, we are in God's org. Me: Yes this is true, but authorities also have trained people that will question the child to determine if someone told him to say what he said. Also, the authorities will investigate the situation from all different angles. I understand the system is not perfect, but an accusation coming from a child needs to be taken seriously. To summarize. The elder brought up the two witness rule and defended the WT policies and procedures. (AMAZING, ALL IN FRONT OF REGULAR PUBLISHERS) My wife and the elderly JW sister were not happy to hear of the possibility of mercy towards a child molester and I was left with the sour taste and concern of who is the pervert within my hall. How can you see things from Jehovah's perspective if elders cannot read hearts, do not have special powers or the holy spirit from God?