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…
Sorry about the double post.
Hey Cedar,
I wanted to point out that copying the text without scanning it, could still end up, in the long run, in exposing your source. For instance, they can send 50% of the letters using “Jehovah” and another 50% using “Jah”. If the letter you have copied contained “Jah”, they already know in which half the mole is. Repeat the process until you get to your mole.
Thanks for the concern Stephanie, but I don’t agree with your hypothesis regarding this text.
John,
Have you ever heard of the procedure known by my acronym CRAP? An elder with a Bethel background was transferred into my congregation with what I suspect included one assignment: throw me out.
After three “helpful” visits, he convened a BOE meeting to which I was not invited, the decision there made that I was thereafter: Congregation Removed As Publisher.
After three years and three obligatory visits, they then convened a JC to ratify what had amounted to my earlier summary DF.
This makes me wonder if there might exist a super-secret “black-ops” manual for handling cases beyond the expertise of the ordinary elder?
Oh, BTW, he’s now the COBE. And your typical bully. Got the previous COBE DF’d. Hah!
Dick Wadd – A load of a name man!
Zions Watchtower in 1879 published a total of 63 pages of
the magazine on page 20 it says
“Do not suppose these remarks to be an appeal for money.
No. “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.”
It can be downloaded here
http://wtarchive.svhelden.info/archive/en/Watchtower/w1879_E.pdf
Thanks for the link!
I found an interesting footnote on page 3:
“We have not even excluded articles which subsequently were seen in clearer light, but have endeavored to indicate by footnotes where the later presentations could be found.”
They’ve been enjoying ever-increasing light for over 100 years! No wonder they are so convinced that they are Jehovah’s chosen people. :/ (??)
If you are a JW reading this, ask yourself:
*If they were making changes before AND after their appointment by Christ in 1914-1919, what evidence do they have that TODAY’S truth is accurate?
How many people have to suffer under the rules of this organization, before you wake up and realize that a compassionate God would not allow his people to treat each other like this?
The Governing Body is the depiction of the “evil slave” in Matthew 24:48-51.
Now that Russell has been disavowed as a part of the FDS — died before 1919, after all — the GB has conveniently disposed of all the wacky stuff he wrote!
@Paul Drake – Well, basic math dictates that what one does to one side of the equation, they must likewise do to the other. So, why don’t they also get rid of all those hooked in by the drivel he wrote, rendering their baptisms null and void. Because they want to keep the proceeds of their crimes. That’s why.
I honestly don’t know how to respond to this other than to just laugh. All through the time I was a JW and especially at Bethel there were strange leaps, these presumptuous jumps that always made me think, “That’s arrogantly ballsy” that were asked nicely, but expected regardless of what our personal opinion was. So essentially there was no free will in the matter.
This is an example of that. Just flat out… arrogance. AND I might say that if one does the math and averages out maybe $700-$1000 payment per month (basic average for mortgage or loan maybe) the WTBTS has guaranteed AT MINIMUM $109-$156 million JUST from congregations inside the United States alone. That’s not including assemblies, the memorial, and tours, and literature.
Imagine what that would be worldwide. Ballsy AND greedy.
Cedars i hope you catch this among the loads of messages that come to you. You missed me asking before.
Is there a copy of the December 2009 letter that is to be removed and destroyed.?
I have searched but cannot find it. I would love to know why it should be destroyed.
Kind regards
The only letter of note I can find for December 2009 is the one for the 23rd that says
“December 23, 2009
TO ALL CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Re: Child custody packet
Dear Brothers:
A packet of legal material is available to assist publishers who are involved in lawsuits
over child custody and visitation matters in which our religion is under attack. The packet
should be requested by the body of elders only in a case in which it is evident that the
publisher’s religious beliefs will be at issue. For those facing secular issues on child custody or
visitation, helpful information can be found in the October 2009 Awake!, pages 21 and 27; the
December 8, 1997, Awake!, pages 3-12; the chart found in the April 22, 1991, Awake!, page 9;
and the October 22, 1988, Awake!, pages 2-14.
PS to coordinator of the body of elders:
Please arrange for this letter to be read to the congregation at the first Service Meeting
Hi Patrice! Sorry, I don’t have the 2009 letter that they now want destroyed. :(
I was just pondering the prescient accuracy of the Society. CTR had foreseen 1914 as the conclusion of the GT and Armageddon. This was later revised when the end failed to be realized. WWI’s alleged “signs” have been applied to the various events surrounding the Lord’s “presence”. This rewrite/new-light is, effectively, their only apparent “claim to fame”.
