A few days ago I posted an article about a special meeting to which all elders in the United States branch territory were invited. The purpose of the LDC (Local Design/Construction Department) meeting was to unveil a new style of standardized kingdom hall that is far better suited for re-sale with commercial applications in mind.
As you would expect, rank and file members were excluded from the meeting despite their contributions paying for the buildings that were being discussed.
Now the entire 2 hour, 40 minute meeting has been leaked on YouTube. I haven’t had chance to go through it all yet, but I thought JWsurvey readers would appreciate the “heads up” and the opportunity to form their own conclusions about what was said during the event.
I am told there are copies of the video in private circulation, so even if Watchtower pulls some strings and has YouTube take the video down, you can expect it to pop up again somewhere.
When you add this latest leak to the leak of Watchtower’s elder training videos on disfellowshipping and suicidal ones 12 months ago, it should go without saying that the organization does not enjoy the uniform support of elders to which it aspires.
Further reading…
I think Robert Luciano Would make a BRILLIANT COUNT DRACULA SUCKING Every Ounce of Energy, Time & Money out of Ordinary JWs!! I think COUNT LUCIANO should come onto the Platform wearing a Cloak FANGS & a CROSS in his Hands dancing to HAPPY by Pharrell Williams to WARD off EVIL APOSTATES !! Be More Entertaining than Sophia & Caleb
Apologies to everyone for calling myself PICKLED BRACE on my last 2 posts!!! I might change my name to COUNT PICKLE !!
In yesterday’s Daily Mail online ,Peter Sutcliffe( the YORKSHIRE RIPPER) who Butchered with screwdrivers,Hammers & Knives was BAPTISED in Broadmoor in a special Baptism by Jehovahs witnesses after studying with them for about 15 Years???? Hmmmm ! So now would you visit this man in prison to give him Brotherly association. If he was ever allowed out on day release he could sit next to women & children & speak to any JW. But if you DISAGREE with any Doctrine that the F&D Slave announce or walk into a Kingdom Hall Smoking Just One Cigarette during a meeting you would be Reproved!! Do it Twice & you would be Disfellowshipped. How many 1000s of HOURS over 15 years these Elders spent studying with this man & going through the questions when they could be helping their own wives& Children & others in the Congregation .Peter Sutcliffe couldn’t have done any door to door ministry. IS THERE a NEW PROVISION to count Hours CELL to CELL witnessing !!
My last comment above should have stated Peter Sutcliffe BUTCHERED 13 WOMEN& attacked others with KNIVEs,Screwdrivers etc because he thought he was on a MISSION from GOD & yesterday was Baptised as a JW. !! So he will now Survive ARMAGEDDON & Play with the Tigers & Lions!!but if you are a Doctor Saving Lives from EBOLA in Sierra Leone BUT you are NOT a JW you will DIE at ARMAGEDDON . ???? Or if you were Sexually Abused & went straight to the Authorities & complained about without going to the Elders& Legal Department first ,SHAME on You for Bringing REPROACH on JEHOVAHs HOLY???? Organisation ?? Welcome to the SCREWBALL THINKING of the F&D Slave!!!
Rank and file? Let the dead bury the dead.
No surrender.
Believe what YOU believe.
My mind is totally blown by this news!
The Yorkshire Ripper, one of the most dangerous people in Britain, has been deemed of sound enough mind to dedicate his life to Jehovah in association with Jehovah God’s spirit – directed organisation!
A mentally ill man who murdered people is deemed able to make this kind of decision? Why on earth are the mental health professionals allowing this cult to study with the individuals under their care?
I am appalled by the JWs prison witnessing. Anecdotal evidence implies that paedophiles are particularly keen to study with JWs. Here they find an organisation that will allow them to continue abusing children with near enough impunity! Paradise indeed!!
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
As regards the Yorkshire Ripper. . And the witnesses. . And I know. . Out of politeness, he only has one eye. We don’t play.
