Multiple sources are reporting that Governing Body member Guy Pierce died yesterday morning, March 18, 2014, of a severe stroke. He was 79.
Pierce is survived by his wife, Penny, with whom he began pioneering in 1982. He also leaves behind five sons who were all Witnesses as of 2008.
As recently as last October Pierce served as chairman at the 129th Annual Meeting, at which the newly revised version of the New World Translation was released.
Noteworthy moments during this meeting included an occasion when he encouraged his audience to twist their bibles to see how durable they were. He also suggested that “new light” might be unveiled at the meeting, although this ultimately proved not to be the case.
Following his early work as a pioneer, Pierce served as a traveling overseer between 1986 and 1997. Thereafter, he and his wife were asked to serve at the United States bethel. Pierce served as a “helper” to the Personnel Committee prior to his appointment to the Governing Body. (see w00 1/1 p.29)
In 2011 Pierce sparked controversy by admitting that the Governing Body were pressing ahead with their ambitious building project for a new World Headquarters in Warwick, upstate New York, without being fully certain of Jehovah’s will in the matter. (see w12 8/15) Watchtower has since commenced building work, with the organization even likening the project to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls by Nehemiah.
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Little is known about Pierce’s individual achievements as a Governing Body member because, unlike the precedent set at Acts 15, Watchtower keeps the minutes of Governing Body meetings top secret – even though the identities of members are widely published.
Pierce will understandably be mourned by those who knew him, especially his widow, children and grandchildren. But it is regrettable that ultimately his tenure as a Governing Body member was a wasted opportunity to bring about urgently needed reform.
Pierce leaves behind an organization riddled with secrecy and deception in which crimes against children are covered up and Witnesses who dare to speak out are persecuted through the cruel practice of shunning.
***UPDATE***
The following announcement has now been made on the JW.org website…
“Guy H. Pierce, a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses at their world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, died on Tuesday, March 18. He was 79 years of age.
In addition to his wife, Penny, Mr. Pierce is survived by his six children, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is also fondly remembered by Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world whom he regarded as family.
In a statement, his fellow members of the Governing Body commented: ‘Our memories of his courageous and faithful earthly life course will continue to strengthen us for years to come.'”
My sympathy to you Heather as regards your grandfather’s death, and I’m sure that he will be missed by many of Jehovah’s Witnesses as will you as his granddaughter .
But on another note, the governing body are now missing one of their eight “chieftains” so I wonder how the death of this governing body member will be viewed by the organization at large?
The irony of your statement here Imacountrygirl as sincere as you are, is that those on that site you had just mentioned had now more or less shunned me from their little group because I had dared to question the validity of the Bible as a whole being God’s inspired word as well as mentioning other writings such as the “Urantia book” that may potentially present truth.
For a site to say that it promotes “unbiased Bible research” and then turn around and get offended for criticism of it in various parts of it is hypocritical at best.
I was shunned by the organization for not accepting that the “governing body” had been appointed over all of Christ’s belongings and then when I went to E-Watchman site and forum, I was kicked of that one because I was promoting that all Christians had only “one hope” among other things.
It seems when it come to Jehovah’s Witnesses and shunning, old habits persist in this area.
Do people really want the truth or do they just want a version of truth that suits them?
Searcher, You feel you were shunned at [shameless plug for evangelical website removed, see posting guidelines]. I never shunned you on that site. You didn’t respond to any of my comments to you. It’s more like you shunned me. OK maybe not shunned, but you did not address any of my comments to you.
I am aware that some became frustrated at your lack of accepting that the site is based on “Striving for unbiased Bible research”, so obviously those on that site believe the Bible to be God’s word.
You did not offer any valid proof of your claims that the Bible is NOT God’s Inspired Word. Should we just accept your word for that? We’ve all been fooled by earthly men for way too long as it is.
You mention two sites that you feel shunned you. Have you ever considered that the faulty reasoning might be your own?
I beg that you will search your heart, humble yourself and not harden your heart. Re-consider the possibility that the book you speak of is not proof that the Bible is not from God. There is no proof either way.
This is the essence of faith, when you choose to believe in something you cannot see, even though you have absolutely no proof either way. It is a leap of faith to believe in Jesus and his message of love, his Heavenly Father Jehovah, and that the Bible is inspired of God and can help us in our daily lives.
