Jack Ryan

It makes me feel odd to invite tons of worldly people who are obviously fornicators and idolaters and then not be able to even show a little love such as a "hello" to a disfellowshipped brother or sister.
Does not compute mentally. Just sayin'
We should make the Memorial for baptized, active, approved members of JW.org in secret locations only. Less stress for me.
 
Jesus did not die for thier sins since they unrepentant and subsequently disfellowshipped.
 
How do you handle the disfellowshipped at the Memorial?
 
 

Legal Seminar: South African Bethel
 

 
The Legal Seminar
The seminar was a full day event held at the “residence hall.” I had come with my wheelchair bound friend, from the same congregation. We were a few minutes late, so as we rolled in into the foyer, we got handed our seminar pack, our bottled water, and lapel badges by two pretty ladies (hell yeah, I still remember that). This was the same residence hall that I had shook Anthony Morris’[3] hand a few weeks ago prior to his official Branch Visit talk in South Africa on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with his “sidekick” Anthony Griffin.
The seminar was split between matters that were strictly legal, and those that were more tax related; of course, there was an obvious overlap between the two as can be expected. The key speakers were select members of the Branch Committee, in-house legal counsel, and those from the accounts department. A lot was said about Europe, Africa, the U.S., Hayden Covington,[4] child custody, divorces, Advance Medical Directives (“blood cards”), alternative service, Road Accident Fund, legal battles here, legal battles there, tax etc. The bottom-line was this: There’s a lot going down, and we’d appreciate your assistance in these affairs.
It should be noted, however, that “these affairs” require tertiary qualifications… higher education.

South Africa Bethel - Tax and Legal Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015)
South Africa Bethel – Legal and Tax Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015). I’m on the bottom left, sporting a pair of shades on my head.
the Australian branch sent out a letter, dated November 18, 2015, to all Service Committees throughout the congregations of Australian. The letter was “confidentially” seeking for baptised members of the congregation who were “qualified as solicitors, barristers, certified practising accountants or chartered accountants.” But all of this exploration was to be done discreetly “without consulting the publisher” (I suppose this is how they canvass for potential seminar candidates). Now, let’s juxtapose these two events, the South African seminar and the Australian request letter, and contextualise them.

The Point
The organisation tells folks not to pursue higher education, in fact, if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review. What does that tell you? That the organisation has a default disdain for higher education. But now, at the same time, they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses, many of who have complied with this “mandamus” from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” But, then, per chance that you didn’t comply with this mandamus, and remain a Witness, they implore you to use your “worldly gifts” in service to God, namely, in furtherance of the organisation – to a large extent, free of charge.
What’s wrong with this picture?
And if you take the global downsizing that the organisation has been conducting lately, where veteran bethelites are sent home and special pioneers being sent up the creek without a paddle. Why? Because it’s now becoming too expensive to accommodate them. A burden. And, yet, many of these bethelites forfeited higher education in order to at the full time service, now you’re telling them to hamba kahle (“go well”)? C’mon, man, c’mon.
What is wrong with this picture, people
If the organisation was cool and was like, you know, “Go to university, don’t go to university, that your decision to make, as long as you are aware of the challenges.” That would be one thing. But what we’re seeing here is the constant badgering badgering badgering. There has to be some kind of accountability here. You can’t enjoy the assets of other people’s labour without taking ownership of the liabilities peculiar with that asset, as well. It’s immoral. This whole thing is just patently duplicitous. Scandalous. Why all these backdoor “transactions?” You say one thing on stage, but, then, em’va kwethu you do something else. Hai wethu.
Conclusion
Brimstone and humour aside, I personally don’t have a problem with the organisation seeking professional assistance from willing qualified Witnesses per se. It is the duplicity that irks me. It is the selfishness of their approach that vexes me. It is the ruination of people’s lives that ticks me off. It is the unconscionableness of their methods that pisses me off, treating genuine people as expendables and collateral damage for their own selfish gains, gains which they clothe as “divine service,” service to Jehovah.
If it were up to me, I’d have Governing Body pipe down on their take of higher education and to resist this laughable attempt at gaining some kind of moral high ground in this matter.
#LegalSeminarBethel
#ThinkingWitnesses
http://thinkingwitnesses.org/legal-seminar-south-africa-bethel/

Legal Seminar: South African Bethel
 

 
The Legal Seminar
The seminar was a full day event held at the “residence hall.” I had come with my wheelchair bound friend, from the same congregation. We were a few minutes late, so as we rolled in into the foyer, we got handed our seminar pack, our bottled water, and lapel badges by two pretty ladies (hell yeah, I still remember that). This was the same residence hall that I had shook Anthony Morris’[3] hand a few weeks ago prior to his official Branch Visit talk in South Africa on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with his “sidekick” Anthony Griffin.
The seminar was split between matters that were strictly legal, and those that were more tax related; of course, there was an obvious overlap between the two as can be expected. The key speakers were select members of the Branch Committee, in-house legal counsel, and those from the accounts department. A lot was said about Europe, Africa, the U.S., Hayden Covington,[4] child custody, divorces, Advance Medical Directives (“blood cards”), alternative service, Road Accident Fund, legal battles here, legal battles there, tax etc. The bottom-line was this: There’s a lot going down, and we’d appreciate your assistance in these affairs.
It should be noted, however, that “these affairs” require tertiary qualifications… higher education.

