QUESTIONS FOR THE ELDERS

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ELDERS!

I put this list of Questions together to help everyone who is currently studying with, or is interested in studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and this list of Questions can also be used by any CURRENT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

This list of Questions is mainly about the Jehovah's Witnesses CHILD ABUSE POLICY.

You should ask these Questions before becoming a Baptized Jehovah's Witness, because the Bible says to MAKE SURE OF ALL THINGS and to CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES TO MAKE SURE WHAT IS TRUE and to KEEP TESTING THE INSPIRED EXPRESSIONS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ORIGINATE WITH GOD, and THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE POLICY:

1: What is the Official Watchtower Society Child Abuse Policy?

2: What is the Official Watchtower Society Response to Dateline, Panorama, Connie Chung, New York Times, etc.?

3: If any parts of the Dateline, Panorama, Connie Chung, or New York Times were UNTRUE, then which part(s) were untrue? Please specify EXACTLY which parts were UNTRUE.

4: And if any part(s) were untrue, then why hasnt the Watchtower Society SUED Dateline, Panorama, Connie Chung, New York Times, or Bill Bowen for SLANDER? Or at the very least, why havent they posted on the Official Watchtower Website that the information was untrue?

5: Why did Barbara Anderson get Disfellowshipped? What are the Clear Scriptural Reasons for her being Disfellowshipped?

6: How can Barbara Anderson get Re-Instated? How can she Repent from being honest and telling about the Files she saw at Bethel?

7: Why did Joe Anderson get Disfellowshipped? What are the Clear Scriptural Reasons for him being Disfellowshipped?

8: How can Joe Anderson get Re-Instated? How can he Repent from being honest and writing a Letter to the Governing Body asking for them to make changes to their Policies?

9: Why did Bill Bowen get Disfellowshipped? What are the Clear Scriptural Reasons for him being Disfellowshipped?

10: How can Bill Bowen get Re-Instated? How can he Repent from being speaking out about a Policy and trying to help Children and trying to get the Society to make changes to their Policies?

11: Why did the Elders wait over 17 months after he started speaking out about the Policy to Disfellowship Bill Bowen?

12: According to different Watchtower Society Statements, one of the following things is true, which one is true?:

Must there be 2 Eye-Witnesses to the SAME ACT?
OR
Can there be Witnesses to the separate events by the same person?

If the the latter one is true, then has this always been so?

13: If an accused, confessed, or convicted child molester moves into my Congregation, will I be notified? Will any of the Parents with Children be notified?

14: If a Pedophile molested a Child, and the Pedophile was NOT found guilty by the Elders, would the Parents of the Child be allowed to warn other Parents in the Congregation to keep their Children away from him, without the threat of being Disfellowshipped for Slander or Gossip?

15: If a Pedophile denied that he molested a Child, and there were not 2 Witnesses, would the Elders discipline him in any way? What exactly do the Elders do when the Pedophile denies it and there is only 1 Witness?

16: If the State where I live does not require Clergy to report a Pedophile to the Police, will the Elders make a Report to the Police?

17: If the 2-Witness Rule is so extremely important, why is it okay for Elders to ignore the 2-Witness Rule if the State requires Clergy to Report to the Police, however, it is Against Jehovahs Law for Elders to Report to the Police if there is only 1 Witness in a NON-Mandatory Clergy Reporting State?

18: If, as an adult, someone charges an Elder with molesting her/him when the Victim was a Child, and the Pedophile denies it, would he then stop serving as an Elder?

19: If a child molester is Disfellowshipped or Reproved, is the Congregation notified that he is a Pedophile? If they arent notified, doesnt that mean, that when he is Re-Instated, no one will ever know to keep their Children away from him (except the Elders)?

20: Is the Accused, Confessed, Convicted, or Known Pedophiles Wife, Children, Grandchildren, or other immediate Family Members notified about him being a Pedophile?

21: According to the January 1st 1997 Watchtower Issue, Known child molesters are ENCOURAGED and REQUIRED to go Door-To-Door. Is this true?

22: Are child molesters ever allowed to go Door-To-Door alone? Or are they required to go with someone else? If they are required to go with another person, has this always been the Policy, and could the 2nd person also possibly be a Pedophile? Who decides who the 2nd person will be?