Some of us expressed sadness and regret at the damage the Governing Body has caused those who become awakened about the “Truth” Their actions have caused families to be ripped apart, some to not believe in God at all, some simply don’t care anymore, a lot are struggling with baggage from being in the “Truth” for years. We’ve all been damaged in some way.
In the end, we each must find our own truth.
With Warm Christian Love from you sister, imacountrygirl2
My condolence to the family of brother Pierce and all my fellow JWs….wil miss him.
condolences Heather – there is so much dysfunction among the people who have been touched by WBTS;
Searcher for Truth – you were removed from someone else’s property for propagating utter rubbish – please don’t overdose this site with your gunk! Please !!
Is he in heaven now? I hope he arrived before 144,000 seats are full! I hope he does not make a U-turn and come back to Crooklyn after the doors of the HEAVEN are shut before him as HE is part of the GB who wrote in 2011 that ” A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance—might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling” (w11 8/15 p. 22, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w11+8%2F15+p.+22)!
Did he consult a psychiatrist or psychologist before taking the JOURNEY TO HEAVEN to rule with Christ?
(Matthew 21:31) . . .Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the Kingdom of God.
Having a heavenly hope, was he a “tax collector” selling the Watchtower magazines?
Julius Muss,
You will miss him? Are you serious? I hope he HAD, not mistakenly, a “heavenly hope”.
In 2007, the Watchtower published this article: “The First Resurrection”—Now Under Way! (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w07+1%2F1+p.+30+pars.+18-19)
In the article, you can read: “As Christ’s presence progresses, anointed Christians who faithfully finish their earthly course are changed “in the twinkling of an eye” into powerful spirit creatures. (1 Corinthians 15:52) Will all the anointed receive their heavenly reward before the war of Armageddon? We do not know. We do know, however, that in God’s due time, all the 144,000 will be found standing on the heavenly Mount Zion.
19 We also know that the majority of the 144,000 are already united with Christ. Only a relatively few remain on earth. What a powerful indication that the time for the execution of God’s judgment is rapidly approaching!
“a powerful indication that the time for the execution of God’s judgment is rapidly approaching!”
What else can we say? These people are “Mentally diseased” and apostates are “Mentally clean”!!
@ Heather Bennett.
My condolences for your loss.
Your grandfather was a bit younger than my (living) father currently is. I do get where you are coming from as I managed to forgive my father a long time ago once I realised that his indoctrination was a result of his own insecurities. Although there was mental, emotional and some physical (non sexual) abuse, I know that it was accidental and that he genuinely believed it was for my own good. I tell myself that my father’s passing will not affect me when his time comes (we have not communicated in nearly ten years) – but I know in my heart that it will be difficult.
It sounds like you have suffered in similar ways to many other ex-jws and “Designer Stubble” has pointed you towards an excellent resource at http://www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com .
I imagine that your grandfather was involved in many decisions on jw policies that may have contributed to messing up many people’s lives but, as with my father, I realise that this was not done with malice but was him doing the best he could within the scope of his indoctrination.
Some say that the governing body members must be aware that the organisation’s beliefs are rubbish. I don’t subscribe to that myself. Once in such a position it is easy to rationalise that their decision making is being influenced by some almighty being – so they assume that they must be right.
I don’t know where you are at in recovering from your own past indoctrination. I went around for two decades wondering when the big “a” would come to destroy me; but not being fully conscious that my mind was working that way.
I wish you peace.
Hitler was a Son… Himmler a father and grandfather, infact his daughter Gudrun is still much a supporter of his. So whilst common human decency does allow sorry for loss generally, lets get it into perspective. Yes im sorry for Gudrun that Mr Himmler (her father died), but i wouldnt go to a holocaust memorial site and post about what a great guy he was outside of his org.. he was a monster.
Heather,
Thank you for opening up on this forum..
so sorry that you may not feel welcome to attend your grandfather’s funeral.
Personally,I have no love at all for the Governing Body.
Pierce is very fortunate to have lived long enough to to see his grandchildren and even great grandchildren…
an opportunity denied to thousands of JW children who die because of the blood ban..he enjoyed a life of freedom while many JWs ,including children,languish in prison in the African country of Eritrea, because of the GB’s policies.
