The London branch office has sent a JWsurvey reader two replies to the same question
The London branch office has sent a JWsurvey reader two replies to the same question

A JWsurvey reader has been left scratching his head after receiving two separate and conflicting answers to his question from Watchtower’s London headquarters.

His initial letter, sent on November 6th, asked the simple question: “Could you please tell me if my contributions are being used to pay for the court cases that are currently taking place? This concerns me greatly.”

Watchtower’s first reply, dated November 18th under the letterhead “Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” was surprisingly candid. It stated: “We are not sure whether you have any particular court cases in mind. However, we can certainly confirm that donations to the worldwide work will be used from time to time to pay for legal representation in various courts.”

It is worth noting that Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain freely admits to sending millions of pounds worth of donations overseas “to assist with the running of administrative facilities and missionary activity.”

The November 18th letter went on to claim that legal battles being fought by Watchtower “on a number of fronts” are “entirely what we expect, in harmony with Bible prophecy,” citing Matthew 10:17,18 (a scripture that seems to have slipped Gerrit Lösch’s mind when he refused to give testimony in the Jose Lopez case) as its authority.

But in a further twist, Watchtower has since sent another reply to the letter, dated November 26th, with a different letterhead (“Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain”) and a far more formal tone.

“It was not clear from your correspondence exactly what you had in mind,” it states. “However, as a registered charity we are obliged to use all donations in furtherance of the Objects set out in our Memorandum of Association, which are summarised as: ‘…to administer the organization, assemblies, education, public religious worship, and activities in and from Britain of the body of Christian persons known as Jehovah’s Witnesses…’ and we are pleased to confirm that we do so. Our annual accounts are independently audited to ensure that we comply with our responsibilities and stated purposes. We trust that this will answer your enquiry.”

The trouble with this latest answer is that it conflicts with the previous one. Why? Because damages awarded against Watchtower in child sex abuse cases such as those of Candace Conti and Jose Lopez would appear to meet none of the criteria for spending donations that are outlined in Watchtower’s documents for the Charity Commission.

And yet in the previous letter, Watchtower conceded that it uses “donations to the worldwide work… for legal representation in various courts.”

My source tells me that he will be writing a further letter to Watchtower asking them which one of the two letters he is to take as their final answer. When, and if, such clarification is received, I will of course add it as an update to this article.

In the meantime, the fact that Watchtower cannot give a straight answer to such a simple question without backtracking is extremely telling, especially given the increasing exposure of child abuse mishandling and the scrutiny the organization is already receiving at present from the Charity Commission.

 

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80 thoughts on “Which one is the answer? – Watchtower sends two replies to one letter

  • December 2, 2014 at 10:34 am
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    It takes a brave person to look into a mirror; to see your weaknesses.
    James describes the scriptures as that mirror.
    You can see, if you want to, who you really are.
    Just once Watchtower could you not apologise to save a life and loose face?

  • December 2, 2014 at 10:40 am
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    if you can’t apologize you stand condemned because there are no perfect organizations.

  • December 2, 2014 at 10:41 am
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    I need to stop thinking.
    Here’s the thing. If the first letter was fake, why on earth would the writer reveal a second letter.

  • December 2, 2014 at 10:48 am
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    Feelingsicktomystomochtoo
    Correct and logical reasoning.

  • December 2, 2014 at 11:03 am
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    ‘Feeling sick to my stomach ‘ is a great blog name but I know how u feel!! After doing proper research when you’ve been in the truth so long it is extremely upsetting when you feel you have been conned !!! When these men of the Governing Body chop & change interpretation of scripture as fast as a Squirrel can run up a tree!!!But to answer your question about contributions…there is a Worldwide Box for literature.A congregation expenses box,contributions for GAA fund which is kingdom halls & court cases.If you are in Britain a New London Bethel at Chelmsford fund.Then Circuits assembly & Regional Convention boxes & when circuit overseer comes his expenses & any gifts for him & then we had hospitality day for international convention and I could go on but you get the picture.Money, money,money.I smell Rats!!!

