Elders Card

Sister Honesty will explain how the Elders Card works:

Elders Card Explained:

This is what is known in the business as the trump card.

Imagine if you will, that one day an elder or even the Body of elders takes a dislike to you, for no particular reason, or they do have a reason but it is for their selfish gain. You may find yourself in the position of being handed the “Elders Card”.

How does it work?:

Let’s take the example of Brother Truthful and Sister Honesty (see this link if you are not familiar with the story). Maybe you find yourself in the situation of having been accused of some terrible sin by an elder or many elders (8 in total see this link cost of deceit). Suppose you confronted them as you became aware of the lies they had started to spread. You asked them to justify their accusation with the evidence, or you just simply asked for clarification on what was said. If they don’t like the question, don’t want to be caught out in the lie or just plain can’t be bothered they shout “Its Elders Business we can’t discuss it with you” This Elders Card can be played as often as is required it cannot be trumped by anything else they believe, not fact, truth, honesty, integrity, principle, love, kindness, fairness, or any other known basic right. The “Elders Card” is the magic talisman it will always win, so they think. Keep reading if you want to find out how to beat it.

Example of its Use:

So when brother Truthful and I were accused of some very harmful and untrue things we as you can imagine wanted to see the evidence for the accusation. Sorry we are told ”can’t do that its Elders Business” they say. No amount of pleading for your basic right to be confronted given the evidence or to have the witnesses to said offense be present (see judicial procedure) will matter.

When Elders play this card it is easy for them to just state “we did not do or say those things”. You may get one or two to break ranks and give away a few facts, then piece those together for a better understanding, but when you re-present this evidence to the Body of Elders they just pull out the “Elders Card” again and shout “brother so and so should not have spoken to you he has got his facts wrong and we don’t intend to clarify it for you.” What can you do if this happens and the Brothers just stand by their position stating they have done nothing wrong See the following solution.

 

Proof it has no real power:

So how do we defeat the “Elders Card” . You just use common sense truth and logic. See this put into practice with the following conversation.

Sister Honesty: Hi Brother Deceitful. I would like to ask you a question. Why did you and the body of elders spend over £1,400 going to my new congregation to spread malicious lies about me?

Brother Deceitful: That’s just not true Sister we didn’t say anything untrue about you and I can’t discuss the matter with you because it’s confidential.

Sister Honesty: If you were speaking about me to someone else then surely what you said should not be confidential for me, as it’s me you were speaking about. If you were speaking about me truthfully then I would already know those things. Nobody knows things about me, more than me. Do you understand that simple logic Brother Deceitful? But of course if in actual fact you were telling untruths about me, then again that’s not something called confidentiality it’s just simply called “Lying”.

Brother Deceitful: I can assure you sister we only spoke well of you to the other 8 men.

Sister Honesty: So it begs the question if you only spoke well of me why did you not just telephone the congregation and save the £1,400 cost. And why did it take 16 men to be present for the conversation according to your own rules (see judicial procedure) it only takes 3 men to deal with any problem.

Brother Deceitful: I am not prepared to answer your question its “Elders Business” (again they get out the trump card and believe you will just give up.)

Sister Honesty: Ok Brother deceitful you play the Elders Card. But I put it to you that the reason you and another 7 men traveled 300 miles at a cost of £1,400 (see cost of deceipt) to visit my new congregation is that each one of you has a big skeleton in your closet due to your lack of action in not dealing with many issues (see topics) over the past 20 years.  You all needed to bad mouth my good name, it’s the only way you had to stop me speaking out about the things I know. You could not rely on the other brothers to deal with the matter or for any of your names to be linked with these issues. All of you were only protecting yourselves.

Brother Deceitful: Well you believe what you want. You will never win, you can’t prove anything. I am not having another conversation with you, besides I am very busy I have important things to do I have to bake a pie for my tea.

Sister Honesty: Ok Brother do things your way, don’t bother following the correct procedure as always (see judicial procedure). What I will do is Speak to brother Truthful and see if we can find a website (webby) that will listen to our testimony and allow us to tell the truth about you and about the elders and about all the wrong teachings that you have been pushing onto the congregation for decades.

Brother Deceitful: No sister you won’t do that because we will disfellowship you (see shunning) and make all your family and friends disown you just like we always do.

Conclusion:

 So in conclusion Elders and Governing Body members think they have all the cards and will never be found out. But as we have just shown above. They will only win if good people keep quiet. The solution to all their wrong acts is for good people to be brave and start speaking out with Truth and Honesty.