The Governing Body members,including Pierce,in my opinion, have blood on their hands.
To AFRICAINE
Perhaps you can repeat what I had said as utter rubbish here on this forum for all to peruse and analyze, since you accuse me of doing such.
Imacountrygirl, I am prevented from posting on that site so I can not respond to you on it.
And yes sometimes I can be a bit tactless when commenting to others, as I am not the most diplomatic man in the world, but that was not why I was “shunned” and apparently” “reproved before all onlookers” can you believe that.
And on a forum that must by now be well and truly in an “apostate” category by the Watchtower Society and it’s organization.
As to valid proof, there is plenty that I can offer you, and one that I had already put to the site that the flood account in Genesis, I believed to be inaccurate, because of the logistics of what was involved in the storage of animals, etc and food water, and personnel to look after them as would be required..
A searcher for truth, I have quite similar thoughts as you do. I kind of felt on that site you mentioned I would start being shunned because of some of my comments there.
I think a really unbiased venue would be a good thing. I’ve been thinking about doing something along those lines, more to learn for others than to express opinions, but I have very little time at this point. I hope sometime later I’ll try something like this, or we come across such a site in the meanwhile :-)
Sorry I meant “learn FROM others” …
My deepest condolences Heather.
JB, I certainly agree with you on this.
To explore the truth, we do need to consider every possible avenue of truth.
Whether in the Bible, or elsewhere.
And for 7 years or more, I have looked and researched every avenue possible to me on-line, where truth could reside, that is how I literally stumble across the “Urantia book”. There is a lot that is written there that resonates with me.
Charles Taze Russell did this type of research yet for some reason he is not criticized by the Watchtower Society for his interests in pyramids, the Pleiades, etc.
Though that could come yet.
But for all his faults, he was a true researcher for his time as we all should be.
Sometimes the truth can be stranger than fiction.
What indeed do we really know about the universe?
Very little, it seems.
And the more I research it, the more I realize just how very little I do know about things.
I agree, only an open mind and using ALL we have available can give some more clue. Still, you’re very right, we know practically nothing.
I didn’t know about Urantia, I’ve got to have a look to this.
Cheers
To JB, I did not know anything about this book until three years ago.
But it has been in print for almost 60 years now and is distributed around the world through it’s publishing foundation “the Urantia Foundation”.
Why it is not so well known is because as far as I know, it is not normally marketed through commercial outlets.
It is my belief that the Watchtower Society have also known about the existence of this book for many years also, but are careful not to hint at it to it’s members in any of it’s literature.
If not they would certainly know about it now, because I am not the only ex-JW who has put information of it’s existence out there among forums related to Jehovah’s Witnesses, such Jehovah’s Witness Topix, etc.
The nature of this book would certainly make people think about things in relation to what they currently believe.
In some way it goes to support much of what is contained in the Bible and other ways goes to show the erroneous of what religions have taught their members over all these thousands of years.
Many Christians are dead-set against this book because it puts them in the position of having to recalibrate their own belief systems.
Just type in “Urantia book” and up will come the book online and other relevant links to it that you can peruse.
Good luck, for the “Truth is out there”.
Do not be worried. They know it is not in their power. They know that Jehovah is leading.
You can sense the fear in some of the JW apologist comments. Its very sad. They come out and make a one or two sentence statement and then run back behind the door. It feels like the door is being opened more and more and there are so many coming out now, that the ones running back are going to be crashing into the huge amount that are waking up and saying I will not be abused or let my family be abused by this organisation, not even for one more day.
To Michael
Good point Michael about informing their children of the 2 witness rule and to “shout out ” to friends and family of they ever feel threatened? No, they do not tell them that. Nor do they Explain to new studies or those thinking of Baptism that they should be MADE AWARE that if they ever have doubts or decide to leave the JW”S that your entire life will be changed and ALL OF your family and former friends will not be able to associate with you or EVER TALK to you again? That your Parents, children, relatives will not be able to be your family anymore unless you obey the ever changing doctrines of the WT? Those items should be thoroughly explained to any newly interested ones before they take the “PLUNGE” but it is not. There should be Full Disclosure.The same as what the Scientologists do to people that leave their Church? The JW’s are quick to call the Church of Scientology a Cult! Is there anything different that the JW’s do. Exactly the same.
