I"m finally gonna do it afterall these years! (page 2)

NameWithheld

Oh ... keep waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting. We promise it will all get better *someday* - sure we make mistakes but that just proves we're right. Unlike all the other religions when they make mistakes - that proves that they're false evil religions and everyone in them will die die die die, with all their blood and guts spilling out to the earth. Aren't you glad we have such good news to tell you!

Music Mouth

Humble. Pie is fraud.

mustang

NoJW86,

It seems that there are lots of thoughts on this. Here is some more.

I like what Wendy says: write a therapeutic letter to yourself.

Of course, humble took the Loyalist pose and said don't do it, hang on.

SW20 is right in saying that he (humble, or anyone else, for that matter) can't tell you what to do. It is funny how many forget that; but consider the 1000's of hours of conditioning invested into each JW.

I really like SW20's thought: 'I'm not gonna & here's why'.

Personally, I advocate a combination of Wendy & SW20: don't do it. They don't listen to any of your reasons, they just scratch your name and send in a form. It's a 'pseudo-legal' formality, CREATED BY WTS NOT THE BIBLE.

In that regard, probably the ultimate is the DocBob 'Lawyers Letter'. (He also wrote another one that is more conventional, I understand.)
Credits to DocBob, and regards to him, wherever he is. This was originally posted on the old H2O. It's long, but here it is:

Posted by Doc Bob [docbob] on September 26, 2000 at 18:42:27 {Ya22knR/iw4GgUr52RakFCBZCmlcxk}:

In Reply to: DA Letter w/Legalese posted by hypatia on September 25, 2000 at 18:10:20:

Hi Hypatia,

I wrote most of the body of this a few years ago thinking it might come in handy someday. I actually sent it to my local body of elders after they invited me to meet with them to face charges of apostacy last December. I have not heard from then since. I have not heard that any announcements have been made regarding me.
Bob

======================================

I have decided that I will not formally disassociate myself from the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or from Jehovah’s Witnesses in general. I came to this decision for several reasons. First, there is nothing I see in the Bible that calls for a formal letter of disassociation in my situation, or any other. It seems to me that the provision of formal disassociation is a matter of convenience for the legal department of the Watchtower Society rather than serving any real religious purpose. It allows people to be pigeon-holed into nice neat little categories rather than dealing with the real issues involved. Also, I have no problem with the P________ Congregation or its members. My disagreement is with certain actions, policies, teachings and writings contained in publications that are produced and in oral teachings promulgated either individually or collectively by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and it’s legal corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. and the International Bible Students Association.

The purpose of this letter is to clarify certain matters and to secure and protect what I consider basic human rights in dealing with agents of the multinational, multi-billion dollar Watchtower corporations.

Since you have asked me to appear before a judicial committee to face charges of apostacy, there are a few things that I must ask for and which I feel must be clarified before I will even consider meeting with a judicial committee.

1. I shall be notified in writing of the time, place and purpose of any meetings with a judicial committee.

2. I shall be notified in writing of the exact purpose of the meetings.

3. I shall be notified in writing exactly on whose behalf the judicial committee was convened and is acting: the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporation the P________ Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., the International Bible Students Association or any other agency not here named.

4. If any other agency other than the one for whom the judicial committee has informed me they are acting for is consulted, reported to, or allowed to have any bearing on the outcome of the judicial process, I will consider the judicial committee as acting in the their behalf.

5. I shall be notified in writing as to my status as a member of any and all of the organizations for which the committee is acting or to which the committee will report.

6. I insist that the judicial committee immediately cease, and in the future desist from any actions toward or against me in behalf of any corporation or organization of which I am not a member.

7. I shall be notified in writing of any accusations against me, the names of persons making such accusations and the substance of any evidence against me.

8. I shall be notified in writing of any and all of my rights and responsibilities involved in the judicial process.

9. I shall be given sufficient time between notification of any meetings with a judicial committee and the time of the actual meeting to prepare a response to any accusations.

10. I shall be allowed to have one person of my choice present during all meetings between me and the judicial committee as an observer. Since I think there is good reason to believe that the judicial committee may consult with one or more lawyers, specifically those employed by the Legal Department of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Incorporated, the person of my choice may also be a lawyer.

11. During the meetings with the judicial committee I and/or my observer will be allowed to take whatever notes we feel are necessary.

Additionally, if the judicial committee takes any judicial action against me :

12. I will not recognize any action taken by the judicial committee as valid unless it is communicated to me in writing, stating the exact nature and reason for the action.

13. In this written communication the judicial committee must state exactly on whose behalf they have taken the action, specifically the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporation the P________ Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., the International Bible Students Association or any other agency not here named.

14. If the judicial committee has stated that it is acting only for the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is enjoined from notifying any agency outside the congregation of their action. If the judicial committee or anyone acting in their behalf notifies of reports to anyone outside the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I may take any appropriate legal action.

15. I may appeal any action taken by the judicial committee.

16. Before I will meet with an appeal committee, that committee must notify me in writing of the names of all of the members of the appeal committee and who each one represents: the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporation the P________ Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses or it’s legal corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., the International Bible Students Association or any other agency not here named

17. There shall be no contact between the judicial committee and the appeal committee other than to inform them of the time and place of my meetings with them. If I determine that there is any contact, communication or attempt on the part of any of the members of the original judicial committee or anyone acting on their behalf to, in any way prejudice or sway the appeal committee, I will insist that a new appeal committee be formed.