23: Do you think it is safe or the Christian thing to do, to have PREDATORS go Door-To-Door searching for more Children to molest? (Sometimes Children open the house doors themselves)

24: Is it true that, if the State does not require Clergy to Report Pedophiles to the Police, that even if a Pedophile is Disfellowshipped, the Elders will not notify the Police (even anonymously)?

25: If that is true, doesnt mean then basically that, the Elders kick him out of the Congregation so he can go and molest Worldly People?

26: Are Pedophiles allowed to become Ministerial Servants, Elders, or Overseers, if enough time has passed? (The January 1st 1997 Watchtower Article said NEVER, but a few months after that Article came out, Bethel sent a Confidential Letter to the Elders telling them YES Which is true? Also, were Pedophiles allowed to become Elders or Ministerial Servants before that 1997 Article?)

27: Is an Investigation initiated by the Elders if only one person accuses someone of molesting a Child? (Watchtower Societys Main Spokesman J.R. Brown told the Media No, but the Official Watchtower Society Media Website says Yes which is true? Has this always been the Policy?)

28: (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION) If a Child comes to the Elders and tells them that her/his Father (or other Relative in the Childs House) is molesting her/him, and the Child does not have any other Eye-Witnesses, and they are not in a State which requires Clergy to Report a Pedophile to the Police, and the accused Pedophile denies it, will the Elders do anything? Will the Elders send the Child back home with the accused Pedophile?

29: Why do Elders only Report child molesters in States that REQUIRE it?

30: Why is the Number # 1 Priority for Elders, to Call the Bethel LEGAL DEPARTMENT?

31: Is there any way for a person to know how many (and who) Pedophiles are in their Congregation?

32: Bruce Waite, a Jehovahs Witness from the Draffenville Kentucky Congregation (Bowens Congregation), told the Media that the Elders DISCOURAGE Parents from warning other people about the Pedophile. Is this true?

33: (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION) Are World-Wide (or Local) Donations ever used to pay for Attorneys to defend an accused child molester? Has this EVER happened?

34: Are World-Wide (or Local) Donations ever used to pay out Child Abuse Victims Lawsuits? Has this EVER happened?

35: (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION) Is it true that former Governing Body Member Leo Greenlees was removed from the Governing Body for a molesting a Child? Is it true that Leo Greenlees was a Homosexual?

36: Is it true that Leo Greenlees was only removed from the Governing Body, and that he was NEVER reported to the Police or Disfellowshipped?

37: Is it true that former Governing Body Member Chitty was removed from the Governing Body for being a Homosexual?

38: Is it true that Chitty was only removed from the Governing Body, and that he was NEVER Disfellowshipped?

39: Does the Watchtower Society have a Record or Database of Accused Pedophiles? If so, is it true that you do not turn in any of those Records to the Police? If so, why is that?

40: Is it true that you do not let any of the Jehovahs Witnesses know who is in your Pedophile Database? You dont even warn other Parents?

41: How many accused Pedophiles are in your Records?

42: Why did you not require 2 Eye-Witnesses against Bill Bowen, Barbara Anderson, Joe Anderson, Carl Pandelo, and Barbara Pandelo?

43: Why were Bill Bowen and Barbara Anderson each told to meet with 6 Elders ALONE in a HOTEL ROOM for their Appeal Hearings?

44: Is it true that the Elders did not allow Bill Bowen to even be present at his own Judicial Disfellowshipping Hearing?

45: Is it true that Joe Anderson was Disfellowshipped because he wrote a Letter to the Governing Body asking them to change their Child Abuse Policies?

46: The Watchtower Society teaches that ALL Elders and Overseers are chosen by Jehovahs Holy Spirit, correct?
What though, if later, it is discovered that a person had molested Children BEFORE he was appointed an Elder or Overseer?
Did Jehovahs Holy Spirit appoint a child molester as an Elder or Overseer?
Or was he NEVER appointed by Jehovahs Holy Spirit?
Who was he appointed by then?

47: That must mean that NOT ALL Elders and Overseers are appointed by Jehovahs Holy Spirit, correct?

48: If someone molested Children BEFORE he was Baptized, and the Elders later find out about it, will the Elders inform the Police or the Congregation or the molesters immediate Family Members?

