My name is Wayne Rogers. I'm a New Release. I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, baptized in'83 at the Oakland Coliseum, married in '87 at the age
of 21, frequently Auxilliary Pioneered, and was appointed Ministerial Servant. My wife is a Full Time Pioneer.
I first questioned the blood issue many years ago and very slowly began to see that it should be a conscience matter, based on scripture, the contrast between pharissaaical and Christlike thought, and the contradictions based on the Society's allowing SOME blood components. I kept this completely to myself and did not let my personal view slow down my theocratic activity.
Last year('98) I began researching the chronology behind the Gentile Times theory after my wife wanted me to explain it to her again during a family study. As I had her explain it back to me, it dawned on me how shaky the concept was, and I decided I needed to study it more to prove it was true. I spent months of spare time at the libraries analyzing the neo-babylonian era and wearing out my WT CD at home reading all the applicable articles and scriptures. I was forced to come to the conclusion that the Society was completely in error. I went to the elders for help and found they were completely unwilling and unable to discuss the issue deeply, even admitting that I was 3 books ahead of them. I came under much suspicion.
About that time, my wife started pressuring me to get us the durable power of attorney forms. I decided that I could not hide my convictions about blood from her anymore and told her how I felt. I started to research blood again for info i could share with her, and went to medical journal websites, where I found references to the AJWRB reformers group(Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood). I went to the AJWRB site and read it all in amazement. I was so ecstatic that there were other witnesses who felt like I did, that I sent them an e-mail showing my support for the reform. My wife found the message and gave it to the elders. The wheels of judicial committees started turning and I found myself facing a disfellowshipping sentence. I appealed, but knew that the decision was pretty much made already. It was announced in Jan 11 of this year('99). My wife separated from me in March '99 on the grounds that I was an apostate, and therefore an absolute spiritual endangerment even though I did not hinder her activities in any way. Now I am trying to redefine for myself what it means to be a Christian, and cope with my losses.