He made a bid for freedom through the European court. When I asked why one eye?, the reply was, “so he can see the next one coming”, it was set up. I don’t need to lie:-)x
P.s .The pen can be nighter than the sword.
Blind wille Mctell.x
I (being God). I and I. Bob Dylan, very interesting song.
The watchtower have no other excuse to collect more money from the rank and files other than need of Kingdome halls. Needs of Kingdome halls is the bait for Jehovah witnesses to open up their wallet to donate to the world large empire real estate company. Of curse Jehovah and Jesus and the holly spirit supporting the design. watchtower is part of the opium of the humanity. is very interesting how all these committing members exulting the GB
In this way the watchtower can rightly own all the land and kingdom halls and have a full control over them. Making them a super rich organisation like the church of England.
So true. People wouldn’t believe me if I told them that I grew up in a religion in which I would have been chastised me for attempting to have a food drive or collecting money or clothes for the poor. I remember my JW mom even asking the elders if it was alright for her to collect money for the Red Cross (they told her that her efforts should be on behalf of the “Kingdom” and not the “world”). It is truly mind boggling.
I believe I read that as a religion they have given the least amount to charitable causes than any other religion. Would definitely like to see them lose their “charitable status” for tax purposes.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the selling and building of KH’s is just a business decision. Probably have used up all the depreciation on the buildings for income tax purposes. No benefit at this point. Any accountants out there?
Like I often used to think in meetings…..Wrap it up b!!!so long. so boring.
Excelsior. I too am astonished, that those in charge of Peter
Sutcliffe, (A man judged to be criminally insane). Have allowed a high
mind control cult access to him.
There’s a grotesque and morbid parallel here. Sutcliffe claimed he had
a mission from God, and showed no remorse for his killing spree,
( 13 women brutally murdered, and a further 7 attempted).
He claimed he was obeying the voice of God.
Those who have indoctrinated him also claim a special assignment
from the almighty and that their teachings are the equivalent of
listening to Gods voice. Also no contrition has been shown , for the
tragic deaths of many ( many more than the ripper.). because of the
ban on life saving medical treatment. Not to mention, the longingly
awaited slaughter of billions .
The mindset of the two parties seems very similar, “Delusional”!
Ted & Excelsior, it’s because they’ve scraped the bottom of the barrel. No one in their right mind wants to know about this religion anymore.
Is anyone here aware that the Yorkshire Ripper has just been baptised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses despite that fact that NO ONE believes he is repentant of anything.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2944388/Yorkshire-Ripper-Sutcliffe-enjoys-specially-arranged-baptism-service.html
Enjoy.
Is it my imagination or does that Luccioni character look like he has just come out electric shock therapy?
@Grace . Count Luciano has probably used an ERA machine popular with the witnesses in the 1930s & 1940s!!!
@shanti,giving is not a priority of GB as you have pointed out,In my entire association with the org which is since I was 5 and now Ime about to turn 53,have I ever seen a financial statement issued by the WBTS,nor have I heard anyone talk about one that outlines the expenditures ,or a profit and loss statement, nothing concrete that explains where the money goes that the org turns over,which is about $250 000 000 per year,anything published in the watchtower on this subject is vague and never gives figures.I think the reason for that is it would disgust every member,there would be a mass exodus in protest,already there is resistance in the western world to giving money,they have made it easy as possible to give,but try getting something from the org when you need it! Like pulling teeth from an elephant.
@Wild olive. Enjoyed your last comment.You may be SHOCKED to realise the Revenue received from donations(Real Estate,wills,stocks&shares,etc) in 2001,over 13 years ago was $951,000,000. It must be Treble that now!This is from OFFICIAL Records & Documentation that Watchtower Filed.That is NOT including the VALUE of the LAND the Watchtower owns which must run into Billions ! They are one of the most Wealthy Landowners in Brooklyn !One Real Estate Company values the Property they own in Brooklyn ALONE as over 1 Billion Dollars !! How many Accountants, Lawyers,etc does it cost to maintain this PLUS the Printing Facilities, Walkill,Warwick,Patterson,Computer Hardware,Servers,Programmers,Analysts for the Website,TV Station & all the Expensive Hardware that goes with it. BROTHERS KEEP Those DONATIONS Rolling in !!!