49: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived Book, and several other Watchtower Publications, state that whenever 2 or 3 Elders have a Judicial Hearing in Jesus Christs Name, that Jesus is there in their midst and has the Elders make the same decision that was already decided in Heaven. Is this correct?
Why then, do you have Appeals of Judicial Hearings? How is there any way that the Elders could have made the wrong decision since Jesus was there in their midst causing them to make the right decision? If the Elders get it wrong in a Judicial Hearing, was the wrong decision made in Heaven?
Or, was Jesus NEVER involved in the Judicial Hearing that had the wrong decision being made?

50: What is the Status of Bill Bowen in the Organization?

51: Is Bill Bowen an Apostate?

52: Did Bill Bowen lie about anything? If so, what exactly did he lie about?

53: Is it against the Societys Rules to go to the Media and speak out about a Bad Policy of the Watchtower Society? If so, why?

54: (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION) In the Official Statement that the Watchtower Society gave Connie Chung, it stated that Child Abuse Victims are given Ongoing Counseling. Is this true? If so, when did this start? What kind of Counseling, and how long? Why is it, that this is the first ever mention from the Society of Ongoing Counseling being given to the Victims (and why did you try to make it sound like you have always had this Counseling?)

55: Is it true that, until Bowen spoke out, there was a Policy of Do not take your Brother to Court unless he is Disfellowshipped? And even then it was Discouraged, correct?
This Policy was stated in the November 15th 1973 Watchtower Issue, correct?
So, this Policy lasted from 1973 until Bowen spoke out, correct? Or is this Policy still going on?
Now, supposedly, the Policy is, No action will be taken against a Victim who turns in a Pedophile, correct?

56: As Christians (well, some of us are), are we under the Law of Moses?
Christians are supposed to be under the Law of the Love of Christ, correct?
As Christians, we are supposed to live by 2 Commandments Love Jehovah God and Jesus Christ and Love your Neighbor as Yourself, correct?
We are supposed to follow the Golden Rule Do to others what you want them to do to you, correct?
Are we, as Christians, supposed to have Rigid Rules?
Christians are supposed to live by PRINCIPLES of the Bible, correct?

57: Do you think the RIGID 2-Witness Rule for Child Abuse is following the Law of the Love of Christ?

58: Do you require 2 Eye-Witnesses for ALL sins and ALL crimes?

59: If a Pedophile is taken to Court, and in the Trial, they find him Guilty, but there were not 2-Witnesses, will he be Disfellowshipped? Or will he remain in Good Standing? And then when and if he ever gets out of jail, will he still be in Good Standing in the Congregation?

60: If the Bethel Legal Department tells the Elders NOT to turn in a Pedophile to the Police, and then one of the Elders decides to make a Report to the Police anyway, will that Elder be Disciplined or Removed?

61: Is it true that about 1,000 Bethelites (33%) were just sent home, or transferred out of Bethel?

62: If so, why?

63: Is it true that Bethel sent people to make a Video Tape of Bill Bowens Father calling Bowen a liar, and also on the Video was a Policeman saying that he has NEVER known of ANY Group or Organization covering up Pedophiles?

64: Is it also true that the people from Bethel distributed this Video to the Kentucky Media?

65: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION WE SHOULD ASK ABOUT THE CHILD ABUSE POLICIES: What would Jesus Christ do?

66: Look at what He did to the Money-Changers!

67: How much worse are Child Molesters in Jesus eyes?

68: Didnt Jesus say that if someone stumbled just one Child, that it would have been better for him to have a Millstone around his neck and be drowned in the sea?

69: What happens if a Group or Organization has stumbled 5,000 Children? Or what about 23,000 Children?

70: Do the Jehovah's Witnesses have a "3-Year Statue of Limitations" on certain sins?

71: If so, which sins?

72: Does the "Matthew 18:15-17 Rule" apply to Child Abuse or Murder?

Rape Policy Scenario:

1: Woman is Raped and does not Scream and/or fight off the attacker because he has a Gun.
2: Elders find out about her being Raped.
3: The Elders bring her before a Judicial Hearing.
4: The Elders ask her the exact details of what happened during the Rape.
5: If the Elders determine that she did not Scream loud enough, or fight off the attacker enough, she will be Disfellowshipped.
6: This is whole Scenario depends on the current New Light on this Policy which has gone back and forth about 15 times!
7: If it is true, this has got to be one of the most cruel and wicked Policies ever!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RAPE POLICY:

1: When a woman is being Raped, is she required to Scream and/or fight off the attacker (even if he has a Gun or Knife)?

