Posts by searcher41

54

Barbara Anderson Disfellowshipped

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

as of 1 pm today barb anderson was notified that she has been disfellowshipped in writing by the judicial committee in her congregation.

barb was df in absentia at a second hearing that was declared after she successfully defended herself against charges in the first hearing.

home office came back with further instructions to make it stick the second time around.

searcher41

Barbara

God bless you! I consider it a privilege to "virtually" shake your hand and give you my whole-souled support. There are so, so many little ones being preyed upon by these monsters, and so, so few with the guts to stand and be counted in order to defend them. I know that God Himself is proud of what you have done, for you have truly been a good shepherd, unlike those false and evil shepherds who will one day have to answer to Him, big time!

From one who has experienced that silencing power of the elders, I take my hat off to you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done. I only wish it had not cost you so much. But I learned something a long time ago, and that is that God is faithful. Whatever we lose in this life, for His sake, and for the sake of His little ones, He will restore to us, a hundred-fold, in this life and the next.

May God grant you all the riches of His love and blessing this day for your goodness towards the innocent. We are grateful.

Love and hugs from the UK

Searcher

10

Dateline in the UK?

by nicolaou in

forgive me if this information has already been put out but what is the situation for us brits wanting to see the dateline show?.

i've got the full sky digital package and see that dateline goes out on channel 510 (cnbc) but there is no clue as to our show.. any help?.

nic'

searcher41

Is there anyone in the Uk who would be willing to video this show for me? I don't have digital TV - only the 4 basic channels!

Searcher

87

We got DF'd/ Assoc. Press called

by ARoarer in

jw
friends

well we got the phone call from the elder to let us know of the decision to disfellowship us.

the one elder called while the other sat on the phone as a "witness".

the second elder was once a close friend.

searcher41

Thank you Barbara

Thank you Bill

For all you have done

For all the children who might now be safer.

For those still afraid - may God protect them and set them free.

Thank you again, for having the courage to take on Goliath.

For loving others more than you love yourself. For protecting others despite the cost.

And He will wipe away every tear.........He will.....that's a promise

87

We got DF'd/ Assoc. Press called

by ARoarer in

jw
friends

well we got the phone call from the elder to let us know of the decision to disfellowship us.

the one elder called while the other sat on the phone as a "witness".

the second elder was once a close friend.

searcher41

Shibolet

You really do make me wonder if you have read any of what has gone on in this case and many others like it.

I hope you never have to go through what Barbara has been through.

Indeed, those "shepherds" who supposedly care for her welfare should have protected her - not condemned her. The only thing they were concerned about was the "good name" of the organisation, as if it still has one! What did they do about the sin committed against her and others like her?

You think the world doesn't know what is going on? You think your neighbours don't read newspapers? It's all gonna come out, mate, so you better be prepared.

The truth hurts doesn't it? But Jehovah God is proud of our sister Barbara - you know why? Because despite what it has cost her, she has fought tooth and nail for the truth. That's right - the truth.

She has fought so that others should not be abused as she was. She has fought for everything the Bible stands for - truth, justice, honesty, and love for her fellow man.

All the organisation wants to do is cover it up. You remember a WT article way back in about 1973? About covering up sin under the carpet? The picture showed a man brushing sin under his rug and the text spoke about those in the world who will not let the truth be known.

Now who is brushing sin under the rug? Now who is afraid for the truth to come out?

When will you see that the organisation is corrupt and cares only for its members as long as they toe the line? May Jehovah be merciful and open your blind eyes.

Searcher

87

We got DF'd/ Assoc. Press called

by ARoarer in

jw
friends

well we got the phone call from the elder to let us know of the decision to disfellowship us.

the one elder called while the other sat on the phone as a "witness".

the second elder was once a close friend.

searcher41

God bless you big time, Barbara!

You are one couragous lady.

I remember when I was df'd 26 years ago - I heard it from someone else, that they df'd me in my absence - I didn't even get told there was going to be a judicial committe that I could attend if I so wished!

That feeling that the people you trusted most all of your life so far could cast you aside so easily and so unsympathetically cuts right to the bone. Makes you feel so heavy inside.

But thankfully, you will not find that here.

We love you (and I truly mean that)with a love untainted from wanting to use you/ abuse you/ lie to you/ shun you if you don't do as we say!

From the bottom of my heart, and across the ocean - I LOVE YOU!

Searcher

http://www.truthsearcher.co.uk

The only way is UP!

48

PRESS RELEASE

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

please distribute freely to press.. silentlambs.

tuesday, may 7. .

jehovah's witnesses begin excommunicating child sexual abuse whistleblowers .

searcher41

Hi Pepper

It seems to me that if they were speaking the truth at all times, they would have nothing at all to fear from observers. Sooner or later, they are going to have more observers than they care to think about, and then the real truth will come out.

In addition, it is ludicrous that the ones who have been hurt by these predators should be the ones who are being judged and cast out. What of the elders who have been accused? I see nothing happening here to discipline these men, only a desperate attempt to silence the victims.

As Bill so rightly quotes: Jeremiah 23:1-3

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasturage,” is the utterance of Jehovah.”

“Here I am turning my attention upon you for the badness of your dealings.”

Searcher

48

PRESS RELEASE

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

please distribute freely to press.. silentlambs.

tuesday, may 7. .

jehovah's witnesses begin excommunicating child sexual abuse whistleblowers .

searcher41

From the elder's manual:

Victims of sexual abuse need to be treated with
extreme thoughtfulness and kindness. Elders should
always do what they reasonably can to protect
children from further abuse;
follow the Society's directives on such matters. (g85 1/22 p. 8)
UNIT 5 (1 )
.........