The announcement of his passing is very callous by his fellows GB members, after serving in the role of GB, all that is said that he is “fondly remembered” “courageous” and faithful”.
What a heartless bunch of men.
To Mr.Don
Yes, you say the Family of DF ones are welcome to attend the memorial of their loved ones at the KH?
Like the JW’s are doing them a favor by “ALLOWNG” them to attend their OWN family Memorial? Like that is so kind of them?That is ridiculous. Why would they have the anything to do n the first place to allow them to attend their own family memorial? It should not even be an issue at all in the first place. You mentioned that they “hugged” the family at the service. How mice of them.
Did they also invite the DF ones to the after memorial service and share a meal with them or do anything for the extended DF’d family like take them on errands or shopping or bring food to the distressed DF’d family or is that reserved ONLY for JW’s in good standing? I know the answers to that before you answer it bc as a former Elder for 12 years and a MS for over 6 years we were clearly instructed that the DF’s could not attend an after service meal with the cong bc that would be considered “associating” with them and condoning their DF life? How Weird and Sick is that?
That little hug at the KH and memorial service that they allow the df family to attend means nothing. In many KH they won’t even allow that to take place.
Don, you know what I am saying is true. THE WT should have no right whatsoever to tell a family if they can or cannot attend a KH or memorial service.
Their practice of shunning has hurt millions of people around the earth directly or indirectly. My son who has ever been DF’d decide at app 20 years old that the WT life was not for him and he has led a good productive happy life for the last 12 years. As soon as he decided to leave the Elders were chasing him for months to find something he was doing wrong to try to DF him but could not do it so he just faded out on his own. For any Church or religion to tell me or his family we cannot ever talk to him again is really a SIN and destructive. How can they get away with this Control game they play? I am so Glad I don’t have to deal with this Mental cruelty any longer. It was an unnecessary hard ride that we went through .
I am Glad now the “light”gotten brighter!
Let him go! Jehovah’s organization must be kept clean!
“Shocking as it is, even some who have been prominent in Jehovah’s organization have succumbed to immoral practices, including homosexuality, wife swapping, and child molesting. It is to be noted, also, that during the past year, 36,638 individuals had to be disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation, the greater number of them for practicing immorality. Jehovah’s organization must be kept clean! (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)” (w86 1/1 p. 13 par. 12”!!
I hope he was not a child molester but I am sure he was a member of the GB of an organization that covers up child molestation…
It was confirmed the same day he died. He was placed as the “Convention Coordinator” for the MD convention this summer. An elder very close to me told me about it just after an elders’ meeting that was had that night (for the elders with parts at the up-coming convention).
I feel sorry for all of you, pity in fact. As I’m sure Brother Pearce does. Only bitterness and hatred would motivate you to create this website and then make negative comments about someone you have never met. You think the organization and Jehovah’s Witnesses are deceiving themselves? Yet, they are not creating websites in an effort to slander others like yourselves. If anything, JW.org serves to encourage others and help them live a cleaner life in accordance with Bible principles. I’m sorry that things went pear shaped for you while you were a JW- sometimes it happens, we are not perfect. From what I can see neither are you. Finally, Jehovah will make things right in his appointed time. We can’t wait.
Amy, there ya go pushing that JW.org! Knock it off will ya! LOL “We are not perfect” yet you place yourselves above everyone else. Your whole organization is FILTHY. But you’re blinded, because you are told not to think or research for yourselves. Why is that?? hmm…If there were rumors of your child being abused at daycare, you wouldn’t investigate it huh? You’d take the word of those running the daycare over your child’s? Rumor spreads that your spouse is cheating, you wouldn’t ‘question’ it? The Watchtower targets idiots, those idiots knock on doors and when someone with intelligence tries to state their view and show you something it’s “We’ve really got to go now…” or “We’ll do some research on that and get back to you” People are LEAVING because of stone-cold FACTS not because of hearsay. YOU stay in a false religion because of the lies they tell you. And you gobble it up. Thank you. Oh!!! and LIFE is BETTER after finding out the TRUTH about THE TRUTH. be blessed! (bet you frowned at that huh)
What a testimony Heather gave. This poor girl isn’t even welcome at her own Grandfather’s funeral? By their love you will know them, indeed!! Guy Pierce is personally responsible for trying to silence sexual abuse victims under the threat of disfellowshipping while he was a CO back in 1992. His toothy grin was wide, so as to distract you from seeing him reach around with the knife and stab you in the back! I feel a great sense of relief that Heather was able to escape from the clutches of such evil, vile, hateful religion known as the JW’s. If she is truly smart, she won’t bother going to his funeral either. Or maybe she will, then she can experience more “Christian Love” from those self-righteous posuers.
