A leaked letter dated March 29, 2014, has been circulated to all elders advising of a huge shake-up in financing arrangements for kingdom hall and assembly hall construction.
The letter is four pages long, but only the first page is to be read out to publishers. The three-page postscript, containing further details of how the new arrangement is to be implemented, includes the sentence (in bold): “This postscript should not be read to the congregation, and this letter should not be posted on the information board.”
The first page is due to be read out at congregation service meetings for the week of May 5, 2014.
“Having sufficient, adequate places of worship is vital, as Jehovah continues to ‘speed up’ the gathering of ‘a mighty nation,'” it reads. “In order to meet these ever increasing needs, the Governing Body has directed that an adjustment be made in the way Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction projects are financed.”
What is this adjustment? “In harmony with 2 Corinthians 8:12-14, congregations will now be asked to pool their resources worldwide to support the construction of theocratic facilities wherever they are needed.”
What will this “pooling” of resources involve? “…all congregations will have the opportunity to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction work worldwide by resolving to make a monthly donation from congregation funds.”
Once the letter has been read, congregations will have just four weeks (with a final deadline of May 31) to agree on a monthly figure to be sent to Watchtower, ostensibly for the construction of kingdom halls and assembly halls worldwide.
Figures that don’t add up
“The need for Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls is greater than ever before,” the letter insists. “At this time, over 13,000 Kingdom Hall projects and 35 Assembly Hall projects are needed worldwide.”
After listening to the above statement, publishers would be forgiven for assuming that more than 13,000 new Kingdom Halls are needed each year to keep pace with publisher growth.
However, when you compare the number of congregations in 2013 (113,823) with the number of congregations the year before (111,719), you note that there has been an increase of only 2,104 congregations worldwide – some of which will be sharing existing kingdom hall infrastructure. The 13,000 figure is therefore either a gross exaggeration, or kingdom halls are being refurbished and rebuilt at an astonishing rate – faster than is actually required.
Never-ending loan repayments
According to the leaked letter, “Congregation and Assembly Halls will no longer be asked to repay a loan.” However, in the elders-only part of the letter, congregations are instructed that their new monthly pledge must be “at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment” for congregations repaying loans for building work.
In other words, if your congregation is paying off a kingdom hall build or refurbishment, your loan repayments must effectively continue indefinitely.
If a congregation isn’t already making loan repayments, then a confidential survey is to be taken by passing out slips of paper to determine how much local brothers are willing to pledge.
Room for maneuver
Congregation elders will have at least some flexibility to alter the congregation’s monthly pledge in the future according to circumstances, but this works both ways.
“Elders should review this resolution annually in May to ensure the amount is what the congregation is realistically able to donate on a monthly basis. For example, there may be a significant increase or decrease in the number of publishers in the congregation, or the local economic conditions may appreciably improve or deteriorate, thus affecting the amount that the congregation can reasonably contribute. If necessary, the elders may take a new financial survey, as described above, to determine whether the resolved monthly contribution to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide should be adjusted for the coming year.” – March 29, 2014 BOE letter, page 2
The monthly pledge can thus be adjusted downwards or upwards at the elders’ discretion on an annual basis.
But who actually owns a kingdom hall, and thus bears responsibility for paying for it?
Who owns a kingdom hall?
Most congregations now have arrangements in place where kingdom halls are under the legal ownership of a board of trustees made up of local elders. But this doesn’t give elders the freedom to do what they want, even if they are all in agreement. Watchtower ultimately holds all the aces.
You see, elders can only BE elders if they are approved by Watchtower. Elders who are removed by Watchtower are automatically no longer trustees, and will have no say in how their kingdom hall is run.
This state of affairs was recently highlighted by the Menlo Park scandal, in which an entire body of elders in California was removed by the organization for failing to comply with the circuit overseer’s insistence that their kingdom hall be refurbished, even though a refurbishment wasn’t deemed necessary.
A lengthy legal battle ensued in which some of the ousted elders argued for their reappointment, but they proved to be ill-prepared. They assumed they were victims of one or two rogue individuals in the organization, and thus failed to grasp that the problems they were trying to address were systemic.
Their true foe was Watchtower itself.
