Post by The.Pale.Emperor on Dec 22, 2017 23:52:06 GMT
This thread is advice for those called to a Judicial Committee (or JC as i'll now refer to it).
If you're looking for a specific outcome, you'll need to know how the game's played. This, and the circumstances for which you've been called to a JC will determine the outcome.
If you're looking to leave and you have no family or friends that are members, or you dont mind them being out of your life most likely forever then you can just not turn up. The elders will hold the JC without you can difellowship you anyway.
If you DO wish to remain in the congregation, whether it be to fade on your own terms, or to keep contact with your family here is what you need to do:
First of all, download yourself a copy of the elders manual here.
Give this book a read. It's basically the elders guide on what they can and cannot do. The first time you read it will be a real eye opener for you. You'll most likely find it very petty and bureaucratic. Skip over to the pages dealing with disfellowshipping and learn what they'll be planning. They're going to try and trip you up. They will interrogate you. If you've been called for sexual misconduct then be surprised if they ask you very intimate details. Their excuse is that they want to know if the sex was pre-meditated, so they'll ask if you brought condoms, where you did it etc.
WOMEN - if you're not married you'll be expected to turn up alone. Three elders, in a back room, with one girl. Sound creepy? It is. You are well within you're legal rights to request a chaperone or a witness but despite this the elders will refuse. If you make a legal issue of it and threaten to inform the police or a lawyer they will likely back off... for a time. Or they may simply hold the JC without you and disfellowship you anyway.
So here's some facts you needs to know:
They need you to confess to sin OR they need TWO witnesses to your sin. No two witnesses? No grounds for disfellowshipping. They will "leave the matter in Jehovah's hands". Seriously, people have gotten away with child molestation in the kingdom hall because of this two witness rule.
If you're "sin" is not a sexual one (sex ones are the most common) it will be easier to get out of. Simply not return their calls, dont let them engage you in conversation - say something like "my beliefs are personal and if i need you're assistance i'll be sure to ask for it. If they threaten to hold a JC without you tell them you've no objection to attending a JC, you just need your lawyer present. Because...
The Watchtower Society is shit scared of lawyers and media attention. Seriously, get a lawyer to write a letter or write it yourself with a bogus law firm header and number etc and they'll shit their pants and postpone the JC or even cancel it entirely.
If you DO attend a JC, MAKE SURE YOU RECORD IT. Because you're friends and family simply wont believe what goes on in a JC and the things the elders say to you. Witnesses are told that people are only disfellowshipped for not being repentant for serious sin. When my ex-wife was disfellowshipped she was told "we know you're repentant, but we feel we must disfellowship you to set an example". I wish i had that on tape.
So there you have it. If in doubt, deny, deny, deny any charges if they dont have two witnesses. If they DO have two witnesses ask for their names and say you're going to report them to the police on slander charges. Again, you'll find the JC postpones or dropped entirely.
If you're looking for a specific outcome, you'll need to know how the game's played. This, and the circumstances for which you've been called to a JC will determine the outcome.
If you're looking to leave and you have no family or friends that are members, or you dont mind them being out of your life most likely forever then you can just not turn up. The elders will hold the JC without you can difellowship you anyway.
If you DO wish to remain in the congregation, whether it be to fade on your own terms, or to keep contact with your family here is what you need to do:
First of all, download yourself a copy of the elders manual here.
Give this book a read. It's basically the elders guide on what they can and cannot do. The first time you read it will be a real eye opener for you. You'll most likely find it very petty and bureaucratic. Skip over to the pages dealing with disfellowshipping and learn what they'll be planning. They're going to try and trip you up. They will interrogate you. If you've been called for sexual misconduct then be surprised if they ask you very intimate details. Their excuse is that they want to know if the sex was pre-meditated, so they'll ask if you brought condoms, where you did it etc.
WOMEN - if you're not married you'll be expected to turn up alone. Three elders, in a back room, with one girl. Sound creepy? It is. You are well within you're legal rights to request a chaperone or a witness but despite this the elders will refuse. If you make a legal issue of it and threaten to inform the police or a lawyer they will likely back off... for a time. Or they may simply hold the JC without you and disfellowship you anyway.
So here's some facts you needs to know:
They need you to confess to sin OR they need TWO witnesses to your sin. No two witnesses? No grounds for disfellowshipping. They will "leave the matter in Jehovah's hands". Seriously, people have gotten away with child molestation in the kingdom hall because of this two witness rule.
If you're "sin" is not a sexual one (sex ones are the most common) it will be easier to get out of. Simply not return their calls, dont let them engage you in conversation - say something like "my beliefs are personal and if i need you're assistance i'll be sure to ask for it. If they threaten to hold a JC without you tell them you've no objection to attending a JC, you just need your lawyer present. Because...
The Watchtower Society is shit scared of lawyers and media attention. Seriously, get a lawyer to write a letter or write it yourself with a bogus law firm header and number etc and they'll shit their pants and postpone the JC or even cancel it entirely.
If you DO attend a JC, MAKE SURE YOU RECORD IT. Because you're friends and family simply wont believe what goes on in a JC and the things the elders say to you. Witnesses are told that people are only disfellowshipped for not being repentant for serious sin. When my ex-wife was disfellowshipped she was told "we know you're repentant, but we feel we must disfellowship you to set an example". I wish i had that on tape.
So there you have it. If in doubt, deny, deny, deny any charges if they dont have two witnesses. If they DO have two witnesses ask for their names and say you're going to report them to the police on slander charges. Again, you'll find the JC postpones or dropped entirely.