  • December 2, 2014 at 11:22 am
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    And all these contributions are expected from people who have been encouraged not to go to collage but to pioneer. So many have poorly paid work or are doing part time work. Now if every single JW pioneered, where on earth would the contributions come from.

    Gary can you elaborate on the GAA fund please. What do the initials stand for? Also is there a notice saying this fund is for ‘court cases’ ?

  • December 2, 2014 at 11:52 am
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    The comments about GAA fund is from pickled brain and GAA stands for Global Assist Arrangement .As our Great President???Russell Said when the Watchtower has to beg for money it’s time to stop production!!! Well I think it’s ABOUT TIME

  • December 2, 2014 at 3:50 pm
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    Seems to me that the Watchtower is stockpiling cash. Any suggestions as to why?

  • December 2, 2014 at 4:03 pm
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    Just following on from my previous comment; apologies.
    The Watchtower sold, here in the western world, a great deal of real estate during what was a huge financial collapse. No doubt property prices were greatly reduced. Its poor business sense to sell unless you need the cash. Surprised they could send two letters.

  • December 2, 2014 at 4:50 pm
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    Well I am now feeling pretty confused. If the GAA fund is used for Kingdom Halls and court cases, why does the first letter say the Worldwide fund is used for court cases.? Mmmmmmmmmmm the thot plickens.

  • December 2, 2014 at 7:57 pm
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    It’s sad all the blame that falls on Russell.. Sure he is guilty of the chronology part, but the organization of today doesn’t even resemble what he started. He taught a Ransom for all and that even those who died at Armegeddon would even get a resurrection. All congregations were autonomous. It was Rutherford who introduced the control doctrine of second death and Armegeddon to those now who reject his message I.e watchtower. This doctrine is equal to the nominal church hellfire that Russell did away with.. Not a single teaching of Russell still stands in the JW organization yet he still gets the blame.. If the dead did know something he would be turning over in his grave now.

  • December 3, 2014 at 12:40 pm
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    Brettstone,

    There is a lot of compelling evidence to say that Charles Taze Russell was far from the Ernest seeker of original Christianity.

    There is the matter of the libel case he lost, where he had to admit that he was not an expert in Hebrew and Greek. There is the treatment of his spouse. There is the liberal use of symbology associated with the Masons. There is the using of measurements taken from the Great Pyramid in Egypt to arrive at this fixation with 1914. Etc etc

    The bible is not complicated. It does not require people like Russell to interpret it for us. Fundamentally, the gospels tell us to be brave enough to love our enemies, and to treat each other with compassion. Now there is a message that we can all get behind.

    I cannot comment on the personal integrity of Russell. He may well have honestly believed his ideas were right. However, I do not agree with them.

    Peace be with you,

    Excelsior!

  • December 3, 2014 at 4:18 pm
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    Excelsior said :

    “I cannot comment on the personal integrity of Russell”

    Only his wife could comment. Impossible right now !!!

  • December 3, 2014 at 4:51 pm
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    Excelsior good points you make about Russell.I doubt his integrity.Anyone who can change ARMAGEDDONS date from 1914 to 1915 without a link of an eye & manipulated the pyramids measurement to say it agreed with the 7 times of Daniel has lost my vote on integrity.A man who died in 1916 & left notes for Clayton woodworth & George Fisher to write THE FINISHED MYSTERY has also got to be raving bonkers!!Please read this 7th volume of studies in the scriptures & NO ONE after reading it can tell me that JESUS CHRIST chose this organisation in 1919 above all others because it was providing food at proper time!!! If Jesus did so I AM DOUGAL of THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT !!!

  • December 3, 2014 at 9:36 pm
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    I’m not surprised that watchtower sent two different letters. That’s because there is no communication between brothers or sisters. Ide like to know how Gerritt Losch affords French cuff shirts on bethel allowance

  • December 3, 2014 at 10:31 pm
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    I believe that Rutherford wrote 7th volume along with a couple others. They tried to claim Russell was the writer but later admitted to being the authors. perhaps I’m incorrect but that is what several others of that time state.