2: If she does not Scream and/or fight off the attacker, has she committed Fornication (or Adultery if she is Married)?

3: If yes, has this always been your Policy?

4: If no, has this always been your Policy?

5: How many times has this Policy been changed?

6: If this is the Policy, how do you justify this Policy, and also how do you justify changing this Policy about 15 times back and forth?

7: Does this Policy apply to Children?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MURDER POLICY:

1: Do you require 2 Eye-Witnesses for Murder?

2: If you are in a State that does not require Clergy to report to the Police, will the Elders report a Murderer to the Police?

3: If an accused Murdered is put on Trial by the Superior Authorities, and then they let him off due to a technicality or something (kind of like O.J. Simpson), but it was basically proven that he was a Murderer in Trial, will the Elders Disfellowship or Reprove him, or will he still be in Good Standing because there were not 2 Witnesses at the Trial?

4: If someone committed Murder BEFORE he was Baptized, and the Elders later find out about it, will the Elders inform the Police or the Congregation or the molesters immediate Family Members?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNING BODY:

1: Is the Governing Body Inspired?

2: Is the Governing Body Infallible?

3: Is the Governing Body Perfect?

4: If there is a conflict between what the Bible says and what the Governing Body says, which should Jehovahs Witnesses follow? (My answer is obvious, but I want to hear Bethels answer)

5: If a Baptized person decides to go with the Bible and go against the Governing Body on a particular Policy or Teaching, because of his Bible-Trained Conscience, will this person be Disfellowshipped or Disciplined in any way?

6: If I were to publicly disagree with the Governing Body about anything, would I be Disciplined in any way?

7: Do Jehovahs Witnesses follow men, or do they follow Jesus Christ and Jehovah God?

8: When New Light decisions are made, who exactly gets to Vote? Is it only the Eleven Governing Body Members? Or is it all 8,000+ Remaining Anointed Members of the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

9: What percentage of Votes is required to approve of New Light decisions? (like for example, two-thirds?)

10: Who is the current President of the Watchtower Society? Is he a Member of the Governing Body? Is he one of the Anointed?

11: Does the Governing Body receive all of their New Light directly from Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, and the Angels?

12: What is more important for Jehovahs Witnesses, TRUTH or UNITY?

13: Where does the Bible say that we should accept ANYONES word without question?

14: If we are supposed to accept everything the Governing Body says without question, doesnt that in essence, make them untouchable, and that means they are like GOD ON EARTH, correct? Like the Pope, right?

15: Doesnt the Bible say that the Apostles were not supposed to Lord it over their fellow Christians?

16: Doesnt the Bible say that the Apostles were not supposed to be Masters over their fellow Christians Faith?

17: Does the Governing Body, who say they are NOT Inspired, have more Authority, Power, and Control than the Apostles who WERE Inspired?

QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDICIAL HEARINGS:

1: Do ALL accused Jehovahs Witnesses (no matter what they are accused of) have the right to bring Witnesses and Evidence in their behalf to the Judicial Hearing?

2: Are accused Jehovahs Witnesses allowed to bring a Tape-Recorder to their Judicial Hearing? If not, why not?

3: Are accused Jehovahs Witnesses allowed to Take Notes at their Judicial Hearing? If not, why not?

4: Why are Judicial Hearings always done in SECRET? In the Old Testament, they were always done in front of the Public City Gates, correct? And, in the New Testament, they were done in front of all onlookers, correct? So why all the SECRECY now days?

5: Is Questioning the Governing Body a Disfellowshipping Offense?

6: Is Causing Divisions a Disfellowshipping Offense?

7: What is the definition of Causing Divisions?

8: Is Undermining the Arrangements of the Organization a Disfellowshipping Offense?

9: What is the definition of Undermining the Arrangements of the Organization?

10: What is the exact definition of Apostate?

11: If someone had publicly LIED about the Watchtower Society, wouldnt they have been Disfellowshipped for Slander or Lying?

12: A person who has publicly LIED would not be Disfellowshipped for Causing Divisions, correct?

13: Is there a Secret Elders Instruction Book called Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock?

14: Are ONLY Elders and Overseers allowed to have a copy of this Book?

15: If so, why?

16: Are Christians supposed to have any secrets from their Brothers and Sisters in relation to Spiritual Truths?

17: Did the Apostles have their own Secret Book?