Apart from the failing 1914 doctrine, can anyone tell me if there is even one WTBTS prediction/doctrine that has come to pass?
I can’t recall anything, even remotely, vindicating their predictive veracity.
Consider, sundry “Psychics” front a plethora of predictions and then focus on the one or two that remotely come true. They work the statistical probabilities and just rely on the gullibility of their audience (sound familiar?).
By example, my department employed a temp (from an agency) as our Staff Aid. She wasn’t very skilled (we needed a graphics artist) but seemed to have fooled some of our less informed staff. She was into “Cosplay” and would regale staff members with tales of her activities. I considered her harmless but relatively inappropriate. Additionally, she was what I would refer to as “aesthetically challenged” and the last thing I wanted was a mental image of her dressed as Bo Peep.
I digress.
She had the most annoying habit of eavesdropping on discussions and inserting “pithy” comments. The most bizarre aspect was the statistical improbability that in over a year’s employment, not even once was one of her comments even the least bit amusing. This seemed like a statistical impossibility and I would have expected at least one to be funny by accident.
So, while the Society’s subject matter is relatively arcane, doesn’t it seem odd that something hasn’t happened/come true by accident? And, if it does, can you imagine how pumped the GB would be?
Perhaps we should consider their inability to even accidentally predict events as a sign of the Lord’s disapproval?
I think this will back fire on them. The donation total is made public in Canada: 47 millions (2013). With 1,373 with an average rent of 700$: 11.5 millions!
Even if the amount is intended to be for the constructions, since the name on the check is the same, people will start mixing the two and ultimately, give less.
So its basically tithing but jw style. I told my mom about it, she said that will be ok. I said “but you guys always look down on tithing in other religions, this is the same thing”, to which she replied “that won’t turn me away from the truth”.
They cannot even support the predictions they still tout as ‘truth’. Thier interpretation of the bible book of Daniel is totally debunked with historical proof that 607BCE was not accurate. Yet they tenaciously hold on to it.
They have never offered any proof that any prediction, type, anti-type, counterpart, similie, or bible story application to Jehovah’s Witnesses has or ever will be proven fact. They cannot and will not do so.
Even thier best guesses have failed miserably. Yet the rank and file will never acknowledge such defeats. Other than the broad generalization ‘we are imperfect’.
Somebody help me understand the jwdubz “Imperfection”.
When I told my husband about it, his reply was that anybody who puts stuff up like that are a**h***’s. If the Society said the sky was green, the sky would be green to him because there’s no way, he’d ever believe anything bad about this religion. It’s like seeing your best friend’s husband having an affair and you can even prove it with pictures and witnesses but your best friend gets mad at you for even telling her about it. As long as she’s being sweet-talked to by her husband and treated good, that’s good enough for her to refuse to even listen to evidence and proof and even un-friends you for trying to warn her. It’s not until the guy actually takes off and leaves her high and dry will she finally believe you but it tells you that she was never your friend in the first place. The thing is though, even when people in this organization are treated with no respect and left high and dry, they still refuse to believe anything bad about it.
It’s because the hearts, conscience and beliefs of people are the easiest to exploit. Many know that well, and unfortunately many do take advantage of this.
For quite a long time I underestimated this, but I realize what a dangerous and harmful this can be.
Temple Tax anyone??? More and more the GB and many faithful elders, DO’s, and CO’s are becoming like the Pharasees; shearing and fleecing the flock then throwing them to the streets to do their work. What a shame. Shame on them!
Mr. Cedars,
This is a fantastic article. Thank you for posting it and all of the other great articles. I have family in the “Truth” that will never wake up to how corrupt the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is. I have to admit even though I know how manipulative this church is, I never thought it would resort to “de facto” tithing. How much more of a brow beating can the members take before the entire thing collapses?
Thank you for your extraordinary work.
hey Rawland, this group of G7 is just a bunch of satanic satanists.
Hey Spike. you have just mentioned something true: the G7 is indeed a group of Communists leading a bunch of “happy smiling” robots. In fact, they are goats leading sheep! biblically speaking, it should be scary.
To Anonymous. Remember mind control. that’s his illness. He has just become a kind of “software” programed at will by the G7 (govbody of 7)
Wait. Why does God need money?
pleasa, I need to understand what the jdubz call “imperfrection”
In JWdom ‘imperfect’ means any deviation from the ever changing diktats issued by the JW Popes in New York.