South Africa Bethel - Tax and Legal Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015)
South Africa Bethel – Legal and Tax Seminar Group Photo (Feb 28, 2015). I’m on the bottom left, sporting a pair of shades on my head.
the Australian branch sent out a letter, dated November 18, 2015, to all Service Committees throughout the congregations of Australian. The letter was “confidentially” seeking for baptised members of the congregation who were “qualified as solicitors, barristers, certified practising accountants or chartered accountants.” But all of this exploration was to be done discreetly “without consulting the publisher” (I suppose this is how they canvass for potential seminar candidates). Now, let’s juxtapose these two events, the South African seminar and the Australian request letter, and contextualise them.

The Point
The organisation tells folks not to pursue higher education, in fact, if you are an appointed person – Elder, Ministerial Servant, pioneer – and you attend university, your (spiritual) qualifications automatically come under review. What does that tell you? That the organisation has a default disdain for higher education. But now, at the same time, they secretly sponsor select bethelites to obtain these very “worldly” qualifications, using funds donated by some of the simplest Witnesses, many of who have complied with this “mandamus” from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” But, then, per chance that you didn’t comply with this mandamus, and remain a Witness, they implore you to use your “worldly gifts” in service to God, namely, in furtherance of the organisation – to a large extent, free of charge.
What’s wrong with this picture?
And if you take the global downsizing that the organisation has been conducting lately, where veteran bethelites are sent home and special pioneers being sent up the creek without a paddle. Why? Because it’s now becoming too expensive to accommodate them. A burden. And, yet, many of these bethelites forfeited higher education in order to at the full time service, now you’re telling them to hamba kahle (“go well”)? C’mon, man, c’mon.
What is wrong with this picture, people
If the organisation was cool and was like, you know, “Go to university, don’t go to university, that your decision to make, as long as you are aware of the challenges.” That would be one thing. But what we’re seeing here is the constant badgering badgering badgering. There has to be some kind of accountability here. You can’t enjoy the assets of other people’s labour without taking ownership of the liabilities peculiar with that asset, as well. It’s immoral. This whole thing is just patently duplicitous. Scandalous. Why all these backdoor “transactions?” You say one thing on stage, but, then, em’va kwethu you do something else. Hai wethu.
Conclusion
Brimstone and humour aside, I personally don’t have a problem with the organisation seeking professional assistance from willing qualified Witnesses per se. It is the duplicity that irks me. It is the selfishness of their approach that vexes me. It is the ruination of people’s lives that ticks me off. It is the unconscionableness of their methods that pisses me off, treating genuine people as expendables and collateral damage for their own selfish gains, gains which they clothe as “divine service,” service to Jehovah.
If it were up to me, I’d have Governing Body pipe down on their take of higher education and to resist this laughable attempt at gaining some kind of moral high ground in this matter.
#LegalSeminarBethel
#ThinkingWitnesses
http://thinkingwitnesses.org/legal-seminar-south-africa-bethel/

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

A couple of my friends currently do and I don't think it is correct. Or am I mistaken?

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

This is Koro Island here in Fiji

The last white building on the right is the new simplified Kingdom Hall that is still standing even though it was hit by the cyclone!

Young Czech woman becomes a JW. Please share her story with others.

.

I prefer to be informed of the reality of the situation. There will always be some bad apples in our congregations... we just need to be aware.
 

Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania  > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.
----------------------------------------------------------
 

Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania  > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.
----------------------------------------------------------
 

