So my wife and I have been in the process of fading for a few months now as per my original post HERE. About a week ago, I was browsing some ex-JW Facebook groups when I saw a post that linked to the Crisis of Conscience book. I said "f@(k it" and hit share on it.
A few hours later, I get a long text letter from my mom (who was a FB friend of mine) telling me the typical "good luck finding friends in the world" and how we have "nothing in common anymore"; basically, it was a 'farewell' text. Over the next few days I lost about 30 of my FB friends that were active JWs. My wife and I made it an activity to checkup on FB every few hours to see "how many more we've lost".
I realized I might have screwed up my "fading" with that post and thus I expected a call from the elders would be imminent. Fast forward to yesterday night, around 9:30 pm (after weekday meeting), I get a call from on an elder, whom was a close friend of mine when I was in. He leaves a voicemail, which basically went along the lines of: "Hi brother, I'm calling to see how you and your family are. Long time no talk. Also, we'd like to meet with you this Thursday at 8 in a meeting with myself, brother so-and-so and so-and-so"
I took a minute to catch my breath, think of what I would reply, then proceeded to call the brother back. He established a conference call with the 2 other elders involved. I said a quick "hello", and asked them what this meeting they requested was about. They told me it was basically a judicial committee made out for the charges of apostasy against me due to some "posts I'd been putting on FB". That's when I laid out a defense as to why they could not yet carry out this apostasy trial. I reminded them (I was an elder before) that the Shepherd the Flock elder's book said that in the case of Apostasy, they are supposed to visit me a few times before initiating a JC. Here's the actual quote from the book under 'reasons to establish a JC' (bold is mine):
Deliberately spreading teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses: (Acts 21:21, ftn.; 2 John 7,8,10) Any with sincere doubts should be helped. Firm, loving counsel should be given. (2 Tim. 2:16-19, 23-26; Jude 22, 23) If one obstinately is speaking about or deliberately spreading false teachings, this may be or may lead to apostasy. If there is no response after a first and a second admonition, a judicial committee should be formed.
Since I began fading, they had only visited me once and it was not regarding "apostasy", but rather to find the status of my wife since she also had began fading shortly after I did. So, I firmly stressed that if they carried out this JC against me, I would appeal due to the fact that they had not followed protocol as prescribed in their own rules book. They gave me some trouble, asking me what my intentions for the FB post were, or telling me that the friends already see me as an apostate. I stressed that it didn't matter, they are supposed to "admonish" me first a couple of times BEFORE attempting to judge me.
After a few mins of back and forth, they conceded and told me that the meeting on Thursday night would not be a JC anymore. Instead, it would be only 2 elders with the purpose of "admonishing" me. I stressed that if the meeting turned out to be a JC, I would not participate. They gave me their word that it would not be. I said "Fine, I'll let you know tomorrow if I can attend that meeting", and hung up.
So, it seems that at least for now the JC against me is on hold. I will indeed attend the meeting Thursday at 8 since I do want to continue "fading" for the sake of my family. If they try anything funny like tricking me into a JC (you never know what they might attempt), I'll refuse and leave.
I'll keep you all informed and if you friends have any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear it.