Thanks,Cedars,for this website.Most affected by next month “tithe” would be congregations in wealthier western countries.Hope to hear comments from Malaysia on this issue & others.By the way,I remember we learned of whether “This Memorial Will Be Our Last”.Wondering if it actually will be.Are the unscriptural & so-called G.B. planning to close shop?
Using the word Pledge gets them out of all legal situations with the charity’s commission in UK,but it would be interesting the outcome on how the JW,s react to this!…by asking how much they will pledge is kind of forcing you to pledge may be i,am wrong on this ..see what happens..
Regarding the requested destruction of the previous letter, it may not be as nefarious as some have pointed out.
That could be simply a way to keep everyone on the same page. If only the most up-to-date information is in the file, then it is less likely that a new elder in the position would be confused by misleading information.
I would say it is strictly an organizational control method, nothing sinister.
Reader,
Good practice is to put files into archives so there is an audit trail. Letters and files than change policy very often have to be referenced so people can understand why changes take place. It is called transparency. Destroying letters is called – we have something to hide.
In addition, this recent letter could have a final note saying “this letter overrides the direction given in the letter dating ….”.
Insuring clarity AND transparency.
An additional safeguard would be to note on the older letter that the subsequent letter of such-and-such date has invoked a policy change.
This would give a fresh elder looking at an applicant for reinstatement from an ancient JC decision a perspective as to why that decision had been made.
My wife’s brother and parents are JW’s. They are in constant need of financial assistance from myself and my wife. We give them whatever they need with no question. I shudder to think now, that I am by default, giving money to the WTBTS.
@Ariel – no doubt.
Reader,
I am reminded of George Orwell’s 1984, where the hero of the book has to re-write newspaper articles to reflect the reality.
What is wrong with having an archive file? Why destroy a letter?
As we have been recently informed, the GB are now the FADS. They are the modern equivalents of apostles. Many of the books of the bible were originally letters to congregations. What would have happened if the 1st Century Christians had followed the same principal? As soon as a new letter from the Apostle Paul arrived, they would have destroyed the previous one!
Destruction of letters smacks of high control and a lack of transparency.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
I pledge to give what I can when I can, voluntary not under compulsion 2Cor 9:7
WTS “Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.” WT 3/1/66 p132
—-
WTS ‘It would be unscriptural for us to use disparaging terms when referring to ones who do not share our beliefs.’- 12-1-98 WT p. 15.
February
15,
2000
Watchtower:
“The ruling ecclesiastical class … violently silenced a voice [Cyril Lucaris – in 1638] that
pointed to some of the errors of their non-Biblical beliefs. They proved to be among the
worst enemies of religious freedom and truth. Sadly, this is a stance that in various ways
survives even to our day. It is a sobering reminder of what happens when clergyinstigated
intrigues stand in the way of freedom of thought and expression.”
“It is important, then, that you “keep testing whether you are in the faith,” as Paul declared. Keep checking to see whether the things you believe are in keeping with God’s Word. But the question is, Are you willing to put your religion through such a test? There is nothing to fear, because if you have the right religion you can only be reassured by the examination. And if what you believe is not in keeping with the Bible, then you should welcome the truth, because it leads to light and life.” Watchtower 1958 May 1 p.261 Is Your Religion the Right One?
No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family.”
Awake! 2009 July p.29 (p.28)
“Are you open-minded enough to consider the possibility that you may not be? It will pay to find out. Whereas an open mind can serve to your advantage, a closed one will almost certainly serve to your detriment.”(AWAKE!-November 22, 1984)
“We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are it’s teachings in full harmony with God’s word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.”(The truth that leads to eternal life, Brooklyn: The Watchtower Bible And Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1968, P. 13)
__________
hypocrites and liars!!
sorry wrong article
Below is another scandal that is just breaking in Mexico. Although I wouldn’t go as far as saying a misappropriation of funds. I certainly feel the should of been more forth coming with information. http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/278950/1/Misappropriation-of-funds-Project-for-an-Assembly-Hall-in-Guadalajara
Quite some time ago the Congregation asked for loans (for some reason or another) My elderly mum “loaned” £500.00 I found the paperwork the other day which states “the money will only be repaid if asked for and in the event of death the Society keeps the money” How is this a loan ? the reality is give us some money and we will keep it forever. Also wait for the talk about the widow giving all they can just like in Jesus’s day.
Certainly, archiving is a better option. However, at a congregational level it is hardly necessary to archive all the directives, simply having the most up to date information. Weighty decisions are not made at this level.