5:30am Friday 12th February 2016 in
 PERVERT: Harry Holt, now living in Nelson, committed his crimes in Scotland
A CHURCH elder who sexually abused vulnerable children was invited to speak at his first victim’s wedding, a court heard.
A court was told Harry Holt, 71, now of Rutland Street, Nelson, went on to attack seven more girls as young as nine after the Jehovah’s Witnesses failed to report him to police.
When the matter was raised, a local beat officer advised parents to ‘just keep your children away from him’, the court heard.
Holt is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of attacks against eight girls in Scotland dating back over 40 years.
His first victim, now 56, described Holt telling her he would deny touching her and that nobody would believe her.
She told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: “As a child I was made out to be a liar but Charlie knows I’m not lying.
“My mother and father were treated very badly and it caused disruption in the congregation. They were of very good standing.
“The local bobby was there and my mum and dad asked him what they should do and he said, ‘just keep your children away from him’.”
The woman, then 14, said a judicial committee of elders was held where Holt admitted groping her but not sexual touching.
She added: “He was sitting straight across from me. As a result he was removed as an elder from the congregation.”
The court heard at 19 she got married and her mother insisted that Holt should officiate which caused a ‘big row’ as ‘it wasn’t until years later that she found out why’.
Another victim, now 32, described Holt abusing her in the jacuzzi at the Magnum leisure centre in Irvine, Ayrshire, when she was between 14 and 15.
The court heard the visit was laid on as a treat for ‘pioneering’ door to door with leaflets and church magazines.
The victim told the court: “I kept telling him to stop.”
Holt, a retired engineer, and his wife later moved from Ayrshire to the Edinburgh area, although the victim still saw him through the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Holt, was found guilty of 11 charges of indecent assault and lewd and libidinous behaviour in Seamill, Dalry, Saltcoats, Kilbirnie, Stevenston and Kilwinning, Ayrshire, and in Gorebridge, Midlothian, between May 1971 and August 2004.
One of the attacks took place in a Kingdom Hall meeting place run by the church, the court heard.
The crimes came to light when two victims shared their experiences years later and went to the police.
Sentence was deferred until next month and Holt was remanded in custody.
A church spokesman said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor child abuse and view it as both a despicable crime and a sin.
“Anyone who commits the sin of child abuse faces expulsion from the congregation and any suggestion that Jehovah’s Witnesses cover up child abuse is false.”
Detective Chief Inspector John Hogg of Police Scotland said: “Harry Holt abused his position of trust by using his status to abuse and exploit vulnerable children, subjecting them to acts of sexual abuse.
“His crimes span four decades and I have no doubt in my mind that his actions have deeply affected his victims.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victims for having the courage to come forward and assist officers in ensuring Harry Holt was held accountable for his actions. Without their support this outcome would not have been possible.
“I also hope this case sends a clear message to other abusers that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and our specially trained officers will work to unravel your crimes and bring you to justice.” 
http://www.thelancasterandmorecambecitizen.co.uk/news/14271622.Church_elder_who_sexually_abused_vulnerable_children_was_invited_to_speak_at_first_victim___s_wedding/

A Jehovah’s Witness elder who sexually assaulted two vulnerable teenagers he met through the church was sentenced to three years jail yesterday over the “destructive” abuse.
David Frank Pople, 68, met the boys through the Safety Bay congregation of the church and assaulted them between 1989 and 1996.
One of the teens reported the sexual assaults to elders in 1997 but police were not made aware of the abuse until he filed a police report in 2014.
Pople was forcibly ejected from the church for being “insufficiently repentant” in 1997 and readmitted the following year at his request.
District Court judge Troy Sweeney accepted Pople was genuinely remorseful but said he had interfered with his victims’ natural maturing process in a “very destructive way”.
“A message must be sent that child abuse is abhorrent and will not be tolerated by any civilised society,” she said.
“They were vulnerable because they were young and because you were a church elder and their boss.”
When Pople admitted assaulting one of the boys during a conversation with an elder in the 1990s, he was told a judicial committee would be formed to deal with the issue.
The elders spoke to Pople in an apparent attempt to determine his level of remorse and later sent a letter to certain members of the congregation explaining in great detail why he had been ejected.
Pople was in his 40s when he assaulted the boys at work, on his yacht and in his Shoalwater home.
He was close friends with the parents of his first victim and had helped the second victim with his Bible studies.
Defence lawyer Nick Scerri told the court Pople was candid with the leadership of the church and made “very frank admissions” about some aspects of the offending in 1997.
He said his client has been living three lives and was “deeply unhappy” when he assaulted the boys.
“He had the life of the family man, the father, the husband,” Mr Scerri said. “ At the same time, he was balancing the religious obligations that he had as a leader in that church.
“And thirdly, he had this secret homosexual sort of latency, I suppose.”
Pople pleaded guilty to six sex-related charges as well as breaching his protective bail conditions in 2014.
He will be eligible for parole after spending 18 months behind bars.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30810834/church-elder-is-jailed-over-sex-abuse/

Jehovah's Witnesses > WTBTS of Pennsylvania  > Archive of Publications > 2016 C.E.

Regular PDF
mwb_E_201605.pdf
Audio
mwb_E_201605.mp3.zip
 

This is to inform you that older, 45-minute public talk outlines are in the process of being shortened to 30 minutes, and their content and references are being updated. The revised outlines will be posted on jw.org. Some outlines are being given new titles, and others are being discontin- ued. When an outline that you deliver is revised, please update your talk as soon as possible so that it harmonizes with the revised outline. When an outline is discontinued, it should no longer be used. At times, a discontinued outline may be replaced with a new one that has a different theme but the same number. Please inform all ministerial servants who give public talks of this direction.
2016_01-31-E_BOE--Revised_Public_Talk_Outlines_[1].pdf