18: Did the Apostles have Special Privileged Knowledge or Information that they hid from their Brothers and Sisters?

19: Isnt this like the Pharisees, Masons, Mormons, and Catholics, who all give Secret Books or Knowledge to the Higher Degrees?

20: According to John 18:20, Jesus Christ spoke NOTHING IN SECRET!

21: According the Watchtower Societys Secret Societies Article on their Official Website, True Christians in NO WAY practice Secretiveness!

QUESTIONS ABOUT BLOODGUILT:

1: If someone had information, and he knew that Children (or anyone) would be hurt or killed, and he did not warn people about it, and then the Children (or anyone) were hurt or killed, would he be Bloodguilty before Jehovah God?

2: If ANY Organization or Group, like lets say the Catholics, who because of their Policies (intentionally or not), were guilty of allowing people to stay in Good Standing, who have Raped Children, does this make the WHOLE Organization or Group and all of the Members Bloodguilty before Jehovah God?

3: Would a Member of that Bloodguilty Organization or Group, like the Catholics, have to either leave or speak out against the Policies in order to not be Bloodguilty before Jehovah God?

4: How does Community Bloodguilt work? I saw it mentioned in some Watchtower Publications?

QUESTIONS ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MILITARY AND CIVIL SERVICE:

1: Did the Watchtower Society teach, for over 50 years, that Jehovahs Witnesses would be Disfellowshipped or Disassociated if they chose to do Alternative Military/Civil Service (such as Hospital Work, etc.)?

2: Did the Watchtower Society, in the May 1st 1996 Watchtower Issue, publish an Article stating that, not only is Alternative Service allowed now, but it is also a Good Work for Christians to do?

3: Is it true that the Watchtower Society, in that 1996 Article, blamed the individual Jehovahs Witnesses for going along with their own consciences, when in fact, the Society had commanded all Jehovahs Witnesses not to do ANY Alternative Service, with the threat of being Disfellowshipped and destroyed by God at Armageddon?

4: The Article made it sound like the Witnesses back then had too strong of consciences, and that now days the individual Witnesses consciences are better because they are not as strong. This is not good at all, because most of the Witnesses back then would DEFINITELY have done Alternative Service had they been allowed to by the Society!

5: How many Jehovahs Witnesses went to jail or died because they did what the Society told them to do about Alternative Service, and now, it turns out that they all died for not doing something that is now a GOOD WORK!!!!!

6: How many people are still in prison because they went along with the Society and refused to do Alternative Civil Service?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NOBLE-MINDED BEROEANS (from Acts 17:10-11):

1: Should ALL Christians follow the Beroeans example?

2: What was the Beroeans example?

3: Did they not ask questions to Paul about the New Testament which he was telling them about?

4: Did they not examine things very carefully to make sure what was true?

5: Is it true that in the latest Watchtower Issue (September 15th 2002), it says that Christians should not question the Bible, but rather they should be like the Beroeans?

6: Isnt that an Oxy-Moron and a Major Contradiction?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THEOCRATIC WARFARE (The Not Throwing Pearls Before Swine Policy):

1: Is it true that the Society teaches that it is a good thing to hide information or deceive, or lie to people who are not Jehovahs Witnesses in order to protect the Organization?

2: Also, when the Society says Do not deceive people who are ENTITLED to know the truth, just exactly who IS, and ISNT, ENTITLED to know the truth?

3: Are ALL people who are NOT Jehovahs Witnesses considered to not be ENTITLED to know the truth?

4: Are Police ENTITLED to know the truth?

5: Are Reporters ENTITLED to know the truth?

6: Are Inactive Jehovahs Witnesses ENTITLED to know the truth?

7: Are Disfellowshipped or Disassociated Jehovahs Witnesses ENTITLED to know the truth?

8: In what circumstances is at appropriate to deceive those who are not ENTITLED to know the truth?

9: Is it true that the May 1st 1957 Watchtower Issue, basically says that Jehovahs Witnesses should not tell anyone anything that might damage the Societys reputation? Is this Policy still in effect?

