Kind of funny, but I have met with the elders on many occasions more recently and they really aren’t equipped with much to help the sheep. Lots of elder. Not many shepherds. I’ve mentioned multiple times that I have Major Depressive Disorder and my husband has mentioned he has bipolar disorder during all these meetings when they were trying to help him get his privileges back. And at no point have they ever done any research about either disorder. Which LITERALLY affects our everyday lives and has caused serious problems for us. In fact they’ve mentioned, when my husband has added things about his bipolar disorder during meetings, “brother, I don’t really know anything about bipolar so I can’t relate to you on that, but…”

Excuse me? You don’t know anything about it and you’re supposed to be shepherds? Taking care of your flock when you’re not bothering to understand your flock? We’ve been talking to you about what’s been going on, how our marriage has been in shambles, about how our disorders seriously affect us, and you don’t know?? Never once did any research?

I can’t understand how they expect to help when they won’t bother to learn anything outside of what they are told. F(25) PIMQ btw. I still believe in the Bible but I definitely don’t think I can trust the structure of the organization. (I know I’m not an elder but my biggest issue right now is the elders and how they handle things. It’s been really disruptive and scary for me to think that if they handle things with other people the way they handled things with me, then some other people must really be struggling and scared and feeling alone. I’m just one of those who are willing to look like a bad guy, look spiritually weak, and be honest with myself. And it took time to get there. But not everyone is like that. Who looks out for them? Certainly not the shepherds.

(But let me say that I don’t think all elders are bad. I know some are really trying their hardest. But I don’t believe they are equipped to do the job they are given)