  • December 3, 2014 at 10:56 pm
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    Excelsior

    I can appreciate your points and I was not saying Russell was inspired or innocent of some fault. But congregations were autonomous while he was leading the Watchtower publishing house. There was no Real Estate owned by congregations, no membership lists, disfellowshipping would be done by congregations as a whole and wasn’t extreme but they were simply no longer considered a congregation member, congregations elected its own Elder body so no elder abuse or lording it.
    So my point is the Organization of today doesn’t resemble what he started at all….
    I speak to many Bible Students who don’t resemble witnesses at all in any manner other than rejecting hellfire and Trinity beliefs and immortal soul.
    Very loving people with loving message that does not reflect the JW org.
    They differ too from those who don’t really pay attention to Russell and chronology, to those who do, but is left to your conscience.

    It is my debating with them online when I first began to “wake up”, and listening to the Dawn Bible Students online “Frank and Ernest” radio show that pulled me away from the control of the WTBTS.
    Not endorsing them as I maintain my spirituality from the comfort of my home with Bible reading.
    I just realize from associating with them that me, my wife, 3 kids and my brother with his family that WE woke up because of the love.

  • December 4, 2014 at 12:03 am
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    At the Annual General Meeting this year at Stanley Halls it is on tv.jw.org David Splane said the pyramid of Giza the bible students believed in for calculating time periods were from PAGANS so how can Jehovah be backing an organisation that had its origins and beliefs & TIME CALCULATIONS that is from Satan.!!!!CRAZY

  • December 4, 2014 at 2:36 am
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    I come here every morning to see if any more comments have been made about these letters. The discussion seems to have drifted from what the WT is doing with contributions. Has it been dismissed and accepted that easily.

  • December 4, 2014 at 2:09 pm
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    Contributions =EXTORTION from the poor who are struggling to the RICH GOVERNING BODY.
    Properties in Brooklyn sold to date $575 Million so far.14 more to be sold!!!!

  • December 4, 2014 at 2:35 pm
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    @ Pickledbrain

    Could I ask where you got that information from please as this is of great interest to myself and many others.

  • December 4, 2014 at 4:07 pm
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    @Feeling sick to my stomach ‘ In regard to PROPERTY SALEs for Watchtower.Type into Google ‘Watchtower Brooklyn Property Sales’ then In the Article scroll down to ‘property ownership’ I hold my SINFUL HANDs up & confess I said they have sold $575 million of property since 2004 BUT NO the total now is over $800 Million & many more to sell. !!!!!Hmmmm I SMELL LOTSA RATS!!!

  • December 4, 2014 at 4:18 pm
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    And WHAT is SICKENING on the December Governing Body talk fromDavid Splane on TV.Jw.org they show a little kid putting money into a Donation box as an example of what should be done.Looked like a few coins.Remember in addition to these property sales & many more to be sold in Brooklyn they are also selling Mill Hill in London to move to Chelmsford .There is 22 acres of prime London residential land at Mill Hill.Should Sell for about £100 million to £200 million. Up to $300 Million.Well well!!! & JESUS had nowhere to lay his head& PAUL was a tentmaker so as not to burden the Brothers financially!’!! Well GOVERNING BODY?????

  • December 4, 2014 at 4:48 pm
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    I should have said the article watchtower Brooklyn Property Sales is in Wikipedia.Happy Researching.’The LIGHT is Getting DIMMER ‘ & Darker !!! An old proverb coming from an OLD RAT!!

  • December 5, 2014 at 5:53 am
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    Thanks for sharing this info…now if my father would only get his head out of the sand! The damage this group (WTBTS/JW) does on a continual basis is so reprehensible…the damage they did to MY life-they couldn’t begin to pay me enough for it. I would love to have a lawyer help me go after them for damages. Anyways, keep up the good work exposing them. I believe in God, just not their “Graber”Bible translation! They have the audacity to call out every other religion, while they commit terrible fraud. If you know a hungry lawyer, a good one, send them my way! :-)