Also, here is a list of Bethel Phone Numbers, if you would like to ask your Questions that way:

718-560-5600 (Media Number) (Listed on Official Website)

718-560-5000 (Public Number) (Listed on Official Website)

845-306-1100 (Patterson, New York Number) (Listed on Official Website)

718-560-5101 (J.R. Brown, Watchtower's Main Spokesmans Number) (Listed on Official Website)

1-866-388-2222 (Toll-Free Public Phone Number from their New TV Commercial) (Listed on Official Website)

718-625-3600 (From Yahoo Yellow Pages)

516-481-2865 (From Yahoo Yellow Pages)

845-744-6000 (Bethel Farms) (From Yahoo Yellow Pages)

973-696-6777 (From Yahoo Yellow Pages)

215-389-2923 (From Yahoo Yellow Pages)

718-560-5333 (Joel Gott's Number, the person who registered the Official Website's Domain Name) (From a Domain Name Registering Website)

Hey - how many return bible studies do you think it will take to review all this!!!! & How many elders do you think an "interested" one will go through as many will become doubtful of their own beliefs & have to step away from this particular study!!!! 

First of all Undisfellowshipped, my profound thanks for the truly inspired analysis of the importance of knowing what "belonging" to a "religious" organization entails.....especially if you spend 20, 30 ,40, 50+ years of your life, and to make sure is was not for naught......I took the liberty of printing all 17 pages of this post, since this year an elder approached my JW mother, asking her if I would like to "come back to the fold" after being Df'd in 1978......she told me this is a "new" thing they do, once a year......well, quess what questionaire I'll be presenting to them the next time they approach my mom...............rocky220

I only have one question WHO DIED AND MADE THEM G O D?????????

1. Call the legal Dpt. Then Report to Authorities if there is enough proof.
2. We also hate the gross sin that child molesters or abusers have practiced.
3. The part were Barbara Anderson said that she had access to secret files in Bethel, yeah right!
4. I dont think the Society is in the suing business, unless forced into it.
5. Dont know, I was not involved in that judicial case and you were not either so we shouldnt speak without knowing all of the facts.
6. She needs to stop dictating to the Governing Body what to do, let Jehovahs representatives do what they were assigned to do. Remember Korah?
7. Dont know, I was not involved in that judicial case and you were not either so we shouldnt speak without knowing all of the facts.
8. Go to #6
9. See #7
10. Go to #6
11. I guess they were gathering proof against him, waiting for him to show who he really was or they were giving him an opportunity to come back to Jehovahs Organization.
12. There can we two witnesses to different acts. I dont think it has always been so, this is the current understanding.
13. No, the elders are notified and they keep an eye on him. Of course if the abuser is disfellowshipped there is no danger since Witnesses shun disfellowshipped ones. Here is a danger for opposers since they openly accept other disfellowshipped ones, they could be harboring a child abuser.
14. No, its clearly over if they were found not-guilty.
15. No, but they would keep an eye on him and watch his every moves. At least I would.
16. No.
17. Wow, thats a tongue twister.
18. The elders would investigate and if found innocent he would continue serving. Would it be fair to remove him if the accuser is lying just to get back at the elder for some reason? Hey dont deny it happens, an opposer is capable of anything.
19. No they are not notified. Only the elders would know. They are the shepherds of the flock in that congregation.
20. Yes, the immediate family and any of the friends that take their kids to that persons house.
21. All publishers are encouraged to go out in service, unless they were disfelloshipped.
22. Usually witnessing is done by two. The elders have the responsibility to keep an eye on a previous molester.
23. Its safe.
24. Correct.
25. We cant protect the world.
26. No.
27. Yes. The elders would certainly interview the accuser and the accused in separate meetings and here their side of the stories.
28. Yes to the first question and No to the other until its cleared up.
29. Because thats the law and we follow the law according to Romans 13:1.
30. To get proper guidance on the laws of the land.
31. They could ask the elders.
32. This is a tricky question. I would notify someone if I see their kids in danger. I certainly would not make it my main topic of conversation with every single brother in the congregation.
33. No.
34. Yes. Many victims and theyre money-hungry lawyers will suit the Society. If they lose, they would have to pay.
35. I think throwing accusations around because of rumors is slanderous. You dont know all the facts and the information regarding Brother Greenlees is confidential.
36. As far as I know, he was removed. Youre assuming he abused a child and thats why you suggest calling the police, when in fact you dont know what happened 100%.
37. Its really non of your business what happened Chitty and why he was removed from the Governing body.
38. Again, thats non of your business. If there was a judicial committee, they took into consideration his repentance. Again, I dont even know if there was a judicial committee to begin with. Its all speculation on my part and yours.
39. They have records for their internal use not for the police. They let the police do their own job.
40. Correct. The elders are responsible for keeping their eye on previous abusers.
41. Thats confidential information.
42. I was not part of those judicial committee, so I dont know if witnesses were needed or not.
43. Because they were making a mockery of the judicial process and causing a circus at the kingdom halls.
44. No thats not true, they sent him an invitation. Like a coward he sat outside in his car/truck and did not walk in.
45. I dont know the whole story there. Im sure theres more to it than that. Just because he says so doesnt make it so.
46. The Holy Spirit is not involved in every appointment. The elders and C.O. measure an individuals qualification in the light of what the scriptures say which were inspired by holy spirit.
47. Read #46.
48. No.
49. Judicial Committees are guided by Bible commandments and principles. In this way, Jesus is with them.
50. He is disfellowshipped and no longer one of Jehovahs Witnesses.
51. Yes.
52. Only He and Jehovah know, I wouldnt want to be in his shoes.
53. Yes. Jesus outlined the process when there is a problem between brothers in Matthew Chap. 18.
54. The counseling is done by elders. Its called shepherding.
55. Yes that is correct.
56. Correct.
57. It is in the Bible and we must not go beyond what is written.
58. Yes, unless the person confesses.
59. That is the decision of the judicial committee involved, they will take into consideration all evidence that is available and if the person is repentant. A sin is a sin.
60. No.
61. No.
62. See #61 and what happens in Bethel is the Bethels family business not yours.
63. It was his decision to speak out.
64. His father distributed it.
65. Not what he would do, the question is what is he going to do about it. Ever heard of Harmageddon?
66. Rightly so.
67. He hates all sins, not the sinner.
68. Yes.
69. You assume this.
70. No, each case is handled on an individual basis.
71. Again, read #70.
72. No.