As yes, I see you are wishing for the destruction of billions of people that you have never met, judging them worthy of death, all because they don’t suck on the teet of “Mother Organization” like you do. What a wonderful display of “love” from you. So much for “loving thy enemy”, as Jesus commanded, aye? Bitterness and hatred is what drives such “loving” policies such as disfellowshipping, marking, shunning, and allowing people to die due to ignorant stance on blood transfusions. (ignorant, archaic!!) You should really invest in a mirror there, Sister.
Amy,
There is no slander here. The many children who have been sexually abused because of JW policies are not slanderers. The ones that went to court and were told to be silent by the WT were not slanderers. Do your research and then come back with evidence, rather than just making critical comments against your fellow human beings. This was done on Guy Pierce’s watch. When any one dies it is sad for the family and people on here have mostly been respectful of that. Perhaps you could be a little respectful of those that have suffered because of man made decisions. Or is your god one that is judgemental and unkind and therefore the followers are somehow given the right to copy that behaviour?
Sorry i had to read this twice!!!
“You think the organization and Jehovah’s Witnesses are deceiving themselves? Yet, they are not creating websites in an effort to slander others”
The whole JW religion is built on slandering the Catholic Church.. Let’s not be silly.. Pick up any WT and you will see attacks on the faith of Catholics and aparent expose of Catholic practices!!! the JW this IS a slander. I just look forward to the day they try the same trick on the Muslim faith.. U know show an Imam doing something ‘bad’.. There will be a Fatwa issued and the GB will be killed.. But they know this so they stick with the old punchbag of the Catholic church… cowards!!
Thank you all for your support. And to any of you that have lost a loved one, my deepest sympathies for your loss as well. Losing a loved one is truly hard, not matter what the circumstances. I am going to be headed down to Cali to attend an over the phone memorial with the left over family who could not make it to New York. I’m going to be headed out shortly and probably wont be able to put many posts on here since I wont have my laptop with me.
To some that have had some comments comparing my grandpa to Hitler… well, uhm… all I can say is that Hitler not only made people believe in an fictional and untruthful belief but he also trained them to put people in slave camps and persecute them and put them to death. I understand your comparison, but as I recall, I don’t remember any kind of slave camps and gas chambers. Have deaths happened because of the things that all of the men on the GB teaching them to refuse blood? Yes, but the same thing that comes to mind is that everybody has freewill and they can choose to not do what a man is telling them to do. So, who is to blame other than the GB? The people following them and carrying out their wills. I don’t agree with it and I’m not in support of it, nobody should ever have to die due to somebody else’s choices. I understand that my grandpa represented that group, but you have to remember that he was not working alone nor did he ever act alone. So while I understand your lashing out, I also don’t support putting all of this on him. Compare it to when there was slavery in the states, how do we feel when anybody who had loved ones in slavery come and attack us and our loved ones about it because “our people” had a part in it?? Quite a new light to see on the situation. I am an open mind and an open heart. One of the most important reasons why I left the organization is because I did not want to lead a life of lies and secrets, I felt like a two faced person because I didn’t want to go door to door and didn’t feel like studying and didn’t want to always go to the meetings. Most importantly, I found that I hated the JW’s for their disrespect for homosexual people. I am bi-sexual and have known for some time, which is also why this bothered me for years. The only thing I can do, is reject the organization as a whole, but when it comes to individuals, what they have been taught and what fears have been instilled in them makes them unable to comprehend these truths that we have freedom of choice, no matter who is trying to influence us, we have freedom of speech, we have freedom to love whomever we want to love, we have freedom to read any book or article we choose and make up our own minds on what they mean and how they would apply to us, and most of all, we have the freedom of religion, to not have it or to have it, to love any God of our choosing and to make our lives as good as we can make them. Having said this, I do not know what decisions my grandfather made when he was GB, what decisions were made for him, what he was told to say or what he felt he needed to say himself, but I know him as a person, he was warm hearted, kind to others, generous and giving, he wanted people to be happy in the organization that he was in and he was a good person. Maybe this isn’t something that is easily grasped since maybe certain ones here have been burnt by the organization and will forever feel hurt and disgusted and that I do not blame you, but please do not use my grandfather as the only one to blame, it is the whole entire organization as a whole that has hurt you, and for that I am sorry that you have been through that pain and I encourage you to always keep your head up and reach for hope and happiness.
