calling all elders - what goes on at the week long elders school? (page 2)

not bitter

I don't understand why they would be teaching biblical doctrine to elders only. Why keep biblical teachings from the rest of the congregation? Who runs the schoools? Is it the CO or someone like that? Do they discuss specific JC's that are ongoing in that local area or is it more about how to handle JC in general? I do love having elders at hand to answer these questions for me. I darent' ask my Dad.

XBEHERE

Well unlike some here who went to elder schools in the 70's-80's the more very recent week long schools focus on the spirituality of the elders themselves (their words not mine).

I am sure back in the day they focused more on the actual roles of elders being that the arrangement as we know it today just started. Add to that the "Apostate" witch hunts of the 80's. By the time I started to serve in the 1990's it must have been toned down. The regular 2 1/2 day Km schools still focus on the Flock book and how to handle wrong doing, etc. but this passed 1 week long one was different. I mean it was still a waste of time, just not as bad at least to me.

franticfran

I remember David Gibson he was a lovely man,my husband said to him that he felt sorry for him not realy having a permanent home and moving around etc and he replied, No brother I feel sorry for you,your a working family man with many responsibilities,my life is easy compared to yours, such a nice ordinary man.

not bitter

My Dad says he's really enjoying it anyway.

I just wish it wasn't such long days and all the extra work in the evenings. He must be brain dead.

SeventhSojourn

I attended several of these things. About 90% of the instruction is the same old information available to any publisher, just served on different color plates. The rest was just some org stuff and corporate matters. I always felt it was a waste of time and an unnecessary expense.

SeventhSojourn

goodsoul

Do they also teach you to ask horrifying questions which involve women/girls and sexual acts? This has been a widespread practice, for years. Just curious if this is "elder" policy, or if this is something they do just to get themselves off? I was asked very personal, sexual things as a young girl in my JC with 3 elders I'd never met in my entire life... And heard firsthand from other girls and women who have been subjected to the same thing in several different congregations in all different locations of the US/Europe.

Usually, in such type of schools only basic points could be discussed. More specific situation could be briefly described in letters to elders. But basically, what type of questions to ask, elders who serve in JC decide between themselves.
You had some really perverted elders. Sometimes it happens. From the other side- who mostly become an elders in WTS? people who like to control others.

breakfast of champions

' One brother said: "I like to do extra research and tell the friends about". Our instructor said: "So you are telling me that the Governing Body didn't do a good enough job on the article"'

Wow, not only are they against higher education, they're against doing research in their own publications! There's a word for the type of group that does this. . . Hmmmmm. . . what is it. . .

Oh! It's a cult!

leaving_quietly

@ApostateChick Do they also teach you to ask horrifying questions which involve women/girls and sexual acts? This has been a widespread practice, for years. Just curious if this is "elder" policy, or if this is something they do just to get themselves off? I was asked very personal, sexual things as a young girl in my JC with 3 elders I'd never met in my entire life... And heard firsthand from other girls and women who have been subjected to the same thing in several different congregations in all different locations of the US/Europe.

I have been horrified by the questions I've heard that some elders have asked. I've never been in a committee that asked those details. And as an ex-elder, I'm truly sorry this happened to you. This is NOT elder policy. At least, not these days. I couldn't say what happened prior to twelve years ago or so.

The unfortunate thing is that an embarrassing question may have to be asked, but not always. You'd be surprised how many think they've committed immorality just for passionate kissing and touching of the breasts. So, I've had to ask whether it was only the breasts that were touched or if it went further. And that's how I'd phrase it, always prefacing it with: "I'm sorry, but I have to ask a sensitive question. I really don't want to know the details, and I don't want to embarrass you further than you already are." Then I'd proceed with that ONE question. Why that question? Pornea involves touching of the genitals, and breasts are not considered genitalia. Thus if that's all someone did, proceed with counseling, end of committee, not a DFing offense. I've only ever had to ask this question twice, once with a male, once with a female. To me, if someone says they've had sex with someone not their mate, there's no need for details. That's a confession, plain and simple... work with the repentence, not the sin. I always looked for a way to retain my brother or sister. Some were repentent. Some were blatantly not.

TotallyADD

The last one I went to was Patterson in 2009. It was mostly trying to convince us the NWT is a good bible translation "which is not". Also from a footnote in NWT in Hebrews they try to convince us the GB is mention in the bilbe and proof there should be a GB. That was one of the most bogus talks I heard. But like what most said same old same old stuff. Very boring. Could not wait until the week was over. I laugh at them telling us not to talk about it. Like it is some big secrete. Just same old bulls--t. It sometimes felt like they was testing us to see if we was what we said we were. Loyal JW's. Totally ADD

SeventhSojourn

ApostateChick -"Do they also teach you to ask horrifying questions which involve women/girls and sexual acts?"

First of all, I'm sorry you were put through that. I haven't been to any recent Elder Schools but I will say this, and it might sound a little sick. They didn't really "teach" us to ask such sensitive questions but we were advised of the need to get enough detail to determine things like the context, nature, and degree of any acts under investigation. The point being that if you can't effectively isolate and identify the actual problem and it's associated behaviors, you can't address the issue and help the person properly (And file a proper report according to their guidelines).

For example, under the broader terms of "porneia" or "loose conduct" there can be a range of different offenses or sins within their context that become evident during questioning. Certain lines may have been crossed triggering the required method of procedure as set forth by the WTS, and which are contained in the elder's book and other literature. Elders will drill down to determine if those those lines were crossed. Oftentimes imo, to the detriment of innocent parties. Sensitive matters, especially involving minors is not the place for the WTS to inject itself. The whole business really just turns my stomach.

In the quest to gather the facts and build the case the GB has no shame and no limits. And deluded elders (like I used to be), will want to do as they are instructed. Big problem though - Elders are not qualified to handle such matters. As to how some elders conduct themselves in this capacity and interpret how best to administer the WTS instruction, it seems there is no program of oversight to monitor their behavior. Outrageous, isn't it?

SeventhSojourn

calling all elders - what goes on at the week long elders school?

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