Posted by Rick [Rick] on November 08, 1999 at 17:09:43 {Nq8EnQ8RVA7ajbiu2wnkFMFBt36Xyc}:
In Reply to: To All Bodies Of Elders posted by Kent on November 08, 1999 at 14:02:07:
> When the letter is received by the elders of his new congregation, it should be read to the assembled elders and then destroyed.
(...)
> Do not keep a copy of the 5?77 form or retain notes and other papers of the case. However, when it involves child molestation retain a copy of the S?77 form, but destroy any notes or reports in the usual way.
(...)
> For the time being, destroy all these files over five years old, with the exception of any that deal with known child molestation. To ensure confidentiality, the service committee will destroy by shredding or burning all envelopes, only retaining the S? 79 card for the congregation's permanent file. Thereafter, the congregation secretary will keep the "List of Judicial Matters" up?to?date.
(...)
This is the exact reasons those working to reform the organization have been pressing for the disfellowshiping (on grounds of APOSTASY) those who authorized these and other actions. It's difficult to believe that the Watchtower Society's attorneys could not advise them that these instructions to destroy documents, might possibly establish that other required legal documents necessary (i.e.) in a full-scale audit, are not also "disappearing" as a result of "verbal instructions"? It gives the appearance that if the Society claims something disappears "accidentally," this letter establishes that it could have been intentionally destroyed. This establishes they could violate any laws and shred the evidence, even if they didn't. In my opinion this constitutes gross breach in fudiciary responsibility to the Corporation by one or more individuals (the names whom I will not speculate).
I encourage elders to save those letters preferrably in your safety deposit boxes where they are impervious to the elements -- and fax copies to those who can make their contents public. This form of "whistleblowing" is the only way to discourage this.
I also encourage elders to purchase miniature data voice records and record sessions where instructions are transmitted "verbally." These recorders are typically under $200, and have software to transfer the recording to a highly compressed file on your computer with date/time stamp. There's a new brand from Olympus that records 1.25 hours in high-quality (SP) mode, and 2.5 hours in medium-quality (LP) mode on a digital chip, fits in your shirt pocket, for under $200 (and the files are 1/10th the size of WAVE files), includes the computer cable and software. Save these critical recordings if you feel what was said is highly suspect. You can forward these records via email attachment to those who can make them public and transcribe them. (Requires Olympus software to listen to file or translate it to WAVE format.)
Rick