  • December 5, 2014 at 6:17 am
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    “They are hugely intelligent in the writing dept”-???-something like that….I have to disagree….they are like a bunch of “look at me” middle schoolers who don’t know much but want to show off their words on their book reports! I used to HATE trying to read the NWT and the magazines, having been reared in a JW household. They never made a lot of sense. In other words, I was often left thinking, “Did they ever get to the point?”. No, they are not, in my opinion, hugely intelligent in their writing-they are just overly wordy. The book listing Watchtower errors is hilarious…”the men of Sodom and Gomorrah will (or will not be) resurrected”…depending on who is writing. Whatever! Anyways, not trying to be disrespect you, just airing my thoughts as to how intelligent they are. People with a low education level/or very insecure often use redundant words and are verbose. If anyone thinks I am being too wordy here, keep in mind that I was barely educated away from that organization myself-everytime I tried to go to college, my mother made sure she put a monkey wrench in my life. Today, thank God, she leaves me alone due to the fact that they unofficially kicked me out, making up stories that I was a lesbian, which I am not! Anyways, I can’t wait to see the organization fall down like Jericho or get destroyed with fire and sulfur like Sodom and Gomorrah. I hope I see the day!

  • December 5, 2014 at 9:00 pm
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    Brettstone says: “I believe that Rutherford wrote 7th volume…”

    From the preface to The Finished Mystery: “It seemed pleasing to the Lord that Brothers C. J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher should prepare the Seventh Volume, under the direction of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY. This book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of Pastor Russell.”

  • December 7, 2014 at 8:57 am
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    ScotWm
    You can believe he had his hands in it.. Don’t underestimate the control he demanded and also the trickery he used to seize control of the Watchtower.. None of what Russell ever taught or wrote matches that which is written in the 7th volume.. He wanted the brothers to believe it was from Russell because he knew the following Russell had. I have read Vol. 1-6 and this 7th Vol clearly are not Russell’s teaching. Remember Russell started the Bible Student movement not JW Organization, an ex-jw circuit overseer in his book 20yrs slave of the watchtower said 75% of the early Bible Students left by 1928 from 1925 to 1928 the memorial attendance dropped from over 90,000 to 17,000.
    Rutherford made excepting the 7 Vol mandatory or you were disfellowshipped. That was the beginning of his abusive power struggle and set the tempo for the abuse today

  • December 7, 2014 at 9:05 am
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    It seems that your information is probably coming from the Organization, which is not honest about Rutherfords take over. The bible students such as the Dawn bible student association which was started in the late 1920’s by C.J. Woodworth’s cousin who also lived and worked at Bethel with Russell has put together very honest history of those early years and the dishonest take over by Rutherford and the lies in the 7th volume.

  • December 8, 2014 at 2:32 pm
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    @Bretstone you talk a lot of sense .!You are right because of the failure of 1925 & Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,David & all the ancient Prophets were not resurrected Rutherford then said thE PYRAMIDS were from Satan & publishers dropped from 90,000 to 17000 anointed.So my Question to the Governing Body is if Jesus chose this organisation above all other religious organisations in 1919 on the basis of ThE Finished Mystery which was used as TRUTH from 1917 to 1927 &The Pyramid of Giza was gods witness in stone ,ALL this Aparently FOOD At The PROPER TIME.!!’How in FLIPPING GODS NAME can it in 1928 be announced by Rutherford as being from Satan.If any SANE Person reads the FINISHED Mystery it is the writings of a RAVING LUNATIC.!!!!

  • December 8, 2014 at 8:07 pm
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    Participei da construção de um dos maiores complexos de assembleias das JW, no Brasil, Mairiporã auditórios para mais de 10.000 pessoas antes disso em 1998, nossas condições de desconforto eram grandes pois tinha que alugar locais inapropriados, convívio com pessoas que nos odeiam em estádios públicos ou particulares, atualmente temos os nossos salões de assembleias dignos e confortáveis, construídos por voluntários e os recursos doados de coração e sem coação que de certa forma não cria dificuldades financeiras para os irmãos, pois são contribuições anônimas, secretas eu jamais soube quanto certo irmão contribui para a obra durante os mais de 50 anos que estou na organização, esses recursos sempre foram bem administrados. Exemplo, recentemente estava em uma assembleia de Circuito e foi anunciado o relatório de contribuições, cerca de uns 3.000 dolares com uma assistência de 2500 pessoas, isso significa per capita, US$ 1,2 . nada menos que uma refeição, só que esta contribuição e bem usada, Quando houve calamidades em vários locais aqui do Brasil e irmão perderam suas propriedades, foram construídos casas com esses recursos e irmãos foram contemplado, sem ficarem sujeitos a sistemas imobiliários administrados pelo governo, isso são as JW. Parem de criticar isso não vai parar a obra do Reino, vocês estão lutando ingloriamente.