Now at HQ, old letters definitely should be kept for records. However, this is not addressed in the letter.
Reader
Decisions may not be made at congregation level but choices are and having a documented understanding of why people were persuaded to make that choice even at local level is important.
I believe congregations were also told to get rid of their libraries of old books. If this is the case how can people be aware of the huge changes in doctrine? So many do not even know about Beth Sarin, the mansion built for the imminent return of Abraham and other prophets in the 1920’s.
If this religion has nothing to hide, they would have documented accounts, clarity as to where the money is being spent and they would not be trying (and failing) to scare people by calling ordinary people who have valid questions – apostates. They would be willing to have open dialogue and clear honest communication. They would respect people who disagree and they would provide evidence that the dissenters are wrong. They do not do any of that, why? because it is easier to “demonise” and create fear, whilst still pocketing the cash.
Reader,
As someone who has been disfellowshipped, I would disagree that weighty decisions are not made at congregation level!!!
How much room does a letter take up, for goodness sake? They’re called Kingdom Halls not Kingdom Cupboards! One of the Brothers could scan the old letters, and keep them on file in a computer.
I’m sorry, Reader, but there is no reason to destroy past correspondence . They only do it to deny folks the chance to see the changes over time that are imposed from the WTBTS.
Why can’t you see that this is not innocuous, but sinister?
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
The point is that they don’t want people thinking about this, old teaching and old directives. They are most certainly not about empowering people, in fact the opposite is true.
In a manufacturing environment on the shop floor, there is only one specification for the product. There only on operating procedure. In the office there is the background information. Similar with a construction site, the latest specifications and drawings are on the site, with evolved documents in the office or site trailer.
They are treating the congregations as a factory floor. “Do this now.” Getting rid of old letters is simply document control, making sure everyone is working from the latest information.
The intent is not nefarious.
@Reader. You cannot say for a fact that the intent is not nefarious. You can only state that as your opinion. Besides, why would they be specifying to eliminate that letter in particular, the subject of which (if I’m not mistaken) has come up as demonstrating their manipulation of court case witnesses, coaching them on how to mislead people in a court of law, and now trying to bury the elimination request in another lengthy letter, rather than having a standard form for additions and deletions like any transparent business does? I can see why it could appear fishy and why people would find it untrustworthy behaviour.
When others teach falsehoods, JW label them false prophets. When JWs preach falsehoods, they come up with a new unprovable theory to replace the old provably false one and methodically eliminate the evidence that they ever taught it. In my opinion, it is nefarious.
@SDL
You are correct, I misspoke.
It is much more likely that it is simple document control rather than some nefarious act.
Again, there is no empowerment of the congregations to make the kind of organizational changes that would arise from the study of past directional letters.
@Reader,
I don’t hear anyone claiming that the congregations are granted any real decision-making power beyond the judicial committees they sit on. Oh, and the colour of the carpets and the drapes.
Again, “simple” document control, in my experience, doesn’t occur hidden in the middle of a letter. That’s “simply” not how it’s done when it’s a standard run of the mill simple document control. That you appear to be doing damage control on their behalf on the matter without any discussion of what directive they are seeking to eliminate, and that you appear to lack any real world experience with how and when administrative manuals are generally updated or purged from and how and why, only raises suspicions further from where I sit.
Actually, past behaviour being the best predictor of future behaviour, it is more likely that they are attempting to hide something with the sweeping directive to eliminate a past letter.
Nothing they do is accidental and I would add that little to nothing they do is innocent. They are soldiers of Jah, remember, and warriors in a great battle for world domination (aka universal sovereignty), are they not? Let’s not play naive.
Right, document control in a factory setting involves a person actually going out to the shop floor and actively removing any non-conforming documents.
Because of the size of this organization, that is not feasible. Hence, the directive is put in the letter.
I am not saying that anyone claims that weighty decisions are made at the congregational level. I am saying that there is no point in having 2,000 archives all over the country when they treat the congregations worse than companies treat factory workers as far as decision making goes.
IF. IF they also destroyed the file at the HQ, then you would have an argument that they are covering a trail. However, that is not addressed in the letter.
Document control in a corporate setting, factory or otherwise, is not generally done by issuing a directive buried in the middle of another letter which can then be later destroyed itself.
It is generally tracked in a specifically and decidedly overt and explicit and dedicated form of its own which carefully tracks the whens, whys, and wherefores of each addition, deletion, or modification.