18. I shall be notified in writing of any and all of my rights and responsibilities involved in the appeal process.

19. I shall be allowed to have one person of my choice present during the all meetings between me and the appeal committee. Since I think there is good reason to believe that the appeal committee may consult with one or more lawyers, specifically those employed by the Legal Department of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Incorporated, the person of my choice may also be a lawyer.

20. During the meetings with the appeal committee I and/or my observer will take whatever notes we feel are necessary.

21. I will not recognize any action taken by the appeal committee as valid unless it is communicated to me in writing, stating the exact nature and reason for the action.

22. In this written communication the appeal committee must state exactly on whose behalf they are taking the action, specifically the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporation the P________ Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses or its legal corporations, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., the International Bible Students Association or any other agency not here named.

23. If the appeal committee has stated that it is acting only for the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is enjoined from notifying any agency outside the congregation of their action. If the appeal committee or anyone acting in their behalf notifies or reports to anyone outside the P________ Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I may take any appropriate legal action.

24. I understand that if I am disfellowshipped by the judicial committee and the disfellowshipping is upheld by the appeal committee that I am, at that point, no longer considered to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I also understand that it is
necessary to make a brief announcement that I have been disfellowshipped. From then on, I will consider any attempt to convince by speeches, talks or teaching; to coerce by implied or actual threat of similar judicial action; or to encourage by private counsel or suggestion any of Jehovah’s Witnesses to treat me differently from any other person that is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be a serious violation of my civil rights and I may initiate any legal action, civil or criminal that I deem appropriate. This includes any attempt to convince by speeches, talks or teaching; to coerce by implied or actual threat of similar judicial action; or to encourage by private counsel or suggestion any present Jehovah’s Witnesses to shun or avoid me, cease or otherwise modify their doing business with me, or terminate or otherwise abrogate any lease, rental, mortgage, or any other legal agreement that I may presently have with them. I may consider such to be an infringement of free trade and may initiate appropriate legal action.

25. I consider any communication between the members of the judicial committee and myself and the appeal committee and myself to be ecclesiastically privileged. Any attempt to reveal the substance or tone of those communications to any other person or group will be considered by me to be a breach of that privilege and may result in legal action. This includes any announcements beyond the fact of my disfellowshipping, speeches, talks, or any other communication, written or oral, public or private.

I fully realize that you may be unwilling or that the Watchtower corporations will not allow you to comply with the preceding.

I respectfully await your written response

stephenw20

Mustang,
Thanks for reposting that letter.......

after my seeing the elder...I get the idea..I will not be getting ANY written response.......

it seemed to work quite effectively... except they had no idea why I mentioned forming a comittee ........I spose depending on where you are and length of time associated your mileage may vary........

take care stanger

think41self

Humble,

You said "Don't make a decision based on the manipulation of this board".

Did you not read NOJW's post? She ASKED for our opinions and suggestions. That, my friend, is not manipulation, that is an honest exchange of thoughts and experiences.

Did you even read any of the responses? Every single person said, here is a suggestion, it is your decision to make, this is only my opinion...etc. I myself said, "write the letter for your own benefit, but hang on to it for a bit to decide if you really want to send it".
We welcome new posters here, and your opinion is as valid as any of ours. However, it is offensive when you claim that we are being manipulative by stating our opinions. If that is true for us, is it not true for you also?

Express yourself freely, but don't judge others for doing so also, please. That is how we all get along and attempt to comfort each other, and stimulate each other to thought.

Just my opinion, think41self

stephenw20

Bravo 41!!

nojw86

Love Dubs said, the point of not giving thm the satisfaction of not dfing me, no did I want my ame associated with that god forsaken cult, which is very much how I feel and one would be going to mama inlaw too. Out and free thanks for your input my letter will be short. I took a bit of advice from all of you. But it has been a long time over 1O yrs, no one knows or cares, well there was a very brief hello after my cancer oper. Right now I need that support to get better if I ever will. But to wait to perhaps hear the call ofsomeone you loved and they loved you right now thats what I need to heal. It is the awful feeling of knowing that have closed the door on me, I want to close it on them, and let them that I feel that they are the ones I have forsaken because they are a cult with no intent of serving a God of justice , mercy, Love, but serving as slaves an evil organzation intent on destroying instead the mind. Writing the letter as Mommy and think 41 and holding on to it for awhile, why not send it? But I want opinions from people on this board who give opinions without fear, is a religious freedom. They Have already said that they would not attend or funerals, which is nothing new as I had read is common among some of them. At least by sending a letter of DA, it tells we serve god through his word the bible and not through an org. of changing rules from old rules. I was told I would never get well untill I come back and pray to the right god......Ahhh the stupidity of the Jughead Weirdos (JW) Thanks to all for your iput, and any misspelled words like (fred hall) chemo is my excuse (bummer) nojw

rhesa

Congratulations!
I sent mine last week.........registered mail. I made some additions to fit my situation such as the fact that my ex is trying to get my children to shun me and I am ready to prosecute if they do. Also there is a rumor that I am involved in "apostate" activities with someone in the area. I told them these were slanderous also. They have no idea what to do with me now and that's the way I like it. I now feel that I am in control instead of the one being controlled. I agree it may not be the way to go for some but it has liberated me tremendously. I started it with: I am withdrawing my voluntary disassociation from......... This is because it is being used against me legally for reasons I will explain later.
Best wishes on your medical treatments...and may all your efforts be blessed.

nojw86

Rhesa. Just had say thanx on that , on being in control and not the one still be controlled. Whatever your situation maybe ....may blessing go your way also ....regards nojw

think41self

To Stephenw20;

Aw shucks, thanks.

To NOJW,

Good for you. It is better to be in control than controlled, any day!!

think41self

I"m finally gonna do it afterall these years!

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