Those with sincere doubts should be helped, dealt with
mercifully. (Jude 22, 23; w82 9/1 pp. 20-1;w80 8/1
pp. 21-2)
.........

Apostasy includes action taken against true worship of
Jehovah or his established order among his dedicated
people. (Jer. 17:13; 23:15; 28:15, 16; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10)
.........

The Bible condemns the following:
Causing divisions and promoting sects.
This would be deliberate action disrupting the unity
of the congregation or undermining the confidence
of the brothers in Jehovah's arrangement.
It may involve or lead to apostasy. (Rom. 16:
17, 18; Titus 3:10, 11 )
......

Your Aim Should Be to Help the Person

We want to help individuals to stay within Jehovah's
spiritual paradise.
........

If a person has definite knowledge of wrongdoing that
could contaminate the congregation, he is obligated to
report the matter in order to keep the congregation
clean. (Lev. 5:1; Num. 15:32-34; Prov. 29:24)
.........

There are certain cases that the body of elders is respon-
sible to investigate and, when necessary, appoint a judi-
cial committee to handle:
Gross sins‹either those that have brought the congrega-
tion into public disrepute or those of a more private
nature. (Rom. 2:21-24; I Cor. 5:1; 2 Cor. 7:11 )
........

When an elder or a ministerial servant commits a gross
wrong, he is morally obligated to inform the body of
elders of his being reprehensible.
........

[as if he would!]

UNIT 5 (b)
Sharing
on a Judicial Committee
"When having a hearing between your brothers, you must
judge with righteousness. " ( Deut. 1:16 ) It is a serious respon-
sibility to judge matters that affect people's lives and relation-
ships with others. Elders must have a reasonably complete
picture when judging a matter so that their decisions will not
be based on partial knowledge or on personal feelings. They
also need heavenly wisdom in order to make proper applica-
tion of God's Word and to determine how far their showing
mercy should extend. (Prov. 28:13; Jas. 2:13) They must
treat every person with impartiality at all times and desire that
the spiritually ill become well again, since a failure in this
regard is unjust and violates the law of love.‹I Tim. 5:21;
Jas. 2:1-9; 5:14, 15; w77 3/1 pp. 146-52.
........

There must be either two witnesses or a confession of
wrongdoing.
.......

[when is there ever two witnesses to rape or child sexual abuse??]

*******If the accused wishes to bring witnesses who can speak
in his defense regarding the matter, he may do so.
*********

[Please note the above - I am going to repeat it:

****IF THE ACCUSED WISHES TO BRING WITNESSES WHO CAN SPEAK IN HIS DEFENSE REGARDING THE MATTER, HE MAY DO SO"****

There you have it guys - from the Elder's Manual itself - you can take witnesses!]

However, observers are not permitted.
No tape-recording devices are allowed.

[if someone is a witness to the person being brought before the committee for "division" I see no reason why that person/those persons cannot be witnesses at the judicial meeting.]
.........

Failure to appear before the committee is not in itself
proof of guilt.
......

What kind of evidence is acceptable?

There must be two or three eyewitnesses, not just persons
repeating what they have heard; no action can be taken if
there is only one witness. (Deut. 19:15;Jol1ll 8:17)

[seems to me if they can produce two or three eyewitnesses to "division" then the accused can bring two or three eyewitnesses to "false accusation" of division.]

Searcher

48

PRESS RELEASE

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

please distribute freely to press.. silentlambs.

tuesday, may 7. .

jehovah's witnesses begin excommunicating child sexual abuse whistleblowers .

searcher41

this thing about witnesses at the hearing... is there anything in the Bible about who is allowed to be witnesses? Surely there must be something about the accused having witnesses also? At least two!

Searcher

28

Some Antis are just as bad as JW's

by DIM in

specifically i am talking about the "apostates" or antis who plaster cars or send people things in the mail with the truth about "the truth".

to me, this seems exactly like the jw's banging on doors on a saturday morning.

exactly the same thing, just from the other end.

searcher41

I agree with both outnfree and DIM. Picketing is not for me. When I left the JWs, in 1976, I didn't bother with them for 15 years. I needed time to let go, to heal, and to grow as my own person. After this time, I felt it was time to try to get a message across to any JW who is not afraid to listen. Mostly because I care about my family still there, but also because I care about those being abused, and those living in fear, within the organisation, who feel they have nowhere to turn.

They do have places to turn to.

Picketing is not for me. I respect outnfree and her actions there, I just feel I don't want to go that road. Not saying it is wrong, but that it is not right for every exJW. For me, the quiet approach works better - letting the website draw people who are searching (hence the name, TruthSearcher) and responding accordingly.

Power to your efforts, outnfree!

Searcher

24

Where else are you going to go?

by Dawn in

jw
friends

i have heard that argument from the jw's since i was a child - i still hear it from my family.. now that i am out it seems like such a silly argument.

in fact, you could liken it to someone in an abusive marriage for years.

they're used to the situation and somewhat frightened at the thought of change.

searcher41

my family visited the other week, just for an hour, but visit they did. When it came to talking about my teenage kids, I got the feeling (rightly or wrongly) that they expected them to have left home because we no longer got along. Truth is that my eldest is in College, my next teen is in University and we get along just fine! It's as if this amazes them.