Two types of elder?????

by chuckyy 29 Replies latest jw experiences

  • chuckyy
    chuckyy

    Hi

    Its my experience after actually being an elder for a number of years that there are in fact...two types of elder.

    TYPE 1....Genuine, actually cares about the people in the congregation and wasn't actually bothered too much if he became an elder or not.

    TYPE 2....Very legalistic, cares more about organizational laws rather than people and lacks compassion and empathy. This type is more of a spiritual policeman. He wanted desperately to be an elder and now that he is, he loves the sense of power and prestige.

    This has been my experience and if there are more type 2 elders on a body, the results can be disastrous.

    What has been your experience??? Have you seen more TYPE 2 elders than TYPE 1????

    Chukyy

  • eyeslice
    eyeslice

    Chuckyy,

    Definately agree with your analysis of the two types of elders. But I think there is a third:

    1. The genuine, caring
    2. The JW born and breed - cares more about sport and vacations than anything spiritual. Appointed an elder because from an 'exemplary' family or been in the 'truth' a long time
    3. Power hungry

    It is a sad situation really. Someone pointed out the other day that in the period when the PO was 'rotated', at least there was a variety of styles brought to the position. Now however, it is the legalistic, rules based elders who get put in the main positions by the CO, and the poor old congregation is lumbered with them.

    Eyeslice

  • Reefton Jack
    Reefton Jack

    We have all seen the type No.2 Elder!

    The one I have in mind even developed quite a Peacock Strut after appointment.

  • mtbatoon
    mtbatoon

    Wow. I was thinking about the exact same thing last night and the answers here today. Must be some sort of divine spirit at work guiding me to the answers I seek. On the other hand it might just be one of them bloody coincidences.

    What worried me is there where a few that it retrospect aren?t as thick as they?re stupid looking. The ones with the slightly better job (usually some sort of salesman), better car, better house. I?m now wondering if there might be a few funny handshakes going on at the back of the hall?

  • under74
    under74

    I heard about type1 but never really knew any (although I know there were some). My own experience was all type2, including my grandfather.

  • jst2laws
    jst2laws

    Under74

    I heard about type1 but never really knew any (although I know there were some). My own experience was all type2, including my grandfather.

    That is because they cannot last in the Wt environment. Most of them are here now.

    Jst2laws

  • under74
    under74

    Jst2laws-

    Good point . I think you may be right : )

  • Eyebrow2
    Eyebrow2

    The congregation I grew up in was mostly type 1. They were really caring. I think there was at least one or two that did let it go to their head a bit, but most of them were humble.

  • frenchbabyface
    frenchbabyface

    I've seen both maybe same proportion as I can't tell in thinking about it right now ...

    but maybe because there are a third type those who are just normal (good and bad at the time depends on their mood and situation) and who just take the job when it's given to them (and deal with it with pride or in a weak way depends of their nature and habilities) ... that's probably the majority

  • Bonnie_Clyde
    Bonnie_Clyde

    The organization doesn't like Type 1 elders very well. A few years ago a friend of ours was the PO of a small rural congregation in our circuit, and he organized a group to go to the home of an elderly couple on a Saturday morning to help cut firewood so they could keep their house warm. They actually skipped "field service" that morning. He viewed it that they were rendering a service to the elderly couple. Well he actually got removed because he wasn't putting the preaching work first.

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