Each location is not expected to keep a copy of everything ever sent them, but they are expected to keep a copy of said change control form which can then be proven to be in compliance with the master control form at head office. This ensures transparency is a two-way street, providing protection both ways. (Something the WTS clearly wishes to avoid in this instance and perhaps in all instances).
It’s not about an unreasonable expectation of archival everywhere. It’s about the reasonable expectation of acceptable practice of change control methods versus the unsavory appearance of a shady attempt to bury the removal of a letter within another letter which will then likely be removed down the line as well, setting things up for the head office to easily, easily, be, or appear to be, dishonest about what paper has actually flown. Instead of employ acceptable change control practices.
That is all. Just another way that they ensure total control on their part and free themselves to more easily lie. Every organization (other than the WTS) that I have worked for in the past 30 years practices an acceptable standard of document control and tracking for legal purposes, including a clear method of tracking what was done with SOP documents and other such correspondence containing company directives via a transparent form system that each site keeps a copy of. They don’t send a lengthy letter covering other issues and in the midst of that insert a self-destruct clause for a document they’d like to make disappear, then try and make that look innocent, all the while planning to issue another buried edict to eliminate the letter that said to destroy the first letter.
Not only is it sloppiness on the part of the WTS, it looks shady. And like the brothers once told me when they were trying to punish me for something I didn’t do, “it can’t just Be good, it has to Look good”. Turn about is fair play, I’d say.
It raises suspicions of people for good reason. Every one of our natural human emotions has evolved for good reason. Including being able to sniff out an unsavory move made by the apparent psychopaths among us who know perfectly well what they are doing, or should, after over a hundred years of business administration practice.
A very good and reasonable explanation was given by a prior commentor on why it’s completely valid to require proper change control methods be employed. Anyone that has been responsible for basing life-altering judicial committee edicts or even life-altering advice to the sheep in their midst, would easily see why proper tracking and change control measures for handling of chain of command correspondence in such a legalistic society is of paramount import. Even without life-altering ripple effects, a basic respect for the principles addressed by change control best practice would still be appropriate in an organization of this magnitude which affects the lives of so many people.
It looks fishy and that is even without factoring in the nature and content of the letter being destroyed.
Reader,
I still don’t understand your point of view.
Are you saying that it would be pointless the congregations keeping old letters because there is nothing they can do about the changes?
Well, surely having a record that there HAVE been changes would be significant? If no copies of old letters exist, then they may as well not have existed. See my 1984 comment above.
As the WTBTS is as open and transparent as North Korea, there is no way that we can say one way or the other whether old correspondence is kept at Bethel. I would imagine that they are not kept, but I have no proof.
This is an act that should concern you a lot more than it does, Reader.
I don’t want a religion to be able to bury and destroy its past. It should be able to preserve any official correspondence and be willing to answer any questions that are raised from that correspondence.
What we really need is a copy of the letter mentioned. Does anyone have a copy?
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
If you go out to a factory floor and look at the SOPs that are posted at a particular operating unit, you will see only one copy, the most current one. Period. Full stop. The operator is not given a background of the SOPs. It is above their paygrade. (In a proper document control setting there is a version number so it can be tracked. I am in no way claiming, though, that the WT has a proper system, or an efficient one. It is most certainly not transparent, and purposely so.)
The elder bodies are treated like factory workers and just told what to do. There is no need for them to have the background information, simply to act as they have been advised in the latest directive.
When the latest directive goes out to the factory floor, the old copies are disposed of. Copies. That’s all they are. Copies for factory workers.
That is the most likely reason for the edit to destroy the old letters.
Now, if the directive was to destroy the new letter after reading it so that it is not available, now THAT would raise suspicions.
I can appreciate the comparison but submit that it is a poor analogy for two reasons. Firstly, because while the congregation itself may be treat like factory floor workers, the body of elders (or representatives or whatever they are currently labeled as) is not the floor. They are the administrative middle managers of the edicts between the GB and the common “factory worker” and are, or ought to be, as perfectly capable as any secretary or low level clerk of being responsible for keeping a simple change control tracking form binder in a safe place at each site for storing the change control forms accompanying the edicts sent by head office. Secondly, because every factory floor has designated administrator(s) responsible for posting said paperwork, proper change control practice would mean that (regardless of how simple and tidy things are kept for the otherwise focused factory worker), administrators (or their equivalents) of each factory floor, are responsible in every factory, corporation, or even military organization (which might be a more apt comparison) in the western hemisphere for keeping change control forms in a safe place (often simply a binder or file). Forms that best practice standards indicates should accompany such seek and destroy missives where documentation is concerned.