@ Cedars
Thank you again for your work. This has been an incredible thread, I had an epiphany when I read Heathers comment.
@ Heather
First and foremost I am very sorry for your loss. As any man in power, he had the responsibility of making decisions whether jointly or on his own that would affect millions of lives.
I wanted to thank you for adding clarity to something I have struggled with since I left. You pointed out very simply, yet concisely that all of those who lost their lives due to blood issues had freedom of choice and they followed the direction of the Governing Body and the WTS. You are 100% correct that they have the choice and choose.
While it may seem reasonable to argue that the choices made by the victims of the blood issue were duped and deceived. Whose to say your grandfather wasn’t deceived also by his teachers and in sincerity believed what he promoted.
There in lies the rub or conflict for me. I was an elder and I think of the lives I influenced, A young man who had a full ride scholarship to Vanderbilt for Engineering left college because of my misguided advice, a young couple faced child neglect charges because of their stance on blood as I stood by with them and their newborn who needed blood.
Ultimately I used the internet to finally expose this terrible organization and all of its lies. I made the choice to leave, as I felt this was the only right choice to be made. The simple fact remains, I deeply regret the hurt that was caused others by my belief system. Ultimately we can only hope the facts will come to light for those left in the organization. I have come to grips for the guilt that comes from life changing bad advice I gave to so many (21 dedicated Bible studies and there families now totaling over 50 people) all who are held captive to this belief system due to my zeal for a belief that I thought was right. I hope for mercy from this community, because I was a zealous witness. I wanted to save as many lives as possible, not entrap people. I am now left with the immutable truth, I had the right to choose. Because of you, I am reminded that I am not the only one who chose, everyone chooses and should be personally held accountable, good or bad.
Heather, you are right to love him for what is good and to put away what was bad, it is as Excelsior said, we are all some of both.
@ Excelsior, Heather, Cedars
Thanks, I grew a little today and I am closer to who I want to be because of you all.
Heather, You are a brave, open hearted and sensitive woman. I hope you get some support, love and kindness as you make your journey to California.
Heather,
Thank you for your comments and experiences. I am so sorry for your loss and that you will not be welcome at your own grandfather’s funeral.
This is truly shunning at it’s best. I have expressed this a few times and will do again, I hope your grandmother will be okay, I hope she has a place to live still.
Take care
Best wishes to you love Kate xx
Kate,
Usually, the wives are allowed (heh.. allowed…after all their lives being at the mercy of whatever their husbands are supposed to be doing and following them around…smh) to live out there days at the Bethel site. I only hope that this same love is extended to my grandmother. If not, she will be ok, two of her sons are more than capable of helping her out with a home.
What a wonderful and loving person you are. Thank you for commenting on this. I’m sorry for your loss
Wow…..so “maybe” Heather’s Grandmother “might” be “allowed” to slump around Bethel for the remainder of her life, IF she was a good-enough brown-noser and has enough leverage. (IE: Has pull/hand) Incredible. Not even the Elite’s wives are given their due or looked after, unless they are deemed “worthy.” No small wonder than, why the average rank and file Witness is made to feel like total sh*t, and never “good-enough”. This is a cult of burden, a completely abusive money-making publishing/real estate scheme. Incredible!
Well now the Beast of Revelation 13 has 7 real heads, good good, it has just received it’s death blow, good good, and what is left? That’s right for it to revive, good good. Then all the Watch Tower pedallers will say, “Who can wage war on the Watch Tower?” Good good.