Perhaps the most poignant moment from the Menlo Park case came when Watchtower’s legal representative, Calvin Rouse, made the following declaration in court…
“Ordinarily I wouldn’t be here, but this is one of our 13,000 congregations in the United States. We are a hierarchical religion structured just like the Catholic Church. And when the order from the Pope comes down in the church defrocking a priest and kicking him out, he no longer has any say in any matter in the local parish priest – in the parish. The same situation as here. In his complaint he brings one claim. He claims that he wants to be reinstated as a director and an officer in the Menlo Park Congregation. This is contrary to our church rules and regulations and bylaws. We brought our organizational bylaws book, our rule book here, and we are prepared to present witnesses that this is a hierarchical organization.”
The court transcript featuring the above statement is available on this link.
Hence the organization, which is a self-confessed hierarchy, has an over-riding controlling interest respecting kingdom hall buildings, but congregation members are still expected to pick up the tab.
No more “surplus funds”
The final undermining of any vestiges of financial autonomy at congregation level is accomplished on page 4 of this new letter, where a section headed “Surplus funds” effectively ends any possibility of the existence of wealthy, self-reliant congregations.
Congregations are thus to financially surrender themselves to the organization. There is no longer any excuse for the amassing of funds for a rainy day. Only “minor renovations or repairs” are to be cared for locally. If there are surplus funds, elders must discuss sending these to Watchtower.
Such reliance on ‘big brother’ may seem refreshing in the eyes of many Witnesses, but it has its risks. If Watchtower is ever declared bankrupt, individual congregations will be on their own, and without any nest egg to fall back on when their kingdom halls start to deteriorate.
An “opportunity” taken under compulsion?
The idea that congregations should become perpetually indebted to Watchtower in this manner by means of a monthly pledge, which they are being ordered to agree to within a four-week window, is a strange one – at least by bible standards.
According to the bible, Jesus Christ encouraged the forgiving of debts (Matt. 6:12; 18:23-35), and the Apostle Paul counseled that Christians should not have to give “under compulsion.” – 2 Cor 9:7
For the Governing Body to be so forthright in pursuing congregations for funding under whatever pretext will be curious to some, especially after it has been revealed that the organization is set to pocket a staggering 1 billion dollars in proceeds from the sale of its Brooklyn property.
But when you consider Watchtower’s apparent financial woes as evidenced by the unprecedented organizational downsizing, not to mention the increasing threat posed by child abuse lawsuits, the Governing Body’s assault on congregation coffers for extra cash is all too predictable.
To protect the anonymity of my source, a scan of the letter will not be made available. However, you can read the text from the full letter below…
***PAGE ONE***
March 29, 2014
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide
Dear Brothers:
On September 1, 1983, the Kingdom Hall Fund was created to help finance the increasing need for Kingdom Halls. For more than 30 years, this arrangement has served to expand the construction of Kingdom Halls worldwide in a tremendous way by means of Regional Building Committees and the program for lands with limited resources. Having sufficient, adequate places of worship is vital, as Jehovah continues to ‘speed up’ the gathering of “a mighty nation.” (Isa. 60:22) In order to meet these ever-increasing needs, the Governing Body has directed that an adjustment be made in the way Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction projects are financed.
In harmony with the principle at 2 Corinthians 8:12-14, congregations will now be asked to pool their resources worldwide to support the construction of theocratic facilities wherever they are needed. Congregations and Assembly Halls will no longer be asked to repay a loan, and use of the separate contribution box labeled “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” has been discontinued. Instead, all congregations will have the opportunity to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by resolving to make a monthly donation from congregation funds. If individual publishers wish to donate specifically to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide, such donations will be accepted gladly and used wisely by the branch office. From now on, all funding for approved projects will be provided by the branch office from the funds that have been donated by you dear brothers and sisters.
The need for Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls is greater than ever before. At this time, over 13,000 Kingdom Hall projects and 35 Assembly Hall projects are needed worldwide. Much of this need is in parts of the world where the cost of property and building materials is high. A tremendous amount of funds is needed to care for this work. However, we are confident that Jehovah will provide what is needed by your generous support. Time and again we have seen this take place. For example, it has been 24 years since we began offering literature under the donation arrangement, yet Jehovah’s blessing on this adjustment has been obvious. We are confident that by means of Jehovah’s continued blessing and the generosity of the worldwide brotherhood, the new arrangement for financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction will be a success as well.—1 Chron. 29:11-14; Ps. 127:1.
May Jehovah continue to richly bless your hard work and loyal service as you generously support Kingdom interests.
