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…
Elders encourage members to go full time ministry and pray that jehovah will upkeep them; why the gb dont pray for jehovah to provide the money they always want since they have direct communication with him? are they not nearer to god himself than his followers? so ask him directly.
This is unbelievable! I couldn’t understand their reasons for this until I read some of the legal filings in the Menlo Park case. WTS is laundering their money so as to avoid losing it to taxation.
One way they’ve operated the scheme is to force 2 congregations to merge, thus creating a need for a new KH, even if the old building was adequate and debt-free. They then give a “donation” that makes up the remainder of the cost of building the new KH after the sale of the old. As a means of securing what is actually a loan, not a donation, they put the WTS name on the deed, promising to remove it later. But they never do. The fleeced flock gets a big pile of debt that they didn’t really want, but they also get a nice new building.
The newer wrinkle is what is happening at 4 nearby congs that I know of. The RBC makes grandiose renovation recommendations that they know are unnecessary and also can’t be covered by the funds on hand. (Years ago, local bodies had veto power over RBC recommendations; but this must have changed.) Again, a WTS loan means their name has to go on the deed.
The sale of the Brooklyn property in the vicinity of a billion dollars means they will have a large sum they have to launder, or else give it over to taxing authorities.
This latest aspect of the scheme is ingenious. Repayments on loans is potentially taxable. But calling it perpetual donations is not! Reminds me of Jesus’ words at Luke 16:8, “the sons of this system of things are wiser in a practical way than the sons of the light are.”
Why is it necessary to pay tax over selling something? (e.g. the Brooklyn property)
Isn’t the WTS a tax-exempt organization, so why would loan repayments not be tax exempt? Those do count as income, while only donations are tax exempt? (these are sincere questions)
I asked these questions to a missionary from Africa and I was told that those who walked hours were living off their lands and had no other means of living, so they could not move closer to the hall. As for better looking kingdom halls with real chairs, well, they tried. When they did, the government found some reasons to cease the building and the chairs were stolen by locale people.
Comment above was meant for Combatdiva who commented on April 7, 2014 at 10:36 am
The problem I see here is that the JW are requested to make a decision without being presented with the real numbers:
There are X number of kingdom halls. Of these, X are still not paid off in full for a total amount of X $. We need to keep X $ per year for maintenance. We expect to build X kingdom halls for a total number of X $, however, we already have X $ in the bank to provide such a loan.
You know… real numbers! Instead, this letter sounds like: Give as much as you can.
Great Article Cedars,
This Change will give the Branch great influx of money, there taking away all the money they have on funds on Deposit in are hall thats is Almost 40,000 Dlls, friends hall they have 140,00 couse there waitng for a remodel. They will have alot money to invest.
There also changes in th RBC in the works. And of coarse any JW is going to be wow Chariot is moving Fast!!
Very soon, the letters will have been received at the congregation level. I can’t imagine the full text not being made widely available very soon afterward. Most Kingdom Halls in the US now have copy machines, right? Or at the very least, who doesn’t have a cell phone for recording the reading aloud of this travesty?
Thank you for taking the time to type out the letter in full Cedars!
Most JWs will still view this change as a good idea: e.g. my father said it would (could?) improve efficiency and structure with regards to RBCs.
Note that this change may also backfire: if people don’t feel like paying for other people’s KHs, donations may go *down* instead! Who knows.
Reading carefully, it says “projects”, not new Kingdom Halls. The majority of these would be renovations in the US, where the WTS has a stronger ability to collateralize their investments by virtue of including their name on the deed than they would on a building in a foreign entity.
can someone post to instagram a short message on this topic so all the jws will see it… hashtag JW, jehovah, serviceshenanigans,jehovahswitness
Worse than a pyramid scheme.
It’s like having a gangster send his henchmen to have you “volunteer” to pay monthly, no questions asked about where the money is really going and no accountability for them to actually provide quarterly fiscal reports, all for the “privilege” of being allowed to keep your family.
It appears they’re trying to get around some sort of legality. By saying you don’t have to repay your loans anymore, it’s like claiming they forgiven those debts, perhaps as a write-off or something? And then going ahead and still collecting the same amount or more! Claiming the need is great to expand their real estate and constructed holdings. Meanwhile people at the congregational level (mostly uneducated because of JW rules over the decades) will be sacrificing to put money toward the wealthy. It just never ends. How and when will the people ever revolt instead of nodding yes to every dictate the popes of the WT corporation issue?