@ Pickled,where did you get those figures from? Just curious
@wild olive. Figures are from Newsday.com but first click on website ‘watchtowerlies.com’ for $951 million Revenue 2001 . Then under Wikipedia click on Watchtower Property & Scroll right down until you get to the Values of each Watchtower property . Hope it helps
@Wild olive. Also look on Brooklyn Daily Eagle at ‘brooklyneagle.com’ has a lot of information about Watchtower property sales in Brooklyn over $ 850 million in last 10 years of at least 14 Properties & they have 12 more to sell; one Car park lot is Valued at over $400 million !!! KEEP the DONATIONS ROLLING BROTHERS !!! Hmmmmm???
@Wild olive . JUST one property on Furman St in 2004 was sold by the Watchtower for $ 200 million !a few years Back Watchtower sold Bossert Hotel for $ 83 Million . You can see how quickly the money Adds up ! I think the Governing Body are only the FRONT MEN on show to the members . They are NOT Directors of the Numerous Names the JW Organisation goes under e.g. I.B.S.A. ; Watchtower bible & tract Society ,New York . Watchtower bible society of Pennsylvania & Dozens of other Names in many Countries . ALL TAX FREE as they are Registered Charities! I think I should start up my own Religion!!! I see MONEY , MONEY, MONEY! No wonder Sam Herd is wearing a GOLD Sub- Mariner ROLEX Watch in his latest monthly (Feb) TV.JW.Org Broadcast !!
@Wild olive. ARMAGEDDON is NEAR brothers so let’s build up our PROPERTY PORTFOLIO Just Like JESUS DID & Apostle Paul did ????? NEW LIGHT ANYONE!!
the WT shows in the year book what they spend on bethel missionaries and such, nothing else, most JW have no idea that the WT has sister companies and besides real estate they make money of other things.
Omg it’s even worse than I thought,these pesky apostates know too much,I think I might give the one fingered salute next time donations are mentioned! Lol
This is disgusting. Twisting scriptures to fit the needs of money making real estate deals. The time of the end is so close but they have all the time in the world to spend money on NEW real estate construction. We are not living in the OLD COVENANT we are in the new covenant. Misapplying scriptures just like Christendom to enrich themselves. More and more obvious they are just a real estate publishing holding company milking people all over the world to finance their real estate holdings and businesses. Sickening!
Jesus said to be content with substance and covering. Do not seek riches of the world and store up treasures on the earth.
Luke 12:15-24
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,[a] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
I just checked the congregations increase in USA from 2013 to 2014. It is just over 1%. Bare in mind that often congregations share the same Kingdom Hall which makes sense as otherwise the halls would only be in use a few hours every week. So why oh why do they think there is a need to build so many new Kingdom Halls?
Rolf,
Great scriptural argument, sir.
JESUS had a poor box, even though he was poor too! The early Christian church had charitable relief for widows and orphans. So seriously was this charity taken, that the Lord killed a couple who tried to steal from it!
When one compares the WTBTS with the early church, the contrasts are stark indeed.
So where can we go to? We do not have to go anywhere. The Lord is with us always. We can associate with others, but not be constrained by them and their differing Christian consciences! Galatians 5.
I have benefited greatly from re- reading Galatians 5 and 6. They have reminded me that the WTBTS is not a Christian religion. It is a mind control cult, furnishing profits to a publishing and property organisation.
I am not a Christian, but I can still assure you that, if CHRIST is risen, then he will never desert you. He will bless your sincere desire to be a Christian, and he will help you to understand what he wants you to do and be.
I would reccomend reading Matthew 25. As JWs, we constantly peer at Matthew 24. Yet 25 tells us on what basis the Lord will judge us at the due time. We are judged, Rolf, not on our status, not on how many hours of preaching we do, but on whether we have shown practical kindness and compassion to our fellow human beings.