  • December 9, 2014 at 7:44 pm
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    I absolutely agree… The whole 1919 thing is not acceptable when you’ve read the 7th Volume “finished mystery” only mystery to me is how could anyone think they were chosen?

  • December 10, 2014 at 12:24 am
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    @brettstone. Personally I think Rutherford knew what Russell had published in the 7 volumes were ONE BIG LIE when no dates came true in 1914,1915,1918& 1925 regarding ARMAGEDDON!& the Resurrection of the Ancient Worthies.& declared many of Russell’s teachings were from Satan.BUT Rutherford was an ASTUTE BUSINESSMAN.He knew money was to be made out of religion.MORE MONEY than being a JUDGE,which he was proved right by his accumulation of Beth SARIM,property in Staten Island & bethel residencies.What is EVIL is the Exploitation of Naive,Innocent & Vulnerable people who are sucked into this Organisation because of a Desire for something better at maybe a Vulnerable time in their lives

  • December 11, 2014 at 6:12 am
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    Doing so, it is Biblicaly right.

    The apostol Paul and Silas also, use money from world wide work to defend the preaching work.

    Paul was flogged with rods in the city of Philippi. He turned this incident against his persecutors, using the opportunity to defend and legally establish the good news that he preached. He had been publicly beaten and thrown into prison, but when the magistrates found out that he was a Roman citizen, they were very fearful, for they not only had flogged a Roman citizen but had done so even before he had been condemned by trial. In this case too, Paul and Silas had been publicly displayed as malefactors. So when the magistrates ordered the jailer to release Paul and Silas, Paul replied: “They flogged us publicly uncondemned, men who are Romans, and threw us into prison; and are they now throwing us out secretly? No, indeed! but let them come themselves and bring us out.” The magistrates had to personally acknowledge their error. “So the constables reported these sayings to the civil magistrates. These grew fearful when they heard that the men were Romans. Consequently they came and entreated them and, after bringing them out, they requested them to depart from the city.” (Ac 16:22-40) Thereby, the preaching of the good news was vindicated as being no violation of the law, for the magistrates themselves, by taking this action, made it a matter of public record that Paul and Silas had done no wrong. Paul acted in this way because it was his desire ‘legally to establish the good news.’ Php 1:7

  • December 12, 2014 at 12:54 am
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    Apostle Paul was a tentmaker so worked & provided for himself financially & wasn’t a burden on the brothers.Jesus had nowhere to lay his head.The Watchtower is the wealthiest LANDOWNER in Brooklyn!!They have sold over 800 MILLION DOLLARS of property in Brooklyn in the last 10 years & still have Dozens more to sell!!!

  • December 12, 2014 at 2:23 am
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    @Baby, nobody is disputing using donated money to legally establish being able to preach door to door. The problem is that the Society is keeping from the rank and file about all the money going out to pay off child sex abuse cases. Only cults deceive their own.

  • December 12, 2014 at 3:41 am
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    Good Point Anonymous.Cults do deceive their.Most CHARITIES print DETAILED ACCOUNTS of where their donations go .The Watchtower DOES NOT DO THIS!!!!! If they have nothing to hide let the Ordinary Jehovah Witnesses know what proportion goes on CHILD ABUSE CASES. A cult will only give the positive side of experiences never negative.WHERE on JW.ORG NEWSROOM or LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS are news About these Child Abuse cases & why watchtower has been found GUILTY and FINED MILLIONS!!!

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