Your brothers,
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
***PAGE TWO***
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29, 2014 Page 2
PS to body of elders:
At the Service Meeting for the week of April 28, 2014, the congregation should be informed that use of the contribution box labeled “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” will be discontinued on May 1, 2014. and that further information will be provided at the following Service Meeting. This letter should be read to the congregation during the local needs part on the Service Meeting for the week of May 5, 2014. (Congregations having an assembly the week of May 5 should have the letter read the following week.) This postscript should not be read to the congregation, and this letter should not be posted on the information board. After the reading of the letter, either a resolution should be presented to the congregation or the survey described below should be taken. The December 7, 2009, letter to all congregations should be removed from the congregation permanent file of policy letters and be destroyed. Updated congregation accounting instructions and forms will begin to be provided in May 2014.
Resolved donations: All congregations are asked to establish a monthly resolved donation to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide by no later than May 31, 2014.
• What amount should be used for this new resolved monthly donation?
The elders in congregations currently making loan repayments would likely propose a resolution that is at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment, keeping in mind that donations will no longer be received from the “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” contribution box. The elders in congregations without loans or those having standing resolutions to support Kingdom Hall construction worldwide should take a confidential survey of all publishers to determine the amount of the new resolution. This can be done by passing out slips of paper to be filled out anonymously by the publishers indicating how much they are able to contribute monthly toward local congregation expenses, including the resolution to support Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide. At the time the survey is taken, it may be helpful to also review with the congregation the average monthly operating expenses that need to be covered.
Elders should review this resolution annually in May to ensure the amount is what the congregation is realistically able to donate on a monthly basis. For example, there may be a significant increase or decrease in the number of publishers in the congregation, or the local economic conditions may appreciably improve or deteriorate, thus affecting the amount that the congregation can reasonably contribute. If necessary, the elders may take a new financial survey, as described above, to determine whether the resolved monthly contribution to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide should be adjusted for the coming year.
• What should be done with other existing resolutions?
Any previous resolution to support Kingdom Hall construction should be discontinued. All other resolutions, such as those for contributing to the worldwide work, the Convention Fund, the Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and the Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement, should continue to be honored. Where more than one congregation shares a Kingdom Hall, resolutions to contribute to a shared Kingdom
***PAGE THREE***
Re: Adjustment to financing Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide March 29,2014 Page 3
Hall operating account to cover the operating costs, minor renovations, and repairs may be adjusted as needed.
• How should this new resolved amount be submitted to the branch office?
Each congregation should establish its own resolution to contribute to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide and submit the resolved amount with its monthly remittance to the branch office. These resolved amounts should not be submitted through Kingdom Hall operating accounts. If revised forms for congregation accounting are not yet available in the language of the congregation, the resolved donation amount for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide may be recorded on the line “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide (Resolution)” that appears on the form(s) currently being used.
• What should be done if congregation funds are not sufficient to cover resolved donations?
If sufficient funds are not available for all resolved donations in a particular month, additional funds should not be solicited. The elders should determine what amounts from the congregation funds that are available at the end of the month will be applied toward the resolved monthly donation(s) and whether the shortfall should be made up in future months. However, it would be appropriate for the elders to remind the congregation of the resolved monthly commitments. If the congregation can no long¬er contribute the amount(s) they resolved on a regular basis, the elders may consider the situation at the next annual review of the resolution for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide.
Contribution boxes: As noted above, on May 1, 2014, each Kingdom Hall should have only two types of contribution boxes, one labeled “Local Congregation Expenses” and one labeled “Worldwide Work.”
• What should be done with existing “Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide” boxes or boxes set up to accept donations for a local building project?
These boxes will no longer be used for accepting donations in support of Kingdom Hall or Assembly Hall construction. They should be removed or relabeled to accept donations for the worldwide work on May 1, 2014.
• What type of expenses can be paid from funds received in the “Local Congregation Expenses” box?
These funds should be used to pay approved congregation expenses, including Kingdom Hall operating expenses, minor renovations, and repairs (through the operating committee, if applicable), as well as for all monthly resolved donations that are sent to the branch office.
• Are there any changes to the existing “Worldwide Work” box?
No. Funds received in the “Worldwide Work” box will continue to be forwarded to the branch office each month. No congregation expenses or monthly resolutions should be paid from these funds.