 

Rape Policy

1. There are no requirements, each rape crime is different. If she has a chance to defend herself she should, if not its understandable that a man is much stronger than a woman, plus she is scared half to death at the time.
2. No.
3. There is no policy, the Organization quotes from the Bible and each individual case is handled separate from others. There is no general rule.
4. See #3.
5. See #3
6. See #3
7. See #3

Murder Policy

1. The police would investigate and the elders would wait to see their findings.
2. Yes.
3. He would go through the judicial committee process.
4. The elders would call the legal Dept. for proper legal guidance as to their responsabilities.

Governing Body

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. The Bible.
5. The Governing Body has not gone against the Bible, so there is no need to answer this question.
6. Yes.
7. Jesus and Jehovah.
8. The Governing Body members have the responsibility.
9. Im not part of the Governing Body, I just let them do their job as appointed by God.
10. Title are not really important in the Organization, this is only to satisfy secular authorities.
11. They receive new light by carefully analyzing the Scriptures.
12. Both are equally important.
13. It doesnt.
14. No, we are encouraged to research the scriptures used in all publications and prove to oneself what is the truth.
15. Yes.
16. Yes.
17. They have the authority given to them by the Scriptures.

Judicial Hearings.

1. Yes.
2. No, it is a confidential meeting and there is no need to record the meeting.
3. Yes.
4. Oh come on, what do you think this is? The Scarlet Letter. The meetings are confidential and its not the business of the congregation to know the sins of a person.
5. No, unless you publicize it.
6. Yes.
7. Putting doubts into the minds of the brothers and sisters.
8. No, unless you publicize your feelings.
9. Figure it out.
10. An opposer of Jehovah.
11. Yes.
12. Yes they would.
13. Its not really secret. It pertains to the responsibilities of elders so it is given to elders when they are appointed. Most of the information can also be found in the publications that all members have open access to.
14. Yes.
15. Because it is for elders.
16. See #13
17. I dont think so.
18. Im sure when the governing body discussed issues in Jerusalem they did it in private.
19. No.
20. Correct.
21. Correct.

Ok thats all the time I have for now. Hope you enjoy my answers to your questions.

Un, great list of questions!

Sword, way to go, you are an awesome troll! You actually went through and answered all those questions, some of them correctly. Its not just answering the questions though, its thinking about the implications.

Thanks to everyone for Posting here, and I will definitely try to reply to "SwordOfJah"'s Answers soon.