These leaked letters may seem like a big deal to those of us out for a while. But it’s business as usual for the dubs. They have too much power over people and are treating them like money slaves. I say the poor ones should drop away and let the rest play their little games of buying their way to the top. Much like any political scheme.
hmmmm
Isn’t it interesting, that all these money, are to be put in buildingprojects. Not producing publications to spread the ‘good’ news?
I mean it is just brilliant, really: if i want to build a house, I buy a lot for say 500.000. Then i buy materials for say 300.000. Then I need a entrepaneur to build it for me. That will cost me another 500.000. So the price for my house will be 1.300.000. Let’s say that price reflects the actual market value of the house. Then I have to repay all 1.300.000.
However the JW model is really a cashcow, since they use ‘free labour’ they save the 500.000 and still the market value will be 1.300.000 ….but they only have a debt of 800.000. That’s 500.000 in release from day one …I can imagine why they wanna build 13.000 Kingdom Halls ;)
^^Exactly!! And wouldn’t it be nice to know who officially owns the corporation.
Thanks cedars for taking out your precious time to research and post all this timely information. If no one is commending your efforts, then I am.
Well, this is interesting!
I remember one of the things they liked to show off about was no tithing. The whole ‘we’re better than Christendom because we don’t force donations, it’s all given voluntarily’. Although, even before I left they were doing the not so subtle hints of ‘open your wallets and support God’s work’. Now they have to agree on a fixed monthly installment.
Here in New Zealand, a lot of families who attend meetings are in the low economic bracket, living week to week, where is the charity for them? Instead they’re going to be expected to make things harder for themselves by giving what little extra they have to the rip off society.
Therein lies the problem. When someone disagrees with you, you block them or delete their posts. Much like you did with me. You’ve elevated yourself to the position of a god on here. And you love the adulation people give you. But when something is said that rubs your little bum the wrong way, you become an angry god, or shall I say, demon, or maybe confused atheist or agnostic. Who knows. Take it like a man. If you’re gonna talk trash about the JWs, be prepared to back it up son.
Talking trash, Response, about the JWs, and backing it up with evidence, is easy. Hence the wealth of info. on here and all over the internet about the trashy fruits of the Watchtower outfit, that grubbiest of grubby little corners of Christendom, since its foundation 135 years ago.
The deaths through refusal of blood have been trumpeted as a triumph in their own mags, by the murderous old Watchtower bosses.
The protection of pedophiles via the 2 witness rule can be verified by a string of court cases.
The shunning of apostates can be verified by the legions of personal stories on ex JW websites and the recordings of JW bosses at Conventions laying down the shunning line.
The duff prophecies are in JW literature as well as in recordings.
What cannot be supported by evidence, however, is the JW Gov. Bod’s claim, that they are the Faithful and Discreet Slave as referred to by Jesus in Matt. 24.
Indeed there is nothing whatever, anywhere, to support any of JWdom’s ever changing ‘TRUTHS’.
That is why JW apologists always retire from discussions. They are equipped only to parrot TMS delivered drivel; the sort of spiel which can only work with the tragically lost, uninformed and easily deluded.
Response – I don’t block people who disagree with me. I am intrigued by people who disagree with me and not averse to changing my own opinion to theirs if they can put forward a compelling enough argument. YOU do not put forward compelling arguments. You simply do hit and runs with ad hominem attacks like this one. You don’t like the fact that I am right, and that people appreciate the fact that I tell it like it is, so all you can do is moan that I am a “god” who loves adulation.
All the while you fail to notice the irony that you award god-like status to 7 men in New York who really WILL make life hell for any who disagree with them.
You’re clearly bent on trolling us, so you leave me no choice but to continue blocking you from the discussion. You will probably find another IP to post from, but don’t worry, I can play this game as long as you like. It’s much easier for me to block an IP than it is for you to find a new one.
Once you grow up and decide to contribute something to the discussion other than desperate ad hominem rants, send me an email.
Cedars, why do you block such comments ?
I think you wouldn’t have any better evidence for your purpose in their replies, most direct and accurate evidence of how quite some JW’s consider other people. We now know how many would treat you if you turn your back from their “system” and dare talking about it around you. This is the treatment you get.
I really don’t know what response Response would have for what you just said, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m really well informed about JW world through his statements.