***PAGE FOUR***
[as shown above, see “Surplus funds”]
Further reading…
One can easily see the presence of corporate lawyers where the spiritual used to tread. The fact is that now the Watchtower organisation can NEVER claim it doesn’t solicit funds. This is so close to a tax that it really must be called that (or levy if one prefers).
As this devious organisation continues to evolve it becomes more evident that it is following the example of privatising and corporatising of Western nations.
The penny will drop one day that this is just an 8,000,000+ organisation of unpaid insurance salesmen (and women).
Should we have expected any different?
Frank
I really wouldn’t be surprised if the Governing Body – 100 years on from 1914 and fully aware that their predecessors’ predictions are implausible – are getting ready to wind up the organisation and are currently embezzling funds. I don’t know this of course, but I can’t help question the motives of those at the head of an incredibly wealthy organisation, who are putting pressure on individuals they’ve discouraged from full time employment and college education to donate directly from their bank accounts in the middle of a global recession. They’ve clearly moved from a book selling operation to a property developing outfit, due to tax implications, but I can’t work out what those in charge stand to gain, if it’s not a personal fortune. They’re on a stipend in luxury accommodation with loads of status. Why are they building a financial empire if they can’t spend it? Any ideas? It was one of the tent-pegs of the organisation that they felt most clearly separated them from other religions. There was some often repeated rhetoric from Rutherford that went something like, “The day we have to ask for money, we’ll close the doors.” Are they planning on doing just that? When I think of the years I spent selling their books at “printing cost” as a full time, unpaid, door-to-door teenage sales-girl, it makes me shudder. PS The “Hah!” of my previous comment was in response to John’s “let me sleep on it” remark but somehow it ended up at the end of the thread.
Roland….
I don’t believe jw’s belong to christendom, I believe they are a cult….period. . . . there’s no love in that organization, they are not a christian religion because they have done nothing as an org to prove it.
Christendom is a right mixed bag. To an extent it reflects the discordant mish mash that is the Bible. Hence there is glorification of genocide in Joshua and other books, and Inquisitions and Crusades in European history. There is fabulous music, pics and buildings and charitable endeavours as well as Hellfire preachers and apocalyptic doomsters. JWs are simply part of that weird mixture, good, bad and indifferent, that is Christendom. Prots would diss the Popes as the Antichrist; Popes still assume all Holy Orders but their own are null and void, and you, Barbara Radke, do not acceppt the JWs as part of the Club of Christendom. Plus ça change……
First things first, as always John, great job!
My opinion and I say my opinion realizing that is all I am offering at this point is an opinion. My opinion is that this signals the slow process of change toward a larger religious organization and later in history becoming more mainstream with their tenants of faith. Once you say do what I say and I can’t be questioned and people don’t leave, their truly is nothing more shocking that you can do to the rank and file for them to leave. If they buy in on that belief, they are done.
It seems simple, mankind has for a long time had a combination of government and religion that have worked together to control the masses. Until mankind sees the value of altruism we will not progress, we will continue in this rut.
The sad truth for me seems to be, that so many of the regular commentors on here are quite significantly more intelligent than most of their witness friends that remain in the religion. Expecting those who are not as intelligent and who lack an education, as well as having been brainwashed that they cannot succeed without “God’s/Jehovah’s direction” (A.K.A. the Watchtower G.B.) for them to change is nearly insurmountable. I care for many that are left behind, the intelligent few I know, admit the problems, but are afraid to leave because of a spouse or family ties. The not so intelligent, invoke the word faith for everything they cannot deny or just don’t understand. Faith for so many now = a freedom from reason or having to think. When faced with a difficult question or problem, give your brain a break and don’t think, just use the word faith, it is now a suitable answer for everything. When speaking to an unintelligent witness, when they are proven wrong, their answer will almost always be, I have faith. In other words I have faith = game over I am not going to attempt to use my brain to reason on facts.
Am I upset by this h*** yes! I want my money and time back. I don’t want my mom to put a dime in. However she is old and does not want to have to think anymore. I guess when you get older thinking and exercising get harder and less likely to be followed through with. I love her, she is my mother and will be taken advantage of for sure. So sad for her and everyone else’s families that may be struggling in this economic time we are in.
Interesting point, sort of reminds me of when (early 80’s?) we stopped actively soliciting contributions for the Mags up front (or rather, “offering them for a contribution”). If I recall correctly, it had something to do with the Society’s tax status.