To do other than keeping a dedicated and explicit tracking system for changes to edicts, is considered to be “covering ones tracks”.
It is vital to have change control tracking measures in place. For a large international organization to avoid that is fishy and builds an image of dishonesty. It’s speaks directly to the Quality, or lack thereof, of an organization.
Suspicions have long been raised by their lack of transparency in the area of change control where documentation is concerned.
And no, the letter saying to eliminate the other letter doesn’t have to be immediately destroyed for it to be fishy. That is false. That’s like saying unless a person seen at the scene of a crime is running, they are not guilty. Lol.
Also, as to your unreasonableness to acknowledge change control tracking as acceptable business practice, ignorance as to a rule does not mean that a person is not guilty of breaking it. Being in business for over a hundred years and not employing best practice standards of change control where document management is concerned, raises suspicions galore.
Reader,
This factory floor metaphor is flawed.
Your portrayal of Elders as shop floor drones does not factor in their individual, GB approved power. These aren’t letters to do with a new washer, or a new way to operate machinery.
These letters have a direct bearing on the lives of rank and file witnesses. They are allowed by law to view the file at any time, but I know of no one who has done that.
The removal of old letters and their destruction is suspicious in this context.
Do you understand my concerns now?
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
Even letters regarding a new way to operate machinery (or any change of that nature) are tracked with “change control” forms that match between head office and a factory in any self-respecting organization that concerns itself with quality and integrity on its own part as a so-called leader. There is more to business administration than just collecting or distributing money. With all the hoops the GB has their followers jump through, it’s quite unreasonable that they don’t employ something as basic as document change control. I wonder what they are attempting to hide.
I have become convinced that there is no change or new light or instruction, whether logical or humane or not, that a JW will not gladly accept and obey.
Your newest instruction: “Be a cheerful giver! Make your pledges and do it with a smile on your face. Anyone who questions this instruction, should be held under suspicion, and YES, avoided! Reject anyone who doubts or thinks outside these paragraphs. Ignore that other thing we sent you a letter about several years ago. Factory workers need not be bogged down with details or facts. Listen, Obey and Be Blessed. Continue to pray for us, and remember it is better to GIVE than receive. You GIVE us money and time. You receive our demands for more! Jehovah God has spoken. JUST DO IT!”
The men in power have convinced the flock that they are actually speaking for God himself. Nothing they say will be questioned. Trying to reason with a JW about this issue of secrecy and the dangers of blind obedience, is like throwing popcorn into the wind. The message will not reach them, unless they start using their own mind, which is expressly forbidden in the JW culture.
It is ironic that the “sheep” are instructed to hand out a magazine with the title, “Awake!” They are all under a spell.
They will continue to work harder and sacrifice more, while being constantly reminded that they still aren’t doing enough.
JW’s: You will NEVER be good enough! That IS what the Bible “really” teaches. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, not by the works and recognition of men. You can’t earn it, and you can’t BUY it either!
The shop floor analogy is apt for the very reason that absolutely no organizational power is in their hands. The elders are most certainly not ‘middle managers.’
Nowhere do I claim that it is an effective, efficient, or professional way to run an organization. I simply assert that it is the way that an opaque organizational structure is doing document control.
There are no apparent ‘checks and balances.’ Even if there were visible ones, they wouldn’t be in the hands of the elders, the lead hand of the WT world. The Menlo Park situation highlights just how little the WT thinks of elders. “Oh, you don’t agree?” < >
Isn’t this hiding of documents similar to what was done in the Philadelphia diocese of the RCC? Theirs was a reaction to child abuse lawsuits.
This would be a good reason to destroy letters at the congregation level: avoid discovery from prying eyes of opposing attorneys, whether criminal or civil proceedings!
The WTS and it’s complicit elders are at best negligent for failing to employ best practice standards of document change control and at worst vile for destroying evidence. Let’s take a look at the letter being destroyed and then engage our brain cells and contemplate whether or not it’s suspicious in this isolated instance.
I mean, if it’s merely a letter about who amongst the henchmen gets to choose the colour of the factory drapes, that would seem far less suspicious than if it were, say, the one about how to advise people to lie under oath on the stand during trials in courts of actual law, for example.
Modifying or destroying either, or both, without a document change control tracking system for transparency, is a business practice that calls the validity and legitimacy of the entire chain of command into question, including the elders who, upon looking at the letter and seeing the nature of it, still chose to destroy it rather than doing like the source of this thread did, by choosing to bring questionable practices out into broad daylight to be seen.