How many times did you see Elders hounding congregation members to quit their jobs due to missing meetings?
Several.
Here is just one experience:
An elder that worked with a fire & rescue brigade. During work shifts that coincided with his congregation meetings he would connect to hear the congregation meetings by telephone unless he was responding to an active emergency situation. Most shifts were uneventful during meeting times, and so he was able to attend by telephone uninterrupted.
Likeable man, "humble", helpful to others, always volunteering in the first-aid department at every assembly and convention.
He was present in-person at meetings more often than the times he dialed in by phone from work. He was able to deliver most of his assignments in-person, and was a face regularly seen at congregations meetings and public ministry. Both he and his wife were also regular pioneers. He usually worked a night shift with the fire & rescue brigade to free up time during daylight hours so that he could regular pioneer along side his wife and the other pioneers.
This went on for a few years and seemed widely acceptable in the congregation as a beloved hard-working pioneer elder providing for his household.
Eventually that body of elders and the circuit overseer made the brother choose between his job or his privileges because of "the appearance" it may prompt others, particularly younger brothers, to accept secular employment which may involve missing out on the in-person version of KH meetings a few times each month.
He became visually depressed after that ultimatum, but did choose to preserve his congregation privileges by leaving his fire rescue career and becoming self-employed in janitorial... causing significant reduction of income and lack of steady work.
But he kept all his congregation privileges as an elder pioneeeing along side his wife... and still struggles financially to this day.