This really is terrifying, I no longer believe in organized religion, but, this is not the religion I was raised in, now comes tithing, the warnings about asking ones to do things unwise by human standards, the self aggrandizement of the GB, I don’t see how more don’t see the forest for the trees.
What happened to all those funds from the sale of the Brooklyn buildings, and the stocks, bonds, and other investments?
Didn’t some congregations downsize or close?
I guess it’s safe to say that the WTS is (among other things) a real estate holding company that sells real estate to congregations that operate as tax-free corporations and make a fortune on property values AND the interest earned on these loans. And Jesus picked THIS organization to represent his kingdom??? Disgusting.
Very true, any day now the WTS will start asking for 10% from every zombie they control.
And they NEED the money because they are losing millions in court cases regarding pedophilia, just like the Catholic Church. Wonder how long before some ‘wake up’ and remember, ‘by their fruits you will recognize them’.
And the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away….
I had hoped they would have used the Tithing scripture like their cousins the Mormons do. Oh well, there’s still time for that I suppose.
Good and insightful article Cedars!! Is there anything like
“The Silver Is Mine, and the Gold Is Mine”!!
Loo at this, you will cry!!
A 14-year-old girl wrote to the Cameroon branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses: “After buying my school supplies for the year, I was able to sell two of last year’s textbooks for 2,500 francs [$5, U.S.]. I am contributing this amount plus an additional 910 francs [$1.82, U.S.] from my savings. I would like to encourage you to continue the fine work you are doing. Thank you for the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. They make us think seriously.” (w07 11/1 p. 18, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=w07+11%2F1+pp.+17-21)
“The Silver Is Mine, and the Gold Is Mine”! Jehovah must be crazy!!!!!!
John – Amazing!
When you leaked the Guy Peirce news i told my wife and she didn’t believe me (or rather it was evil apostate whispers and if true would be on the jw site).. Then when it was announced she was shocked that i knew before them. This could well be the second ace to play.. however im worried that the context of the original letter will be such as to not imply that the individual witnesses are expected to fill in a contribution, rather the KH administrator will for the whole cong. I would like to know how the letter will flow, will i be right if i say to her that in the first week of May they will ask you to fill in a commitment to contribute? I know you wont paste the original letter (and i understand) however would it be possible for you to paste the first page, the one that will be read to the congs? then i can see if my prediction will be accurate of if there will be the inevitable JW wiggle room.
If i can show some more magic (predict then it comes true) it will build confidence. Then she can revisit my magic from last year (the FDS changing) and see I was right and its was essentially a power grab.
Thanks again
Hi Zeebo, I’m glad you’re finding the early news helpful!
To be honest, it all depends on how things work in your wife’s congregation. If they are already paying off a loan for a build or refurb, then likely your elders will just keep paying the same amount indefinitely as part of the new arrangement and the congregation won’t notice much difference. But if there is no existing loan in place, then there is supposed to be a “confidential survey” of the congregation where each family is handed slips of paper on which they are to indicate how much they are willing to donate. The congregation will then set things up so the total amount of pledged contributions goes out of the congregation’s account automatically each month.
As to showing the full letter, after much thought I will make an update to the article shortly so that the full letter (including the postscript) is reproduced as text only. Hopefully this will help those like you where being able to have as much information as possible can make the difference when it comes to waking up spouses and family members.
Cedars, I’m one of those who was curious about the letter but, without interfering Zeebo’s needs – as I’m not in the same situation as him -, for my part, if displaying the letter in any form might cause issues to anyone, I’m happy not seeing it.
One of the latest WT’s I saw, talking about the life insurances, or the legacies, etc to be transferred to the organization was already real enough for me to be outraged. Hearing about such a letter doesn’t surprize me at all, although I can’t help being very upset about this.
dear Cedars,
The elders in my kingdom hall have been demanding each family pay $49.00 per month to cover the cost of the circuit overseers two houses. We were told this loan would go out thirty years but now I think we are now indentured servants to the Watchtower.
I would like to say it took almost a year for the COBE to push this agenda, anyone who complained we were now being “money changers (Luke 15-18) were put in check. Several of the ethical and moral minded elders bailed out, gone from our Kingdom Hall because they believed they were bullied and forced to conform to the master plan of a sixth grade educated COBE, I stepped down shortly after.