And that really would be the two sides of a story, the readers would better judge upon…
I block anyone who trolls the website, as I am entitled to do as admin. If someone has something genuine to discuss, or a question, or wishes to put forward a different point of view for honest debate, that’s fine. But I only have a finite amount of time, none of which can be wasted on trolls who are reduced to ad-hominem hit and runs.
You may have time to engage in dialogue with such people, but I don’t. I would rather spend my time on writing articles and making videos, not to mention running a business and caring for my family.
You could say “let them comment and just ignore them,” but I take great pride in this website. Having it graffiti’d by idiots who can only hurl insults is like having someone defecate in my living room. I won’t allow it, nor should I have to.
I understand Cedars.
The part of the letter I found most ridiculous was “However, we are confident that Jehovah will provide what is needed by your generous support.”.
Let’s think about this. We (the governing body) are confident that Jehovah (the almighty) will provide what is needed by YOUR generous support.
So let me get this straight. God needs money? Or they need money?
God will provide himself with what he needs through your money?
Or God will provide us, the governing body, what we need with your money?
4 distinct components become available.
The Governing Body (needs money)
God (who will provide it through you)
You
Your money.
Isn’t this clearly using the idea of God to seperate you from your money?
“Leave it in Jehovah’s hands”. Or…………… just take a voluntary survey. Which you know, that when the accounts are read they will certainly tell you how short you are on your obligation.
The GB rarely displays such a clear attempt to invoke God to seperate you from your money.
I hope someone writes down “1 Billion, paid in full already through the sale of Watchtower property in New York”.
Apparently Jehovah is not providing afterall. And for all of the chatter about the memorial this year and the rare “Blood Moon” eclipse the next night, does it seem that the GB is concerned with not having to need your money anytime soon?
@jakemon75
You made no sense.
What does a publishing company do in a world where printing is becoming a thing of the past? Double down on real-estate holdings. Make the Kingdom Hall fund a major revenue stream. Build and renovate buildings with volunteer labor while getting substantial kick-backs from JW contractors. Wait for the property value to go up. Disband the congregation, move them or merge them. Sell the building. Rinse and repeat.
Were you addressing this comment to the the governing body?
My last comment was in response to the comment posted at 8.06.
It’s been seven years since they passed a bowel around our Kingdom Hall requesting publishers to place their family’s personal donation amount.
This went on for almost a year and as I said, this caused a division in our Kingdom Hall when the Congregation first said “No!”. The wishes of the majority of the Kingdom Hall were tossed out the window until another four “bowel passings” along with twenty plus faithful Witnesses and several elders leaving our Kingdom Hall after acting like the money-changers in Luke 15-20.
We have problems hitting the target donation every month, it’s getting old listening to the poor brother whose in charge of castigating our Hall for not giving what they promised to give.
Here’s the problem, we had a churn-rate of fifty percent over six years, all the new publishers did not sign the $49.99 Pledge Drive so they don’t feel they need to donate that amount per month. I think most here would be proud the average Witnesses does not donate very much, if any, money to their Kingdom Halls. Publishers feel all the gas and payment for magazine flow they pay for is enough. This is exactly why the Watchtower is asking for the larger accounts California, some Kingdom Halls have over six-figures sitting in the bank and that is burning a hole in the Watchtower’s pockets!
They certainly do seem to be scrambling to secure the financial flow lately. If I can find the link to a recorded conversation with someone at Bethel who claimed the governing body was even discussing for a time whether to place their company shares on the stock exchange to be publicly traded, I will. It’s just hearsay and I believe the result was that for the time being they will not yet do that, but wow that seemed strange to hear that. It seems like little by little everything they once demonized, they are now doing or at least seriously considering doing! Amazing how often they destroy families of their members who do human things, only to change the rules to suit themselves later and call it “new light” but never go apologize to those they beat up and left on the side of the road. No wonder it is said that corporations are sociopathic. How many times do they have to change their “light” before more people will recognize them as false prophets. I hope those still in it will begin to realize that there IS somewhere else to go and that’s to active LOVE.
Hello People! Anyone know what they talking about?
On the second page of the letter they order:
“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.”
What was in The December 7, 2009, letter!?
Anthony …that it EXCACTLY the strategy. A wonder noone sees through this.