Pasta-far-I!
Holy conolli..
Can only speak for my self and the memorials i have attentend.
No one was “allowed”. There just was not ever an issue. Everyone that had a wish to attend could go. We also had a cermony after memorial service and there was DF’s attending. No big deal,
I also have a pretty laid back approach to a DF as long as they are not a agressive anti JW. So i guess i would keep my distance to somewhat like you based on the writings. But thats just plain common sense in a way.
a “pretty laid back approach to a DF”?? hmmm…whatever you say. Don’t let the elders at your KH hear you say that. That’s a no-no. And if ANYONE (family or not) feels “uncomfortable” with a DF person attending a memorial service or wedding (the Elders will ask them to sit in back at least) I’ve seen that happen. So….
the one ? that i dont even see being asked is if Guy accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior…according to John 3:16 thats the only way we can see the Kingdom…Will anyone even attempt to wonder about that….His grandaugher obviously left for something that she didnt agree with and its great that she has left this religion. I hope that this religion starts to crumble soon before it starts to get worse and worse.
My condolences to Heather and I agree. I knew him as a child, pioneered with him and Penny, and knew his stepsons. While I am positive that Guy has a lot to answer for before God, he has passed away and all the negatives we speak are only hurting his family.
Let’s just let him go, and know that Jesus will handle this situation with ultimate justice and mercy, as we would wish to be handled.
–disfellowshipped for reporting abuse and glad of it!!!
Heather,
I’ve been out for several years now, and I have gone to a few of the funerals since for those I dearly loved growing up. I felt that it was out of respect for the deceased. But, honestly, going to the funerals was sickening.
They never really say much about the person at the funeral or mourn. Instead it is used as another opportunity to sermonize their beliefs. It is enough to turn your stomach. Being around all these people you’ve known forever, and them ignoring you is an emotionally traumatic experience.
If you don’t or can’t go, don’t feel too upset. You may feel better by just taking time on your own to enjoy your memories, to mourn and celebrate his life.
As far as I recall, DF’d ones were absolutely not allowed at anything besides the immediate funeral. There was that thing about “not even eating with such a one” that was written up in the WT.
True, some congregations and people were more extreme about it than others.
So sorry to hear about anyone’s death. But I have one question why does the email say he was married in 1977? He was married twice. So shouldn’t it have two dates.
I’ve been to both memorials and weddings with df ones around, the scriptures say to not even easy with such ones as A Friend stated. I dont expect to be doing anything but going to the memorial and then spending time with family members (or actually, member) that is happy to have me come down. I’m going to visit my Aunt, the one person who needs me the most, she has been shunned from the family for my whole life and she is Guy’s step daughter. because they were avoiding press, they didn’t tell us he was in the hospital, she didn’t even know until I called her asking to come visit. Her kids live too far to come visit and I know I’m the only one in the rest of the family that will physically be there for her to cry and hug on. I love my family, I always will.
Honestly, this is a song I dedicate to my family… “Say something, I’m giving up on you”
That song… the first time I heard it I cried so hard that I freaked my friend out who was showing it to me. He had no idea what cord it hit, and it took me a couple of days to figure it out. I now know that it’s my thoughts and hopes to my family. I just wish they would wake up and say something….
Oh Heather,
I am glad you are able to share this with us. This is such an unloving and unnecessary experience. Many of us who have been out a long time stayed silent because we did not want to upset our families.
Our culture also teaches us to be respectful – so we stayed silent. We also stayed silent because we had taken on board some of the fearful messages. You are doing such a brave thing both for yourself and others by speaking up at this time. It will be helpful for your aunt as well as she must have lived in silence with all this, not wanting to seem disloyal, but at the same time recognising that it is wrong. My sister died in the last year. I did not go to the funeral. I just did not want to associate with those people, who think that their god says its okay to shun your own flesh and blood and cause so much pain. I hope you know that you are not alone and what you are doing in sharing this with others is helping the healing. A long time ago I stopped thinking that anyone would come out and suddenly I have relatives that are coming out. It is fairly overwhelming with this happens. I hope you will find comfort in each other’s company and more comfort in knowing others will be thinking about you.