Donations are not a steady stream of income, we have our ups and downs, good months but more bad ones placing a higher burden on families of middle-class status. I don’t think this is fair, once again the Watchtower is putting pressure on the “twenty percent” who donate and cover the costs of attending the Meeting. I don’t like how we are turning in to a “cave of robbers” and “den of thieves”, Jesus Christ opposed any money changing during his ministry, Jesus would make a whip out of ropes and chase these money-grubbers out of Jehovah’s Temple!
Mitch Jensen
These people (GB and no doubt their wives too) live without charge. Their expenses are paid for including cars, food, clothing, plush offices & accommodation. They also travel the world too and no doubt once at their destination that accommodation/food is also without charge. Get a bloody job & set an example. Perhaps the GB could work at McDonald’s or be a window cleaner/ toilet cleaner as I once was & pay taxes & perhaps then i could ask them for a donation so I could live without charge. Maybe then they could understand why there’s so many ‘not at homes’, because they’re at WORK and paying taxes like the apostles did! Instead of living for free of their brothers backs. And then, on top of all that, have the audacity to put their brothers under compulsion during a meeting to put their hands in their pockets to see how much they can have. Bu××er off.
I haven’t had a chance to read everything here, but do you by chance have that quote about when the WT had to start soliciting money then it was time to shut up shop? Well, by their own standards they have to shut up shop.
What’s next, tithes like the Mormons? At least you know where the Mormon money is going.
Thanks John! Luckily my wife never contributes and if they ever asked her to i think it would shock her to the core.. i mean she believed all the anti church crap in that the WT “Will never pass the plate”.. However, if they brazenly solicit donations like this and push her to some kind of monthly plan the alarm bells will ring.
She is in a Russian Congo and in Europe. The building is about 3 years old and shared between 4 different language congs. I hope this letter will be mandatory in all congos.
I must say i am proud she has not given to these guys and that her service hours are about 1 a month with 3 month gaps! When we met she was pioneering and working a full time job.. Slowly slowly its coming together :-)
As i feared the first page is sufficiently vague so as to disguise any real request for cash.
The letter doesn’t say they need 13,000 halls PER YEAR…it just says that they currently need 13,000 TOTAL. I don’t have any love for the WBTS, but you need to stop twisting the facts.
Gonzo – please re-read what I wrote carefully. Read it two or three times while concentrating until it sinks in. Then you can come back and apologize for misrepresenting what I wrote, which was perfectly reasonable, and if you don’t do that you will be blocked from making further comments.
This, together with other recent actions on the part of the present GB may prove unexpectedly beneficial. It may serve to alarm some, and be the catalyst for others to question the actions/decisions of the GB in their own minds.
For my part, I have yet to decide whether to refuse to accept the secret request paper for a pledge amount, or simply return it blank. Either way, questions may be asked of me, to which Elders will be advised to respect my fondnness for 1 Peter 4:15.
However, there are some Elders who may find this letter difficult and readily see the complete lack of scriptural authority for it. How tenderly they treat sheep who decide not to give a pledge may prove of considerable interest.
Lastly, I wonder if the phrase – “NO COLLECTIONS” will be removed from handbills. Perhaps I should retain one as a souvenir of the pre-tithing era!
Folks – shocking!
So these poor people will be asked to pledge a guaranteed amount every month. They will eventually try to tie this up with charitable giving which gets them more money, via direct debit, probably.
My dear old Mum handed out £70 to three Witness individuals this week. One was an elder, £20, one was a wealthy pensioner who gets petrol money, even though she has to pass my house to get to the Kingdom Hall the quickest way, £10, and over £40 to another pensioner who very nearly destroyed my parents’ marriage, and who refuses to vacate a three bedroom council house.
She stopped funding a witness couple’s latest baby after I expressed my displeasure at this arrangement.
We discussed this latest financial development before she went out to hand out Memorial invitations. We agreed that only Mum’s individual pension can be used to donate any money to the WTBTS and its affiliates. I have no desire to lord it over my Mum, and I have no right or desire to try to tell her what she should spend her money on.
These WTBTS scum are insidious. They prey on the meek and the vulnerable and I detest their actions with every fibre of my being.
Thanks for respecting your source, Cedars. I would recommend doing nothing that could expose that brave individual. We do not need to see any more than we have seen.