Response,
I do not worship John Cedars! If I don’t worship God because I am an atheist, why on earth would I worship John Cedars?
You really need to go and do some research on your religion. You will find a plethora of problems with the WTBTS. The next step is to ask yourself how you are going to help people.
When you’ve decided how you want to help, then I am sure that Cedars will allow you to post again.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
This is one of the most interesting and at the same time alarming revelations to be made via this web site. There is a complete absence of scriptural authority for this position (as there is also for a significant number of other positions too). That the matter is being pursued may be the catalyst for some to engage in Beroean type reflections with disconcerting conclusions. For honest hearted Elders, this is going to be a difficult one too. It may also serve to compound the difficulty in retaining “appointed men”. I hope the GB pursues more “direction” like that revealed in this web site so that many more will awaken to the fact that the GB is divergent from scripture rather than convergent with it.
For my part, I will not be participating in any secret/confidential survey aimed at soliciting pledges. This means that if I am offered a piece of paper with a request to state an amount of monthly pledge, I will decline to accept the paper rather than accept it and return it blank or with “NIL” written on it.
I’m truly grateful for the public service provided by this website in giving advanced notice of this forthcoming aberration.
I’m not a US tax law expert. But it seems to me the most important implication of this change to forcible is that they cannot say that they are receiving loans from anyone. John Cedars maybe you can look up the Tacoma Parking Scandal involving JW convention parking in the US. The WT agreed as a condition to use Tacoma parking lots that they would not charge for the brothers for parking. Instead they issued parking vouchers to anyone who provided a donation. Thus they could claim they weren’t charging for parking, but that it was a donation. A brother exposed this scam to the newspaper and was disfellowshipped. After that they have never asked for a parking donation. There are still news clippings of this. I believe it’s also found on JWN.
I fully believe these changes were made by the legal department to avoid litigation or taxation, not necessarily to tithe the friends.
Can you tell me where I can find these quotes from Russell and Rutherford about asking for Money? I will love to read it and have it available for my family. Thanks in advance!!!
Once you pay off your car or home loan who now owns your car or home? You do! If you then sell your car or home you get to pocket that money.
In watchtower land when a local congregation pays off their loan, who owns the property? Why the watchtower still retains ownership! Even though the congregation repaid their loan, when the property is sold who pockets the money? The watchtower! Is this legal? I don’t know. But I’m guessing not.
So now the watchtower can say that they own all Kingdom Halls and are allowing congregations to use them rent and loan free. However, they are cleverly asking for loan repayments or rent in the form of forced “donations.” Clever. Very clever.
Joe Blow, What you describe is how I see it too. However, I would say, shady, very shady. Such is the nature of big business these days, I guess, hey.
Question? So when my congregation needs to remodel/build, instead of having savings to cover these expenses it is expected to solicit a loan from the Borg?
Well firstly I think if the congregation has any savings deposited with the society, they would get those back. I can’t see any way the org would not do that. The news would very soon get around even in JW land.
Sounds like they are not doing loans any more for legal reasons, but instead will give the congregation what they need and arrange a monthly donation. Difference is now that this won’t just be for a few years to pay off the money given, it will be an on going donation, so the society know they will not only get their money back but will get much more by getting large regular donations.
And the Kingdom Hall will never be allowed to belong to the local congregation to do what they want with.
As Cedars explained the society can just delete any elder who will not play ball, and if necessary bring in outside elders to do whatever the society require.
Hopefully some JWs may be put off by this; but will the news that being a JW is no longer “free” and they are now required to subscribe to what could be classified as a monthly membership fee, (under the guise of donation), awaken everyone to the reality of Watchtower?
Based on what I know from my JW family I would say not! They will persist in maintaining it is the best way of life and that the “world” has nothing to offer.
No matter what poison the Watchtower pontificates, there are many JWs, who like my family want to live cocooned in their comfortable little bubble, surrounded by all their friends – all in the same club; attributing anything unpleasant that happens to Satan, (including the “wicked lies” spread about paedophiles being protected by the Org), so that they don’t have to address it or let it upset them. The monthly donation will simply be the membership fee for that club.
Members of my family admit that they know the JW dates are wrong and also that the history behind the Org doesn’t stack up; some family connections even do not agree with the blood policy; but it doesn’t bother them – and they continually kowtow blindly and without question to whatever the Society tells them to do – making a specific point of shunning family members who have, unlike them chosen not to do obeisance to Watchtower diktat.