I wish you well in your freedom from the WTBTS.
Peace be with you, Excelsior!
@excelsior – I agree with you that we will be judged on how we have treated others and our kindness and compassion.
When I was a witness it was made clear to me that my salvation depended on number of hours in service, meeting attendance, and doing whatever necessary to advance the interests of the witness religion.
Being charitable, or helping others in need, especially those who were non- witnesses, was never mentioned.
In fact, I was told that even minor association with non-witnesses would be detrimental to me.
Still wondering how this corporation manages to fool millions into telling them to “simplify and not be materialistic”, when in fact they make such a “showy display”.
I laughed out loud when the brother said ” don’t record this meeting” and the whole meeting is out online within such a short time after the meeting is done.
Do you really think they are dimwitted enough to think no one will record it? Is there any reason they would want the info to leak out?
I am very astonished on how these people can justify the amassing of huge real estate and claim to follow Jesus.
They claim to restore first century Christianity. It is easy to say that in words but please don’t tell me Jesus would rather have everything new, spotless, immaculate and ignore the people in need. I see a completely different image in the Bible, he valued not the appearance but spiritual values.
What I see from recent JW videos is a huge importance on appearance and luxury. The clothing is immaculate, lots of pinky rings, a fantastic cutting edge news style TV Broadcasting studio. It is obvious that there is a plan of owning every single building, create more bethls/amusements parks and force people to listen their propaganda or risk the breakage of life long relationships and families. Often for doubting nonsense teachings that have been proven wrong over and over again.
Is is also shocking that they attribute the Holy Spirit for the decision of building commercial instead of residential style kingdom halls. Can a sane person believe that God prefers a commercial design instead of residential? What difference can make to him? It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is shamelessly invoked to validate their ideas and business strategy decisions.
They are not the only ones. The majority of Christian denominations have understood that the Bible is a good business and a valid trick to convince good people that hope for something better. If you read the New Testament you understand that Christiana meet in private homes. There is no need to spend amazing amount of dollars just to worship God. But obviously if Christians meet in private homes are more difficult to manipulate.
Romans 16:5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
There is not a single scripture where either Jesus or the apostle encourage to spend money for buildings or the huge productions of literature. The Bible is more then enough. The JWs teach that Jesus helped the poor mainly to demonstrate what he can do for us in the future and teach that the Christian only responsibility is to preach. Nothing more wrong than this.
Please read Galatians 2:8-10
8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Cephas[c] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
The Good News was to be preached everywhere, they expected the coming Christ soon but nevertheless “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor”.
The Governing Body completely jumps on this scriptures and prefers to buy expensive buildings. Is it strictly important to be Christians building huge constructions like the new US headquarter? It is strictly important to build exhibitions to show the history of their nonsense instead of saving a dying child?
They are really thinking that everybody lives in US, do they ever thinking about their own fellows believers that are struggling in poor countries. I would rather sell those Godfather awful gold pinky rings and buy medicine for dying children.
Especially that they say their are the only God representative on earth (according to their mind).
They have long criticised the catholic church but they are slowly slowly taking their position. With excommunication for example. They brutally damage the life of persons who freely choose to leave their religion by shunning them from their loved family members. Lots of active JWs are reading sites like this and are understanding that their religion is like some politics, they promise things that they never maintain and at the same time increase their bank accounts.
Great comment David, I have long believed that religions are just another political party that picks & choses the christian policy book to buy their voters. It’s all about which party gets the most power over the people. This religion even names itself the ‘governing body’.
A true Christian doesn’t need fancy clothes, fancy buildings, fancy jewellery to win someone over to true happiness & peace. It comes from within the heart & mind.
@David . WOW your Insight & Comment was Perfect, Perfect & Perfect !! JESUS couldn’t have put it better himself!! I hope the Governing Body READ what you have just written & Learn from it.