Do any of you have horror stories of Witnesses taking advantage of relatively well off Witnesses? We are charged over the odds for cleaning by a pioneer sister, and have received poor quality work from numerous Witness so called builders.
Thanks for all your hard work, John. We all really appreciate your dedication.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
Hi Excelsior, my mother who is 93 is leaving all her grand children £10000 in her will. My son is one, and is a JW. I will make it clear to him that she would not want her money going to Watchtower, as she hates them as much as I do.
I just hope he respects her wishes.
Gonzo313,
You are right, that is a total figure. But it still doesn’t add up. If only just over 2000 new congregations were needed in one year, why do they suddenly need over six times as many? As John stated, many of those new congregations will share existing Kingdom Halls.
Where is this fecund growth? Where in the world are these unfortunate individuals?
John, could you organise a petition for the Charity Commission in the UK? I am sure that all of us British ex witnesses would sign. Are EU religious charities managed the same way? We could really hit them where they will feel it most, in their wallets.
I’m an ideas man, and if am hopeless at organising things, but I’m sure someone out there could arrange to send a letter to the Charity Commission, detailing our signatures and our doubts over the WTBTS complying fully with the rules. We should be able to demand an in depth investigation. After all, it’s out tax money that’s going to those ratbags. Just a suggestion.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
Regarding the number of needed Kingdom Halls. I’m pretty sure the vast majority of these are in poor countries with little building experience. I remember either a recent letter or yearbook stated that this used to be in the 30000 range but now was down to 13000. Regardless it feels wrong to ask for a promise note from all publishers. I have to imagine that this is going to make some of the elders especially in wealthier areas think twice.
Wow that’s straight:-)
In reply to John’s reply to Gonzo. Wasn’t he a muppet?
Horndean in the UK?
You could have a congregation of 100 people and when the elder reads that letter asking for their savings, maybe 85 might be wondering where that money is going and want some transparency but who is going to be the one brave soul who will raise their hand and ask? Not one single person will because nobody is allowed to discuss it with one another for fear of being labeled an apostate for calling into question the Watchtower. That is evil and the Governing Body knows exactly what will happen. It’s thought out to the very last sentence how to trick people out of their money.
anonymous: EXACTLY! Even those who are fully indoctrinated will probably have at least a small jolt of doubt when they hear this letter.
Will they express those doubts? After all the warnings that they have received, about avoiding those who dare to “murmur” or question anything that comes from “Jehovah?”
After the society gets them to make their “pledges,” what will be their next direction? If they DO instruct them to take a pill, it is easy to imagine the followers, all obeying in unison… When it comes down to it, it really does seem that they have managed to gain absolute loyalty to the organization.
I fully expect the Watchtower will figure a way to ask more specific questions regarding individual’s abilities to pay. When I was a child I remember my parents being approached by deacons of the Congregational Church to which we belonged and “asked” to tithe a certain amount. I do not know how the amount was reached, but I clearly remember after the meeting, my father’s outrage at the amount that they presented. My father was a public school teacher and he and my mother managed money very, very carefully. I do not know what the outcome of that meeting was, but I do know that there was a box of envelopes into which my mother put a certain amount of cash for placement in the collection plates during the offering on Sundays. Whatever she ended up giving, it surely was affordable. I fully expect the JW GB to find a way to “put the arm” on the congregations for more and more money, especially if a few more large legal cases are brought to light. So far my little bit of research indicates perhaps $50 million has been paid or awarded for child abuse legal actions to date, and there appear to be more and more arising as the civilized (and educated) world begins to realize the depth of child abuse as an illness of humanity.
If I was regular and not “marked” at the meetings and once the brother was done reading the letter and opened it up to the audience for questions I would ask,
Me: “So do we not have to pay back current loans?”
Brother on stage: “We need to at least donate what our current monthly loan payment is per month.”
Me: “Where did you get that information? The letter doesn’t say that?”
The brother would then be forced to acknowledge there’s more than just the one page that was read aloud.
Then i would say, “How can we vote in favor of this if we don’t know all the facts? If there’s more to this than what you read then we need to hear everything. Certainly, we remember the account in Acts chapter 5 about Ananias and Sapphira how they only told half the story.”
That would make them squirm in their seat! So who’s gonna do this? 1Gen? You still seem pretty respected in your congregation. Whoever does this needs to record it with their phone!!!
I guess you missed the part of sarcasm during TMS eh?