But first, here are some more QUESTIONS:

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUPERIOR AUTHORITIES:

1: In the May 1st 1996 Watchtower Article, is it true that the Society said that their incorrect understanding of the Superior Authorities (as being Jehovah and Jesus instead of the Governments) of Romans Chapter 13, HELPED the Jehovahs Witnesses, and that then later Jehovah also gave them the correct understanding, and then that HELPED the Jehovahs Witnesses? Why would having a FALSE UNDERSTANDING of the Superior Authorities HELP anyone?

2: Is it also true that in that same Article, it said that Russell originally had the correct understanding of the Superior Authorities and then later the Society got the false understanding, and then even later the Society got the correct understanding again?

3: Is it true that in that Article, it also says that the Society finally got the correct understanding (again) when they Translated the New World Translation of the Bible around 1962, by looking at the meanings of the Greek Words?

4: However, isnt that wrong, because didnt the Society first Translate the New World Translation of the Christian-Greek Scriptures in 1950, not 1962? (The All Scriptures Inspired Book says that it was in 1950!)

QUESTIONS ABOUT FREEMASONS AND OTHER GROUPS:

1: What is the Watchtower Societys Official Stance on Freemasonry, Shriners, Elk Lodges, Moose Lodges, etc.?

2: Why did Charles Taze Russell use several Masonic Symbols and Code Words in his Publications and Talks?

3: Is it true that, for the first several decades, the Society held most of their Conventions and Assemblies at Masonic Halls and Lodges?

4: If so, why would the Masons, who HATE Jesus Christ, allow The Only True Followers of Jesus Christ to use Masonic Halls and Lodges for Conventions and Assemblies?

5: Was Charles Taze Russell ever a Freemason?

6: Why has the Society only published like 2 Articles on Freemasonry (one of the largest, most secret, most evil Organizations in the world) in the last 130 years?

7: Are Jehovahs Witnesses allowed to join the Freemasons, Shriners, Elk Lodges, Moose Lodges, etc.?

8: Did Charles Taze Russell believe that the Satanic Pyramids of Egypt were Jehovah Gods Stone-Witness to give out EXTRA information other than what the Bible contained?

9: Did Russell measure certain parts of the Pyramids to arrive at the 1914 Year as being important for Prophecies?

10: Did Joseph Rutherford, after Russell died, publish Articles saying that anyone who believes in the Egyptian Pyramids is following Satan?

11: What is the Order of Special Full-Time Servants which is only mentioned once each year by the Watchtower Society inside the Annual Year Books?

12: How is one initiated into this Order?

13: Are there any Vows or Oaths one has to make to become a Member of this Order?

14: What are the requirements of the Members of this Order?

15: Who are the Members of this Order?

16: How many Members does this Order have?

17: Wouldnt this Order be a Sect according to the Bible?

18: Wouldnt this Order be a Division according to the Bible?

19: What is the purpose of this Order?

20: Why is called an Order? Freemason Groups are called Orders, such as The Order of the Shrine, and so on.

21: Is it true that Russell once stated that Jesus Christ is the GRAND MASTER OF THE FREEMASONS and that the Apostle Paul was also a MASON?

Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 27 September 2002 6:28:58

Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 27 September 2002 6:29:45

UNDF'd - as you know, I'm a great fan of your tireless work organizing all of the info for these now famous "Undf'd threads," and these questions are great!

I got a chuckle when you wrote you would reply to Sword, BUT FIRST, MORE questions!

If you're around tonight and you see this... I came to the link for all threads begun by yourself, because I am trying to find the one where you list all of the WT PHONE NUMBERS. I looked in the one entitled Media; and BOE letters, and now this thread. Even tho I have saved all of your threads/links separately, I do not remember which one had the WT Phone Numbers in it. The reason I ask is because a good friend in NY (from the March) posted this today, that when she called INFO in NY to get the WT phone #, they told her it is no longer listed with Information. And I wanted to give her the list of #'s from your thread. (I did take some of the #'s off of the BOE letters, though, and will post those for her/Jeannie). But if you see this and want to add the list of WT phone #'s to Jeannie's thread, please go here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=37708&site=3

THANKS Undf'd!
Dan Dan You're The Man!
Grits

Elders response:

Will this be your "last request?"

Edited by - thichi on 30 September 2002 19:25:34

Here are Links to MORE QUESTIONS to ask the JW's:

http://www.macgregorministries.org/jehovahs_witnesses/65%20Questions.html

http://www.macgregorministries.org/jehovahs_witnesses/questions_for_jws.html