Despite the barriers they have put up, I have done my utmost over the years to show my family that I love them, but their love is conditional and controlled by Watchtower.
They do not want to see and will make excuses, justifying Watchtower; but what is worse, they still convince themselves and then rather viciously, (all because they love me of course), inform me that they are the ones that will be saved at Armageddon whilst I and the rest of the non-JW world perish.
So, will having to dig into their pocket change anything? Sadly I cannot see it, and as a previous commentator asked – if this doesn’t, then what else can Watchtower impose on its members that they will soak up without question?
Considering how controlled they are, it makes me wonder if the GB issued “New Light” stating that following on from the command of shunning, Jehovah had now decreed that he wanted those whom had turned away from him (the Org), to be eliminated, and this was to herald the beginning of Armageddon – would they actually do it?
@Jay
“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 down a dollar number that you will commit to pay monthly. Tell me what is the difference?
Dear Cedars,
In a blog in Spanish they’re currently reporting of a “phantom” project to build an assembly hall in Guadalajara in Mexico. I think some of us have been through similar situations but according to the source, some elders sent a letter to the Branch Office demanding an explanation for the use of the funds that were contributed for the express purpose of building that Assembly Hall (which, as you can imagine, was never built). They have posted the reply sent by Mexico’s branch office which sort of exposes that the Governing Body was already planning to take over these funds.
For those among your readers who speak Spanish, they will see the shameful behavior of the organization behind the name.
The link is http://hildeydesa.blogspot.mx/2014/04/cartas-4-y-29713-proyecto-salon-de.html
Hope this information is interesting for you and your readers.
@BeenMislead
Thanks for the references. Bit SE said: ‘Russell and Rutherford said the day they ask for money they have lost god’s support.’
So when did they say so? Which publication? Your references does not tell what SE said.
@SE
Can you answer my question? Thanks! :)
Jay, it does say it right there? In my words the quote says: “We will never ask for donations. When […] [Jehovah] fails to provide the necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.”
They trust Jehovah provides the necessary funds; so if they have to ask for donations, then that’s proof it does not have Jehovah’s backing (and they should quit publishing the watchtower magazine).
Do you have the publications were they say what you say they said? Can you share where you got this info? :)
Jay: (w59, 5/1, Pg. 285, Sharing the Good News by Contributing Personally)
I don’t have access to the original article, but the reference from BeenMisled can be translated as:
Watchtower 1959, May 1, page 285, in the article “Sharing the Good News by Contributing Personally”
Hope this helps you. Good luck in dealing with your family! You are not alone.
Great work John, I imagine the leaking of these “secret” documents is an acute embarrassment to the society and they will try to figure out who’s doing it so by all means protect your source so they keep coming. It’s only with the revelation of these hidden things that the true nature of the society is becoming evident. Many decent brothers will be wondering about these changes but dare not say anything.
Maybe it’s to do with tax but my guess is that having consolidated their doctrinal position by declaring themselves the faithful and discrete slave, they are now consolidating their financial position. Simply, if something should happen that large numbers of brothers decide to leave, they can’t take any assets like K halls or savings with them. The GB are becoming more and more control freaks, as shown by the Menlo park scandal. They state vehemently to the court that they are a heirarchical organisation like the catholic church, but to the members they call it a Theocratic one, what hypocricy. Actually it’s a religious dictatorship.
I hope that someone asks for a financial statement from the Wash towel. The membership would be shock if they only knew how much the business is and has made over the years let only the properties they hold and have sold.
Maybe the GB’s legal and financial Departments are putting together a financial statement and projection of what they can squeeze out of their uneducated and unwashed masses so they can invest in the hedge funds, tobacco, arms and oil. If they only knew but even if they did there is little they can do without losing their family’s.
Great scam.
It seems to me that they do not want congregations being financially autonomous.
It is interesting that this has been achieved spiritually too with the declaration that THEY alone are the faithful slave thereby sweeping away any scriptural disagreements. Complete authority.
Isn’t it amazing that in the 21st century you have a religion that’s acts like a communist state?
It seems to me that Jehovah’s witnesses have become very similar to the catholic church not only in business model but also in their ruthlessness towards dissidents and suppression of the masses.
It makes me chuckle to think that the Catholic Church arose from, some would say, the original Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Where’s the door and where are my nails?