The letter states:
“Elders should review this resolution annually in May to ensure the amount is what the congregation is realistically able to donate on a monthly basis. For example, there may be a significant increase or decrease in the number of publishers in the congregation, or the local economic conditions may appreciably improve or deteriorate, thus affecting the amount that the congregation can reasonably contribute. If necessary, the elders may take a new financial survey, as described above, to determine whether the resolved monthly contribution to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide should be adjusted for the coming year.”
This is already done once a year in the congregations that have a Kingdom Hall loan with the organization. They do it every May in our Hall. Now they want ALL congregations (which means all family’s) to make a commitment to donate a monthly amount for a year. Even congregations that don’t currently have a loan. To be reviewed annually. And once the loan is paid off they want the payments to continue. And oh by the way, send us what you have in surplus. We are a better judge of what to do with that money.
You are in effect “compelling” the congregation to make a financial vow/commitment for a year! This is in direct violation to 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says:
“Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
The minute you pass out a piece of paper (as suggested in the letter) you are “compelling” them. Christian giving is supposed to be voluntary. This is way too close to tithing. Back door tithing is a good term for it. It is shameful!!
The December 7, 2009, letter to all congregations should be removed from the congregation permanent file of policy letters and be destroyed.
Sorry.And what is written in this letter?
This is link for KM JUNE/2014
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/278822/1/June-2014-Kingdom-Ministry-KM-06-2014-PDF#.U0QRkfl_vJI
Could you tell me more about the introduction of bank card readers at assemblies (Since has been over 15 years since I disassociated, we didn’t have this during my time on the inside) – Was this for donations? It is unbelievable that they are now moving towards a tithing system, I am so glad to be out!
Is there a copy of the December 2009 letter that is to be removed and destroyed.?
Keep up the good work John.
Destroying policy letters – so there is no paper trail of the society flipping on policies that were given under Jehovah’s direction, in the congregation hands – I guess they are hoping for the brothers and sisters to have short term memories!
This watchtower is watching over its assets and money because it’s a billion dollar plus a year publishing business with a tax exempt status. Their day is slowly but surely coming. They are the ultimate scammers of peoples lives and resources. Anyone involved in this cult are plain stupid. And its your own fault if you buy into this marketing propaganda.
“BACK in August, 1879, this magazine said: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.” The Society did not suspend publication, and The Watchtower has never missed an issue. Why? Because during the nearly eighty years since The Watchtower stated this policy of reliance upon Jehovah God, the Society has not deviated from it.” – (w59, 5/1, Pg. 285, Sharing the Good News by Contributing Personally)
“Jehovah’s Witnesses commonly meet in modest buildings called Kingdom Halls. How are expenses covered? They never pass collection plates, nor do they send out envelopes to solicit donations. Rather, any who appreciate the spiritual program can discreetly place a donation in a contribution box at the Kingdom Hall.” – (w13, 7/1, Pg. 4, Can You Trust Religion Regarding Money?)
No they don’t send out envelopes, they just pass out slips of paper compelling you to write a dollar number down that you will commit to paying monthly.
Wow! Great find from 2013. That can’t be called “old light.”
But is it real light? Is that from the public edition of the Watchtower magazine, or from the private (study) edition?
We must realize that they do not tell the real truth to the public.
@ Cedars:
For most of my years as a Witness, I attended a congregation of modest means. Financial resolutions have been made in the past and, invariably, passed unanimously or nearly unanimously, with a few chuckles from the audience. There is a tacit understanding that the Society (as we used to call the organization) is in control and that the vote is a mere formality and a demonstration of loyalty to “God’s organization.”
I believe that this new “refinement” will go largely unnoticed but the rank and file. The only ones that will likely notice or care are those who deal with the money, such as account servants, those who are large contributors, or those involved in the building and maintenance of Kingdom Halls.
The REALLY significant change here is, in my opinion, the further loss of congregation autonomy, with basically only “pin money” left over in control of the local congregation (as highlighted by the Menlo Park scandal).
Sadly, few will recognize ANY significance to this change. It is like the illustration of the frog being boiled in a saucepan. If the temperature is increased gradually and incrementally, the frog never notices until it is too late, and he finds himself boiled!
That, and the notion already mentioned of “never ending loan payments” for congregations holding a Kingdom Hall loan, as well as the notion of indentured servitude. Permanent tithing, indeed! :(